Overcrowding a Growing Concern. More Transit Service Needed.

At today's TransLink Mayors' Council on Regional Transportation meeting, we received an update from Kevin Quinn, the organization's CEO.

People at King George SkyTrain Station. Select the image to enlarge.

Back in 2019, transit ridership was at crush-level loads on many transit routes throughout the region; we couldn't keep up with the demand. Well, transit ridership continues to climb in Metro Vancouver, and overcrowding on many routes is occurring again.

The following chart shows transit ridership growth in our region, looking at weekday, weekend, and total journeys.

Transit ridership 2019 to present. Select the chart to enlarge.

In the South of Fraser, which includes Surrey, White Rock, Langley City, and the Township of Langley, ridership is at 115% of 2019 levels. You can see this if you've taken any major bus routes in Langley or Surrey.

Map of percentage of routes overcrowded in peak PM travel periods. Select the map to enlarge.

As shown, overcrowding is a significant concern for routes in Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, and the South of Fraser.

The following image shows an example of what an overcrowded standard 40' long bus is per TransLink's service standards.

Example of overcrowding on a standard 40' bus. Select the image to enlarge.

This continued growth in transit ridership is why the Mayors' Council is working on a new 10-year transit investment vision for Metro Vancouver. Mayors from throughout the region were recently in Ottawa lobbying the feds for more funding for transit. We are also working with the provincial government to get a new deal for transit funding, as we know that the gas tax, a significant transit funding source, is declining. At the local level, we will also need to invest more in property tax and fees we receive from development to help pay for expanding and operating transit services.

The only way we can keep our region moving, as our density and population increases, is to invest in walking, cycling, and transit services. While we have our work cut out for us, I know that the feds, province, and mayors are committed to delivering increased transit service for people in Metro Vancouver.

Langley City to provide comments on Gloucester Industrial Park Expansion. City's Role for Township's Booth, Fernridge, and Rinn Neighbourhood Plans.

As I posted about last month, the Township of Langley is seeking Metro Vancouver Regional District Board approval to expand Gloucester Industrial Park by 14.59 hectares, converting regionally designated agricultural land to industrial land and expanding the Urban Growth Boundary. This change requires updating Metro 2050, our region's growth strategy.

Location of the proposed expansion of Gloucester Industrial Park. Select the map to enlarge. Source: Township of Langley

As per provincial government law, the regional growth strategy amendment process requires a minimum 45-day notification period to allow all affected local governments and members of the public to provide comments on this proposed change.

Langley City Council received a letter from the Regional District and asked staff to prepare a response to be sent back to the Regional District board. Council will review Langley City staff's response at an upcoming meeting before sending it to the Regional District.

The Township of Langley is also updating the Booth, Fernridge, and Rinn Neighbourhood Plans. Again as required by provincial law, the Township of Langley is seeking feedback from Langley City on the proposed updates to these neighbourhood plans.

Township of Langley Neighbourhood Planning Areas South of Langley City. Select the map to enlarge. Source: Township of Langley

Langley City is in the process of updating our transportation plan. As 200th Street and 208th Street serve as regional roads, Langley City must consider the growth in the Brookswood, Booth, Fernridge, and Rinn neighbourhoods. To benefit both Langley City and Township residents and businesses, our communities must work together to ensure that the 200 Street and 208 Street corridors can effectively handle the people and good movement required for our growing communities.

As we share the same watershed, we also need to work with the Township of Langley to update water, sewer and stormwater modelling and ensure we have an updated Integrated Watershed Management Plan.

In the past, the Township of Langley and Langley City signed a Memorandum of Agreement as part of the original Willoughby planning work done decades ago.

For the mutual benefit of both communities, and following our long history of working together, the City will be asking the Township to sign a Memorandum of Agreement to create a game plan to ensure our transportation and transit infrastructure can support the population growth proposed in the Booth, Fernridge, and Rinn Neighbourhood Plans, that we have an Integrated Watershed Management Plan, and that we have identified any new water and sewer service that may require access through Langley City to support the proposed updated Booth, Fernridge, and Rinn Neighbourhood Plans.

May 29 Council Notes: Financial Amendments, Alcohol in Parks, Renewing 56 Ave and Park Ave

Last night's Langley City Council meeting started with a Committee of the Whole, which enables the general public to provide feedback to Council. Council was seeking feedback on proposed amendments to the 2022-2026 Financial Plan and the 2023-2027 Financial Plan. I posted about these changes in a previous post.

One community member attended the Committee of the Whole and asked a few questions on the 2023-2027 Financial Plan Amendment. She asked if the City was planning to use an additional loan to finance the Fraser Highway One-Way project and how the City plans to use the $15 million loan approved in the 2023 budget. Staff noted that the City would not need an additional loan to complete the $20.7 million Fraser Highway One-Way renewal project. The $15 million loan approved in this year's budget is for acquiring property to support the SkyTrian project and the Fraser Highway One-Way renewal project.

After the Committee of the Whole, Council approved the 2022-2026 and 2023-2027 Financial Plan Amendments.

Council also approved the Growing Communities Reserve Fund Establishment Bylaw, which the provincial government requires to track their $7,186,000 Growing Communities Fund grant, which we are using for the Fraser Highway One-Way renewal project.

Council approved updating the Parks and Public Facilities Regulation Bylaw to allow the responsible consumption of alcoholic beverages from Thursday to Saturday from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm and every Sunday from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm from June 1st to October 31st in the north section of McBurney Plaza, designated areas in Douglas Park, and at most picnic shelters at City Park.

Council authorized the tendering of a $4,156,715.00 (excluding GST) project to McDonald & Ross Const. Ltd. The tender includes renewing the:

• Watermain, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer along 56 Avenue from 200 Street to 203 Street
• Traffic signal at the 56 Avenue & 201A Street intersection Watermain on Park Avenue

While 56 Avenue will be patched as part of this year's work which the City expects to start this summer, the City plans to fully repave 56 Avenue in 2024.

Community Day: A Free, Family-Friendly Event on Saturday June 10

Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 10, from 11 am to 7 pm. Community Day is back at Douglas Park with a full day of activities for all ages.

There will be:

• Minigolf
• An Obstacle Course
• Sports
• Kid’s Crafts and Games
• Live Entertainment
• An Arts Walk
• The Fire Rescue Challenge
• Booth from Community Organizations and Local Businesses with Draws, Raffles, and Prizings

The Greater Food Truck Festival will also be onsite with 25 food trucks, a beer garden, and an artisan craft market.

Headline Entertainment on the Main Stage includes:

• At 3:30 pm, the Wild Moccasins Dancers - Dynamic Pow Wow Dance Collective
• At 4:30 pm, Karima Essa – Celebrating Body Positivity and Dance for Children
• At 5:00 pm, Krystle dos Santos – Award-Winning Blues, Jazz, and Soul Singer

Please visit Langley City’s website for the latest information.