Private citizens providing transit service in South of Fraser

In Metro Vancouver, there is a rule of thumb when it comes to transit: the further east you go, the less service is available. This has been the case for at least 100 years. People have been screaming for better transit out in places like the South of Fraser since I moved to the region about a decade ago and while there has been some improvement, there is much work still to be done. Sadly, it seems that our politicians are unable or unwilling to find a long-term solution to fund transit expansion. One of the interesting things is that public transit is so desired out here that when government failed to act, private citizens took the job of providing transit on themselves. I don’t think there is a stronger case for providing more transit service than this. Over the last few months, one new “private” transit service has been launched and another is about to begin.

One service is called Pacific Commuter which runs an express bus service between Langley, Cloverdale, and Downtown Vancouver. This is a West Coast Express-like premium transit service.

The second service that’s about to get started is called the Aldergrove Trolley which brings $2/ride service to parts of Aldergrove that are not served by TransLink which includes Gloucester Industrial Estate. The service will feed into the 502. The organization has already purchase a trolley bus and is getting the help of Jim Storie, the owner and CEO of the Vancouver Trolley Company according to an article in the Aldergrove Star, to get things running.

Politicians should take note that the desire for public transit is so strong in the South of Fraser that people have decided to take matters into their own hands. This both encourages me about the type of people that live in the South of Fraser, but also saddens me that government has been unable to properly provision a public service out here.

Langley gets transit system in 1988

One of the neat things that TransLink has done is post a searchable archive of the Buzzer newsletters online which goes back to 1916. One of the interesting Buzzer newsletters I found was from 1988. Up until July 25, 1988, the 70,500 residents of the City and Township of Langley did not have BC Transit (now TransLink) service. At that time they got the following routes:

501 (Langley South – New West SkyTrain): 30 minute peak/60 minute off-peak service
502 (Fernridge/Brookswood/Langley Center – New West SkyTrain): 30 minute peak/60 minute off-peak service
506 (Murrayville – Langley Centre), 507 (Fort Langley – Langley Centre, 511 (Aldergrove - Willowbrook) with 60 minutes or worse service

1988 Bus Route Map of Langley

Current Bus Route Map of Langley

While the service level on the 501/502 has been vastly improved over the years and while we now have buses to White Rock and Maple Ridge, it’s interesting that the local bus network in Langley is very similar to how it was in 1988. The only different is that today we have a population of over 130,000! While TransLink has done a good job over the years providing intra-regional service, local service in Langley is no better than it was in 1988.

More Metro Vancouver Water coming to Langley Township

Earlier this year, Township of Langley council threatened to leave Metro Vancouver due to Metro’s opposition to Trinity Western University’s University District. As I suspected, this was nothing more than saber rattling as council has authorized $36.2m to be spent to connect eastern Langley to Metro Vancouver’s water system.

Current Water System in East Langley

Right now the eastern section of Langley which includes Salmon River/Uplands, Aldergrove, and Gloucester Industrial Estates gets its water from Township run wells from groundwater. As the aquifers are starting to run on empty, the Township needs to connect up to Metro Vancouver’s water system to sustain the current water system. Also by connecting to Metro’s water system, the Township will be able to put the Aldergrove Plan in action that aims to increase density in the area. Right now the ground water system is a limiting factor to its success.

Whether the Township likes it or not, Metro Vancouver provides the only sustainable source of water in the region which means that Metro and the Township must work together to resolve their difference instead of threatening each other.

Langley Eats Local Festival

Over the last little while, I've come to the realization that Agritourism will be the key to preserving farming viability and the Agricultural Land Reserve in Metro Vancouver. And what better way to show your support for local than attending the Langley Eats Local Festival.

Langley Environmental Partners Society (LEPS) is proud to once again present Langley Eats Local! The 4th annual sustainable food festival will take place on Sunday, July 29th at Driediger Farms Market. Centrally located next to 160 acres of farmland, this year's festival will feature local farmers, food processors, and artisans. The widespread appreciation among participants, exhibitors, and vendors from last year’s success has prompted LEPS to host the event at Driediger Farms for a second consecutive year.

The goal of the festival is to celebrate Langley's vast agricultural land reserve and to encourage citizens of the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley to shop and eat from our region.

Langley Eats Local is a family-oriented day of fun featuring local music talent, face painting, community group exhibits, artistic craftsmanship, and quality local foods. There will be a variety of fresh food samples and local products to purchase including produce, preserves, flowers, and pottery. One of many returnees, the Suburban Spoon, will be providing concession at the event from an entertainingly purple mobile kitchen. LEPS will also have an interactive display of edible native plants courtesy of Cedar Rim Nursery. The festival runs from 11 am to 3 pm. Admission is free.

Last year, over 1,200 attendees enjoyed picking berries in the U-pick fields and socializing in the open air market. Whether single, couple, family, youth or adult, participants from all over Metro Vancouver came to visit Driediger Farms - some as far as Vancouver Island. "Everyone who attended the event is already truly concerned with supporting food locally and knows where their food comes from," says Bonnie Windsor, Assistant Plant Manager at Johnston's. One attendee described their experience as a rare opportunity to both shop and eat locally amidst a family farming operation - a sentiment strongly echoed by Langley Eats Local returning vendors and exhibitors.

“LEPS hosts Langley Eats Local as a way to introduce citizens to local food providers, and to encourage the positive environmental impact that supporting local producers has on our global footprint,” said Nichole Marples, LEPS Executive Director “as well as the economic benefits of keeping our money local”.