R2 RapidBus to be extended from North Shore to Metrotown this September | Daily Hive

TransLink's R2 RapidBus to be extended from North Shore to Metrotown this September

R2 Marine-Willingdon RapidBus. (TransLink)

Originally, TransLink planned to extend the existing R2 RapidBus route serving the North Shore from its current eastern terminus at Phibbs Exchange — near the north end of the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge in North Vancouver — to Metrotown in Burnaby.

This extension was initially scheduled for early 2027.

However, it was announced today that the timeline has been expedited, with the extension now set to launch in September 2026.

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Currently, passengers must transfer buses at Phibbs Exchange to continue a similar journey. This transfer will be eliminated, allowing for a seamless, one-seat ride between Park Royal in West Vancouver and the Expo Line’s Metrotown Station. The extended route will include major stops such as Lonsdale Quay, Hastings Park/PNE, Burnaby Heights, the Millennium Line’s Brentwood Town Centre Station, and the BCIT Burnaby campus, providing two connections to SkyTrain.

Within Burnaby, south of the bridge, the R2 will operate along Hastings Street through Burnaby Heights before reaching Willingdon Avenue. No changes to HOV lanes or bus priority measures are planned at this time.

During peak hours, the R2’s 60-ft-long articulated buses will run every six to seven minutes.

Additionally, the route will be renamed from “R2 Marine Drive” to “R2 Marine-Willingdon” to reflect the extension.

Route and stop map of the extended R2 Marine-Willingdon RapidBus. (TransLink)

“This is an important upgrade for a corridor that connects people to jobs, services, and destinations across the region. Extending the R2 to Metrotown will give customers a more direct trip, more service throughout the day, and more room on board where it’s needed,” said Kevin Quinn, CEO of TransLink CEO, in a statement.

Mike Farnworth, B.C. Minister of Transportation and Transit, added, “This RapidBus extension is about making life easier for people by reducing congestion in one of Metro Vancouver’s busiest travel corridors. By delivering the extended R2 Marine-Willingdon RapidBus more than three months ahead of schedule, we’re giving people a faster and more reliable way to travel, and strengthening connections between communities throughout the region.”

To support the extension, 14 existing bus stops will be modified, with three new stops set to be added and two additional bus shelters to be constructed. Work on these additions and changes will begin in late April 2026 and continue through the summer.

The existing No. 222 Willingdon Express bus route between Phibbs Exchange and Metrotown, which operates only during weekday peak hours, will be discontinued when the R2 extension launches. Meanwhile, the No. 130 Phibbs Exchange/Metrotown route will continue to operate, maintaining local service, with most trips terminating at Kootenay Loop.

translink rapidbus r2 marine drive north shore

TransLink R2 Marine Drive RapidBus on the North Shore. (TransLink)

In 2024, the R2 recorded 1.944 million annual boardings, averaging 5,730 riders on weekdays, 4,980 on Saturdays, and 3,980 on Sundays and holidays. It ranked as TransLink’s 42nd busiest bus route and had the sixth-highest ridership among B-Line/RapidBus services. The R2 was first launched in Spring 2020 amid the pandemic.

TransLink reports that ridership between Phibbs Exchange and Metrotown is “strong,” with over 14,000 daily trips currently recorded along this corridor.

Over the medium term, the R2 route between Park Royal and Metrotown could be upgraded to TransLink’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) standard, featuring extensive bus-only lanes along most of the route. However, no final decision has been made regarding the BRT alignment in North Burnaby — specifically, whether it will run along Hastings Street through Burnaby Heights or along Boundary Road to reach Brentwood Town Centre Station. TransLink is also studying potential long-term rapid transit options, including Light Rail Transit (LRT) and SkyTrain.

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