Transit users traveling between South Delta and Richmond and Vancouver will soon have shorter wait times at the bus stop.
TransLink announced Monday that as of Sept. 5 the 601 bus between South Delta and the Bridgeport Canada Line station in Richmond will run every 20 minutes between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Currently the bus runs every 30 minutes during that time.
"As part of its Service Optimization Initiative, TransLink is re-aligning bus resources to meet changes in demand south of the Fraser River," the company said in a news release. "... the increases will serve current demand and make transit more attractive for new users."
Many transit users in South Delta were unhappy two years ago when TransLink eliminated direct service to Vancouver and re-routed the 601 to Richmond where riders heading to Vancouver now have to transfer onto the Canada Line.
That wasn't the only transit change announced this week for the area.
TransLink also announced that people working on Annacis Island will have more options during the afternoon/evening peak period with three more trips added to the 104 Annacis Island/22nd Street Station route.
According to the transit authority, demand on that route has seen a steady increase recently so three additional trips will leave 22nd Street Station to make the loop over the Queensborough Bridge and around Annacis Island via Port Royal between 6: 43 p.m. and 7: 35 p.m.
Earlier this month, TransLink also announced increased Canada Line service from downtown Vancouver to Richmond and Vancouver International Airport.
The Mayors' Council on Regional Transportation is currently deliberating a proposal to increase the funding available to TransLink to allow for more service hours.
"In the meantime, the Service Optimization Initiative is re-allocating resources from under performing routes to routes and time of day that are under-served in order to provide more service within the same 'envelope'," reads the statement from TransLink.
Next month, a series of four public meetings are planned to give the public an opportunity to learn about the budget supplement, the projects it would fund and discuss it with TransLink's CEO Ian Jarvis.
The meetings will be held on:
. Wednesday, Sept. 7 at the Lonsdale Quay Hotel in North Vancouver from 6: 30-8: 30 p.m.
. Thursday, Sept. 8 at the Holiday Inn Metrotown in Burnaby from 6: 30-8: 30 p.m.
. Wednesday, Sept. 14 at the Guildford Recreation Centre in Surrey from 6: 30-8: 30 p.m.
. Thursday, Sept. 15 at the Evergreen Cultural Centre in Coquitlam from 6: 30-8: 30 p.m.
jkerr@delta-optimist.com
