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TransLink Services To Be Free New Year’s Eve, With Later Last Trains

Photo: @spotting.with.thomas / Instagram

TransLink doesn’t have too many fans in Metro Vancouver, but come New Year’s Eve, you might be thanking them.

The public transit services just announced it will be operating free starting on December 31st at 5 pm until January 1st at 5 am.

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Services will also be operating as follows:

• Buses will operate on a Saturday schedule with over 30 additional buses throughout the system and extra service on select routes.
• Last train from Waterfront to King George at 2:16 a.m.
• Last train from Waterfront to Lougheed at 2:11 a.m.
• Last train from Waterfront to Production Way-University at 1:40 a.m.
• Last train from Waterfront to YVR-Airport Station at 2:05 a.m.
• Last train from Waterfront to Richmond-Brighouse at 2:15 a.m.
• Last train from VCC-Clark to Lafarge Lake-Douglas at 2:22 a.m. (until 2:29 a.m. as far as Lougheed Town Centre only)
• Last train from Lafarge Lake-Douglas to VCC-Clark at 2:00 a.m. (until 2:39 a.m. as far as Lougheed Town Centre only)
• SeaBus will operate on a Sunday/holiday schedule with extended service every 15 minutes until 1:22 a.m. and every 30 minutes until last sailing from Waterfront at 2:22 a.m.

As usual on a Sunday, the West Coast Express will not be operating.

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Free transit in Metro Vancouver Sunday night for New Year’s Eve

By Hana Mae Nassar and Pippa Norman

Posted December 29, 2023 6:00 am.

Last Updated December 28, 2023 12:03 pm.

In an effort to help revelers get around before and after ringing in 2024, TransLink is lifting transit fees for New Year’s Eve.

The transit authority says all fare gates at Skytrain and SeaBus stations will remain open between 5 p.m. on Dec. 31 and 5 a.m. on Jan. 1, with customers not required to pay for service during that time.

Don't just plan your NYE party or get together – plan your ride home too! We're providing extra buses for our busiest routes, extending SeaBus & SkyTrain schedules, & NightBuses will assist those who want to stay out well past the strike of midnight! https://t.co/KXTlsjljdI ^DA pic.twitter.com/Kxk53Aka2p — TransLink BC (@TransLink) December 28, 2023

Anyone who begins their trips before 5 p.m. is still being told to tap out per usual, to ensure they’re charged the correct fare.

Meanwhile, all buses will operate on a Sunday schedule , with more than 30 vehicles added to the evening’s fleet.

SkyTrain and SeaBus service will operate on an extended Sunday schedule, and the NightBus will continue operating after SkyTrain and SeaBus service ends.

The last trains will run as follows:

• Last train from Waterfront to King George at 2:16 a.m.
• Last train from Waterfront to Lougheed at 2:11 a.m.
• Last train from Waterfront to Production Way–University at 1:40 a.m.
• Last train from Waterfront to YVR–Airport Station at 2:05 a.m.
• Last train from Waterfront to Richmond–Brighouse at 2:15 a.m.

West Coast Express will not be operating.

TransLink says it will have additional staff out on the system, alongside transit police and transit security officers.

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Free buses and public transit being offered across B.C. on New Year's Eve

Partygoers told to plan properly for their rides home — including ride-hailing, transit or operation red nose.

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New Year's Eve revellers in B.C. are being urged to plan safe travel routes back from parties, with numerous transit providers across the province offering free or extended service.

It comes as impairment from alcohol or drugs is the third-leading cause of crashes in the province, behind distraction and speed. 

Police are expected to be out in force Saturday monitoring for impaired drivers , with no capacity restrictions expected at bars, restaurants or clubs.

Partygoers can plan their transportation to and from festivities with ride-hailing, having a designated driver or public transport.

Metro Vancouver's transit authority will be offering free service on all routes from 5 p.m. Saturday until 5 a.m. on New Year's Day.

In Metro Vancouver, extra bus services are being run throughout the night. The SkyTrain will also run one hour later than usual, and the SeaBus will run an extended schedule.

• TransLink cancels traditional free New Year's Eve service due to COVID-19

Shruti Prakash Joshi, a spokesperson for TransLink, said that the authority was looking forward to resuming their free ride service after it was halted by pandemic restrictions the last two years.

"It's a holiday tradition that we've been doing for many years now," she said. "It is something to give back to our customers who would like a safe ride back home."

While fare gates will be open at all SkyTrain stations, Joshi said it's imperative that any customers who started their journey before 5 p.m. Saturday tap out at their destination so that they're charged the correct fare.

There will also be extra police officers and TransLink staff working overnight to assist partygoers and monitor anticipated crowds.

"We will have extra officers deployed in Granville Entertainment District, Yaletown and Gastown," said Vancouver Police Cst. Tania Visintin. "If you have an issue or you need police, flag us down … we want everybody to have a really good time."

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Across the province, numerous cities will be offering free or extended services on Saturday evening. The communities include Victoria, Kamloops, Abbotsford and Prince George.

B.C. Transit says that service will be free all day Saturday in Whistler. A full list of communities with free transit can be found at this link .

Operation Red Nose back on the roads

In addition to the free transit, Operation Red Nose, the safe-ride program that runs during the holiday season, is back on some B.C. streets this holiday season.

The program connects those who have been consuming alcohol or drugs, or feel like they can't drive their vehicle, with volunteer drivers who will chauffeur them and their vehicle home.

• Operation Red Nose to resume safe-ride operation for holiday season in B.C.

Operation Red Nose will service the communities of Burnaby, New Westminster, the Tri-Cities in Metro Vancouver, Chilliwack, Kamloops, Prince George and Williams Lake this year.

Chris Wilson, B.C. spokesperson for Operation Red Nose, says volunteers aren't serving downtown Vancouver and Surrey this time around. However, he said he hopes they will be back for 2023.

With files from Jon Hernandez and Akshay Kulkarni

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Tickets and Travel Cards

CONCESSION PASSES

On presentation of your half fare smartpass you are entitled to 50% off the standard adult single fare on scheduled bus and rail services operating within northern ireland., are you entitled to a half fare smartpass.

Concession travel is available for people aged between 16 and 64, resident in Northern Ireland for at least the last three months. and who fall into one of the five categories below:

People who have been awarded the higher or lower rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance for a period of at least 12 months.

People who have been refused a driving licence on medical grounds.

People who are registered as partially sighted with a Health and Social Services Trust.

People who are known to a Health and Social Services Trust as having a learning disability.

People who are in receipt of the Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

How to apply for a Half Fare SmartPass

If you believe that you would be entitled to a Half Fare SmartPass you can pick up an application form from Your local Translink Bus or Rail Station or call us on: 028 9066 6630 and we will post you an application.

Carefully complete the application (guide notes are provided within the form) and enclose one recent colour passport-sized photograph. When your application has been approved your new SmartPass will be posted directly to your home. Please note that processing of applications will normally take at least six weeks.

Day Return Tickets for Half-Fare SmartPass Holders

Please note that local Day Return rail tickets are now available for DFI Half-fare SmartPass holders for travel between stations within Northern Ireland only. This means that for the price of an Adult single fare, Half-fare SmartPass holders can purchase a day return ticket – this applies for rail only.

Note that this new option is only available:

• to Half-fare SmartPass holders (NOT any Free SmartPass holders e.g. 60, Senior, Blind, ROI Senior etc)
• in rail services only (SmartPass return tickets are not available on bus

60+ SmartPass

If you are aged between 60 and 64 and you are a permanent resident of Northern Ireland (you must have been resident in Northern Ireland for a minimum of 3 months), then you are eligible for a 60 Plus SmartPass. This enables you to be eligible for free travel throughout Northern Ireland.

How to Apply

Application forms can be obtained in the following ways:

in person from any manned Translink bus or rail station

by telephoning 028 9066 6630 (deaf and hard-of-hearing applicants can use the textphone number 18001 028 9066 6630)

by emailing:  [email protected]

60+ SmartPass Holders who will turn 65 shortly

Your 60+ SmartPass is programmed to run out at the end of the calendar month in which you become 65. If you have applied for a Senior SmartPass, it will not be sent to you until near the end of the month in which you become 65.

As free all Ireland and cross-border travel is only available with a Senior (65+) SmartPass, it may be that you have to wait up to three weeks following your 65th birthday before you can claim this benefit.

Please call us on 028 9066 6630 if you have changed your address.

Senior SmartPass

Free travel is available to all Senior Citizens who are 65 years of age or over and who are resident in Northern Ireland (you must have been resident in Northern Ireland for a minimum of 3 months to be eligible).

With a Senior SmartPass you can travel anywhere in Northern Ireland on any Translink bus or rail service completely free of charge. You can also enjoy free cross border travel and internal Republic of Ireland travel.

Renewing your SmartPass

SmartPasses are only valid for five years. Please check the expiry date on the front of your SmartPass to determine when it will expire as it cannot be used to obtain free travel after this date. Approximately three months before each SmartPass expires the Department for Infrastructure will write to pass holders explaining how to get a new pass. A dedicated user helpline has also been set up on 028 9066 6630 for those seeking further information.

Lost or Stolen Cards

Faulty or damaged cards.

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Translink rakes in £172m in fares - but half have a free ticket to ride

NEARLY half of all bus passengers in Northern Ireland rode free last year, new figures show.

Of the 60.6 million people using Translink's Ulsterbus, Goldliner or Metro/Glider services in the 12 months to March , just 31.2 million paid a full fare, bringing in receipts of £84 million for the operators.

So that left 29.4 million people using some sort of free/subsidised travel card such as the 60+ Smart Pass.

But it was a different story on the railways though, where of 12.9 million people taking the train, some 10.1m paid full fare and just 2.8m travelled free.

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The figures are contained in a report from the Department for Infrastructure which presents statistics on public transport operated by Translink in Northern Ireland and collates information on journeys, vehicles and staff.

And they come in the wake of the department consulting on proposed changes to Translink's SmartPass system that could see the age of eligibility raised from 60 to 65 or even 67, or could be means-tested.

Other options set out in the consultation - which has now closed - suggest changing the time free passes can be used, such as after 9.30am to free up space in crowded rush hour periods.

The proposed changes have already sparked protests across the north, with opponents arguing that public transport enables older people to connect with social networks, and promotes social inclusion by attending groups, activities, and programmes.

The fear is that is older people could not have access to free travel, there would be a sharp increase in levels of loneliness, social isolation and an impact on mental health issues.

Yet despite the numbers using free services, Translink raked in £172 million in fares over the year, made up of £84.1m on buses, £49.5m on railways and £38.4 on the Metro/Glider services.

The report shows that the total journeys across all forms of public transport in the north in 2022/23, at 73.5 million, is up in double digit percentage terms from the previous two years, but still short of the pre-Covid figure of 83.4 million.

Translink has one of the youngest fleets in the UK.

At the end of March 2023, there were 1,058 Ulsterbuses, 281 Metro buses and 34 Gliders in operation which were, on average, 8.9 years, 6.3 years and 4.5 years old respectively.

There were 164 rail carriages in operation over the year, with an average age of 17 years.

That overall fleet covered 41.6 millions last year, led by buses (29.6 million), then Metro/Glider (8.2 million) and then rail (3.8 million).

The average number of staff employed by Translink in 2022-23 was 4,165, according to the report (3,074 work on the buses and 1,091 on the railways).

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Free and concessionary bus and rail travel

If you're aged 60 or over, or you have a disability, you may be entitled to concessionary travel on bus and railway journeys within Northern Ireland. Translink and some other transport operators also offer half fare travel for children and young people up until 30 June following their 16th birthday.

Free travel for those fleeing domestic abuse

Free travel on bus or rail is available if you have refuge or emergency accommodation through Women’s Aid or the NI Housing Executive.  

You can find details on the following page:

• Domestic violence and abuse

Concessionary fares (bus passes) in Northern Ireland

The following concessions are provided on eligible scheduled services operated by Translink and other participating operators:

Free travel for:

• everyone aged 60 and over
• people who are registered blind
• war disablement pensioners

Half fare travel for people:

• who get the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• who have had a driving licence refused or revoked on medical grounds
• who have a recognised learning disability
• who are partially-sighted (sight impaired)

To be eligible for any of the above concessions, you must apply for and receive a concessionary travel card, called a SmartPass.

Getting the care component of PIP by itself does not make you eligible for a SmartPass.

You can get details below of eligibility and how to apply on the following pages:

• 60+/Senior SmartPass
• Blind SmartPass
• War Disablement SmartPass
• Half Fare SmartPass - Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Half Fare SmartPass - Learning Disability
• Half Fare SmartPass - Partially Sighted
• Half Fare SmartPass - Driving Licence Refused

SmartPass holders can use their card on all Glider services, with Half Fare SmartPass holders receiving full fare discount on this service.

All Ireland Free Travel Scheme for senior citizens

Senior citizens are eligible for free travel on public transport throughout the island of Ireland.

Senior citizens resident in Northern Ireland can get all Ireland free travel at the age of 65.

Senior citizens resident in the Republic of Ireland can get all Ireland free travel at the age of 66.

The 60+ SmartPass does not entitle the holder to all Ireland travel.

Note to 60+ SmartPass holders who will turn 65 shortly

Your 60+ SmartPass is programmed to run out at the end of the calendar month in which you become 65.

If you have applied for a Senior SmartPass, it will not be sent to you until near the end of the month in which you become 65.

As free all Ireland and cross-border travel is only available to holders of a Senior (65+) SmartPass, you may have to wait up to three weeks following your 65th birthday before you can make use of this benefit.

Contact information

If you have any queries, contact Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Concessionary Fares .

More useful links

• Rail travel
• Motoring, travel and transport for people with disabilities
• Travel information for people with reduced mobility
• Republic of Ireland Senior Citizen SmartPass for travelling in NI

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What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to [email protected] 

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 Email  [email protected]

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750  Email  [email protected]

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912  Email [email protected]

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to [email protected] or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service .

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service .

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit .

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the  Coronavirus (COVID-19) section , then for queries about:

• Restrictions or regulations —  contact the Department of Health
• Travel advice (including self-isolation) —  contact the Department of Health
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the  Department of Health  or  Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email [email protected] and for queries about your certificate, email [email protected] .

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email [email protected]

Application and payment queries can be emailed to  [email protected]

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency .

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email  [email protected]

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email  [email protected] .

For queries about:

• Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea  
• Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

For queries about your identity check, email [email protected] .

For queries or advice about passports, contact  HM Passport Office .

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email  [email protected]

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the  Northern Ireland Pension Centre .

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section .

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads .

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service .

For queries or advice about rates, email [email protected]

For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact  Smartpass - Translink .

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly .  We don't have access to information about you.

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Free bus travel for seniors

Travel for free on Kinetic (formerly Surfside) buses with a sticker pass on your Translink go card.

Local seniors can travel on Kinetic buses for free:

• Monday to Friday (including public holidays), 8.30am to 3.30pm (off-peak)
• Saturday and Sunday, all day.

Get on board and explore our beautiful city.

How to apply

If you're a Gold Coast resident and have a Translink seniors red go card or a Seniors card +go , you can apply for a sticker pass online, in person or by post.

Once your application is approved, you'll receive a sticker to attach to your Translink Seniors red go card or Seniors + go card. Please allow 10 business days for processing.

Download the Free bus travel for seniors and veterans brochure (PDF, 842KB)

Note: Free bus travel does not apply to Queensland Rail trains or on G:Link light rail services

Step 1. Gather your documents

To complete the online application, you will need to attach digital copies of the following:

• photo or scanned copy of your proof of residency (e.g. rates notice, utilities bill, car registration)
• photos or scanned copies showing both sides of your Translink Seniors go card or your Seniors card +go card.

Step 2. Complete and submit our online form

APPLY ONLINE

When you apply online you will be asked to:

1. Add the parties – select the Licensee and click on add. Fill out the form about you (name, address etc.) 2. Enter your go card number 3. Use the Choose file button to:

• attach your digital copy of your proof of residence and
• attach your copy of both sides of you Seniors go card or Seniors card +go

4. Read and agree to the Declaration and Privacy statement (check the "I agree" box) 5. Submit your application.

You will need to attach copies of the following to your completed application form:

• photos or scanned copies showing both sides of your Translink Seniors go card or your Seniors card + go card.

Step 2. Complete the application form

Download, print and complete the Application for free bus travel for seniors and veterans (PDF, 42KB)

Step 3. Send us your completed application form

Scan the completed application form, along with your other photos or scanned documents and attach them to an email.

Email to: [email protected]

For more information, please contact us on 07 5667 5990 .

Step 3. Visit one of our customer service centres

Submit your application at one of our customer service centres Monday to Friday between 8.15am and 4.30pm.

Post the completed form along with the photos or scanned copies to:

City of Gold Coast PO Box 5042 GCMC QLD 9726

Replacement sticker pass

To request a replacement sticker pass:

• call us on 07 5667 5990  or 1300 GOLDCOAST ( 1300 465 326 )
• visit one of our customer service centres
• email us at [email protected]

Related information

• go card" target="_blank">Translink Seniors go card

TravelSmart for Kids Strategy

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The TravelSmart4Kids Strategy and the Executive Summary are now available for download.

TravelSmart4Kids is a first of its kind strategy that seeks to create a region that is safe, healthy, and sustainable to ensure future generations know how to navigate a multi-modal transportation network. It is a regional, coordinated strategy to encourage more children between the ages of 0 to 12 to travel by active and sustainable modes of transportation in Metro Vancouver, including walking, cycling, rolling, and taking transit.

The Strategy includes a clear vision and goals for children’s travel in the region. The Strategy addresses some of the current barriers and challenges of active and sustainable travel for children are facing in our region. It also looks forward and aims to create changes in these three focus areas:

Culture and Behaviour: Create a culture for healthy and safe active and sustainable transportation.

Sustainability and Legacy: Support the sustainability and legacy of active and sustainable travel initiatives that focus on children.

Resources and Funding: Builds on the need for additional resources and funding to sustain programs, initiatives, and infrastructure that support sustainable travel for children.

The implementation of the Strategy involves all the organizations and agencies that helped to develop it. Every stakeholder has a role to play. A lot of stakeholders are already doing a lot of work that aligns with the Strategy.

A Regional, Coordinated Approach

We're more effective together.

In the past, funding and resources have been put to programs and initiatives that are intended to encourage active travel to school without fully understanding the impact they have.

The creation of TravelSmart4Kids was a regional, team effort led by TransLink, along with school districts, municipalities, health authorities, regional and provincial governments, and many others.

Doing this work at the regional level helped to streamline our efforts and build support and ownership of the Strategy. We have the organizations and agencies within the region and province that have the passion, knowledge, and capacity to continue to do this work.

Breaking Down the Strategy

The Strategy’s framework ensures there is a clear vision and goals for children’s active and sustainable travel in the region. The themes are supported by strategies and actions to work towards the vision and goals. The vision is supported by two goals, with the support of three themes, and six strategies. Each strategy has a series of actions identified, there are a total of 56 actions.

TravelSmart4Kids is intended to be implemented collaboratively over the short- (0 to 1 years), medium- (1 to 5 years) and long-term (5+ years), and to align with TransLink’s Regional Transportation Strategy Transport 2050.

Four priority actions were identified that would have the greatest impact in the short-term and lay the foundations for future years.

• A Regional Coordinator role was created to champion and lead this work.
• A Regional Working Group was established for regional stakeholders to come together to provide a platform to share knowledge and learn from one another.
• Consolidate resources and reference materials already developed that can help encourage more active and sustainable transportation.
• Establish a formal commitment for the implementation of the Strategy. We are currently working to formalize existing relationships and create new commitments to ensure the Strategy has a lasting impact.
• Read the TravelSmart4Kids Strategy
• Read the TravelSmart4Kids Executive Summary

Initiatives

TravelSmart4Kids is the umbrella strategy that includes several other programs and initiatives you may already be familiar with. Many of these stemmed from the process of developing the strategy.

TravelSmart4Kids

Kids commute: walking school bus program, get on board kids 12 & under ride for free, cycling education.

• Tactical Urbanism Toolkit

Regional Coordinator & Regional Working Group

Kid Commute: A Walking School Bus Program: The Society for Children and Youth (SCY) of BC and TransLink have partnered with participating municipalities to deliver Kid Commute: A Walking School Bus initiative set to launch in fall 2023 at select elementary schools throughout Metro Vancouver.

SCY is a not-for-profit organization based in Vancouver that serves children province-wide. They provide a series of other programs and projects that centre children and youth that can be found on SCY’s website .

A Walking School Bus is a group of students who travel to and from school each day along a designated route, stopping along the way to pick up more students. Walk Leaders, trained adult supervisors, walk with the group daily. The bus is powered not by an engine, but on foot by the students themselves as they walk to and from school.

SCY’s Walking School Bus

• Get on Board! Kids 12 & Under Ride Free: Children 12 and under can ride TransLink services free of charge as part of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure program.
• Kids Ride Free video
• Cycling Education Programs: The Everyone Rides Grade 4/5 program delivered by HUB Cycling and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure provides British Columbia elementary students with skills, confidence, and the opportunity to learn to ride their bikes to and from school.

HUB Cycling is a not-for-profit organization that advocates for removing barriers to cycling in Metro Vancouver. To find out more about their work, visit Hub Cycling's website

Everyone Rides Grade 4/5 HUB Cycling

• Tactical Urbanism Toolkit: TravelSmart’s Tactical Urbanism Toolkit provides a proactive approach for active transportation and placemaking projects through thoughtful communication plans and strategic community engagement tactics. This toolkit was initiated by TransLink to support safer street space for youth but can be used for all ages and abilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some of the benefits of active and sustainable travel.

Active and sustainable transportation is any form of human-powered transportation, such as walking, cycling, rolling, and taking transit. This can include scooters, e-scooters, bicycles, e-bicycles, skateboards, and in-line skates.

There are many benefits of safe and active modes, as shown in our Active Kids are Healthy Kids Infographic . Benefits of more trips made by walking, cycling, and transit for children include higher rates of physical activity, stronger mental health, growing independence, stronger academic performance, and deeper social connections. Promoting walking, cycling, rolling, and taking transit within a community can result in an improved transportation safety, a more affordable and equitable community, reduced traffic congestion, better air quality, reduced noise from motor vehicles, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

How was TravelSmart4Kids developed?

The Strategy was led by TransLink and developed collaboratively with stakeholders across the region through an interactive, four-phase process. Stakeholders from across the region were involved in developing the Strategy.

This included school districts, municipalities, and provincial ministries that have a mandate to grow active and sustainable transportation for children’s education, health, and well-being. Regional health authorities were also involved, as well as community organizations who are advancing active transportation road safety and injury prevention and other related organizations.

These groups are still involved in the implementation of the Strategy.

Why develop the Strategy?

The Strategy uses a systems-thinking approach to ensure active school travel initiatives have a lasting impact and strong return on investment.

Healthy habits and development start early. Children lay the foundation for their travel habits and perceptions of modes in their childhood.

Children often have fewer transportation options compared to middle-aged adults, and that those with lower income households have even fewer options. The Strategy aims to support a diverse cross section of children in the Metro Vancouver region, recognizing the role we all play in advancing equity and reconciliation.

Who is responsible for implementing the Strategy?

Every stakeholder has a role to implementing the Strategy

Related Documents

There are many resources available to support and empower students to be confident, independent travelers. Visit the TravelSmart  page to learn more.

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TransLink will raise its fares on July 1. Here's how much you'll be paying

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Transit fares in the Lower Mainland will rise between $0.05 and $4.35 starting July 1. 

One-zone adult cash or contactless payment fare will rise from $3.15 to $3.20, whereas the Compass Card fare (stored value) will jump from $2.55 to $2.60.

For adults travelling two zones with cash or contactless payment, the price will rise from $4.55 to $4.65, and for those who travel with Compass Cards, the fare will jump from $3.75 to $3.85. 

Three-zone travellers will be paying $6.35 instead of the current price of $6.20, and Compass Card users will be paying $4.90 instead of $4.80 when transiting across three zones. 

Meanwhile, TransLink's monthly passes will see the most significant price increase, as one-, two-, and three-zone monthly adult passes will rise by $2.40, $3.25, and $4.35, respectively, to $107.30, $143.50, and $193.80.

Bigger fare hike expected in 2025: TransLink

However, in 2025, the transportation provider is expected to raise the fares even more, to four per cent across the system, to increase frequencies and services that can match the population growth.

“Metro Vancouver’s population is growing rapidly, and so is crowding on our buses,” says TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn in a statement . 

In 2023, one-third of Metro Vancouver’s population used transit at least once per week. Last fall, TransLink served 430,000 different customers on an average weekday, and approximately 900,000 different customers per week. 

In the Lower Mainland and UBC area alone, the ridership increased 17 per cent in fall 2023 compared to fall 2022. 

Plans to address overcrowding on busiest bus lines

To address the overcrowding issue, TransLink plans to increase bus services by 3 per cent, including the 60 most overcrowded bus routes. The transit provider also wants to begin the first trip of the SeaBus 15 minutes earlier in both directions, as well as increasing Canada Line frequencies during peak hours.

“The 2024 Investment Plan will provide important short-term relief for customers, but we need commitments for long-term support that will help us keep up with population growth,” Quinn added. 

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• Transportation

TransLink will raise its fares on July 1. Here's how much you'll be paying

• Share by Email
• Share on Facebook
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share via Text Message

Transit fares in the Lower Mainland will rise between $0.05 and $4.35 starting July 1. 

One-zone adult cash or contactless payment fare will rise from $3.15 to $3.20, whereas the Compass Card fare (stored value) will jump from $2.55 to $2.60.

For adults travelling two zones with cash or contactless payment, the price will rise from $4.55 to $4.65, and for those who travel with Compass Cards, the fare will jump from $3.75 to $3.85. 

Three-zone travellers will be paying $6.35 instead of the current price of $6.20, and Compass Card users will be paying $4.90 instead of $4.80 when transiting across three zones. 

Meanwhile, TransLink's monthly passes will see the most significant price increase, as one-, two-, and three-zone monthly adult passes will rise by $2.40, $3.25, and $4.35, respectively, to $107.30, $143.50, and $193.80.

Bigger fare hike expected in 2025: TransLink

However, in 2025, the transportation provider is expected to raise the fares even more, to four per cent across the system, to increase frequencies and services that can match the population growth.

“Metro Vancouver’s population is growing rapidly, and so is crowding on our buses,” says TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn in a statement . 

In 2023, one-third of Metro Vancouver’s population used transit at least once per week. Last fall, TransLink served 430,000 different customers on an average weekday, and approximately 900,000 different customers per week. 

In the Lower Mainland and UBC area alone, the ridership increased 17 per cent in fall 2023 compared to fall 2022. 

Plans to address overcrowding on busiest bus lines

To address the overcrowding issue, TransLink plans to increase bus services by 3 per cent, including the 60 most overcrowded bus routes. The transit provider also wants to begin the first trip of the SeaBus 15 minutes earlier in both directions, as well as increasing Canada Line frequencies during peak hours.

“The 2024 Investment Plan will provide important short-term relief for customers, but we need commitments for long-term support that will help us keep up with population growth,” Quinn added. 

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