The snow may not be flying right now, but regional transit is prepping to increase its winter services for the new year when as more of the white stuff is expected.
This is set to include a popular Coquitlam route that transports residents to New Westminster.
More buses will hit the pavement for route 153 — Coquitlam Central to Braid Station — on Saturday nights starting Jan. 2, 2023, and will potentially reduce wait times between services by 30 minutes.
The 153 bus, in particular, helps commuters bypass the SkyTrain stops in Port Moody and Burquitlam, as well as the Millennium Line switch at Lougheed Station, and heads through Austin Heights and Maillardville to Braid Station.
There are 37 stops in between, but it currently has a longer weekend frequency window compared to weekdays. On Saturdays, the bus is in service between 5:30 a.m. and 10 p.m.
According to TransLink, the goal of the change is to addressing recent concerns of overcrowding.
"Transit service changes occur every January, April, June and September," TransLink explained in a statement on its website.
"They are based on seasonal patterns, recent trends and customer demand. We’ll continue monitoring ridership all year to ensure bus service is provided where it’s needed most."
Holiday transit
TransLink has also unveiled its holiday season routes for between Dec. 24 and Jan. 1.
All fares are one-zone during this stretch, according to the authority, at a price of $3.10 for buses SkyTrain, SeaBus and West Coast Express (WCE).
The operating schedule is as follows:
Christmas Eve (Dec. 24)
- Buses, SkyTrains and SeaBus to run on regular Saturday schedule
- WCE will not be in service
Christmas Day (Dec. 25)
- Buses, SkyTrains and SeaBus to run on Sunday/holiday schedule
- Canada Line to be on Sunday service only
- WCE will not be in service
Boxing Day (Dec. 26)
- Buses and SeaBus to run on Sunday/holiday schedule
- SkyTrains to run on Saturday schedule
- Canada Line to be on weekday service
- WCE will not be in service
Dec. 27 to 30
- Buses, SkyTrains and SeaBus to run on regular weekday schedule
- SkyTrains will have reduced peak service
- Canada Line to be on regular schedule
- WCE will not be in service on Dec. 27
- Four trains to run on regular weekday schedule Dec. 28 and 29
New Year's Eve (Dec. 31)
*Free transit service
- Buses, SkyTrains and SeaBus to run on Saturday schedule
- Extended hours for buses and SeaBus
- SkyTrains to run one hour later than normal
- WCE will not be in service
New Year's Day (Jan. 1)
- Buses, SkyTrains and SeaBus to run on Sunday/holiday schedule
- WCE will not be in service
For more information, you can visit TransLink's website.
