Retired engineer Malcolm Robertson drove himself to a Langley open house on a proposed bus rapid transit system (BRT) that would use bus-only lanes and dedicated stations running up 200 Street through Langley to provide faster service.
"The day may come when I'll not be driving," remarked Robertson, 84, a resident of Willowbrook, who liked the idea of an expanded public transit system with buses that can handle more capacity.
"I was brought up with double-decker buses in Scotland," Robertson told the Langley Advance Times.
"This [BRT] gives me mobility, travel, comfort and savings."
Held on Sunday, Jan. 26 at the Walnut Grove community centre, the open house was one of two public information events held by TransLink to explain the proposal to run a BRT line to connect Langley Township and Maple Ridge that would shave an estimated 20 minutes from the conventional bus route.
A second open house was planned for Maple Ridge.
BRT routes are different from regular routes, even express bus service, because they run on dedicated lanes. Buses have signal priority at intersections, and combined with the separate lanes, can move faster than normal traffic, especially at rush hour.
A Sunday open house gave Walnut Grove residents a look at the proposed new Bus Rapid Transit line that will run through Langley. pic.twitter.com/bk7rgCGWlf
— Langley Advance Times (@LangleyTimes) January 26, 2025
Langley Township councillors Michael Pratt and Tim Baillie both gave the proposal a thumbs-up when they dropped by the open house.
"This will help Township residents get to work, get to school, get around way easier, and so I'm excited to see what the public will say," Pratt said.
Baillie said it was "about time."
"This is is badly needed because we're growing so so fast."
TransLink spokesperson Dan Mountain said "engagement participation has been strong" with 518 completed surveys for the Langley – Haney Place BRT route so far.
Members of the public were invited to participate by attending a future open house or by taking the online survey.
Mountain explained the public transit company was working to secure a funding commitment for BRT implementation from all levels of government.
"Once funding is secured, TransLink estimates that BRT construction can be completed within five years," Mountain said.
