236 kms of regional roadway added to TransLink's Major Road Network

Expanded TransLink Major Road Network, December 2018. (TransLink)

In a meeting today, TransLink’s Board of Directors added 236 lane kms of roadway to its Major Road Network (MRN), effectively increasing the public transit authority’s MRN by about 10% in size.

This is the largest one-time addition to the MRN since the vital arterial roadway network designation was created in 1998. Such roads carry the majority of the region’s commuter, public transit bus, and truck traffic.

These roadways are still owned by the various municipal governments, but as part of the designation these routes will now receive funding from TransLink to help operate, maintain, and rehabilitate the MRN segment to ensure it is in good working order.

The additions are being funded by the Mayors’ Council’s 10‐Year Vision, and they were selected after the municipal governments submitted 159 MRN requests totalling about 900 lane kms of roadway for MRN consideration. The requests included both existing and planned roadways that serve regionally significant roles.

Expanded TransLink Major Road Network, December 2018. Click on the image for an enlarged version. (TransLink)

Within the city of Vancouver, additions of the MRN include a longer span of Main Street through Chinatown to Hastings Street, Powell Street between Vernon Drive and Semlin Drive, and the Granville Street Bridge’s off-ramp routes along Fir Street and Hemlock Street to Broadway.

Meanwhile, the longest single MRN addition is the span of 32 Avenue between King George Highway and 196 Street in Surrey.

Earlier this year, regional and municipal planners developed a concept for a new regional Major Bikeway Network supported by TransLink.

See also