So, ditch the car keys, grab your friends and family, and add these epic picnic spots to your summer bucket list:

Town Centre Park

📍 1299 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam
🚆 Lafarge-Lake Douglas
🚶‍♂️ 14-minute walk from the station
🚌 188 Coquitlam Central Station/Port Coquitlam Station
🚶‍♂️6-minute walk from the bus stop

There is no shortage of things to do and great places to sit at Town Centre Park. It features numerous fields, courts and ball diamonds for outdoor sports, and an easy-to-walk trail around Lafarge Lake. Pick a great spot on the grass, find a picnic bench, or sit at the Town Centre Park Community Plaza for great views of the park. Settle in for some people watching, eat some lunch and head over to Rocky Point Ice Cream in the park for dessert.

Deer Lake Park

📍 5435 Sperling Ave, Burnaby
🚌 144 SFU/Metrotown Station
🚶‍♂️ 8-minute walk from the bus stop

Deer Lake Park is a sprawling place with so many different things to see and do, before or after your picnic. Explore the Century Garden, view historical facilities and stop into the nearby Burnaby Village Museum if you’ve got a few hours to spare. With picnic tables and a large lawn, finding a spacious picnic spot is usually easy.

Kitsilano Beach Park

📍 1499 Arbutus St, Vancouver
🚌 84 UBC/VCC-Clark Station
🚶‍♂️ 8-minute walk from the bus stop

If you prefer a beachy vibe, head to Kitsilano Beach Park. It’s a great sunset spot if you can time your picnic just right and snag a log to get some shade while you wait. The park boasts a playground that’s perfect for climbing, swinging, and letting loose for both kids and the young-at-heart. There’s also a grassy area if you prefer to picnic without the sand, and a concession stand should you need something extra for your outing.

Ambleside Park

📍 1150 Marine Dr, West Vancouver
🚌 250 Horseshoe Bay/Dundarave
🚶‍♂️ 5-minute walk from the bus stop

Ambleside Park is a fantastic location to spend the entire day, so you may have to pack more than just lunch! Inside the park, you’ll find tennis courts, picnic tables, and even a little Pitch and Putt area. The park is attached to a gorgeous, swimmable beach, so try to get in a swim, and dry off in the sun. Ambleside Park also serves as a great sunset spot, but you may have such a fun, relaxing time that it’ll show up before you know it.

Rocky Point Park

📍 2800 Murray St, Port Moody
🚆 Moody Centre Station
🚶‍♂️ 10-minute walk from the station

Rocky Point Park is another special place that may keep you there all day with so much to see and do. Spend your picnic overlooking the water or catch some live music at the gondola. Walk along the pier for gorgeous views and explore the easy walking trails of the park. If you’ve worked up an appetite after spending the day here and are all out of picnic snacks, grab a bite at one of the many breweries nearby.

Queen Elizabeth Park

📍 4600 Cambie St, Vancouver
🚆 Langara–49th Avenue Station, King Edward Station

This crown jewel of Vancouver parks offers breathtaking cityscapes and mountain vistas, for one of the most epic picnic spots. This park is home to some of the most beautiful and well maintained gardens in the world. Take the Canada Line to Langara–49th Avenue Station or King Edward Station and wander through the park’s sculpted gardens, explore the quarry, or let the kids loose on the playgrounds before settling down for your feast. Looking to add something special to your picnic? Make sure to explore the Bloedel Conservatory, A domed lush paradise located in Queen Elizabeth Park atop the City of Vancouver’s highest point. More than 100 exotic birds, koi fish, and 500 exotic plants and flowers thrive within its temperature-controlled environment.

Note: Queen Elizabeth Park is free to explore, but the Bloedel Conservatory has a small admission price which helps offset its costs to operate. 

Lonsdale Quay

📍 123 Carrie Cates Crt, North Vancouver
🚢 SeaBus
🚌 Various routes

For a waterfront picnic with a gourmet twist, hop on the SeaBus to Lonsdale Quay Market. Immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere and explore a haven of fresh produce, international flavors, and local treats. Pick up picnic supplies that tantalize your taste buds and head to the waterfront plaza for stunning harbor views and a relaxing escape.

Stanley Park

📍 7965 Stanley Park Dr, Vancouver
🚌  19 Stanley Park/Metrotown, 240 Lynn Valley/Downtown, 246 Highland/Downtown, 250 Horseshoe Bay/Vancouver, 257 Horseshoe Bay/Vancouver

Iconic Stanley Park is a world renowned must-do while in Vancouver. It offers endless possibilities for your epic picnic experience including kilometres of trails, beautiful beaches, local wildlife, great eats, natural, cultural and historical landmarks, along with many other adventures. Catch the bus to Stanley Park Loop and choose your adventure – spread out your blanket on the sandy shores of Second Beach, soak up the ocean views at Brockton Point, or find a serene escape by the tranquil Lost Lagoon.

John Hendry (Trout Lake) Park

📍 3300 Victoria Dr, Vancouver
🚆 Joyce Station

This vibrant 27-hectare park located in East Vancouver offers a variety of activities to fuel your epic picnic. Take the SkyTrain to Joyce Station and enjoy a pre-picnic paddle around the lake (rentals available!), unleash your inner athlete with a game of frisbee on the grassy fields, or perfect your backhand on the on-site tennis courts. Relax on the sandy beach and enjoy tranquil Trout Lake.

VanDusen Botanical Garden

📍 5255 Oak Street, Vancouver
🚌 17 Downtown / Oak, 41 Joyce Station / Crown, R4 41st Ave RapidBus

Escape the ordinary and immerse yourselves in a world of floral beauty at VanDusen Botanical Garden. Catch the bus to 41st Avenue and Marguerite and wander through themed gardens, explore tranquil ponds, and vibrant seasonal displays. Bring a blanket and find a quiet corner amidst the lush greenery for a truly unforgettable picnic experience. Lawn chairs and coolers are permitted on the Great Lawn only. The Garden Café is open daily during Garden hours.

Harbour Green Park

📍 1199 W Cordova St, Vancouver
🚆 Waterfront Station

Harbour Green Park is part of the Coal Harbour Walkway/Bike Path offering the longest continuous waterfront park in the downtown area. With plenty of rolling lawns, benches, and even a seasonal splash pad this is a great spot to unroll your blanket and enjoy the sights of the bustling harbour.

Queens Park

📍 3rd Ave, New Westminster
🚌 105 Uptown/New Westminster Station, 155 Braid Station/22nd Street Station

Queens Park offers a delightful picnic experience that caters to a variety of interests. Spread out a blanket under the shade of mature trees and soak in the beauty of the meticulously maintained gardens. Families will appreciate the expansive green space where children can run free, while the on-site playground keeps them entertained for hours. Sports enthusiasts can enjoy a pre-picnic game on the tennis courts, soccer fields, or basketball court. For those seeking a scenic backdrop, Queen’s Park boasts stunning views of the Fraser River, making it the perfect spot for a relaxing afternoon with delicious food and breathtaking scenery.

So, pack up your picnic basket, your reusable water bottle, and your Compass Card and hop on board your favourite TransLink mode! With these convenient transit connections, exploring Metro Vancouver’s best picnic spots is a breeze.

Don’t forget to plan your route before you head out and sign up for Transit Alerts for real-time transit information.

Did your favourite epic picnic spots make the list? If not, drop it in the comments below and tell us what you love about it.

The post Add these epic picnic spots to your summer bucket list appeared first on The Buzzer blog.

Bike Valet functions like a coat-check service. A staff member will tag your bike and provide you with a claim stub to retrieve it. They’ll look out for your bikes while you attend events and visit destinations in the city.

Bike Valet accommodates all active transportation devices including bikes, e-bikes, e-scooters, adaptive bikes, cargo bikes, bike trailers, strollers, and other personal mobility devices. You may also leave your helmet and pannier!

Here’s everything you need to know:

• Open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and weekends and statutory holidays from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Summer Movie Nights downtown commences in July and August, so for convenient bike parking access, the Vancouver City Centre Bike Valet is open from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.
• The Vancouver City Centre Bike Valet has a capacity of 100 bikes/devices at a time. It may fill up on some days, like on Summer Movie Nights, so get to know of other bike parking options in the area.
• It’s located beside Vancouver City Centre SkyTrain Station at 725 Granville St. (formerly the Nordstrom Ebar) in Downtown Vancouver
• You can also find other Bike Valet locations this summer at events like the Shipyards Night Market and BC Place sports games.

Note: Unclaimed bikes and micromobility devices left within the bike valet after operating hours will be retained at the premises, but their security cannot be guaranteed. You may arrange to retrieve your bike and/or micro-mobility device for a retrieval fee. Make sure to contact bikevalet@best.bc.ca within 24 hours of the site’s closing time.

You can also register for Project 529 at any Bike Valet location. The program allows cyclists to register their bikes for recovery and report bike thefts.

This free bike valet service is provided in partnership between Cadillac Fairview, TransLink, the City of Vancouver, the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, and delivered by BEST (Better Environmentally Sounds Transportation).

More bike parking options near transit

Our Bike Parkades are another option for parking your bike, for just $1 per day! The facility is only accessible to registered customers and CCTV cameras monitor the facility 24/7.

Additionally, we have Bike Lockers which are reserved parking for your bike. This is great for anyone who needs to routinely park their bike at the same location. You can rent a locker for $10/month (plus GST and a $50 refundable key deposit. A 3-month minimum rental period is required). For current availability of bike lockers and general inquiries, email us at bikelockers@translink.ca, or visit us at the TransLink Customer Service Centre at Waterfront Station.

Integrating biking with taking transit? Here are some tips!

• How do I put my bike on the bus? Practice bike racks are here!
• 5 things you need to know when commuting by bike
• A cyclists guide to keeping your bike safe when riding transit

The post The free Vancouver City Centre Bike Valet returns until Sept. 2 appeared first on The Buzzer blog.

Come behind the scenes with us as What’s the T: the TransLink Podcast with Jawn Jang reveals the voices and stories that drive Metro Vancouver’s transit system forward. Subscribe and listen everywhere you get your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Pocket Casts!

Transcript

HOST JAWN JANG: Hey, welcome to What’s the T: the TransLink Podcast. I’m your host, Jawn Jang. Here’s what we’re discussing on this episode.

[AUDIO EXCERPT FROM THE SIMPSONS PLAYS]: It’s my first day. Since I’d never seen you before, maybe it is your first day. Very well. Carry on.

JAWN: Why is transit so important for newcomers?

Let’s tap in to What’s the T.

[INTRODUCTION MUSIC PLAYS]

VOICEOVER 1: The next station is…

VOICEOVER 2: Welcome to What’s the T: the TransLink Podcast.

JAWN: You may recall, but earlier this season, we spoke with Chris Chan, the manager of travel training at TransLink, and learned the ways that TransLink is trying to help newcomers settle into Metro Vancouver.

One thing we know for sure is that this region will continue to grow. New figures from Stats Canada show that approximately 120-thousand new residents moved to Metro Vancouver last year. For context, the population of Delta is estimated at around 110-thousand residents. I think that helps to put things into perspective

I think that helps to put things into perspective and really embolden the importance of helping newcomers learn to use our transit system. For many people that arrive here, access to transit is going to be their main source of transportation around their new communities as they learn to build new lives and forge new futures.

UNKNOWN VOICE: Knowing that you have a bus waiting for you no matter what time, no matter where, knowing that it’s affordable, even if you’re still looking for a job, it’s really important for us. I still say, “for us” because I still consider myself an immigrant.

JAWN: Mary Akbari is a volunteer coordinator with the Immigrant Services Society of BC, or the ISS of BC. Their job is to help newcomers settle into their new homes, and, as Mary explains, a strong and robust transit system plays a significant role in accomplishing that goal.

MARY AKBARI: The program that I’m in charge of is the Community Connection Program. I manage field trips, English conversation circles.

I recruit volunteers, so I basically work with clients who are newcomers, and I have settlement mentors who are volunteers, and they commit to, take newcomers to different places, like different recreational places, to just show them around the city every week.

And as a part of their plan, they go to different stations together to just show them how to get a Compass Card, how to use the SkyTrain, how to use the bus.

JAWN: As an immigrant myself, I’m really glad to see and hear that programs like this exist, because I think it would have been, I mean, if I was still younger and maybe had known about this organization, would have loved to have seen what that could have been like for me growing up. But let me ask you then, Mary, like, what inspired you to want to kind of do this line of work?

MARY: It’s kind of a funny story how I got involved with ISS of BC. I can say it was because of TransLink.

JAWN: Really now?

MARY: Yeah.

JAWN: Okay. Elaborate on that if you can.

MARY: So, when I first got here, I’m originally from Iran. I lived in different countries, but I finally chose Canada, especially BC to be my forever home. And so, during my second week, I was in a rush to find a job, for obvious reasons.

And before coming here, I used to be an English teacher, so I thought, okay, I should look for something similar. So I applied for a few jobs and I got, I got an interview downtown, and I said, okay, it’s easy. I’m gonna use the public transport, whatever they have here in B.C. and get there. So I looked it up and compared to what I had in Japan, it was very easy.

I had to switch to a Expo Line and then go to Burrard Station. Very easy. So I went to the SkyTrain station and got on the train, and I was looking for a train conductor or someone on the train who was in charge. But no, there was no one. So it was amazing. And I remember I sat on the front seats looking out through the window. It was a sunny day in August.

I started filming, taking photos. I totally forgot about the job interview for the station that I had to get off. So by the time that I realized I had to get up, I think it was Commercial. Yes, at Commercial–Broadway, I was at VCC and it was too late to go back to the interview.

So I sat there like, disappointed. I had lost the job. I lost my chance. And I saw an ad for ISIS of B.C. it said, like, are you a newcomer? I think it was for our employment services. And if you have more questions, contact us. So I contacted them that contacted them right away and became a client. So when I saw how my case manager helped me me, how supportive she was and what a great place it was to work, I immediately applied and got a job here.

So that’s why I said TransLink was the reason.

JAWN: That’s actually amazing. Just hearing you share that story. I mean, I think a lot of people, when they come to Metro Vancouver for the first time, they might not know the SkyTrain is a fully automated system. And for us who have grown up here a long time, it’s something that we just we just kind of take for granted sometimes.

So to hear your, your experience and then to, to hear you call it amazing, I think that’s, that’s really wonderful. And, I can imagine what that was like when you’re just kind of sitting in the front seat. I think I did that when I was younger, too, just kind of thinking like, oh, it’s kind of neat just visualizing that I’m the one driving the SkyTrain in a sense.

So, that’s very, very relatable. I’m sure, to a lot of our listeners as well. So I’m glad there was a happy ending, though, because, you know, if it was just that you missed the interview, we would have felt pretty bad. But I’m glad it all worked out.

MARY: Yeah, it worked out pretty well. I’m happy that I work here.

I want to talk a little about ISS of BC and what we do here. So, I think it’s been more than 50 years. Yeah. So, ISS of BC was established in 1968. And ever since, our mission has been to help immigrants build the future in Canada. And that is beautiful. So with the help of our funders, like provincial and federal government and private funders, we have three main services which are settlement, employment and language support for refugees, immigrants and temporary residents.

And as you said, I know a lot of immigrants here who are now my volunteers, and they say, I wish we had these kind of services when we got here like 30 years ago. And I’m happy that it’s improving. I’m happy that we have more services for immigrants and refugees because it’s really important, especially when there is a language barrier and you come to somewhere that’s totally new for you. You have to have someone to help you.

JAWN: Absolutely. And I think that’s a story that, resonates with a lot of people listening, like myself. Of course, I shared earlier that I’m on the mic, or my whole family immigrated here from from South Korea. When we arrived here, we didn’t have a lot of money, of course, so just having a car right away was not an option for us.

Relying on public transit was very important for me to kind of learn what my new home and then BC and in Canada was going to be like. So, I’m sure not too dissimilar from your story there, Mary.

Maybe you can explain then, like the unique relationship that exists between TransLink and ISS of BC because I think we’re kind of talking about it already, but the role that public transit plays for a lot of newcomers to this country, you mentioned refugees.

I mean, that’s that’s a that’s an important one, because a lot of times these people are coming here under, less than ideal circumstances where, you know, they didn’t plan necessarily maybe to be here, but they are here and they need to get around the region. Yeah, exactly. so I know that ISIS of BC and TransLink collaborate each other with each other, in our settlement services and employment.

MARY: So for settlement, I know that, manager of transit travel training program and public affairs had informational workshops for our staff to let us know what kind of services TransLink has and how we can use them, for our clients, something like HandyDART, for example. It’s always good to know about the details and how we can book that for clients.

Also, our funder has a specific budget for TransLink tickets for our clients. So whenever they come to in-person like appointments, meetings, workshops or whatsoever, we can provide them with these tickets so they won’t have to, like, spend out of their own pockets. And in our employment services, I think, in our employment services, TransLink recruitment team and more specifically the Engineering Project Delivery program have had different collaborations with our Career Paths program.

So what they do is that, Career Paths has actually referred clients, to those programs at TransLink, so they can be reviewed by the Talent acquisition team that you have. And I’m sure that a few people have been hired by TransLink, and it’s only because TransLink is creating the culture of inclusion and welcoming newcomers in the hiring approach, which is great, and I’m just hoping that more hiring managers have this approach to focus on the qualifications, rather than what the past experience was and where they had it.

Even though they were like temporary programs, maybe six month programs, it gave our clients, the benefit of being able to apply internally for more permanent positions, have TransLink on their resume, and have that so-called Canadian experience.

JAWN: Love it. I mean, all of that. I think is such important work. and I love to see that the relationship between TransLink and ISS of BC is so meaningful for for a lot of these people, and it sounds like the relationship benefits like not just the the clients that you have, but also some of your colleagues, the employees you shared, your story.

Has anyone else that maybe you work with regularly, like do they also have a similar experience with with public transit or TransLink in general? What do you think?

MARY: I think yes, most of the people that I know use public transport to get to work. Especially we have this, program called Map Moving Ahead program that the caseworker actually, the caseworkers travel, to different locations with our clients, or they meet them outside the office, and they all use public transport.

So, as you can see, it’s a vital part of our life, I mean, both personal and work life. And, I’m happy that it’s easy to use. As I said, there are not so many lines to confuse you. You can easily get around the city. Of course there’s always room for improvement. But yeah, I’m happy that we have it here in Metro Vancouver, and I wish it was more accessible in other areas like Fraser Valley.

JAWN: One more question then for you, Mary, when you take the SkyTrain these days, do you still sit at the front? Is that still your favorite seat?

MARY: Oh no, not anymore. I mean…

JAWN: You’re past that now?

MARY: Yeah, it depends on the day. Sometimes when it’s rainy and it’s beautiful, it’s worth a shot. I said, okay, why not? But I can say it’s mostly for new users.

For me, I sit next to the door so I can get out. [inaudible] Yeah.

JAWN: See, at this point you’re a veteran. You know, you got to get in and out. You got places to go. You got people to see. So, I can fully appreciate that. You know, what is one tip that you would want to share with any newcomers who are arriving in Metro Vancouver and using transit?

Now that you’ve gone through the SkyTrain and the bus experience yourself, maybe if there was something you could have told you, the very first day you arrived in Vancouver, what would that piece of advice be?

MARY: Hmm, let me think. So I know that our settlement workers, when they first meet our clients, they they give this these little maps of TransLink so they can know how to get around, even if they don’t have access to online maps.

But the one thing that’s very tricky and funny is to be aware of the zoning. Because sometimes for a newcomer, you know, everybody lives on a budget and you kind of calculate how much you’re going to spend on transportation this month, and you go one stop further and say, oh, it was another zone. So now I have to pay more.

So you try to be careful about zoning and try to plan in advance, like plan your trip way in advance so you, you don’t forget like me, where to get off the train. But sometimes that leads to good things, right?

JAWN:  Absolutely. Yeah. Very well said, Mary. I think it’s been wonderful talking with you and learning more about the work that ISS of BC does with TransLink.

Just one last question then. Like how just just to maybe reiterate the importance of what transit accessibility means to, to newcomers. I mean, we kind of touched on this already, a few minutes ago, but I don’t think it can be overstated, really. The the importance that, our role is with people that are coming to Metro Vancouver and hoping to establish a brand new life here.

MARY: Yeah, absolutely. So, it is extremely important to have accessible, affordable and safe public transport throughout Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley and honestly, everywhere. Just just imagine the life of an immigrant coming here the very first night that they arrive at the airport. So they have to get home to their very first home or to the temporary residence that they have.

And the next day they have Service Canada, they have ICBC, they have opening a bank account or they have the appointments at the ISS of BC. So these are the important steps that they have to take. And there is no other way to get to those place, but using the public transit, transportation. And not everyone can afford a car.

And I think that we should not have to afford a car or have a car for, for so many reasons. So this is something that affects their settlement journey. This is something that affects that first impression that they get from that new place that they should call home from now. And even after that, like they are settled now, they’re looking to have a full life.

So many people say that maybe, for example, in Maple Ridge, there is no nightlife. I know that we try to introduce, and try to engage with our clients by taking them to a hockey game. But, you know, hockey games sometimes go past 10 p.m.. So I didn’t want everyone to be worried about the night bus. So having that, like knowing that you have a bus waiting for you no matter what time, no matter where, knowing that it’s affordable, even if you’re still looking for a job, is really important for us.

I still say, “for us,” because I still consider myself an immigrant.

JAWN: Access to public transit really is the be all and end all for newcomers. As it is so eloquently put by our friend, Chris Chan, “Transportation might only be a small part of their day, but it is that part that makes everything else possible.” It makes their transition easier and affordable, a strong and expansive transit system allows newcomers to grow, new families to thrive, and new futures to be built.

That’s why, with our region rapidly growing every single year, we need new investments to expand the transit system to meet the needs of an ever growing population here in Metro Vancouver. Their future is our future, and that is why it all matters.

My thanks to Mary Akbari and the entire ISS of BC team for giving us the time to speak on the work they do. Chris Chan, the manager of travel training at TransLink, for getting us in touch with Mary and her team. Producer Allen for making sure the future of this podcast remains bright as always. And of course, our thanks to you for listening and subscribing. I’ve been your host, Jawn Jang, and until next time, have a safe trip!

The post TransLink Podcast: Why transit is so important for newcomers appeared first on The Buzzer blog.

It’s the first and longest bridge span in Metro Vancouver and the province to be paved with polyester polymer concrete (PPC). It’s an innovative compound that is more durable, has higher skid resistance under all-weather conditions, and quicker to cure compared to asphalt and concrete.

This was a core component for the second phase of the Knight Street Bridge Rehabilitation Project. Here’s what we accomplished:

Replacing original bridge bearings with new bearings to ensure the continued integrity of the structure.

Milling and repaving the top layer of the concrete deck with polyester polymer concrete (PPC) overlay to preserve the deck.

Installing the railing separating vehicle lanes from the sidewalk to provide more protective separation between vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians.

A critical crossing for Metro Vancouver

Step inside your local store and you’ll be hard-pressed to find something that didn’t arrive by truck.

That’s why as a region separated by water, bridges play a critical role in connecting Metro Vancouver and ensuring the food, clothing, and all other goods we need arrive at our stores.

The Knight Street Bridge stands out as it’s the main artery between the Port of Vancouver’s downtown terminals — where goods arrive on container ships, the industrial areas in north and south Richmond, Tilbury as well as Deltaport. Highway 91 and Highway 99 also feed into the bridge.

This makes the Knight Street Bridge the second busiest bridge in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley with the average number of 110,000 vehicles and 10,000 trucks crossing each day — a critical link.

Aside from being a busy corridor for vehicles and trucks, it’s also an important corridor for our buses. This includes the 430 Metrotown/Richmond–Brighouse Express, which is a key connection between Richmond and Burnaby.

The Knight Street Bridge’s importance to transit riders and the region’s economy is not lost on Naz Nazir, PhD, P.Eng., PMP — a project manager at TransLink, who was tasked with overseeing the rehabilitation project.

Every year we complete an annual inspection on the Knight Street Bridge and the four other bridges TransLink owns and operates: the Golden Ears Bridge, Pattullo Bridge, Westham Island Bridge, and the Canada Line Bike and Pedestrian Bridge.

An inspection in 2017 revealed that, while the Knight Street Bridge was safe and in good condition, it was starting to show its age. After all, it opened in 1973 and is now more than 50 years old.

It was discovered there was starting to be delamination, which is like cracks that occur below the surface of the concrete deck. This happens when water gets into the concrete over time. Think of delamination as like paint peeling on a fence.

The inspection also found the original bearings needed to be replaced as well. Bearings are like cushions that the bridge girder ends sit on. It allows the bridge to move a little bit when there’s thermal expansion or contraction and reduces stress on the structure.

Just like how you might need to repaint a fence at your home or replace a kitchen countertop, the Knight Street Bridge needed some TLC.

Faster, stronger

“There were two things happening in the deck rehabilitation,” explains Naz. “We were interested in repairing the delamination in the concrete and then we wanted to place an overlay on top to seal the concrete.”

Since its opening, crews have sealed the bridge with asphalt, and they have continued to patch it with asphalt whenever potholes appear.

Naz was challenged to find ways to complete the much-needed work that minimizes impact to this critical crossing now and into the future.

Enter polyester polymer concrete.

It’s a compound material that, while widely used in other places as an overlay for the concrete bridge decks, hadn’t been used before in British Columbia.

Like many other construction materials, polyester polymer concrete can only be placed in specific conditions. It must be dry and temperatures are preferably above 5°C.

What’s special about the compound is it lasts longer compared to asphalt, up to 30 years. It also cures — or dries — fast so vehicles can drive on it within a few hours.

“It’s curing time is 2-to-4 hours,” explains Naz. “It cures and gets its strength so fast, so we can finish the work overnight.”

That’s exactly what happened throughout the duration of the rehabilitation project.

There were single lane closure in both directions from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. weekdays and from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. on weekends and holidays.

“Polyester polymer concrete helped us in reducing the disruption to the traffic,” says Naz. “Especially in the morning when traffic demand is huge on the bridge.”

Looking ahead, Naz expects the polyester polymer concrete to be a gamechanger for maintenance. As any repairs, like the rehabilitation project, can be done overnight in a matter of hours.

For example, for any pothole repairs, the team no longer needs to bring heavy equipment in.

“You don’t need to bring in a truck with asphalt, a paver on the deck to place it and a roller to finish the surface,” explains Naz. He adds by using polyester polymer concrete, the team can use rolling lane closures.

This is where instead of closing the length of the bridge for work, they only close a small segment and then quickly re-open that segment when they move to another segment.

A greater Vancouver

Knowing he can make a difference in people’s lives and Metro Vancouver through projects like this is what motivates Naz as a member of TransLink’s small but mighty Bridge Operations team.

As Metro Vancouver’s transportation authority, TransLink invests in regionally significant roads, cycling, and pedestrian infrastructure through our Local Government Funding Programs to better connect Metro Vancouver communities.

This includes owning and operating five bridges: the Pattullo Bridge, Golden Ears Bridge, Westham Island Bridge, the Canada Line Bike and Pedestrian Bridge, and the Knight Street Bridge.

A structural engineer by trade, Naz joined TransLink because he wanted a job that was larger than simply the role.

“TransLink connects the region and enhances its livability by providing a resilient transportation infrastructure, embraced by the people of the Lower Mainland, and we do our work within a sustainability framework,” he says. “I really enjoy working at TransLink.”

The post Knight Street Bridge: the first bridge repaved with innovative material appeared first on The Buzzer blog.

The Bike Bus is back!

This popular specialized service is a great option for cycling customers travelling between Bridgeport Station and the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. The 900 Bike Bus is in service starting Friday, June 28 (Canada Day long weekend) to Monday, Sept. 2 (Labour Day). It will run every hour from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays, weekends, and holidays. Departure times align with BC Ferries sailings.

This summer, each Bike Bus will have an additional interior bike rack bringing the total capacity up to 10 bikes per trip.

More seasonal service to outdoor destinations

As part of our upcoming Summer Service Changes, seasonal adjustments are being made on 11 bus routes starting June 24. This means the return of seasonal service to some of your favourite outdoor destinations around the region, including:

• English Bay
  • 🚍 23 Main Street Station/English Bay
• Stanley Park
  • 🚍19 Metrotown Station/Stanley Park
• False Creek
  • 🚍50 Waterfront Station/False Creek South
• White Pine Beach
  • 🚍150 Coquitlam Central Station/White Pine Beach
• Deep Cove
  • 🚍 211 Seymour/Phibbs Exchange/Burrard Station
• Lions Bay
  • 🚍262 Lions Bay/Caulfeild
• White Rock
  • 🚍362 Seaside/White Rock Centre

Transit service changes happen four times a year — in January, April, June, and September. These quarterly adjustments are based on seasonal patterns and customer demand from riders like you.

Remember, you can plan your journey with Trip Planner, sign up for Transit Alerts, follow @TransLink on X , or call Customer Service at 604.953.3333.

Which outdoor destination is your favourite! ?

The post Seasonal service returns to 12 bus routes this summer appeared first on The Buzzer blog.

“It looked like a seaplane was floundering in the water. We didn’t hear anything yet on the radio. But it looked like it was in a bad position, so I decided we should go over and see if we could help,” she said.

She directed the four person crew aboard the Burrard Otter II to prepare for a possible person overboard pick up.

“Then I made an announcement to the passengers to let them know what we were doing, and heading over to see if we could provide any assistance.”

It seems that people were off before it sunk into the harbour? pic.twitter.com/Y8RzoQI9tW

— Nicky Furmage (@NickyFurmage) June 8, 2024

As she turned around the vessel, SeaBus Attendants Erin Young and Gregory Nicholl didn’t miss a beat and kicked into gear.

“It just happened that, that day was our person overboard drill,” said Gregory.

SeaBus crews do a drill every weekend, and just hours before the incident, had practiced for this very scenario.

“I got my harness on. Gregory moved passengers away,” recalls Erin, adding that the SeaBus passengers were very cooperative, “everyone was really wonderful and gave lots of space.”

Everyone on the seabus today watching. Seabus headed to downtown had to pull over to help if needed… pic.twitter.com/UqmGIjWkmk

— EJB (@EJB097) June 9, 2024

The SeaBus is equipped with life rafts and crews are able to drop down a ladder, and pick up any persons in the water.

“It feels kind of surreal at first. Then you just remember all the training you do, and everything you practice for and put the drills into action. Luckily, we had a great crew on board that day and we all got into action.”

Other vessels had also noticed the plane and made their way there to help rescue any passengers, including first responders.

“It’s really impressive to see the response I saw from everyone. From Vancouver Fire Rescue, Vancouver Police Department, RCMP, and people’s private vessels,” said Captain Larson.

She says it’s “the law of the sea” that if you see someone in need, or in trouble, you must help them.

“It’s a busy harbour, everyone gets the same call from the harbour master, and everyone does what they can to get out there, so there is no loss of life,” said Gregory.

“It’s pretty incredible. It’s a serious incident and a huge thanks and respect to the vessels that got there first and got them out of the water,” said Gregory.

The post SeaBus crew jump into action after seaplane collides with boat in Vancouver’s Coal Harbour appeared first on The Buzzer blog.

Come behind the scenes with us as What’s the T: the TransLink Podcast with Jawn Jang reveals the voices and stories that drive Metro Vancouver’s transit system forward. Subscribe and listen everywhere you get your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Pocket Casts!

JAWN: Hey! Welcome to What’s the T: the TransLink Podcast. I’m your host, Jawn Jang. Here’s what we’re checking out on this episode.

MALE ROBOT VOICE: You’ve got mail!

JAWN: It’s a special episode answering questions asked by you, the listener. Let’s tap in to What’s the T!

*INTRO MUSIC PLAYS*

JAWN: Making a new episode for the TransLink Podcast is not as simple or as easy as just sitting down in front of a microphone and hitting record. The truth is, there are so many different topics and stories to share that we couldn’t possibly address all of them. Deciding which stories and topics to feature can be a very difficult decision. That’s why we’ve decided to shake things up for this episode, and instead of focusing on just a single topic, we’re going to try multiple. So with that said, welcome to the very first Quick Sips on What’s the T.

*THE SOUND OF SOMEONE SIPPING A DRINK, FOLLOWED BY A SATISFIED EXHALE*

JAWN: A fun little trivia fact as we kick off what is going to be the first-ever episode where we have received questions from TransLink customers, fans, transit riders, and maybe most importantly, What’s the T listeners. So with that in mind, we take a step back on this episode and really just reveal what it’s like to be the The Wizard of Oz, because it’s really a team operation. It’s not just me, and even though it’s usually my voice through here, it does take a village. So it is my great honor and privilege to welcome in his own voice the man who gets a shout out every episode but has so far kind of been a, a ghost behind the scenes. The True Wizard of Oz. It is the one and only producer, Allen Tung!

PRODUCER ALLEN: Well, thank you, Jawn.

*”YOU’RE THE BEST” BY JOE ESPOSITO BEGINS TO PLAY, WITH THE LYRICS “YOU’RE THE BEST AROUND, NOTHING’S GONNA EVER KEEP YOU DOWN..”, THE MUSIC EVENTUALLY FADES*

ALLEN: What an introduction, I’m excited to come out of the shadows a little bit.

JAWN: *Loudly clapping* Yes! The people have been waiting and now they finally get, what they’ve been asking for so long. So, Producer Allen, maybe just quickly, describe like what it is you do at TransLink.

ALLEN: What do I do at TransLink?

JAWN: Aside from, like, just keeping me in check because that’s a full-time job on its own sometimes.

ALLEN: So I am the assistant editor of The Buzzer. So The Buzzer is TransLink’s brand publication. You know, we tell a lot of stories in terms of transit riders, people who work here. And I think one of our favorite things that people like to read The Buzzer for is places you can go in transit. So I am now the assistant editor of the blog, and, I do you know, other things as well on social media. So I’m the Senior Advisor with social media at TransLink. So yeah.

JAWN: You’re busy.

ALLEN: *Laughing* Yes.

JAWN: You and your team are always up to like a thousand things simultaneously. So it’s been a great pleasure to have you working with me on this podcast and really helping to launch this whole darn thing. Like I said, just over a year ago, as we celebrate the anniversary of “What’s the T?” and, yeah, you know, we’ve had a lot of great learning moments and a lot of fun. And we have a practicum student here who’s been at TransLink as part of the BCIT program requirements, which, by the way, I’m a graduate of, so shoutout to BCIT, and “Producer Sophie” as her nickname has been this past season and she’s been helping a lot with behind the scenes. And, yeah, my pleasure as well to introduce Producer Sophie to the deck, everybody. *Clapping* Hello!

PRODUCER SOPHIE: Thank you, Jawn!

JAWN: Sophie, it’s been great having you, part of this as well. And, we’re excited to get you in front of the microphone here for this episode, because, you actually helped source a lot of these questions, hey?

SOPHIE: Yeah, I did. Yeah. it was it was very fun.

JAWN: We wanted to do this episode a little bit differently than how we typically record our episodes. And, you know, have interviews with certain experts. And the point of this episode is to try and answer questions that maybe we decided, well, like, we can’t devote a full episode on a topic. So we thought, you know, why don’t we just get a whole bunch of questions and see if we can essentially answer them in a in a single go? So with that in mind, Sophie, maybe you want to take us through some of these questions and you can start with whichever one you like, but there’s no real rhythm or flow. We’re just going to try and get as many questions as you can here.

SOPHIE: Yeah, absolutely. Okay. Why do some of the busses operate on the trolleys and others don’t?

JAWN: Solid. Yeah. Anyone who’s maybe not from Vancouver would maybe not realize that the trolley system only exists in the city of Vancouver. But I grew up everywhere, right? So I grew up in Surrey, Langley, Burnaby, New Westminster. I realized, like, trolleybuses aren’t a thing until you get within city limits. So Al, why is that exactly?

ALLEN: Well, we talk about the history of the region. What we’re really talking about is actually the history of the streetcar, the history of the interurban. So, you know why some bus routes are trolley routes is because they used to be streetcar routes. And, when they were deciding what to do with the streetcars after World War 2, you know, they saw, well, we already have the wire running down, up and down the streets. Why don’t we add a second wire and bring in trolleybusses? So that’s when they ran the trolleybusses. And that’s where the trolleybusses run. It’s where the streetcars used to run.

JAWN: Makes sense. And as to why they might not exist outside of the city.. Suburbs developed later. So I’m assuming by that point, Allen, not that I’m a history geek or expert or anything like that, but diesel busses were already pretty much fully adopted by that point.

ALLEN: Yeah. And, you know, it’s shocking us for us to think right now, but, diesel busses, they were cutting edge in the post-war period and, that’s the technology I decided to use at the time because it was cutting edge.

JAWN: Speaking of like cutting edge bus technology, of course, now we’re getting set up for battery electric busses, but I digress. Okay, we’re getting too into the weeds here! Sophie, keep us moving along.

SOPHIE: Okay! This next question is a personal query of mine.

JAWN: Okay.

SOPHIE: So a lot of the busses, like for example, I’ll use the 25 and the 130 in my example here, they’re the same size bus, but in the bus the seat layout is different. And for something like the 25 it differs from 25 to 25. Like the busses are different depending on like which one you get.

JAWN: Right.

SOPHIE: You know it’s the same line, it’s going down the same route, but each bus inside looks different. And I’m just wondering like why that variation?

JAWN: Solid question. I do know that from personal experience that people get really strange and like intimate when your knees touch in that particular setup that we have, where it’s the four seats kind of all facing each other there. Yeah, not everyone’s favorite, that one. But Allen, like, maybe there is a good explanation as to why some busses are looking a little bit different sometimes.

ALLEN: Yeah, I think, I think I do have my own favorite bus, too, and I’m sure others definitely will have their favorite bus and they want to catch their favorite bus. But, you know, we have different bus models, right? Like, you know, you know, we buy busses all the time in terms of when they need to be replaced. And, you know, with each new bus it’s different. We try to find improvements within each bus. So obviously, you know, if you’re gonna buy a car, a car from 1999, it’s going to be quite different from 2009. You’ll have a car that has a cassette player, and they have a car that has a CD player, and then eventually you get one with Bluetooth in it. So, it just this little differences over the years as we’ve brought on new busses as they needed to be replaced.

JAWN: And if you are a long time What’s the T listener, you’ll recall we had a conversation with Angus MacIntyre and John Strachan who kind of implied, that as companies like TransLink, Coast Mountain Bus Company are looking to purchase busses like, the manufacturers want to make sure that their bus models are kind of tailored as much as possible to the region or city that you’re going to. So a bus in Vancouver is going to need different things, and a bus in Edmonton or a bus in Montreal, etc., etc.. So I kind of thought that was neat too, Al, like there’s no cut and dry, you know, cookie cutter bus, so to speak.

ALLEN: Yeah. Like there was no bus dealership, like there’s no bus dealership over at the Richmond Auto Mall where we could just go buy some bus like every one of them. it’s custom built to each, public transit agency because they all have different needs.

JAWN: I like that. All right. Maybe we should open a bus dealership.

SOPHIE: Yeah, I like that idea!

JAWN: That’s my $15 billion idea that I got, hanging in the back pocket here. What do we got next here, Sophie?

SOPHIE: Okay. This is a really quick one. How does the NightBus work?

JAWN: Oooh! The NightBus. Right. Well, you know, we explained on the podcast in season one, episode one, the SkyTrain doesn’t run 24 hours, which means when the Skytrain quote unquote goes to sleep, the NightBus kind of enters from stage, right, if you will, and Al, maybe you can do a better job of sort of describing how the NightBus emulates what the SkyTrain service is supposed to be.

ALLEN: So, yeah, there’s many routes, but maybe I’ll talk about the three main ones. These three main ones, they essentially mimic the SkyTrain service. So you have the N10. So that runs along, you know, Cambie Street and where the Canada Line is. And it does provide some service to the Vancouver International Airport. We have the N19. So that roughly parallels the Expo Line. And we have the N9 that roughly parallels the Millennium Line. So it gives people an option, you know, to get home after the SkyTrain shuts down and we’re able to do some critical maintenance. And, you know, the great thing about the NightBus is you can find it in the same central location. They all go through West Georgia and Granville. So that’s where you can easily catch your NightBus. And, you know, if you want to plan your NightBus route, you can go to TransLink.ca/NightBus and if you’re planning a trip, use TransLink.ca/TripPlanner.

JAWN: When I used to live out in the ‘burbs, I’ve definitely caught myself being like, oh, I did not catch the final SkyTrain home in time. However, will I get home? I don’t want to spend $100 on a cab. The NightBus. It’s there. It’ll take you home!

SOPHIE: Can we quickly run through all of the different, versions of the SkyTrain train cars? So the Mark family?

JAWN: Yes, of course, the Marks!

SOPHIE: Yes.

JAWN: The lovely Marks! Well, I know Mark I started for, Expo 86, so it was like the OG model. Allen has, like, VIP status right now these days in the office, because he’s one of the very few people who have actually been inside the very new SkyTrain. But before we get to the fives, Allen, take us through the rest of the models.

ALLEN: Yeah. So as you alluded to, we had the Mark Is which came along in Expo, for Expo 86 when the SkyTrain first opened. And then when the Millennium Line opened, we brought on the Mark IIs. So those are the ones that are, you know, they’re a little bit rounder and you’ll notice that the cars are, you know, primarily in two cars. You can walk from one to the other. And then we have the Mark IIIs. So those were our first cars that were, you know, four cars, the first trains that are four cars. So you can walk and then again and then the Mark V, our first five car train like you walk from end to end. You’ll notice it’s really large windows. And then at the front you notice it’s a bit flat funnel. It’s angled down a little bit. And you might even notice that the lights look like hockey sticks. *Laughs*

JAWN: Which is so Canadiana, but it’s absolutely true. And I was curious, Allen, since you’ve actually been inside the Mark V — By the way, there’s a cool little video you can check out on the TransLink YouTube channel, and all of our social medias where we show you some of the new features inside the Mark V …. Is it similar to getting a new car, you got that new car smell going on in there?

ALLEN: It’s definitely got that new car smell.

JAWN: Nice.

ALLEN: And I think what people will notice the most about, or what I noticed the most, was just how spacious it is. And, you know, we talked about busses, how they kind of iterate and continue to improve. Like, this is definitely the best train we have so far with, these are just how spacious it is. There’s more flex space. So, you know, it’s a train that works for, you know, more people for sure.

JAWN: Right, yeah. And many more people moving into the region each and every year, so we got to kind of plan for that. So, really excited to see what the Mark vibes will, will be like once they’re fully in operation. But yeah, interesting question there.

SOPHIE: Thank you. The Mark Is are kind of like, you know, Father Mark. And then the Mark Vs are like… Baby Marks. *Laughs*

JAWN: *Laughs* There you go. Yeah. The family generation keeps going.

SOPHIE: The lineage!

*WOOSH SOUND EFFECT AS WE TRANSITION TO A JAWN VOICE-OVER*

JAWN: Now now here’s a question that we get asked on a pretty regular basis. That question being what is the purpose of the third unused platform at the Stadium-Chinatown SkyTrain station? Why does it even exist? It’s such a mystery! To answer this, we’ll reintroduce a friend of the show, Ian Fisher, the manager of operations planning at BC Rapid Transit Company, aka SkyTrain.

IAN FISHER: Yeah, fortunately I was around for Expo 86, so I went there pretty much every day when I was in town back then.

JAWN: Okay!

IAN: And that third platform is an artifact of Expo 86. So that was part of the Expo 86 site. You had to have a expo ticket to be on that platform. And there were dedicated trains that ran from that third platform through nonstop, so they they skipped Granville and Burrard, to one of the two platforms at Waterfront.

JAWN: Oh, okay.

IAN: And the Waterfront platform was split down the middle. Half of it was within the Expo site to give access to the Canada Place Pavillion, which was obviously, we now call Canada Place.

JAWN: Right!

IAN: Through the Howe Street entrance. So that was not originally public entrance, that was just there for expo access. And then the other side of the Waterfront platform was for trains going out to New Westminster at the time. So that’s why we have the third platform there. And it offered a nice cross platform connection to the Expo monorail, which at some point we’ll have another cross platform connection for our rapid transit system if we’re really lucky.

JAWN: Right.

IAN: Very efficient for customers. So that’s what it was there for. It was just built for those expo special trains. And that’s one reason why the track layout there is kind of optimized for that. And the viaducts crossovers, so that those trains could leave that third platform at east a little bit, then reverse and then head towards Waterfront. Currently it’s really useful for storing trains. So, so again, we it’s right next to the stadium.

JAWN: Right.

IAN: So we’ll stash a train there ready to go. So when the crowd starts to come out of the stadium, you have one ready to insert. And we’ll have other trains at a few other locations like Waterfront, we can have one, and near Nanaimo, but it’s a great way to just have a train ready to go. Also, if there’s, a failed problem with the train or whatever, we can either put a fail train in that track and get it out of the way, or we can have a spare train there ready to fill the gap in service. So even though it doesn’t have a regular everyday customer service use these days, it’s still a very useful facility for us for keeping the system running.

JAWN: Makes sense. Yeah, it’s original purpose, you know, is no longer relevant. But now it kind of serves as that flex option, which I think is really great to have, especially like in downtown Vancouver. Downtown Vancouver is not known for having a lot of space, period. So I think having that is actually a great factor, for you and your team. But basically what you’re saying is we need Expo 2036 to come back and maybe we can relive that glorious days all over again. Is that what you’re saying?

IAN: I don’t know if we needed to come back, but, it’s a good remnant of that. The whole system was, of course, built in time for Expo 86, so if we didn’t have Expo 86, we might not have SkyTrain at all.

JAWN: That’s a very good point.

IAN: Thank Expo for that.

JAWN: Do you remember the theme song?

IAN: Vaguely. I went to the fireworks at as often as I could, but I can’t remember.

JAWN: I believe… Something special is happening and something along those lines.

*MUSIC FADES UP, IT’S THE THEME SONG TO EXPO 86, “SOMETHING’S HAPPENING HERE”*

JAWN: One of the things you you kind of touched on, of course, was Expo and one of the most iconic sights and experiences during Expo 86.. Not that I was around back then, but I was just reading about it and I’ve seen it on YouTube.. It’s the monorail. You were at Expo! Did you take the monorail?

IAN: I definitely took the monorail. Yeah, I remember the interesting thing was you could wait for a very long time to get on the monorail.

JAWN: What’s that mean, what’s the headway there?

IAN: It must have been a few minutes. I don’t think it was super frequent.

JAWN: But young Ian was, you know, excited, wanted to get on the monorail!

IAN: Yeah, yeah, everyone wanted to get on the monorail. It was provided by a Swiss manufacturer. They also provided monorails to some other places that people might have seen very similar cars like Sydney, which also dismantled theirs. There are rumours that our cars ended up in the UK. I remember hearing that. And sorry, not OUR cars.. It wasn’t really a SkyTrain operation, neither a TransLink operation. Capacity isn’t very high and there are huge queues to get on the system because it’s.. Everyone wants to try it.

JAWN: Where did it run beteween, if you can describe that, if you recall.

IAN: It was kind of the two ends of the site, I think it went almost all the way to what’s now, George Wainborn Park at the end of Richards Street and all the way to Science World at the other end.

JAWN: Gotcha.

IAN: Yeah. The secret actually, at Expo was to take the ferries because they weren’t very busy. And if you wanted to go from the end of the site to the other end, that was the fastest way to go, generally. The monorail was fun, but not fast. There are not many memories of the monorail left visibly, but I think at the old BC pavilion at the Plaza of Nations, you can still see where the monorail passed through the building where the platform was, because on the side facing northwest of that building, you can see a cut out, and then where the platform was, but that’s obviously up for redevelopment. So those of you wanting to get your Expo monorail memories, go down there and get photos.

JAWN: And did the monorail get shut down as soon as the Expo 86 wrapped up, or did it kind of stick around for a little bit more?

IAN: Oh, it was shut down right away because it was all within the site.

JAWN: Fair.

IAN: I heard there were some discussion about repurposing it at first, a downtown circulator of some kind where it would go down Robson or what have you. But that didn’t really get very far.

JAWN: Well, there you have it. Our very first Quick Sips on What’s the T– Where we take a bunch of questions asked by listeners and try to provide quick and tidy answers. A quick sip! Here’s a good time to remind you that you can always reach out and interact with us. You can email us at any time at podcast@translink.ca, and that’s whether you have a question or a concern or just a comment. We’re always happy to get your feedback and who knows, maybe we’ll answer your question the next time we do this. My thanks, as always to our in-house experts, from Ian Fisher to everyone who’s been able to provide answers. My thanks to Producer Allen Tung making his long-awaited debut on this podcast. And of course, our thanks to you for listening and subscribing.

I’ve been your host, Jawn Jang, and until next time, have a safe trip!

The post TransLink Podcast: Answering your questions with Quick Sips appeared first on The Buzzer blog.

On June 20, join us for TransLink’s virtual, online-only Annual General Meeting from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Join TransLink leadership to reflect on recent milestones, the challenges we’re facing, and what’s ahead for the organization as we welcome new customers and help create new connections:

• Lorraine Cunningham, Chair of TransLink’s Board of Directors
• Kevin Quinn, TransLink’s Chief Executive Officer
• Michael McDaniel, President and General Manager, Coast Mountain Bus Company
• Sany Zein, President and General Manager, British Columbia Rapid Transit Company
• Suzanne Muir, Chief Officer, Metro Vancouver Transit Police

Questions from the public may be submitted during the AGM using our interactive, online Q&A platform Slido.

A live stream of our AGM will be available on June 20 at translink.ca/agm.

Open Board Meeting

Our June Open Board Meeting will follow our Annual General Meeting after a brief break. You can apply to speak as a public delegate by visiting our Board Meeting page.

If you’re unable to attend, you can watch recordings of both meetings on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/translink.

We look forward to seeing you on June 20!

The post Join us for TransLink’s Annual General Meeting and Open Board Meeting on June 20, 2024 appeared first on The Buzzer blog.

Take the car-free pledge

Stop by the TransLink Zone and make your pledge to go car free this summer. Learn about your climate impact through games and prizes. Stock up on our latest and greatest swag.

Music and dance take the stage

Don’t miss out on the fantastic performance lineup at this years Car Free Day festival! Catch wordsmith, songstress, and mental health advocate Victoria Groff, the energetic Bollywood Dance with Flare Dance, and so many more.

Family-friendly fun

There’s plenty to see and lots to keep the little ones entertained! Catch Yuki the Juggler, a Japanese-Canadian professional juggler based in Vancouver who is also our Art Moves June performer, along with free face painting, a bounce house, and roving entertainers in the Family Zone. Other activities include mini golf, giant Jenga, Connect 4, and more!

How do I get there?

Just a few steps north of the Newton Exchange, it’s accessible by all the buses there — including the R1 King George Blvd RapidBus and R6 Scott Road RapidBus! Check the schedules by finding your bus at translink.ca/tripplanner. Cyclists can also ride to the event and park at the Bike Valet for free! Just like a coat check, there will be someone there to secure your bike, and you’ll get a slip for when you’re ready to ride back.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Bike Valet (@thebicyclevalet)

Can’t wait to see you there!

The post Take transit to Car Free Day Surrey on June 8 appeared first on The Buzzer blog.

Recently, staff at SeaBus conducted a life raft exercise where the crew practiced deploying a life raft, a self-inflating lifeboat, during a mock abandon ship scenario. 

The SeaBus carries 385 passengers and has four life rafts. Each raft has room for 150 people, which means all passengers can fit onto three life rafts with the fourth serving as a spare.  

Annually, the manufacturer tests the rafts to ensure they are insulated and intact. They also check the rafts for working equipment and perform a pressure test. Every six years, we deploy each life raft ourselves. 

What happens during the SeaBus safety exercise?

This exercise allows staff to practice several procedures while deploying one of the life rafts on board the SeaBus. 

First, we inform the Marine Communications and Traffic Services of the life raft deployment. Then, they transmit a safety broadcast on the radio to alert all vessels in Burrard Inlet. This is done to ensure that anyone nearby knows that this is in fact, just a drill!

Next, the vessel lets out a series of horns, seven short blasts followed by one long blast, to alert others on the water. This also the sign to the crew on board that it’s time to prepare for deployment of the life raft. 

The mock passengers then put on life jackets, take off their shoes and eyeglasses and prepare for evacuation onto the life raft. 

Once the captain gives the abandon ship command, the crew to deploys the life raft and helps passengers off the vessel.  

A rescue boat then tows the life raft and evacuated passengers to shore.  

With the exercise complete, a team of engineers returns the life raft to the SeaBus maintenance docks, near Lonsdale Quay, for reinstallation onto the vessel.  

Lloyds Surveyor, responsible for inspecting the SeaBus on behalf of Transport Canada, was on board to ensure all safety-related elements were tested according to federal regulations. The marine industry is regulated by Transport Canada, and operators must meet their safety standards.  

Why is this exercise performed? 

This emergency preparedness exercise is one of many that SeaBus crew members complete every 15 days, covering different scenarios that could happen on board. It’s all part of our efforts to keep you safe and your commute as smooth sailing as possible.  

If you see something, say something! Report any issues to a uniformed transit employee or by texting Metro Vancouver Transit Police at 87.77.77. Visit our Safety and Security page to learn more. 

The post SeaBus performs one of its many essential emergency exercises appeared first on The Buzzer blog.