{{Short description|Express bus service in Metro Vancouver, Canada}} {{Use Canadian English|date=April 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox bus line |name = R1 King George Blvd |logo = |logo_width = |image = CMBC-B18032.jpg |caption = An R1 King George Blvd at King George station |system = TransLink |start = Guildford Exchange |end = Newton Exchange |stops = 12 |open = September 2, 2013 (as 96 B-Line) |close = |operator = Coast Mountain Bus Company |character = |stock = |length = {{convert|10.4|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=GTFS Static Data|url=https://www.translink.ca/about-us/doing-business-with-translink/app-developer-resources/gtfs/gtfs-data|website=www.translink.ca|publisher=TransLink|access-date=September 14, 2024}}</ref> |ridership = 14,590 ({{abbr|avg.|average}} weekday; 2023)<ref>{{Cite web|title=2023 TSPR - Bus/SeaBus Summaries|url=https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/translink/viz/2023TSPR-BusSeaBusSummaries/TheWorkbook|website=public.tableau.com|publisher=TransLink|access-date=September 14, 2024}}</ref> | map = {{switcher | {{maplink-road|from=R1 King George Blvd.map}} R1 King George Blvd highlighted in green <hr /> | Show interactive map | {{R1 King George Blvd|inline=yes}} | Show route diagram }} | map_state = uncollapsed }}
The '''R1 King George Blvd''' is an express bus service with bus rapid transit elements in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Part of TransLink's RapidBus network, it travels along King George Boulevard and 104 Avenue in Surrey and connects Guildford, Whalley / City Centre, and Newton. The service replaced the '''96 B-Line''' on January 6, 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.translink.ca/Plans-and-Projects/RapidBus-Program/R1-King-George-Blvd.aspx |publisher=TransLink |title=R1: King George Blvd |access-date=July 24, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Plana |first=Vincent |url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/translink-new-rapidbus-service |title=TransLink announces launch of new RapidBus service |work=Daily Hive |date=July 23, 2019 |access-date=July 24, 2019}}</ref> It is operated by Coast Mountain Bus Company and funded by TransLink.
All articulated buses used on this route are hybrid and air-conditioned. Although articulated buses are mainly assigned, standard buses may be assigned instead.
==History== Origins of what became the 96 B-Line can be traced back to 2008–2009, when the route was known as the 399 in planning stages.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://buzzer.translink.ca/2009/05/today-open-house-for-531-and-399-routes-at-semiahmoo-mall/ |title=Today: open house for #531 and #399 routes at Semiahmoo Mall |date=2009-05-07 |publisher=TransLink |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref> Originally planned for a 2010 implementation using resources from the 98 B-Line, which was slated to be discontinued, implementation of a south of the Fraser River B-Line did not happen until four years later due to a funding shortfall.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mediafire.com/file/zkzwydmztfw/Coast_Mountain_Bus_Company_2009-2010_Service_Plan.pdf |title=Coast Mountain Bus Company 2009–2010 Service Plan |date=November 2008 |publisher=TransLink |access-date=January 24, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Browne|first=Alex|date=November 24, 2009|title=Mayor not surprised by cancelled TransLink plans|page=1|work=The Peace Arch News|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/372741922/|access-date=January 22, 2022|issn=0700-9003}}</ref>
The line began service on September 2, 2013. Continuous queue jumping lanes were subsequently added at major intersections along King George Boulevard and the City of Surrey proposed expanding bus-only lanes along King George Blvd to improve travel times.<ref>{{cite web|last=Chan|first=Kenneth|url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/scott-road-b-line-king-george-boulevard-96-b-line|title=New Scott Road B-Line and bus-only lanes on King George Boulevard proposed|work=Daily Hive |date=July 13, 2019 |access-date=July 25, 2019}}</ref>
{{As of|2018|1|1|df=US|since=y}}, passengers with a Compass Card or proof of payment are allowed to board from any of the three doors on the bus.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://buzzer.translink.ca/2017/12/all-doors-are-better-than-one-all-door-boarding-comes-to-the-95-96-b-lines/ |title=All doors are better than one! All-door boarding comes to the 95 & 96 B-Lines |date=2017-12-20 |publisher=TransLink |access-date=January 2, 2018}}</ref> Passengers who are paying cash must board through the front door.
On January 6, 2020, the 96 B-Line service was replaced by new R1 King George Blvd RapidBus, which featured upgraded passenger amenities such as improved bus shelters and a new passenger information system.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.translink.ca/Plans-and-Projects/RapidBus-Program.aspx |title=RapidBus Program |website=translink.ca |access-date=July 25, 2019 |archive-date=July 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724010113/https://www.translink.ca/Plans-and-Projects/RapidBus-Program.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The R1 King George Blvd RapidBus was the seventh busiest bus route in TransLink's network in 2024, with 5,163,000 total boardings.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lambert |first=Sydney |date=2025-05-21 |title=The top 10 most popular bus routes in 2024 |url=https://buzzer.translink.ca/2025/05/the-top-10-most-popular-bus-routes-in-2024/ |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=The Buzzer blog |language=en-CA}}</ref>
==Route description== Departing from Guildford Exchange, the R1 travels west along 104 Avenue towards Surrey Central station and King George station (both on the SkyTrain Expo Line). It then continues south along King George Boulevard towards Newton Exchange.
===Stops=== * Guildford Exchange – serves Guildford Town Centre and Guildford Recreation Centre. It is a major transfer point for other routes serving Surrey, Langley, and White Rock.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://infomaps.translink.ca/System_Maps/exchange_maps/guildfordexchange.pdf |title=Guildford Exchange Map (Sep 2016) |publisher=TransLink |access-date=January 7, 2018 |archive-date=June 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622213204/http://infomaps.translink.ca/System_Maps/exchange_maps/guildfordexchange.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> * 148 Street * 144 Street – serves Hawthorne Rotary Park * 140 Street * Whalley Boulevard * Surrey Central station – connects to the Expo Line and also serves Central City, SFU Surrey, KPU Civic Plaza, the Surrey City Centre Public Library and Surrey City Hall. Also a major transfer point for other routes serving Surrey, Langley, Aldergrove, Delta, and White Rock.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://infomaps.translink.ca/System_Maps/skytrain_station_maps/surrey_central_station.pdf |title=Surrey Central Station Map (Nov 2017) |publisher=TransLink |access-date=January 7, 2018 |archive-date=September 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905044454/http://infomaps.translink.ca/System_Maps/skytrain_station_maps/surrey_central_station.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> * King George station – connects to the Expo Line and serves Holland Park and King George Hub * 96 Avenue – serves Surrey Memorial Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Secondary School * 88 Avenue – serves Bear Creek Park and the Surrey Arts Centre * 80 Avenue * 76 Avenue – serves Kings Cross shopping plaza as well as other retail * Newton Exchange – serves Newton Town Centre and is a major transfer point for other local services to Surrey, Langley and White Rock and express service to Richmond<ref>{{cite web |url=http://infomaps.translink.ca/System_Maps/exchange_maps/newtonexchange.pdf |title=Newton Exchange Map (Jun 2018) |publisher=TransLink |access-date=February 15, 2019}}</ref>
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==See also== *97 B-Line *98 B-Line *99 B-Line *Surrey LRT *List of bus routes in Metro Vancouver
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} {{Attached KML|display=title,inline}} * [http://www.translink.ca/ TransLink] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20160309224626/http://infomaps.translink.ca/Public_Timetables/110/tt096.pdf Timetable] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20160309223616/http://infomaps.translink.ca/Route_Diagrams/107/r096.pdf Route diagram]
{{TransLink Services|state_skytrain=collapsed|state_bus=uncollapsed}}
Category:RapidBus (TransLink) Category:Transport in Surrey, British Columbia Category:2013 establishments in British Columbia