Integrating Frequent Transit Service & Corridor-based Transit Supportive Environments in the Metro Vancouver Region

Frequent transit networks have been developed in a number of metropolitan areas in North America, Australia, and Europe.  TransLink has recently introduced a Frequent Transit Network (FTN) in the Metro Vancouver area.  TransLink’s FTN is an interconnected network of corridors with transit services operating every 15 minutes or more frequently throughout the day and into the evening every day of the week.     As part of its Regional Growth Strategy review process, Metro Vancouver is introducing a concept called Frequent Transit Development Corridors to shape land use in support of provision of frequent transit.  TransLink and Metro Vancouver are working together to identify factors and develop policies that will help create a transit‐oriented region focused around urban centres and the FTN.    A number of transit and land use indicators are being reviewed to help differentiate FTN corridors from other transit services.  Two very useful indicators are related to transit demand:  passenger boardings/road‐km and passenger‐kilometres/road‐km.  Almost all of the existing FTN corridors performed well on one or both of these indicators.   From a land use perspective, there are many waysto reach a defined threshold of transit demand to warrant frequent transit service.  Of particular importance to development of the FTN will be understanding the types of land uses and densities that support frequent transit during off‐peak time periods(e.g. on weekends and evenings).     The provision of high quality transit is an important lever for serving and shaping transit demand.   In addition to extending the FTN and increasing service levels, the implementation of the planned rapid transit network in the region can further increase transit demand along frequent transit corridors.  Another key tool to support the FTN network is the establishment of transit priority measures on roads to improve service reliability and transit travel time.  When all these factors and others are implemented in a coordinated manner, a magnification of transit demand and level ofservice is possible within the region.    The Frequent Transit Network and Metro Vancouver’s proposed Frequent Transit Development Corridor concept hold the promise of a bold vision for how to integrate land use, transit supportive infrastructure and frequent transit service.   For the region to realize this vision, it will require collaboration and coordinated actions amongst all the key playersin the region.