There are some exciting changes proposed, but without funding, they’re just dreams. Will the province step up to fund them?
For Immediate Release
March 20, 2026
TransLink just dropped the final version of a plan to update the transit network from UBC all the way to New Westminster, called the Burrard Peninsula Area Transportation Plan, or BPATP for short. Movement was consulted on the plan (our own vision for the region is available here) and we’re pleased to see that many of our ideas were included!
Some highlights:
- Major improvements to transit in South Vancouver
- A new bus route on 54th/57th Ave! There is a noticeable gap in the current transit network for this neighbourhood, where the nearest east-west buses are on 49th Ave or down on Marine Drive. The 49 is the busiest local bus route in the entire region and the new 54th/57th Ave route would help alleviate the overcrowding on the 49 and improve transit connectivity.
- A new 49 RapidBus was the most favoured response in public engagement, this would help move people much faster and demonstrate that transit riders’ time is valuable.
- Improvements and more direct service to connect to Southeast Vancouver, including Champlain Heights and the fast-growing River District.
- We love Action 3.3.1 which begs the cities to implement transit priority measures to make buses faster and more reliable. These are often quick, easy, cheap, and TransLink offers to fund 100% of the cost of these changes. Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, and UBC need to act with conviction to implement these changes..
- Vancouver City Council unanimously voted in support of improving transit priority on nine priority corridors in 2024, and all of these corridors are identified on TransLink’s diagram. We still have not seen an additional metre of bus lane from these motions. Bus lanes, which consist of lines and paint, do not need to take years. Recent experience in Toronto demonstrates that they can be implemented in a handful of days or weeks if transit riders are seen as a priority.
- We’re looking forward to better transit priority at UBC, New West, and in Burnaby along Hastings, Willingdon and Canada Way as well.
- This plan would include a huge increase in service, with better access to parks via the new Stanley Park Loop route and a direct bus to Spanish Banks, and new express routes across the region!
- The BPATP considers connections to future major projects including the Broadway Skytrain Extension to UBC, the Burnaby Mountain Gondola, and Bus Rapid Transit, but funding for all of these infrastructure projects hasn’t yet been committed by any level of government.
Most of these changes remain lines on a map until the provincial government creates a powerful new funding tool for TransLink to raise the revenue it needs to not just maintain existing service, but fund new projects like these.
Back in spring 2025, when TransLink was at risk of major cuts, the province stepped in with temporary funding, and a promise: In 2027, the province committed to a new revenue tool that would stabilize funding for TransLink. But what will this tool (or tools) be? And will they generate enough funds to deliver any of these exciting new routes? We know that transit funding plans can often rely on broad support from labour, business, and residents from across the political spectrum, who just want an affordable way to get around. Will the province step up and deliver the funding needed for transit expansion?
Each of these proposed improvements represents better transportation options for people: access to more jobs, activities, necessities; and the option and ability to save money doing so. With the high cost of living being a struggle for many people in our region, improved and expanded public transportation is one of the strongest tools governments have to lower everyday costs. We need all of the public transit we can get.