TransLink is launching a new round of engagement for Transport 2050, the region's transportation blueprint for the next 30 years. After a record-breaking 31,700 responses during the first phase of engagement, we are launching a second engagement for the 30-year plan and asking for more specific feedback on key transportation priorities.

From April 19 until May 14, we are asking the public for their opinions on the following priorities and recommendations which were developed based on Phase 1 responses:

• Creating urban spaces that support active transportation
• Developing the optimal rapid transit network that is fast and frequent
• Integrating automated vehicles efficiently into the transportation system

Once engagement has concluded, TransLink will take the results from both phases of engagement and create a draft 30-year transportation plan. That plan will be released later this year to gather more feedback from the public, our government partners, and key stakeholders before it becomes final. Once finalized, Transport 2050 will be the next major long-term transportation strategy that outlines regional transportation priorities for the next three decades.

Members of the public are invited to participate in engagement in the following three ways:

• Through an online survey
• By using our online Q+A tool
• By attending one of four Virtual Open Houses

Visit transport2050.ca to take part. For anyone with feedback specifically about building rapid transit to UBC, visit the Millennium Line UBC Extension page, as it's part of a separate engagement.

Gigi Chen-Kuo, TransLink Interim CEO –

"I am thrilled that TransLink has adopted one of the Vancouver-Fraserview Transit Working Group's recommendations for improved service. This investment in our community will ensure commuting remains affordable and transit is accessible for seniors and young families, all while reducing congestion and carbon pollution."

George Heyman, BC Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy –

"People in Metro Vancouver expect and need high-quality, affordable transportation options that support action on climate change and strong, healthy communities for everyone. Our government is committed to continuing our support and development of better public transit and active transportation that help shape healthy communities for decades to come. Feedback from this public engagement help us make informed decisions that will build a more sustainable and accessible province for all British Columbians."

Jonathan X. Coté, Chair of the Mayors' Council on Regional Transportation –

The long-term transportation strategy is the foundation the Mayors' Council uses to make major transportation investment decisions. The region recently completed nearly everything that was outlined in Transport 2021, which was possible because of critical long-term planning from 30 years ago. I was excited to see that Phase 1 saw responses from people throughout the region, and we need that continued enthusiasm from the public as we map out the next 30 years of transportation."

• Transport 2050 Website
• Transport 2050 Video
• Millennium Line UBC Extension Engagement

TransLink today announced that it will be proceeding with a major upgrade to Burrard SkyTrain Station beginning in early 2022. The project will take approximately two years to complete and will require the closure of the station to allow the work to be done safely and more efficiently than were it to remain partially open during construction.

Burrard SkyTrain Station was originally built in 1985 and has not had a significant upgrade in its 36 years of operation. It is the fourth busiest station on the SkyTrain system and at peak times it is congested with only three escalators and one elevator to move people in and out. Station entrances are hard to access and the station will require upgrades to the electrical equipment in order to meet the power demands of the new station.

The upgrades to Burrard Station will:

• Double the number of escalators and elevators to provide greater accessibility and relieve congestion on platforms and at the concourse level;
• Relocate the Burrard Street entrance to align with the pedestrian crossing making it easier to get in and out of the station, and provide better access to buses along Dunsmuir;
• Redesign the station's outdoor plaza to put pedestrian needs at the forefront; and,
• Upgrade the station's power supply and mechanical systems.

"These significant upgrades are necessary to keep our transit system operating effectively and efficiently for our customers," said TransLink Interim CEO Gigi Chen-Kuo. "With more than 7.6 million annual boardings in 2019, Burrard Station is the fourth busiest station on our SkyTrain network. These upgrades will greatly improve the customer experience and as the region prepares to welcome one million new residents by the year 2050, this important project allows us to be prepared for additional future demand."

To best manage construction during these important upgrades, we will be closing Burrard Station for approximately two years starting in early 2022. Closing the station during construction:

• Improves customer and worker safety by eliminating the risks of customer movement through a major, underground, active construction site;
• Minimizes confusion associated with multiple changes to customer travel patterns through numerous complex phases of construction;
• Reduces overall construction time for the project and therefore shortens impacts to customer travel by approximately two and a half years; and
• Provides cost savings of approximately $35 million.

TransLink will work with the City of Vancouver, and local businesses and residents to minimize impacts while we complete these upgrades.

Based on pre-Covid ridership data, Waterfront and Granville Stations can accommodate the additional passenger flow during the Burrard Station closure. Additional bus service will also be added in the area to help minimize passenger impact.

To minimize impacts on our bus and HandyDART customers, bus service will remain largely the same throughout the construction period and HandyDART customers connecting to the Expo Line will have access at Waterfront Station.

As plans are finalized later this year, we will provide more details to help ready our customers for the start of construction in early 2022.

TransLink will be the first transit system in North America to pilot the use of bacteria and virus killing copper on high-touch transit surfaces. This industry-leading project is part of a study that will see various copper-based products and a protective coating called organosilane installed on SkyTrain and buses to test how effective these agents are at destroying viruses and bacteria on transit.

There will be comprehensive testing as part of the initial four-week pilot phase:

• Products will be installed on two trolley buses on high-ridership routes and two SkyTrain cars on the Expo and Millennium Lines.
• Twice weekly the surfaces will be swabbed and tested to determine antimicrobial effectiveness of the products.
• At the end of one month, the surfaces will also be assessed for durability.

The results of this pilot could have wide-reaching impacts for infection prevention for the transit industry and other industries that rely on shared public spaces.

Copper alloy surfaces are naturally antimicrobial with self-sanitizing properties. Recent literature shows that copper alloy surfaces destroy up to 99.9% of bacteria and viruses within four hours. Organosilane is a wipe-on coating that can provide long-lasting protection against damaging microbes such as bacteria, mold, mildew and many viruses. When used in tandem with good hygiene and cleaning protocols, copper and organosilanes can help inhibit the buildup and growth of viruses and bacteria.

The project is the result of a partnership between TransLink, Teck Resources Limited (Teck), Vancouver Coastal Health, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, Coalition for Healthcare Acquired Infection Reduction (CHAIR) Canada, and the University of British Columbia. This initial phase is fully funded by Teck, as part of its Copper & Health program. It is based on Copper preceding studies conducted by the Infection Prevention & Control team at Vancouver Coastal Health and supported by Teck that have shown copper is effective at killing bacteria and is durable over a period of many years.

Quotes:

Kevin Desmond, TransLink CEO —
"We're proud to be the first transit agency in North America to pilot this industry-leading technology and I look forward to working closely with our project partners. We've been carefully examining new ways to ensure transit is one of the safest public spaces throughout the pandemic. The risk of COVID-19 transmission on transit remains extremely low and this initiative will only bolster our comprehensive cleaning protocols which are already in place. Any findings from this pilot project will be shared with our fellow transit agency colleagues and other industries which may be able to use this emerging technology."

Don Lindsay, President and CEO, Teck —
"We are proud to be working with all the partners on this important pilot project to expand the use of antimicrobial copper in high-traffic public areas and prevent infections. Through the Copper & Health program, Teck has been partnering with healthcare professionals, academia and others for years to help make communities safer. This pilot builds on those efforts at a critical time as the world works to prevent the spread of COVID-19."

Dr. Marthe Charles, Medical Microbiologist, Vancouver Coastal Health —
"This project builds on preceding research and will increase our understanding of the effectiveness of copper in killing organisms on frequently-touched surfaces. Positive findings will then be used to study the impact of copper on bacteria and viruses such as COVID-19 and norovirus. This holds future infection control benefits not only for the public in their travels but for healthcare workers and patients who navigate their medical journey at Vancouver Coastal Health and beyond."

Angela Chapman, President & CEO, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation —
"Our Foundation plays a vital role in funding innovation through medical research in BC. Donor funding has played a role - here in BC and globally - to accelerate our understanding of the COVID-19 virus and its transmission. This project will leverage the expertise of Vancouver Coastal Health's Infection Prevention & Control team to determine the public health benefits of copper in reducing transmission of COVID-19 and other viruses. We are grateful for the partnership of Teck and TransLink to make this very special "made in BC" research project possible."

Richard Dixon, CHAIR Canada, Chairman & Chief Technology Leader —
"CHAIR Canada has the privilege of being able to be the project manager for this exciting and innovative transit project that has great potential to make a lasting difference in many facets of daily life for the public. We are a non-profit organization that emphasizes technologies and strategies such as copper alloys that make a major difference in air, water and surface contamination. We work with leading Canadian and international healthcare and industry organizations within the context of these key themes: Collaborate, Investigate, Innovate, Educate, Advocate and Research."

More information about Teck's Copper & Health Program:

To find out more information about Teck's Copper & Health Program, the role of antimicrobial copper, and other examples of copper in action, please visit coppersaveslives.com.

Source : TransLink

TransLink today announces that Bombardier Transportation has been chosen to manufacture the largest ever order of SkyTrain cars for the Expo and Millennium Lines.

The 205 new SkyTrain cars will allow TransLink to retire older vehicles, improve fleet quality, and keep service reliable for customers. The contract will also support service expansion as the region's transit network grows with the Broadway Subway Project and Surrey Langley SkyTrain. The first new SkyTrain car is expected to arrive in 2023, with all new vehicles in service by the end of 2027.

The highlights of the $721.2 million order are as follows:

• 125 new SkyTrain cars to replace first-generation MKI vehicles which entered service in 1985, and to support the Broadway Subway Project;
• 80 SkyTrain cars to improve capacity on the Expo and Millennium Lines; and
• An option for additional cars to support Surrey Langley SkyTrain.

The selection of Bombardier follows the completion of a competitive and transparent procurement process. The project was an open market Request for Proposal issued in July 2019 allowing any organization that met the requirements to submit a proposal. Read the 2020 December Board report. TransLink will sign a contract with Bombardier in the coming days.

The purchase of these SkyTrain cars is part of the Expo Millennium Line Upgrade Program. The program is funded with an investment of $1.47 billion through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program with contributions from the Government of Canada, Government of B.C. and TransLink.

Quotes:

The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities —
"Together we are making historic investments in public transit infrastructure and, of equal importance, in the Canadians who build it. The Government of Canada's help in buying 205 new SkyTrain cars is not just about faster commutes -- it's about good union jobs, cleaner air, and developing Canadian clean-technology. We're building opportunities for a better Canada. Canada's infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country, and builds cleaner, more inclusive communities."

George Heyman, Minister responsible for TransLink and Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy —
"Residents and visitors to the Lower Mainland depend on fast and convenient ways to travel throughout the region. The need is growing and along with expanding Skytrain service these new cars will improve the commuter experience as well as reduce carbon emissions. People in B.C. are increasingly choosing public and active transportation options. That's good for our economy and for our environment."

Jonathan X. Coté, Chair of the Mayors' Council on Regional Transportation —
"This order of SkyTrain cars is a monumental step forward for rapid transit service in our region. These cars will provide a major capacity increase for Expo and Millennium Line riders and help Metro Vancouver's long-term COVID-19 economic recovery by bringing SkyTrain expansions one step closer to completion."

Kevin Desmond, TransLink CEO —
"Almost four decades ago our very first SkyTrain cars entered service, travelling between Vancouver and New Westminster. Those first-generation trains have served our region efficiently and reliably over many years, but they are now reaching the end of their lifecycle. This new order will replace our oldest trains and allow us to improve the customer experience, support expansion projects, and manage our capacity well into the future."

Elliot G. (Lee) Sander, Bombardier Transportation Americas Region President —
"We are proud and honored that TransLink is once again choosing to renew its long-standing partnership with Bombardier. Our commitment to support the development of public transit in Metro Vancouver remains as strong as ever. We are also proud that the new rail cars will be designed, assembled and tested in Canada."

More Information

• Expo Millennium Line Upgrade Program
• 2020 December Board reports

With this season's first snowfall now occurring in Metro Vancouver, TransLink is releasing details of various initiatives which will be deployed to keep transit moving as safely and efficiently as possible.

"Commuting this winter will look a bit different compared to previous years as we navigate these unprecedented times," says TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond. "With our comprehensive COVID-19 safety and cleaning measures in place, this winter we'll be working hard to ensure our transit system continues to move safely and efficiently during the colder months ahead."

• Roping off the control panel area on SkyTrain – SkyTrain cars may have the front section roped off when Station Attendants are required to monitor guideways during snowfall.
• Mandatory mask rule – During the colder months ahead masks will remain mandatory on transit.
• Comprehensive cleaning regime – Continuing with rigorous daily cleaning and sanitizing of transit vehicles.

• Tire socks – Tire socks will be made available for use on Burnaby Mountain and the North Shore.
• Snow Desk – There will be a designated Snow Desk in the Transit Communications Centre to monitor bus routes and road conditions. The Snow Desk also plays a vital role in communicating with various internal and external stakeholders such as Customer Information, Operations, Maintenance, local municipalities, and universities.
• Snow Monitoring – Contractors who plow and shovel at bus loops, exchanges, and SkyTrain stations will be encouraged to upload photos for verification of snow conditions.
• Trolley bus wires anti-icing trucks – Trucks will spray de-icing fluid around the entire 300km electric trolley overhead system when there's frost or ice risk.
• Additional bus tire traction – Bus Operators can use a snow switch which gives bus tires better traction in snow.
• Bus switch outs – Articulated buses can be switched for conventional buses. 40-foot conventional buses carry fewer passengers, but have better traction in snow, especially on steep terrain.
• Snow routes – Work with municipalities to coordinate our service with priority corridors for snow clearing, should conditions become severe.

• Millennium Line coupling – During heavy snowfall, trains on the Millennium Line will be coupled together (4-car trains) to maximize capacity while SkyTrain Attendants monitor guideways.
• SkyTrain guideway monitoring – SkyTrain Attendants will be positioned at the front of trains during heavy snowfall. This initiative improves reliability on the system by limiting emergency braking, which can be triggered by heavy snowfall.
• Canada Line heat tracing – Heat tracing has been installed on the power rail in sections where heavy ice buildup has previously resulted in service disruptions.
• SkyTrain de-icing – De-icer trains will keep power rails free of ice. During times of overnight snow, some trains will run through the night to keep tracks clear.
• Problem tree and branch removal – Problem trees and branches situated within ten metres of SkyTrain tracks are being removed.

• Road condition checks – A formal process has been implemented to assess road conditions for customer pickup.
• Partner communication strategy – If service disruptions or schedule changes occur, there's now a strategy in place to notify day programs and health partners of these changes.
• Targeting difficult locations – Customers who can be difficult to access during winter are being contacted early to discuss a clearing plan.
• Extra staffing – If there is a reduction to service, each bus will have two drivers to help customers load and unload.

TransLink has replaced aging speakers and signs on the SkyTrain system by installing 280 new customer information screens and over 1,400 new speakers at Expo and Millennium Line SkyTrain stations. These upgrades have modernized communication on the SkyTrain system and improved TransLink's ability to communicate with customers. Expo and Millennium Line customers will notice:

Real-time digital screens

• Outdated signs have been replaced by new "next train screens" on platforms and station entrances to let customers know when their next train is expected to arrive.
• General information screens have been installed to simplify customer decision making with live service information and updates.

Better sound in stations and on trains

• New speakers on trains and at stations for customers to more clearly hear service alerts and notifications.

Improved safety and security at stations

• Over 1,200 new CCTV cameras installed along the Expo and Millennium Lines. These cameras can be monitored live by SkyTrain staff to modify service levels throughout the day and are a valuable resource for Transit Police investigations.

These upgrades have been ongoing since 2018 as part of our SkyTrain Customer Communications Upgrades Program, and is a major milestone to deliver enhanced customer experiences through the Customer Experience Action Plan.

This $79 million program is part of a larger $92.4 million Rapid Transit Systems Rehabilitation and Maintenance Project paid for under the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF), which is funded by the Government of Canada (50 per cent), the Government of British Columbia (33%), and TransLink (17%).

Quotes:

The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Member of Parliament for Delta, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities –
"With new speakers, screens, and security cameras, TransLink users will now be safer and better informed while commuting. I'm pleased that these improvements are funded in part by our federal government through the Rapid Transit Systems Rehabilitation and Maintenance Project. Canada's infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country, and builds cleaner, more inclusive communities."

George Heyman, BC Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy and the Minister responsible for TransLink –
"SkyTrain users now have much better real-time travel information during their journeys. Modernizing TransLink's customer communications is an important investment in both service and safety."

Jonathan X. Coté, Mayors' Council Chair –
"Keeping transit an excellent alternative to driving by improving rider experiences is a critical part of the Mayors' Vision. The signs and speakers on the Expo and Millennium Lines were outdated and replacing them is extremely important for SkyTrain customers. Retrofitting the communication tools at Expo and Millennium Line stations so riders can see and hear real-time information will help to make transit an even more attractive option for people returning to the system in the coming months and years."

Gigi Chen-Kuo, Interim CEO, TransLink –
"Communication and information is a vital part of a customer's experience on transit and this program has modernized our SkyTrain communication technology. We've replaced the 1980's style LED signs and aging speakers with state-of the art information screens and brand-new speakers all over the Expo and Millennium Lines. These upgrades have modernized our system and mean that our customers returning to transit will be welcomed back with much clearer communication technology."

Source : Translink