TransLink is suspending its planned service reductions and is rescinding the layoff notices issued to roughly 1,500 employees, as the province looks to begin reopening later this month, the transit authority said Friday.
TransLink said it’s having discussions with the provincial government on how to address the financial impacts the company was facing. TransLink previously revealed that it was losing $75 million a month due to the pandemic.
“This is another important step forward for re-starting British Columbia and Metro Vancouver’s economy,” said TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond.
“The transit service provided by TransLink is essential to the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in our region. We will be ready to provide safe, reliable transit service as people return to work.”
As a result of the discussions with the province, TransLink and its operating companies will suspend the service reductions – including a number of Richmond bus routes – that were set to begin May 18, and will rescind the layoff notices issued to employees.
TransLink will be reviewing all service levels to ensure that it’s balancing the people’s need to get around the region, with the need to maintain and respect enhanced safety protocols – such as physical distancing measures on buses.
Further announcements on service and safety measures will be made at a later date, according to the transit authority.
Both parties will continue to call on the federal government for a national solution to the challenges facing transit systems across the country, said TransLink.
