White Rock mayor refutes TransLink rumour
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Updated: July 17, 2009 3:15 PM
A rumour this week that commuters in Tsawwassen would still be getting peak-hour direct bus service to downtown Vancouver after the opening of the Canada Line has turned out to be just that – a rumour.
"Their service is going to be integrated on Sept. 7, just like everyone else," Mayor Catherine Ferguson said Tuesday, after Coun. Lynne Sinclair brought up the rumour – which appeared to originate in misunderstandings by Tsawwassen commuters – at the previous night's council meeting.
Ferguson was quick to consult with TransLink management.
"It would have been tremendously unfair," Ferguson said.
White Rock and South Surrey commuters have been irate about the integration – which will see Vancouver-bound riders, including the elderly and physically challenged, bused to the Canada Line's Bridgeport station to transfer to the train, instead of continuing to enjoy a one-seat ride to the city.
"I don't think TransLink realizes the level of anger among our residents," Sinclair said after the meeting.
Ferguson noted White Rock has been told that TransLink will be "keeping a close eye" on the integrated routes and doing a review of service six months after the change in September.
"We have that verbally and in writing," Ferguson said.
She added that White Rock council members will be personally testing the route in September.
"We're waiting for a date – TransLink invited us to do the run in June or July, but I wasn't satisfied with that," she said.
"We wanted it to be in real time, when other passengers are using it, instead of it just being us – which is what would have happened. We wanted it to be representative of what it would be like to travel the route."
Meanwhile, Ferguson said, White Rock is still attempting to negotiate increased seaside bus service, with buses running to the beach every 15 minutes during the rest of the summer.
TransLink has so far stepped-up seaside bus service only on weekends, she said.
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