TransLink rolls out food truck program for new revenue | Daily Hive

TransLink rolls out food truck program for new revenue opportunities

Chickpea food truck outside SkyTrain's Metrotown Station. (TransLink)

TransLink is introducing a new stream of commercial revenue by allowing food trucks to operate on its public transit properties across Metro Vancouver.

The first food truck to launch under this program is Chickpea, known for its popular brick-and-mortar restaurant on Vancouver’s Main Street, as well as its established food truck.

Chickpea’s food truck is now stationed outside the busy east entrance of SkyTrain’s Metrotown Station on weekdays, with current hours generally running from late morning to late evening, and occasional weekend service. Operating hours are subject to change.

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Serving Mediterranean-inspired fusion dishes, the food truck also offers mobile ordering, allowing public transit riders to skip the line and conveniently pick up their meals while passing through the area. Chickpea began its business as a food truck before opening its sole restaurant location in 2017.

Not only do the food trucks generate ancillary revenue for TransLink, but they also support small businesses and contribute to making public transit hubs more vibrant, welcoming, and people-friendly. By creating an additional informal, staffed presence, the food trucks provide “eyes on the street,” aligning with principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED).

Metrotown Station is SkyTrain’s second busiest station, averaging 25,000 boardings per weekday, nearly 22,000 on Saturdays, and approximately 18,000 on Sundays and holidays in 2024. Much of the passenger traffic flows through the east entrance, which provides the most direct access to both the adjacent bus exchange and the Metropolis at Metrotown shopping mall.

skytrain metrotown station chickpea food truck

Chickpea food truck outside SkyTrain’s Metrotown Station. (TransLink)

TransLink is looking to expand this food truck program to other public transit hubs and is inviting businesses to reach out to the public transit authority to show their interest in a potential partnership.

This supplements TransLink’s other commercial revenue opportunities, such as the lease revenue from dedicated retail/restaurant units at many SkyTrain stations and some bus exchanges, as well as the recent expansion and diversification of vending machines and the introduction of Amazon package pick-up lockers.

Last week, TransLink also announced it had selected Pattison Outdoor Advertising as its new main provider of advertising services, offering new and expanded revenue opportunities and creating new digital signage opportunities for service alerts and passenger information.

air balloon vending machine skytrain metrotown station

Air balloon vending machine at the entrance of SkyTrain’s Metrotown Station. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)

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