Dear Editor: The decision by TransLink to close the 154 bus route is wrong, in my opinion. There are three seniors' residences on this route - Ross Tower, Rotary Tower and Dunwood Place. I lived in Rotary Tower for 18 years.
On any weekday the bus stop at Eighth Avenue and McBride Boulevard would pick up about 30 people. Most of these people would get off at Sixth Avenue and Sixth Street - the centre of uptown New Westminster.
Reversing the run, anywhere from 10 to 30 people would board on Sixth Avenue and get off at Terry Hughes Park, close to these residences.
With the changes by TransLink, this bus (now renamed 128) goes straight along Eighth Avenue, and these seniors are going to have to get off at Sixth Street and either walk two blocks or catch another bus to get to Sixth Avenue and Sixth Street. With arthritic knees or hips, or walking with a walker, this is a major obstacle.
Yes, a straight run is more efficient, but when did "efficiency" replace service?
Brian Webster
via email
