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September 8, 2010, 4:21 pm |
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Volume 31 - Issue 08 |
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Circulation: 1016516 |
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Back To The Grind
September 06, 2010
TransLink’s Seven Sensible Tips for surviving the PLDC *
1. Patience, Patience, Patience
That first few weeks in September following Labour Day are traditionally the busiest of the year for roads and transit as we return in the hundreds of thousands to work and school following summer holidays. Count on your trips taking a bit longer – if they don’t, it’s a bonus!
2. Do some trip ‘time shifting’
If you can, try shifting when you travel to avoid the peak of the morning rush on roads and transit. SkyTrain’s busiest spots, especially at the ‘peak of the peak’ times are at the Commercial/Broadway, Production Way/University and Brighouse stations
- For example, at the Commercial/Broadway station, there’s usually a long line-up for the #99 B-Line bus from about 8:15 to 8:45 am, but only a short wait immediately before or after. Upstairs at Commercial-Broadway SkyTrain Station platforms 3 and 4, there is a steady build-up of passengers between 7-8 am and then the heaviest loads between 8-8:45 a.m. before the rush begins tapering off to normal daytime volumes by about 9:30 a.m.
- Canada Line sees its heaviest crowds at the Brighouse Station between 7:30 and 8:30 am.
3. About that backpack…
If you don’t need it for the first few days, don’t take it. If you must take your backpack on transit, please be kind to your fellow passengers by carrying it or putting it down between your feet.
4. Teamwork
Cooperation makes getting through crush time a lot easier for everyone. On the roads, give the other guy a break to merge or change lanes. On buses and SkyTrain, move away from the doors to create more room. One or two ‘excuse me’s’ will get you to the exit when the train or bus reaches your stop. On SkyTrain station platforms, it’s best to stand off to the sides of the train doors so passengers can leave the train more easily. The sooner they’re off, the easier you can get on.
5. Remember, the kids are out there
Little ones heading out for those first days at school may not be looking out for cars, so drivers, please look out for them. Don’t forget, school zone speed limits are back in effect as of September 7th.
Rather than drive your kids to school, why not get together with other parents at form a ‘walking school bus?’ It’s healthier for everyone and it reduces congestion and traffic risks in front of elementary schools.
6. There’s often more than one way…
Check out your route options because they might work better than your normal choice, for example:
- If you’re driving to the Tri-Cities from Surrey or Langley or connecting to Highway #1 eastbound from anywhere north of the Fraser River, you might find the trip is faster and less congested over the Golden Ears Bridge.
- UBC-bound students can choose from a number of different bus routes beyond the #99 B-Line like the #25 , the #43 or the #84.
- Google Maps are integrated right into TransLink’s web site and can give you all your road and transit options.
7. Know Before You Go
TravelSmart options really worked during the Olympics and they can save you time and money now. If you drive, why not line up a ride-share or a car pool for trips to work or the transit Park & Ride? If you plan to use transit on a regular basis, get a break on fares with FareSaver tickets, a Monthly Pass, or talk to your employer and workmates about joining the Employer Pass Program. Just click on ‘TravelSmart’ at www.translink.ca for all the details.
* Post Labour Day Crush
The traffic and transit congestion we often experience following Labour Day usually only lasts until university and college students settle into their new class schedules and begin spacing their trips throughout the day. TransLink, the Coast Mountain Bus Company and SkyTrain operations monitor the transit system closely during this period. Extra personnel are available at stations and bus loops to help customers, while supervisors are stationed where they can make quick service adjustments to help move people as quickly and efficiently as possible.
This fall, TransLink will have more transit service capacity available than ever before – new buses have entered service since last September and some of the 60-foot articulated buses the Canada Line freed-up will improve capacity on the #49 route that serves Langara College and UBC. Compared with last year, there are also more frequent bus connections from South Surrey, White Rock and Delta to the Canada Line’s Bridgeport Station, with travel time reliability boosted considerably by the bus-only lanes the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure built along Highway 99.
In addition, more West Coast Express passenger cars and 48 more SkyTrain cars for the Expo and Millennium Lines have all arrived since last September.
Work will continue in the coming months to adjust transit schedules and service levels to make sure all the new transit capacity performs efficiently, delivering the maximum number of rides to meet travel demand across Metro Vancouver.
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