Blink RapidBus: Difference between revisions
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There's been transit lanes on portions of [[Douglas Street (Victoria, British Columbia)|Douglas Street]], one of the roads Line 95 traverses, since 2014 when curb lanes had been reserved for transit and bikes during AM and PM peak hours.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Megan |title=Victoria cracks down on bus lane cheats |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/victoria-cracks-down-on-bus-lane-cheats-1.3831674 |access-date=30 October 2023 |work=CBC |date=2 November 2016}}</ref> These lanes have been expanded to all-day dedicated bus lanes that stretch 4.4 kilometres from Fisgard Street to the [[Trans-Canada Highway]] (which Douglas Street turns into) at the Burnside Road overpass. The bus lanes are predicted to save bus riders 10 minutes on their journey.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bell |first1=Jeff |title=Dedicated bus lanes now complete between Fisgard Street and Burnside Road overpass |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/dedicated-bus-lanes-now-complete-between-fisgard-street-and-burnside-road-overpass-4680600 |access-date=30 October 2023 |work=Times Colonist |date=15 April 2020}}</ref> |
There's been transit lanes on portions of [[Douglas Street (Victoria, British Columbia)|Douglas Street]], one of the roads Line 95 traverses, since 2014 when curb lanes had been reserved for transit and bikes during AM and PM peak hours.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Megan |title=Victoria cracks down on bus lane cheats |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/victoria-cracks-down-on-bus-lane-cheats-1.3831674 |access-date=30 October 2023 |work=CBC |date=2 November 2016}}</ref> These lanes have been expanded to all-day dedicated bus lanes that stretch 4.4 kilometres from Fisgard Street to the [[Trans-Canada Highway]] (which Douglas Street turns into) at the Burnside Road overpass. The bus lanes are predicted to save bus riders 10 minutes on their journey.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bell |first1=Jeff |title=Dedicated bus lanes now complete between Fisgard Street and Burnside Road overpass |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/dedicated-bus-lanes-now-complete-between-fisgard-street-and-burnside-road-overpass-4680600 |access-date=30 October 2023 |work=Times Colonist |date=15 April 2020}}</ref> |
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In 2021, [[BC Transit]] announced plans for a RapidBus system. It was hoped that phase 1 of their plans, a |
In 2021, [[BC Transit]] announced plans for a RapidBus system. It was hoped that phase 1 of their plans, a "West Shore Line" between Langford and downtown, would be implemented within 3 years. There are also plans for 2 more lines, a "Peninsula Line", and a "UVic Line". The Peninsula Line will link Downtown Victoria with the [[Swartz Bay ferry terminal]] in [[North Saanich]] via the [[Patricia Bay Highway]]. The UVic Line would link the [[University of Victoria]] with Uptown. There would be connections between the 3 RapidBus routes at an Uptown/Saanich Exchange. <ref>{{cite news |last1=McLachlan, Philip & |first1=Mehta, Shalu |title=West Shore RapidBus strategy unveiled |url=https://thediscourse.ca/vancouver-island/west-shore-rapidbus |access-date=31 October 2023 |work=The Discourse |date=16 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Arrais |first1=Pedro |title=B.C. Transit reveals details of Blink RapidBus in Victoria |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/bc-transit-reveals-details-of-new-blink-rapidbus-between-west-shore-victoria-6768048 |access-date=29 October 2023 |issue=Times Colonist |date=28 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=Carla |title=B.C. Transit studies upgraded service on Saanich Peninsula |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/study-paves-way-for-rapidbus-on-saanich-peninsula-7060002 |access-date=30 October 2023 |work=Times Colonist |date=27 May 2023}}</ref> |
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Line 95 commenced service on April 10, 2023. It replaced route 50, and follows the same routing but with fewer stops. Only one pair of stops were removed though, as the other stops continue to be used by other routes. Line 95 is branded orange, as will all future RapidBus routes, with new RapidBus signs and stations being installed.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Little |first1=Simon |title=BC Transit launches new 'Blink RapidBus' connecting downtown Victoria, Langord |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9616707/new-victoria-rapidbus/ |access-date=31 October 2023 |work=Global News |date=11 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Blandy |first1=Curtis |title=New rapid bus service between West Shore and downtown Victoria launches in April |url=https://www.victoriabuzz.com/2023/03/new-rapid-bus-service-between-west-shore-and-downtown-victoria-launches-in-april/ |access-date=30 October 2023 |work=Victoria Buzz |date=27 March 2023}}</ref> |
Line 95 commenced service on April 10, 2023. It replaced route 50, and follows the same routing but with fewer stops. Only one pair of stops were removed though, as the other stops continue to be used by other routes. Line 95 is branded orange, as will all future RapidBus routes, with new RapidBus signs and stations being installed.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Little |first1=Simon |title=BC Transit launches new 'Blink RapidBus' connecting downtown Victoria, Langord |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9616707/new-victoria-rapidbus/ |access-date=31 October 2023 |work=Global News |date=11 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Blandy |first1=Curtis |title=New rapid bus service between West Shore and downtown Victoria launches in April |url=https://www.victoriabuzz.com/2023/03/new-rapid-bus-service-between-west-shore-and-downtown-victoria-launches-in-april/ |access-date=30 October 2023 |work=Victoria Buzz |date=27 March 2023}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 06:23, 31 October 2023
| 95 TO: (LANGFORD) (DOWNTOWN) | |
|---|---|
| RapidBus | |
| Overview | |
| System | Victoria Regional Transit System |
| Status | Active |
| Began service | April 10, 2023 |
| Predecessors | 50 Langford/50 Downtown |
| Night-time | Friday and Saturday |
| Route | |
| Locale | Greater Victoria |
| Communities served | Victoria, Saanich, View Royal, Colwood, Langford |
| Start | Downtown Victoria |
| End | Langford |
| Service | |
| Level | Daily |
| Frequency | Every 7-30 minutes |
| Journey time | 35-57 minutes |
| Operates | 5:00 am - 1:00 am (3am Fri-Sat) |
Blink Rapidbus Line 95 is a bus rapid transit route in Greater Victoria, British Columbia, as part of the Victoria Regional Transit System. It connects Langford to Downtown Victoria.
History
Rapid transit has been proposed in the Greater Victoria area since at least 2011 when a light rail line was proposed to link Langford and Downtown Victoria. It was expected to cost $1 billion.[1] In 2018, Premier of British Columbia John Horgan said that there wasn't a business case for light rail on the abandoned E&N Rail corridor and that his government would focus on building bus lanes.[2]
There's been transit lanes on portions of Douglas Street, one of the roads Line 95 traverses, since 2014 when curb lanes had been reserved for transit and bikes during AM and PM peak hours.[3] These lanes have been expanded to all-day dedicated bus lanes that stretch 4.4 kilometres from Fisgard Street to the Trans-Canada Highway (which Douglas Street turns into) at the Burnside Road overpass. The bus lanes are predicted to save bus riders 10 minutes on their journey.[4]
In 2021, BC Transit announced plans for a RapidBus system. It was hoped that phase 1 of their plans, a "West Shore Line" between Langford and downtown, would be implemented within 3 years. There are also plans for 2 more lines, a "Peninsula Line", and a "UVic Line". The Peninsula Line will link Downtown Victoria with the Swartz Bay ferry terminal in North Saanich via the Patricia Bay Highway. The UVic Line would link the University of Victoria with Uptown. There would be connections between the 3 RapidBus routes at an Uptown/Saanich Exchange. [5][6][7]
Line 95 commenced service on April 10, 2023. It replaced route 50, and follows the same routing but with fewer stops. Only one pair of stops were removed though, as the other stops continue to be used by other routes. Line 95 is branded orange, as will all future RapidBus routes, with new RapidBus signs and stations being installed.[8][9]
Service frequency
Line 95 runs every 7-8 minutes during peak hours, at least every 15 minutes from 7am-10pm on weekdays and Saturdays, and from 8am-10pm on Sundays. There's reduced service during early mornings and late nights. This is an 8% service increase on Saturdays, 12% on weekdays, and 18% on Sundays compared to route 50.[10]
References
- ^ "$1B rapid transit line suggested for Victoria". CBC. 26 April 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ Leyne, Les (16 May 2018). "Les Leyne: Horgan puts brakes on light rail for E&N". Times Colonist. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ Thomas, Megan (2 November 2016). "Victoria cracks down on bus lane cheats". CBC. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ Bell, Jeff (15 April 2020). "Dedicated bus lanes now complete between Fisgard Street and Burnside Road overpass". Times Colonist. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ McLachlan, Philip &, Mehta, Shalu (16 July 2021). "West Shore RapidBus strategy unveiled". The Discourse. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Arrais, Pedro (28 March 2023). "B.C. Transit reveals details of Blink RapidBus in Victoria". No. Times Colonist. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- ^ Wilson, Carla (27 May 2023). "B.C. Transit studies upgraded service on Saanich Peninsula". Times Colonist. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ Little, Simon (11 April 2023). "BC Transit launches new 'Blink RapidBus' connecting downtown Victoria, Langord". Global News. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ Blandy, Curtis (27 March 2023). "New rapid bus service between West Shore and downtown Victoria launches in April". Victoria Buzz. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ Chan, Kenneth (12 April 2023). "BC Transit launches first RapidBus route serving Victoria". Daily Hive Vancouver. Retrieved 29 October 2023.