RapidBus
SystemTransLink
Routes6
Stops75
OpenJanuary 6, 2020[1]
OperatorCoast Mountain Bus Company

RapidBus is an express bus network with bus rapid transit elements in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

History

On November 23, 2016, the TransLink Mayors' Council and TransLink's board of directors approved the first phase of the 10-Year Vision, which included provisions for new B-Line routes (later rebranded as RapidBus) which began service in January 2020.[2] In July 2019, TransLink announced that all future B-Line routes would officially be launched under new "RapidBus" branding and that the 95 and 96 B-Lines would also transition to that branding, leaving route 99 as the only remaining B-Line.[3]

The first wave of routes using the RapidBus branding – consisting of the R1 King George Blvd (the former 96 B-Line), the new R3 Lougheed Hwy, the new R4 41st Ave (replacing the 43 express service along 41st Avenue), and the R5 Hastings St (the former 95 B-Line) – launched on January 6, 2020.[4][1]

The R2 Marine Drive launched on April 6, 2020, after construction delays, replacing the former 239.[5] The R6 Scott Rd launched on January 2, 2024, with service in Surrey and Delta.[6][7]

Features

  • All-door boarding
  • Shelters and benches at stops
  • Tactile pads
  • Real-time information
  • Information panels at stops
  • On-board route diagrams
  • Transit priority measures on streets to improve travel times
  • Custom exterior bus livery
  • Frequent service

RapidBus routes

RouteLaunch dateTerminiConnectionsStops
R1 King George BlvdSeptember 2, 2013 (as 96 B-Line)Guildford ExchangeNewton Exchange
  • Newton Exchange
  • Surrey Central
  • King George
  • Guildford Exchange
12
R2 Marine DrApril 6, 2020[5]Park Royal ExchangePhibbs Exchange
  • Park Royal Shopping Centre
  • Lonsdale Quay
  • Phibbs Exchange
10
R3 Lougheed HwyJanuary 6, 2020Coquitlam Central stationHaney Place Exchange
  • Coquitlam Central
  • Haney Place
8
R4 41st AveSeptember 4, 2000 (as 43 Express)UBC ExchangeJoyce–Collingwood station
  • Joyce–Collingwood
  • Oakridge–41st Avenue
  • Dunbar Loop
  • UBC Exchange
17
R5 Hastings StDecember 19, 2016 (as 95 B-Line)Burrard stationSFU Exchange
  • Burrard
  • Waterfront
  • Kootenay Loop
  • SFU Exchange
16
R6 Scott RdJanuary 2, 2024[7]Scott Road stationNewton Exchange
  • Scott Road
  • Scottsdale Exchange
  • Newton Exchange
13

Future phases

RouteLaunch dateTerminiConnections
Lions GateTBDStadium–Chinatown stationLynn Valley Centre
  • Stadium–Chinatown
  • Granville
  • Vancouver City Centre
  • Burrard
  • Lonsdale Quay
Victoria DriveTBDDowntownHarrison Loop
  • Commercial–Broadway
White RockTBDNewton ExchangeWhite Rock Centre
  • Newton Exchange
  • South Surrey Park and Ride
  • White Rock Centre
Coquitlam to LangleyTBDCoquitlam Central stationLangley Centre
  • Coquitlam Central
  • Maple Meadows
  • Carvolth Exchange
  • Langley Centre
R2 Extension to Metrotown[8]2027Metrotown stationPark Royal Exchange
  • Park Royal Shopping Centre
  • Lonsdale Quay
  • Phibbs Exchange
  • Brentwood Town Centre
  • Metrotown

Cancelled RapidBus routes

Fraser Highway

Proposals for a Fraser Highway B-Line were made in 2018 along with what would become the Marine Drive, Lougheed Highway, and 41st Avenue RapidBus routes.[9] However, a decision was made in December of that year to cancel the proposed route (which would have been rebranded as RapidBus)[3] in favour of a revision of service on routes 502 and 503 in the short term, and an extension of the Expo Line from Surrey to Langley Centre in the long term.[10]

R7 Richmond – Metrotown station

This line was cancelled in October 2023 following the rejection of a proposed route by Richmond's city council. The R7 route would have roughly followed the existing 430 route via Bridgeport Road, the Knight Street Bridge, and 49th Avenue.[11]

Bus rapid transit lines

TransLink intends to implement 9 bus rapid transit (BRT) lines in the coming decade, including 3 that will be upgraded from RapidBus, contingent on funding from senior levels of government.[12] The lines will feature all-day frequent service with limited stops, near-continuous dedicated lanes and signal priority at major intersections, high-capacity buses with all-door boarding.[13] The lines will have "rail-like" stations with next-bus departure screens, transit maps and weather protection.[13]

Future phases

RouteLaunch dateTerminiConnection
King George Boulevard BRT[14]TBDSurrey Central stationWhite Rock Centre
  • Surrey Central
  • King George
  • Newton Exchange
  • South Surrey Park and Ride
  • White Rock Centre
Langley – Haney Place BRT[14]TBDHaney Place ExchangeWillowbrook station
  • Haney Place Exchange
  • Carvolth Exchange
  • Willowbrook
Metrotown – North Shore BRT[14][15]TBDPark Royal ExchangeMetrotown station
  • Park Royal Exchange
  • Lonsdale Quay
  • Phibbs Exchange
  • Kootenay Loop
  • Brentwood Town Centre
  • BCIT Exchange
  • Metrotown

See also

References

  1. ^ "RapidBus is Coming!". YouTube. TransLink. July 23, 2019. Archived September 14, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  2. ^ "Phase One of the 10-Year Vision Backgrounder". tenyearvision.translink.ca. TransLink. Archived February 1, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  3. ^ Saltman, Jennifer (July 24, 2019). "TransLink unveils new RapidBus service to replace B-Lines". The Vancouver Sun. Archived June 30, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  4. ^ "RapidBus Program". translink.ca. TransLink. Archived July 24, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  5. ^ "R2: Marine Dr". translink.ca. TransLink. Archived February 8, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  6. ^ "TransLink unveils new RapidBus service for Surrey and Delta". CBC News. Archived January 2, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  7. ^ "R6 Scott Road RapidBus". TransLink.ca. TransLink. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  8. ^ "RapidBus Projects | R2 Extension to Metrotown". translink.ca. TransLink. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  9. ^ "TransLink to add 4 new B-Line bus routes by end of 2019". CTV Vancouver. March 7, 2018. Archived March 7, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  10. ^ "Mayor's Council On Regional Transportation Public Meeting Agenda Revised: December 11, 2018". TransLink. December 13, 2018. p. 83. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  11. ^ Chan, Kenneth (October 16, 2023). "No BRT, no RapidBus: Richmond City Council rejects TransLink's proposed route to Metrotown". Daily Hive Vancouver. Archived October 17, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  12. ^ Chan, Kenneth (April 20, 2022). "TransLink to double bus service, including 9 new Bus Rapid Transit lines | Urbanized". dailyhive.com. Archived April 20, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  13. ^ "BRT Attributes for Metro Vancouver". Translink. November 16, 2023. Archived November 17, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  14. ^ "Bus Rapid Transit". www.translink.ca. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  15. ^ "Opinion: If TransLink builds Bus Rapid Transit, it must be done right | Urbanized". Daily Hive. Retrieved 2025-09-23.