Preliminary plans for the Langley-Maple Ridge Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line are going to the public for feedback starting now and running to Feb. 8.
The new BRT line is one of several proposed by TransLink to add faster transit service along major corridors in Metro Vancouver. The local line is to run from Willowbrook, largely up 200 Street, crossing the Golden Ears Bridge and then east Haney Place.
Along with a route planned in Surrey, it’s to be on the first two built south of the Fraser.
A BRT line sees buses running in dedicated lanes of their own, either on outside lanes, or on centre lanes down the middle of a major road, as is planned for most of 200 Street in Langley, and down much of Lougheed Highway in Maple Ridge.
The buses have priority signals at intersections, letting them move more quickly, and their stations will be weather-protected, not simply a bus bench.
It’s expected to speed up travel by about 40 per cent along its routes during peak afternoon hours, and the Langley route connects to the future SkyTrain station at Willowbrook.
While BRT is not as fast as SkyTrain, it’s considerably cheaper. It’s estimated to cost $20 million per kilometre, compared to between $375 to $518 million per kilometre for SkyTrain.
There is preliminary funding for the Langley-Maple Ridge and Surrey projects, but TransLink is seeking more cash from other levels of government to get the projects built.
Open houses in Langley and Maple Ridge are to be held later this month:
• Maple Ridge Library, Fraser Room, Sunday, Jan. 18, 1-5 p.m.
• Walnut Grove Community Centre, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Langley Events Centre, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Langley Meadows Elementary, Saturday, Jan. 31, noon to 4 p.m.
An online survey is also running on TransLink’s website.
The planned stops for the service on the Langley-Haney line were released last summer, and in Langley they include:
• Willowbrook
• 64 Avenue at 200 Street
• 72 Avenue at 200 Street
• 76 Avenue at 200 Street
• 80 Avenue at 200 Street
• Carvolth Transit Exchange
• 96 Avenue at 200 Street