If you feel that transit has gotten a little busier over the last year, you’re not mistaken. In fact, Metro Vancouver saw more transit ridership growth over the last year than anywhere in Canada and the U.S.
Only four urban areas with populations over one million saw ridership growth last year including Metro Vancouver (5.7 per cent), Phoenix, Arizona (3.5 per cent), Seattle, Washington (2.3 per cent) and Montreal (2.3 per cent). According to TransLink, high gas prices and economic growth throughout the region may be factors.
“More people are taking transit in Metro Vancouver than ever before,” said TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond in a press release. “This data shows that when we invest in public transit, ridership rises. I’m so glad we were able to add this new service at a time when demand is surging. We are ready to build upon the success we’re seeing with the rollout of Phase Two of the Vision and keep this momentum alive.”
TransLink has been working to increase capacity across its transit network and added 210,000 bus service hours in 2017. One-third of those hours were targeted to overcrowded bus routes including Richmond’s 407 bus which increased in ridership by 14 per cent last year.
The Canada Line also saw an increase in ridership by 6.3 per cent with a total of 46 million boardings in 2017.
