Letter to the Editor: Keep the 351 bus route

March 9, 2009

To the Editor,

It seems that TransLink continues to insist that it will axe the 351 bus route, from Crescent Beach to Vancouver, when the Canada Line finally comes to Richmond.

TransLink has long said that it would get rid of this bus route in favour of a feeder bus route that allows passengers to transfer onto the Canada Line to commute into downtown Vancouver, even in the face of community opposition.

This is a ridiculous decision by an organization that claims it wants to increase transit use.

Adding one or two more transfers for commuters who currently ride the 351 will likely move most of these people back into their cars. Who would really want to add time to their commute (given the transfers), and have to stand on a crowded SkyTrain car, when they previously were able to sit down on a comfortable seat for the entirety of their commute?

The decision by TransLink to axe the 351 bus route is completely unresponsive to the community's concerns, and indicative of the many problems associated with the privatization of TransLink's governance structure.

The Surrey Civic Coalition hopes TransLink will reverse its ill-thought out decision, and that Surrey City Council will speak out on this matter for commuters in South Surrey and White Rock.

By far the best solution is to keep the existing 351 bus route going directly to downtown Vancouver in addition to feeder buses that would connect with the new rapid transit line in Richmond.

The more choices commuters have, the better.

Stephanie Ryan
Vice President
Surrey Civic Coalition