TransLink to axe 351 -- Unjust?

Are you a resident of White Rock or South Surrey?  Do you rely on the 351 for direct transport to Vancouver?  Then this issue may address you.

The fact is that TransLink is ahead of schedule when it comes to implementing SkyTrain’s Canada Line, which means that as early as August we will be seeing some drastic changes to the TransLink routes.  One of the key routes, the 351, which goes from Crescent Beach to Vancouver, while be redirected to Richmond and then to the SkyTrain.  This proves a huge inconvenience for anyone using these routes because the SkyTrain route will be skipping many locations along the way.  While most may say “Well, the SkyTrain is more efficient, and will save us money”, they aren’t taking into account the businesses that will be losing revenue as the SkyTrain bypasses their location completely.  They also aren’t taking into consideration the 1.35 billion dollars already spent on this huge project, which is associated to the 2010 Olympics.  When these changes go through – because they will, and no amount of distress on the part of the residents who use the 351 to get to work every day, or those who use it to get to school – an entire community of people will have to adjust their schedule to TransLink’s schedule.

The only possible solution would be if the members of the White Rock council (and possibly those of South Surrey) successfully lobby to keep the bus route while still having the option to Richmond.  However, the likeliness of this happen is slim, since it would cost TransLink even more money to keep both routes running.  We may get to keep the 351 for a while longer, as Canada Line spokesman Alan Denver was quoted saying “We’re in the midst of a testing and commissioning phase, and until that’s over you never know what’s going to happen”.

Peace Arch News, (May 17, 2009), Mayor vows to fight 'good fight' against TransLink,
            Retrieved on March 17, 2009 from
            http://www.bclocalnews.com/surrey_area/peacearchnews/news/40679073.html