Opinion: Top 10 busiest of the 145 bus routes that could be cut without new TransLink funding
Written for Daily Hive Urbanized by transportation engineer Christopher Gusz and UBC Urban Studies student Philip Vargas, who are volunteers of Movement: Metro Vancouver Transit Riders.
TransLink is facing a financial apocalypse, with a $600 million annual operating budget deficit anticipated beginning in 2026.
Without a funding guarantee by April 2025, TransLink will be compelled to plan for substantial service reductions in 2026, including a 50 per cent reduction in bus service, 30 per cent reduction in SkyTrain and SeaBus service, completely eliminating the West Coast Express, and reducing HandyDart service by 35 per cent.
Those who ride buses already know that the system is stretched beyond its breaking point. Since 2020, Metro Vancouver’s population has increased by 13 per cent, while transit service has increased by essentially zero per cent. This has resulted in huge overcrowding in the neighbourhoods that people can actually afford living in, like South Vancouver and Newton.
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Despite the urgency, the only recent increase in funding to TransLink was a parking tax rate increase to 29 per cent from 24 per cent, nowhere near enough to cover the entire deficit.
The potential cuts are alarming: approximately 145 of TransLink’s current approximately 230 bus routes could be eliminated entirely, leaving only about 85 operational routes, which would also face reduced services. This drastic reduction would severely impact daily commuters and the overall connectivity within Metro Vancouver.
Here are the 10 bus routes with the highest ridership that could be considered for elimination:
No. 250 Vancouver/Horseshoe Bay
TransLink
This scenic route runs through Stanley Park and along West Vancouver’s shoreline, connecting Vancouver to Park Royal, Dundarave, and ferry services in Horseshoe Bay.
It passes by numerous parks and beaches, including Lighthouse Park, Dundarave and Ambleside beaches, and hidden gems like Ewin and Ferndale beaches.
Its elimination would affect both daily commuters and tourists seeking these picturesque locales. The only alternative service would be the No. 257 which provides express service along the highway between Vancouver, Park Royal, and Horseshoe Bay, bypassing natural amenities along Marine Dr. This would be a huge loss for access to our region’s natural beauty.
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No. 33 UBC/29th Avenue Station
TransLink
The No. 33 had 2.24 million riders in 2023. Despite being one of the least frequent east-west routes in Vancouver, it maintains high ridership, underscoring its importance to the network.
It serves the beautiful Queen Elizabeth Park, as well as Hillcrest Pool and the Vancouver Canadians’ Nat Bailey Stadium.
Without it, millions of trips would clog our congested roads with more cars or have to fit into the overcrowded No. 25, 99 B-Line, or R4 RapidBus routes, all being a 10 to 15-minute walk away from 33rd or 16th avenues.
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No. 4 UBC/Powell
TransLink
The No. 4 had 2.245 million boardings in 2023. It connects UBC to downtown Vancouver and the north end of East Vancouver, along Powell St.
It provides critical access to dense neighbourhoods, including the Downtown Eastside, as well as the key commercial hubs along West 4th Ave., Granville St., and Gastown.
If this route is cut, current riders would have to try to squeeze their way into severely overcrowded routes on Hastings St. and Broadway or the short stretch of the No. 14 on West 4th Ave. between Macdonald and Granville streets.
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No. 84 UBC/VCC–Clark Station
TransLink
Almost 2.3 million people boarded the No. 84 in 2023. It was originally created to relieve overcrowding on the 99 B-Line, offering an even faster connection from the Millennium Line to UBC.
It has evolved into an essential community link: it is the only east-west route serving the high-density Olympic Village neighbourhood, providing a key direct link between the Millennium Line, Olympic Village, West 4th Avenue’s retail district in Kitsilano, and UBC.
If removed, the current riders would have to walk all the way down to the already congested 99 B-Line and No. 9 buses on Broadway, up to 15 minutes away.
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No. 503 Surrey Central Station/Langley Centre/Aldergrove
TransLink
The No. 503 has seen massive ridership growth in the past six years, with ridership increasing 55 per cent since 2019 to reach 2.5 million boardings in 2023.
This growth is a testament to the intense and increasing demand for transit in the neighbourhoods it serves. The No. 503 provides an essential connection between Surrey Central Station, Langley Centre, and Aldergrove, catering to long-distance commuters and linking multiple communities across the ever-growing South of Fraser subregion.
Its service mirrors SkyTrain’s future Surrey-Langley extension of the Expo Line, and introduced express service to help build up ridership on the corridor. Its removal may impact the future ridership of the multi-billion dollar extension as a result, with only slow local service on Fraser Highway from Langley Centre to Surrey Central.
The village of Aldergrove would be completely cut off from the transit network if the No. 503 were cut.
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No. 8 Downtown/Fraser
TransLink
The No. 8 had almost three million boardings in 2023. Running on a reduced frequency since the pandemic, it already struggles to serve its riders reliably.
This service runs along Fraser St., one of Vancouver’s most diverse and vibrant commercial corridors. Its elimination would significantly impact local businesses and residents who rely on this service.
While alternative service exists on Main St. to the west and Victoria Dr. to the east, the lack of direct transit access would make it harder for businesses on Fraser St. to attract customers who take transit.
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No. 106 Edmonds Station/New Westminster Station
TransLink
The No. 106 was the most boarded bus in New Westminster in 2023, with over three million annual boardings. It travels through Edmonds St. and the dense 6th St. corridor, facilitating access to shopping centres and schools and connecting residents to SkyTrain’s Expo Line and numerous other buses.
Notable destinations include commercial and residential centres in Uptown and Downtown New Westminster. The No. 106 helps New Westminster residents travel up its steep hills, especially critical for those with mobility challenges. There would be no alternative service going up the hill to the east, with the No. 123 and No. 112 being the only buses going up the hills of New Westminster.
No. 7 Dunbar/Nanaimo Station
TransLink
The No. 7 recorded about 3.57 million boardings in 2023. Serving the communities between Dunbar-Southlands and Nanaimo Station, the No. 7 is essential for daily downtown commuters, students, and shoppers along busy commercial streets.
If removed, residents travelling northbound or southbound in Dunbar St. would need to walk up to 25 minutes to access the No. 2 on Mackenzie St. and Macdonald St.
Riders living by or accessing destinations near East 1st Ave. and Nanaimo St. would acutely feel the removal of this route, finding themselves nearly a kilometre away from any transit.
The removal of service on Nanaimo would be particularly devastating if the No. 16 was also cut, eliminating service along Renfrew Street and creating a transit desert in East Vancouver.
West 4th Ave. riders travelling west of Macdonald St. would have to walk to West Broadway or Cornwall St. to access buses that are severely overcrowded even today. Notably, the No. 7 is one of several buses servicing West 4th Ave. that is at risk of being eliminated. The removal of direct access to West 4th Ave. from Olympic Village, Dunbar-Southlands, and other neighbourhoods will undoubtedly result in fewer trips from transit riders to restaurants, shops, and other businesses along this busy commercial street. Businesses along Nanaimo and Dunbar would feel similar effects.
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No. 16 Arbutus/29th Avenue Station
TransLink
The No. 16 was the sixth most boarded bus route in 2023 with over 5.3 million boardings. This service travels along multiple corridors in a horseshoe shape, making it one of the longest routes in the system. It connects various busy and vibrant shopping areas such as Kerrisdale, important regional job centres in downtown Vancouver and Central Broadway, many public and private schools, and three SkyTrain stations.
During peak hours, the No. 16 regularly experiences severe overcrowding and passes up many people. If removed, there would be no alternative bus routes along the Arbutus St. or Renfrew St. portions of the route. This means current riders along those streets could have to walk around 20 minutes to reach already crowded and less frequent buses on parallel routes.
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No. 319 Scott Road Station/Newton Exchange
TransLink
The No. 319 was the fourth most boarded bus route in 2023 when it recorded approximately 6.8 million boardings. It is also one of the most complained about bus routes in Metro Vancouver.
This service connects important light industry jobs, essential shops and services, higher density housing, and a wide range of schools, including Kwantlen Polytechnic University with Scott Road Station and Newton bus exchange.
If removed, there would still be some service along the same corridor with the R6 RapidBus, however, it would be insufficient for the increased demand and would require longer walks because of the wider stop spacing, making it less accessible for people with mobility challenges.
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Additional key bus services at risk
TransLink’s NightBus service is an essential component of Metro Vancouver’s public transportation network, providing late-night transit options when regular services, such as SkyTrain and standard bus routes, are not operational.
Operating between approximately 1:30 a.m. and 5:15 a.m., seven nights a week, NightBus ensures that residents and visitors have access to safe and reliable transportation during late-night and early-morning hours.
Removal of NightBus services would be devastating for shift workers, and would hurt late-night establishments, including restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues.
Bus routes that serve population outdoor recreation destinations are also at risk.
Car-free access to skiing and hiking? Think again! With the loss of the No. 232, No. 236 and No. 247 connecting Grouse Mountain to Phibbs bus exchange, Lonsdale Quay, and downtown Vancouver, tourists and residents without cars will lose access to one of Metro Vancouver’s best outdoor destinations.
Opening day of the Blue Grouse Gondola at Grouse Mountain Resort on December 12, 2024. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Other bus routes to the region’s natural amenities that are slated for possible cuts include the No. 42 to Spanish Banks, No. 150 to White Pine Beach, No. 179 to Buntzen Lake, and many others. Equitable access to the parks of Metro Vancouver is already not good enough.
Losing what access we do have would make our region’s parks only accessible for people with access to a car. Even for those who can drive may not even continue to have access to these parks as the parking lots are already getting increasingly full for longer periods every year.
Movement: Metro Vancouver Transit Riders
All routes are crucial? Yes!
You may have noticed the repetitiveness of the top 10 list, saying that each route is crucial or vital for their users or would be huge losses. That is no mistake, each bus route in Metro Vancouver is indispensable for those who take them, they all play an important role in keeping our region connected and moving, no matter how big or small.
That’s why we also have the list of all other possible routes that are possibly slated for cuts.
So what can you do? What’s the call to action? Service cuts will be devastating, but with your help, new funding can be secured to keep transit running.
These service cuts would not only hugely inconvenience countless daily riders, but also strain the remaining transit infrastructure, leading to overcrowding and reduced accessibility across Metro Vancouver. It is imperative for all levels of government to collaborate and address this funding crisis to preserve the essential public transit services that underpin the region’s mobility and economic vitality.
You can do something about this though! You can go to our website and send an email to your MLA and share how these cuts would negatively affect you. Remember that you can help prevent these cuts by speaking up and emailing your MLA and having them listen to our needs! Do not delay your email, April 2025 is next month!
Do you have the worst transit commute in Metro Vancouver?
In support of our campaign to make the needs of transit riders heard, Movement is looking for submissions from transit riders. Do you think you might have the worst transit commute in Metro Vancouver? Is waiting at your bus stop a horrible experience? Email us. We want to help make things better by telling your story.
- You might also like:
- TransLink collapse: 50% of bus service and 30% of SkyTrain and SeaBus services could be eliminated due to funding shortfall
- TransLink is facing a $4.7 billion funding deficit by 2033: forecast
- No funding in B.C. government’s new budget to avoid TransLink fiscal cliff and service cuts
- TransLink parking tax across Metro Vancouver to see increase
- Opinion: Are we really about to cut public transit services in Metro Vancouver?