Despite decreases in West Coast Express boardings, TransLink has seen a 5.7 per cent jump in ridership in the first six months of 2017 compared to the same time last year.
TransLink broke down the numbers in a technical briefing on Wednesday morning. SkyTrain saw the greatest jump with an 11.9 per cent (74 million) increase, buses saw a 2.5 per cent (122.5 million) increase and SeaBus a 5.7 per cent (2.7 million) increase. The West Coast Express dropped by 6.1 per cent (1.2 million).
RELATED: TransLink fare evasion tickets drop 19 per cent in 2016
South of the Fraser saw the biggest hike in bus ridership numbers with annual boardings up by 10 per cent or 3.7 million. The highest growth in all of Metro Vancouver was the 96 B-Line, which saw 570,000 more boardings in 2016. TransLink called that a “good precursor” to light rail transit that would run a similar route between Guildford and Newton.
RELATED: No changes expected for West Coast Express: TransLink CEO
In 2016, the most crowded bus stops South of the Fraser were the 319 Scott Road/Newton Exchange, the 351 between Bridgeport and Crescent Beach, the 502 Surrey Central/Langley Centre and the 555 Lougheed Station/Carvolth Exchange
Vice-president of planning and policy Geoff Cross said they attribute the increase to “employment growth, where the population is growing and thus the trips,” said , noting that these stats allow the transit authority to plan for future service increases and route changes
The transit authority has seen an increase in Saturday and weekday evening boardings.
RELATED: TransLink fare increase coming July 1
“Six per cent over six per cent is definitely an unusual level,” Cross said, admitting that until new SkyTrain cars come in, the lack of cars will begin to limit ridership increases.
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.