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Service challenges and recommendations for 502, 503 and 388 bus routes
We’ve been spending time in Surrey, listening closely to transit riders and learning from their everyday experiences of moving through the city. Through this engagement, two key hotspots emerged as areas of concern and opportunity. This memo summarizes what we heard and shares our recommendations based on those insights.
We gathered this feedback through multiple channels, including a survey, canvassing, postering and hosting conversations at libraries and gurdwaras.
Surrey-Langley SkyTrain construction impact on 502 and 503 bus routes
The Surrey-Langley SkyTrain extension promises long-term gains for regional mobility, yet on the ground today, bus riders are bearing the costs of transition. Construction along Fraser Highway has disrupted two of South Fraser’s vital bus arteries, the 502 and 503, creating ripple effects across the daily lives of those who depend on them.
In May 2025, we invited riders to share their experiences navigating the ongoing detours. Out of 60 respondents, nearly half reported frequent lateness, many experienced pass-ups (being left behind by full buses), overcrowding, and a growing sense of uncertainty in planning their daily commute.
Even after 6 months of gathering this feedback, we continue to hear from riders about delays and challenges, especially around the condition and location of temporary bus stops, with many expressing feelings of unsafety and unease while waiting for the bus.
Key feedback
- Al : “Bring back the articulated buses… increasing bus capacity.”
- Humberto: “Drivers skip stops due to negligence… lack of coordination between TransLink and contractors.”
- Matthew: “I leave 30 mins earlier each day to make it to work on time.”
- Pina: “Separate the 503 to Langley Centre from the 503 to Aldergrove… There are 40-minute trip delays.”
- Juan: “A boardwalk leads to the middle of the road at 159 Street; people trip on it.
Our recommendations
| Recommendation | Responsible |
| Create temporary bus lanes and queue jumps on detour routes The aim should be to ensure no bus needs to wait in traffic.This will ensure ridership will be strong for the SkyTrain opening, and will decongest Fraser Hwy by giving people an efficient alternative. | City of Surrey |
| Apply transit signal priority at critical intersections to improve reliability Surrey’s Traffic Management Centre gives it far more ability to fine-tune traffic flow than other cities. They can integrate traffic priority into this technology to limit buses’ delay at red lights. | City of Surrey |
| Audit and fix stop locations, addressing hazards and prioritize riders safety | City of Surrey + CMBC |
| Share clear updates on service changes and impacts | TransLink |
| Adjust schedule to prevent bus bunching on routes 502, 503, 345, 395 | CMBC |
| Create a working group with TransLink, Movement, City of Surrey and the project team to adapt service and priority measures | City of Surrey, TransLink, CMBC |
We can all agree that riders should not have to “wait 15 to 20 minutes” only to be skipped by buses or leave 30 minutes earlier due to uncertainty. While motorists can easily divert to other streets, bus riders do not have that luxury.
Expanding 388 service to evenings and weekends
The 388 bus is the only dependable east-west transit option along 88th Avenue in Surrey. While the 2025 Investment Plan’s proposed upgrade to all-day weekday service is a positive step, riders clearly need more: service extended into evenings and weekends and increased frequency to spur ridership.
Our survey of riders found that 87.5% want weekend service. The 388 serves many essential trips beyond commuting, including grocery shopping (19.4%), visiting family or friends (16.4%), appointments (9%), hobbies (13.4%), and work (22.4%), highlighting its vital role in connecting neighbourhoods and supporting everyday life.
Key feedback
- Steve: “The 388 is very useful… it saves so much time… would make accessing Scott Road and Richmond easier.”
- Brian: “Weekends would give me access to Tynehead Park for hikes.”
- Jaspreet: “If the service would be available on weekends as well then it will be very helpful.”
Our recommendations
| Recommendation | Responsible |
| Extend 388 service to evenings and weekends to meet clear rider demand and support diverse trip purposes beyond work | TransLink |
| Increase frequency to at least every 30 minutes during all service hours, reducing overcrowding | TransLink |
We urge you all to prioritize these service improvements to better support riders in Surrey during this period of transition and beyond. Thank you for your attention to these pressing needs.
For more information and feedback, please reach out to:
Aman Chandi (she/her)
Director of Programs & Fundraising
aman.chandi@movementyvr.ca
