Two major transit routes in Richmond rank among Metro Vancouver's top 20 busiest and require upgrades, according to TransLink.
TransLink statistics show Metro Vancouver bus riders spend more than 28,000 hours stuck in traffic combined every weekday.
Almost half of the delays happen along the top 20 bus routes, despite making up only 15 per cent of the transit network.
This includes Richmond's No. 3 Road and Bridgeport Road bus corridors.
TransLink is highlighting the need for transit expansion on these routes as part of its Bus Priority Vision plan, which looks to enhance bus speed and reliability over the next decade.
No. 3 Road in Richmond serves 11 bus routes (402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 410, 414, 416, 430 and N10) that connect from north to south Richmond including Steveston Harbour and the Riverport Recreation Complex.
The TransLink report highlights "significant pedestrian activity" at major Canada Line stops. The addition of Capstan Skytrain Station will add to the curbside management and traffic signal timing challenges for buses on this route.
Meanwhile, the Bridgeport Road corridor serves the 405, 407 and 430 buses between south Vancouver and Richmond via the Knight Street Bridge.
Two travel lanes along the length of the roadway on Bridgeport Road and the narrow corridor next to industrial and commercial businesses are key challenges for buses that travel along the route, according to the report.
Examples of improvements being discussed include dedicated bus lanes, distances between bus stops, turning restrictions and signal improvements.
“As traffic gets worse throughout Metro Vancouver, our customers spend more time stuck on buses and less time moving,” said TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn.
“Bus delays cost us more than $80 million each year, and we are committed to developing new bus priority measures that will mitigate those costs and get our customers where they need to go faster.”
TransLink said its next step is to secure funding for its 10-year plan, which will include expanding bus speed and reliability.
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