Langley would benefit from proposed transit improvements outlined by the Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation on Thursday.
The biggest improvement would be a B-Line express bus between Langley City and the SkyTrain line in Surrey on the route of the current 502 bus. It would offer frequent service and have a smaller number of stops. Within 12 years, an LRT line is proposed to run on the same route, from Surrey City Centre to Langley City.
A B-Line bus is also proposed to run between Langley City and the new Evergreen Line at Coquitlam Centre, across the Golden Ears Bridge. It would also connect to West Coast Express. The mayors’ plan calls for an expansion of that service as well. It now operates Monday through Friday, with five trains into Vancouver in the morning and out to Coquitlam, Maple Ridge and Mission in the evenings.
The plan also calls for a new tolled four-lane Pattullo Bridge, meaning the three river crossings closest to Langley will all be tolled.
There would be improvements to the Langley City and Willowbrook transit exchanges and new bus service in both Willoughby and Brookswood.
The plan calls for 11 new B-Line express bus routes, covering 200 kilometres; a 25 per cent increase in bus service, with many more routes getting frequent service of every 15 minutes and a 30 per cent boost in HandyDart service.
Langley Township Mayor Jack Froese said “This will be a huge step towards easing congestion, protecting the environment, and providing better transportation options for our growing region.”
“Eleven mayors worked on this, and after 12 weeks of collaboration, we believe we have set out a vision that works for the entire region,” Froese said.
“Our roads are already congested and we expect to see rapid growth in this area over the next few decades. This is an investment in transportation that will be great for the Township and all the communities on this side of the river. We need a transportation system that will create shorter commute times, get people out of their cars, and encourage them to make use of transit.”