Fares for buses, Skytrain, and West Coast Express are going up as of January first next year. Translink's Derek Zabel says they expect to raise 32-million dollars with the fare hikes. "We are going up two-percent per year and this is something that was set by the Commissioner that we are allowed to raise Transit fares by two-percent per year so we … [Read more...]
BC Transit workers head to Labour Board over contract work
November 10, 2012 by
The union representing BC Transit employees in Greater Victoria is heading to the Labour Relations Board on Tuesday in an attempt to stop BC Transit from contracting out of bus maintenance work. Employees are in the middle of a ban on overtime in their labour dispute with the transit authority. "We do believe that they're in violation of the labour … [Read more...]
Increased Transit Police presence during commute doesn’t worry riders
November 5, 2012 by
An increased Transit Police presence will be watching over the Skytrain line during the first morning commute since an explosive was found on Surrey tracks Friday. Transit Police Spokesperson Anne Drennan says the extra uniformed presence will carry on through the week as the investigation continues. "As well, there will be continued site sweeps, … [Read more...]
More using Transit
October 29, 2012 by
People in Metro Vancouver are making more trips in a day and are more often choosing transit and cycling to get around. The results are from the "trip diary survey" which draws data from over 22-thousand households. The survey's done every three to four years to get a 'snapshot' of a day of Metro Vancouver transportation. Translink's Drew Snider … [Read more...]
Halloween revellers beware on Transit
October 29, 2012 by
Transit police have a warning if you're planning to use transit on Hallowe'en: leave the costume accessories at home i.e. the plastic swords or other similar 'weapons.' Spokesperson Anne Drennan says the warning is based on an incident a few months ago; "a dodgeball team was attending a tournament in Richmond they were at the Yaletown Station … [Read more...]
Transit Police taser unruly woman
October 26, 2012 by
Transit Police used a taser to bring down a woman wielding a butcher knife in Surrey Thursday night. Officers say they arrested Sheila Huber near the King George Skytrain station after watching her slash her own throat with a seven-inch butcher knife. The 41-year-old also allegedly threatened to 'cut up' a hotel security guard, prompting an officer … [Read more...]
Despite what the Premier said her government is working with mayors on transit funding
October 23, 2012 by
The same day Premier Christy Clark said Translink funding is the mayors problem, the chair of the mayors council was talking with the Transportation minister. Richard Walton says he left the discussion with Mary Polak feeling hopeful a solution to long term sustainable transit funding can be found. "Absolutely I got a sense of hope and I think … [Read more...]
Transportation minister not surprised with transit fare evasion numbers
October 22, 2012 by
The Transportation Minister says she is, and isn't surprised, that fare evasion on Coast Mountain buses is so rampant. Mary Polak says the estimated number of fare evasions was lower than the actual number of 2.1-million last year. However Polak says she always thought it was much higher compared with the estimated number. "My own view for … [Read more...]
Watts has ideas on transit funding
October 19, 2012 by
Among the ideas floated by those on the Mayor's Council for Translink to raise transit funds is region-wide road pricing. Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts says the idea works elsewhere, but it would have to be fair and equitable. When asked for examples using road pricing to see what it might cost someone to drive from Surrey to Vancouver, Watts says, "as … [Read more...]
Union hails drop in Transit crime
October 9, 2012 by
After years of pleading with operators to improve overall safety, union leaders are praising Metro Vancouver's new transit police chief for putting more officers where they can make a difference. Crimes against people, including assaults against bus drivers, dropped a record 17% during the first half of the year. The VP of CAW local 111 Gavin … [Read more...]
