Premier David Eby Allocates $160 Million for TransLink RapidBus Priority Corridors in Vancouver and Surrey

VANCOUVER — British Columbia Premier David Eby and Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Rob Fleming announced on Monday the distribution of $160 million in provincial transit infrastructure funding to TransLink to construct forty kilometers of dedicated, red-carpet bus-only lanes, queue-jumper intersections, and automated Transit Signal Priority (TSP) across four high-ridership RapidBus corridors in Vancouver, Surrey, Richmond, and North Vancouver.

The capital investments target crucial east-west and north-south transit corridors—including King George Boulevard in Surrey, 41st Avenue in Vancouver, Steveston Highway in Richmond, and Marine Drive on the North Shore—cutting transit journey times by up to 25 percent for more than 120,000 daily bus riders.

Providing Fast, Reliable Transit and Cutting Traffic Congestion Buses carry over 60 percent of TransLink's daily transit passengers, but buses operating in mixed traffic lanes frequently get trapped in vehicular congestion, creating unreliable transit schedules for working commuters.

"People in Metro Vancouver need fast, affordable, and reliable transit options that get them to work and school on time without sitting in traffic," Premier David Eby said at a transit hub along King George Boulevard in Surrey. "By investing $160 million in dedicated bus lanes and priority traffic signals, we are giving buses a clear path through traffic, taking thousands of cars off the road, and making transit the fastest, easiest way to move around our region."

Corridor Infrastructure Deployments The $160 million package funds:

• 40 Kilometers of Red-Thermoset Bus Lanes: Physical road markings and lane barriers dedicated exclusively to public transit and emergency response vehicles.
• Automated Transit Signal Priority (TSP): Installing GPS-linked traffic signal controllers that hold green lights for approaching buses at 85 major intersections.
• 50 Modernized RapidBus Stations: Heated passenger shelters, digital next-bus countdown displays, and level-boarding curbs.

Municipal mayors, transit advocacy groups, and business improvement associations commended the provincial transit funding, emphasizing that rapid bus lanes provide immediate commuter relief at a fraction of the time required for rail construction.