While TransLink ponders numerous changes to transit service across the region and in Burnaby, city hall has offered its own opinion about the proposed modifications.
Last Monday, council offered a couple of suggestions to the transit authority related to the proposed changes, most notably making sure there are local stops along the Hastings corridor.
Among 17 proposed changes to service in Burnaby is a proposal to convert the existing route 135 to B-Line express service on Hastings Street.
Though a staff report supports the B-Line service, it was also noted longer local trips on Hastings would require a transfer, where none is needed today.
The proposed 135 B-Line would only stop at Boundary, Gilmore, Willingdon, Holdom, Sperling and Duthie, but none of the smaller stops in between.
So council has request that TransLink amend its proposal for Route 160 so that it originates at Kootenay Loop rather than Brentwood Mall, to provide more consistent local service on Hastings.
The move would also be in line with what the Heights Merchants Association has been calling for, after voicing opposition to the change.
The association has expressed concern the Heights will no longer have a local bus service that covers all of the district and that seniors with mobility issues and others would need to transfer buses to continue on Hastings Street if they are using local stops.
Coun. Colleen Jordan said her support for the B-Line service is contingent on changes to the 160 route.
“If they don’t address the need for local stops and local service along Hastings, then I don’t support the B-line changes being proposed,” she told council.
Coun. Pietro Calendino, who lives in the area, echoed a similar sentiment arguing a lot of local residents rely on the bus service to shop locally.
“It’s one of the major commercial corridors in Burnaby. If you take away service it doesn’t make sense for the merchants there,” he said.
The city has decided to send the report and suggested amendments to TransLink for feedback before deciding on any further action.
