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520 Gorge RD E Victoria BC V8W 2P3

The Victoria Regional Transit System runs seven days a week serving the entire Greater Victoria region including the Victoria International Airport, all ferry terminals (Sidney, Swartz Bay, Brentwood Bay, Ogden Point and Inner Harbour), the downtown core and western communities (Langford, Colwood, Sooke and Metchosin).

Anyone who has exact change can purchase a $5 DayPASS directly from the bus driver and can enjoy all-day access to the Greater Victoria Area. For the parent or guardian who purchased a valid DayPASS (over 19 years old) you can bring up to four children, 12 years and under on board for free. The DayPASS is the easiest way to use BC Transit in Victoria.

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The only guide you’ll need on how to take transit from Vancouver to Victoria

Don’t let the lack of a car stop you from exploring our beautiful capital city, Victoria, because you can easily ride public transit to get there! Visit Tourism Victoria ‘s website for all the city has to offer.

In total, the trip from Vancouver to Victoria will take you about four hours, so plan accordingly whether you’d like to do a day trip or spend a few days there. You’ll be riding with TransLink, BC Ferries and BC Transit, so there will be three separate fares.

Check list before you go

• $5 in coins for your BC Transit fare – $2.50 in coins to pay the fare for the bus ride from the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal to downtown Victoria, and another $2.50 for the return trip. Alternatively, you can purchase a BC Transit DayPASS for $5 for unlimited travel for the entire day on any route! You can find all fare details at bctransit.com/victoria .
• Your TransLink fare, which varies depending on how many zones you travel. You can easily estimate your fare on our website .

Riding transit to the ferry terminal

To get to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, you’ll have to take the 620 Tsawwassen Ferry Express bus from Bridgeport Station. There are many ways to get to Bridgeport Station to catch the 620, so we’ll cover the most common way: taking the SkyTrain’s Canada Line to Bridgeport Station from downtown Vancouver. But first, determine if you’ll start your trip on a bus or at a SkyTrain station.

If you’re starting your trip on the bus before  transferring onto the SkyTrain to get to Bridgeport Station, we recommend paying with a Compass Card or a contactless Visa, Mastercard or American Express credit card . If you pay by exact cash, the bus transfer is only works on other buses as it doesn’t open the faregates at SkyTrain stations. Operators also do not carry change.

If you’re starting at the SkyTrain station, you have three ways of paying your transit fare:

• Using Stored Value on your Compass Card
• Paying with your contactless Visa, Mastercard or American Express credit card
• Purchasing a Compass Ticket from the Compass Vending Machine using cash, debit or credit.

The benefit of a Compass Card is fares are discounted, so if you’re planning to travel lots by transit, we recommend you pick up a Compass Card . They are available online at  compasscard.ca , at Compass Retailers, SkyTrain stations, SeaBus terminals, the Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay ferry terminals, and select London Drugs stores in Vancouver.

Your transit fare includes transfers for up to 90 minutes. In other words, you do not need to pay again when switching from the SkyTrain to the 620 bus. Just tap the same Compass Card, Compass Ticket, or contactless credit card again to open the faregates to access the SkyTrain station.

A few other things to keep in mind:

• Everyone must have their own proof of payment, so you can’t use one Compass Card or contactless credit card to pay for multiple people. You can, however, use one credit card to pay for one fare and then the same credit card on Apple Pay to pay for another fare.
• Children aged 12 and under ride TransLink (and also BC Transit) services free of charge .

Once you’re inside the SkyTrain station, follow signs to the trains headed towards Richmond–Brighouse or YVR Airport (if you are travelling southbound) to find your platform. Both the trains bound for Richmond–Brighouse or YVR Airport will take you to Bridgeport Station.

After you arrive, exit the station and catch the 620 bus from Bay 12 . To find this bay, you’ll have to double back after you exit the station. Please pay attention to the ground markings and follow the arrow and lines to queue up for the bus.

The travel time from Bridgeport Station to Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal is typically around 30-45 minutes and we schedule our buses to match the ferry schedules as best we can. However, please always plan for extra travel time as our buses are only as reliable as the road it travels on. There’s often congestion, especially during peak hours, on Highway 99 and the George Massey Tunnel, which the 620 uses to get to the ferry terminal.

Use our Trip Planner or Google Trip Planner on our website to make sure you make it in time to the terminal for the ferry you want to catch. You can view ferry schedules on the BC Ferries website . Don’t forget to account for the time to walk from the bus stop to the inside the terminal to purchase your ferry ticket and then the time to walk to the berth to get on the ferry.

At the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal

Once inside, proceed to the ticketing counters or self-service ticket booths to purchase your ferry ticket. They accept cash, credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express), debit cards and BC Ferries Experience™ Card. Check out travel tips on the BC Ferries website .

Walk-on passengers can make free reservations when travelling on routes connecting Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island, as well as on the Tsawwassen – Southern Gulf Islands route, to avoid sailing waits. BC Ferries customers can also take advantage of Saver fares, which can be booked for select off-peak sailings on many routes to help reduce lineups during peak hours.

The ferry terminal is like an airport, so your ticket will indicate a berth. Proceed to your berth to wait for boarding and be prepared to show your ticket to staff as you make your way there.

At the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal

Once you disembark from the ferry, follow the signs to exit and to the bus stop to catch the 70 Downtown or 72 Downtown buses.

While both buses take you to downtown Victoria, the 70 bus operates as an express — that means it doesn’t stop at as many stops between the terminal and downtown. Both bus routes will drop you off at Government and Superior Streets, near the Royal BC Museum and the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.

If you’re planning to make a return trip on the same day or plan to use BC Transit buses throughout the day, we recommend you purchase a DayPASS from the operator. The cost of a DayPASS is $5, which is the price of two adult cash fares. Once you have your DayPASS, the next time you ride the bus, you “pay” by showing the front of the pass to the driver.

The single trip cash fare for the Victoria Regional Transit System, operated by BC Transit, is $2.50 cash for adults, seniors and youth. There are no transfers, which means purchasing a DayPASS is your best option otherwise you have to pay a new fare every time you board a bus.

Note fare payment through Compass Card and contactless Visa, Mastercard or American Express payment is only possible on the TransLink system.

Returning to Vancouver

Ready to head home? Just make the reverse trip! The 70 and 72 bus departs from Government Street and Superior Street, or you can catch it along Douglas Street. The trip is typically between about an hour to an hour and 30 minutes from there to the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal.

Use NextRide on your computer and the Transit app on your mobile device to plan your trip and access real-time transit information.

If there’s anything we missed, let us know in the comments!

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Just wanted to say this was well done. I did it for the first time about two months ago and was so apprehensive because I don’t usually take transit let alone travel to the ferry terminal to Victoria. It was quite the adventure and wish I had this the first time. It was a great refresher for my travels there this weekend. Happy thanksgiving! Maureen

A nice long description of how to get from Vancouver to Victoria, but no instruction about getting from Victoria to Vancouver ‘just make the trip in reverse’ doesn’t tell me anything about how to pay for bus and skytrain fares in Vancouver. I’m dizzy from reading the translink site and still don’t know how and how much I pay on the mainland side.

I am planning a holiday from New Zealand to Canada early 2024. This transit instruction page is excellent. Thank-you so much for making my holiday planning less stressful.

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Getting Around Vancouver: Guide to Public Transportation

Navigating Vancouver's Skytrains and Buses

Whether you're a newcomer to Vancouver or just visiting, getting around Vancouver can seem confusing at first. How do you use Vancouver Public Transportation? What are the best options for getting where you need to go? How do you pay for tickets?

This quick guide to Vancouver Public Transportation will answer all your questions and help you find the best way to get where you're going fast. There are also tips and smartphone apps to help you use Vancouver Public Transportation more efficiently, plus information on using public transit to travel around  British Columbia .

All Vancouver Public Transportation is run by  TransLink , the Metro Vancouver transportation authority. TransLink operates a variety of public transportation options in Vancouver and tickets are good across buses, SkyTrains and the SeaBus.

How to Ride Vancouver's Transit System

Most people use the Canada Line  & SkyTrain Rapid Transit when visiting the city, especially the Canada Line. Vancouver's rapid transit runs north-south from the Vancouver Airport to Waterfront Station in Downtown Vancouver and west-east/southeast from Waterfront Station to Burnaby and Coquitlam.

• TransLink has transitioned from a pay-as-you-go ticket system to  Compass Cards , multi-use cards that users add money to, similar to NYC's MetroCard. (The Compass Cards are designed to be "reloaded" with additional money rather than thrown away and require a $6 add-fare "deposit" to activate.)
• Compass Cards are available online, by phone and at all SeaBus, West Coast Express and SkyTrain Station Compass Vending Machines. They are also available at Compass Vending Machines at London Drugs locations. It's still possible to pay with cash on buses but exact change is needed.
• Tap in when you enter a bus or any Skytrain/SeaBus station and out again at Skytrain stations (not buses). Each fare covers a 90-minute journey on the bus, SkyTrain, and SeaBus. The city and suburbs are split into three zones.
• SkyTrain and SeaBus rides require a 1-, 2-, or 3-Zone fare, depending on the time of day and zones traveled. Buses are a one-zone fare, all day, every day. Cash fares on buses are  not  transferable to SkyTrain, West Coast Express, or SeaBus. All journeys starting after 6:30 p.m. (weekdays) and all day on weekends and holidays, across the entire Metro Vancouver region, are a 1-Zone fare. Adult fares are $3 for one zone, $4.25 for two, and $5.75 for three.

Other Transit Options

• SeaBuses : SeaBuses carry passengers to and from Waterfront Station in Downtown Vancouver to North Vancouver's Lonsdale Quay.
• West Coast Express : This commuter rail service transports people from Downtown Vancouver to Mission, BC.
• Mobi : Vancouver is a very bike-friendly place and you can rent one from one of the many bike rental places on Davie/Denman or pick up a Mobi bike share to take a trip around the Seawall. You can bring your bike on all Vancouver Public Transportation options, including buses, Canada Line/SkyTrain rapid transit, and SeaBuses. All buses are equipped with  bike racks . 

Tips for Getting Around Vancouver

• Taxis do not always show up for bookings. You can book a rideshare like an Uber or Lyft, or self-drive with Evo or Car2Go.
• Transit is not 24 hours a day so check your trip beforehand.
• Downtown is walkable but transit is a good way to get to Kitsilano, Commercial Drive and the North Shore (including Grouse Mountain).

Public Transport in BC

If you want to travel outside Metro Vancouver — for example, if you wanted to take a  day trip to Whistler  — and still use public transportation, you can plan your trip with  BC Transit .

BC Transit is the provincial crown agency charged with coordinating public transportation throughout British Columbia (outside the Greater Vancouver Regional District).

There are many wonderful island destinations near Vancouver, including  Vancouver Island / Victoria and Bowen Island . The public ferries that operate between the Mainland (i.e., Vancouver) and the various islands and coastal regions of BC are operated by  BC Ferries .

You can find  ferry schedules  and directions to departure ferry terminals for trips from Vancouver to Vancouver Island and  the Sunshine Coast .

Remember: You can use Vancouver Public Transportation/TransLink to reach any ferry terminal. Simply use the name of the ferry terminal as your destination in the online TransLink Trip Planner or TransLink Mobile App.

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Transit is the simple and beautiful way to get around. Use our app to instantly see nearby transit options, and launch GO to get step-by-step navigation from Daniel, our friendly British robot. You can also plan a trip, set reminders, and get notifications about disruptions. You're welcome!

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Congestion Pricing Will Start on June 30 in New York City, M.T.A. Says

Transit officials announced the start of the program, which they have said will ease some of the nation’s worst traffic.

By Ana Ley and Winnie Hu

The first comprehensive congestion-pricing program in a major U.S. city will begin in New York on June 30, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced on Friday.

The plan remains contentious, however, and with months to go before its scheduled rollout, legal and political clashes could still dilute or stop it altogether. A growing number of opponents — including Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey, influential unions and some elected New York officials — recently ratcheted up their effort to block it.

The program is meant to ease some of the worst traffic in the nation, improve the city’s air quality, increase mass transit ridership and raise money to modernize the city’s subway, bus and commuter rail system. Congestion-pricing tolls are expected to generate $1 billion a year, with the revenue earmarked by law for capital projects, not operating costs.

The authority, which operates the mass transit system, also said on Friday that it had opened a portal for applicants seeking the program’s coveted discounts and exemptions. A website will guide drivers on who qualifies and how to apply.

Under the program, most passenger cars will be charged $15 a day to enter a so-called congestion zone below 60th Street in Manhattan. Trucks would pay $24 or $36, depending on their size. Taxi fares would increase by $1.25, and Uber and Lyft fares would rise by $2.50.

The program is widely unpopular by many measures. A survey of about 800 New Yorkers conducted this month by Siena College found that 63 percent opposed it. Still, out of more than 25,000 public comments about congestion pricing submitted to the transportation authority from late December to mid-March, roughly 60 percent expressed support, the authority said.

M.T.A. and federal transportation officials are defending it against six lawsuits in federal courts in New York and New Jersey that seek to halt the plan. The courts, which are expected to rule before the program starts, could possibly delay or block it.

“They are proceeding at their own risk in arrogant disregard of pending court cases,” said Jack L. Lester, a lawyer for a group of city residents who filed one of the suits.

This month, a federal judge in Newark heard arguments in a suit brought by New Jersey officials who argue that the congestion-pricing plan would shift traffic and pollution to some communities in the state as drivers try to avoid the tolls.

“We are awaiting a court ruling as early as next month on whether the M.T.A.’s unprecedented congestion-pricing scheme can go forward,” said Randy Mastro, a lawyer for the state of New Jersey, adding that “the jury is still out on this hugely flawed plan.”

The tolling rates, which the authority’s board approved last month , are still being reviewed by the Federal Highway Administration, which has already signed off on an exhaustive study of the program and is expected to approve the tolls.

Congestion pricing is expected to lower the number of vehicles coming into the zone by about 17 percent, according to a November report by an authority advisory committee. The report also said the program would reduce the total number of miles driven by motorists in 28 counties in the metropolitan region.

The fees are also supposed to discourage drivers from jamming roads and idling in gridlock, which contributes to soot and other harmful air pollutants. But some of the program’s harshest critics have pointed to evidence that certain neighborhoods could end up with dirtier air as a result of the traffic that is diverted. In response, the authority has vowed to work to diminish such potential harm .

Other cities that have adopted congestion-pricing programs, such as London, Singapore and Stockholm , have reported sharp drops in traffic and congestion.

David I. Weprin, a Democratic state assemblyman from Queens and a longtime congestion-pricing opponent, said of the plan that the authority was “trying to aggressively ram it down the public’s throat.”

“I don’t think the public wants it and I think it’s really unfair for people who have to drive and have no choice,” Mr. Weprin said. He has joined a lawsuit filed by Vito Fossella, a Republican and Staten Island’s borough president, and the United Federation of Teachers that seeks to keep the tolling plan from proceeding.

Danny Pearlstein, a spokesman for the Riders Alliance, an advocacy group, said in a statement that the start of the program “cannot happen soon enough.”

Congestion pricing, he said, “will be a win-win-win for all New Yorkers, commuters and visitors and will bring better public transit, cleaner air, and freer moving traffic.”

Ana Ley is a Times reporter covering New York City’s mass transit system and the millions of passengers who use it. More about Ana Ley

Winnie Hu is a Times reporter covering the people and neighborhoods of New York City. More about Winnie Hu

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News release, media contacts, jimmy smith, ministry of public safety and solicitor general, ministry of health, ministry of mental health and addictions, meet the team.

• Cabinet Ministers
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B.C. is taking action to make illicit drug use illegal in all public spaces, including inside hospitals, on transit and in parks.

It’s part of several new measures introduced by the Province, focused on providing police with more tools to address public safety while offering support and access to treatment for people living with addictions.

“Keeping people safe is our highest priority. While we are caring and compassionate for those struggling with addiction, we do not accept street disorder that makes communities feel unsafe,” said Premier David Eby. “We’re taking action to make sure police have the tools they need to ensure safe and comfortable communities for everyone as we expand treatment options so people can stay alive and get better.”

The Province is working with the federal government to make changes to the legality of possessing drugs in B.C. This will provide police with the power to enforce against drug use in all public places, including hospitals, restaurants, transit, parks and beaches. Guidance will be given to police to only arrest for simple possession of illicit drugs in exceptional circumstances.

When police are called to a scene where illegal and dangerous drug use is taking place, they will have the ability to compel the person to leave the area, seize the drugs when necessary or arrest the person, if required.

This change would not recriminalize drug possession in a private residence or place where someone is legally sheltering, or at overdose prevention sites and drug checking locations.

“Our communities are facing big challenges. People are dying from deadly street drugs and we see the issues with public use and disorder on our streets,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “As we continue to go after the gangs and organized criminals who are making and trafficking toxic drugs, we’re taking action now to make it illegal to use drugs in public spaces, and to expand access to treatment to help people who need it most.”  

The government will also improve safety and security for patients, visitors and health-care workers in hospitals. This includes a single policy prohibiting street-drug possession or use and additional measures to increase enforcement, support patients with addictions, and encourage them toward treatment and recovery.

Going forward, when patients are admitted to hospital, they will be asked if they experience any substance-use challenges. Patients will receive active support and medical oversight for addiction care to ensure people with addictions receive personalized care while their medical issues are being treated in hospital.

“Today, we are taking immediate action to make hospitals safer and ensuring policies are consistent and strictly enforced through additional security, public communication and staff supports,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “The action plan launching today will improve how patients with addictions are supported while they need hospital care, while preventing others from being exposed to the second-hand effects of illicit drug use.”

The Province is also expanding access to treatment for people struggling with addiction, including those who are most at risk of overdose by:

• increasing the availability and accessibility of opioid-agonist treatment (OAT), a medication-assisted treatment for people who have an opioid-use disorder, by implementing a provincewide virtual system;
• integrating addictions services with health care, housing and related services; and
• working with experts to develop methods to track prescribed alternatives with the aim of identifying and preventing diversion.

“People across the country are dying from poisoned drugs and B.C. is no exception,” said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.  “Addiction is a health-care issue, not a criminal one, and we’re going to keep doing everything we can to save lives and connect people to treatment.”

Government is also investing $25 million to support and expand the Hope to Health Research and Innovation Centre located in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, to provide intensive primary care and other services to more people with highly complex medical and psychosocial needs. The innovative Hope to Health model of care is led by Dr. Julio Montaner, a world-recognized physician and researcher in HIV, and in the provision of comprehensive care to vulnerable and marginalized populations. This initiative will lay the foundation for potential expansion to other communities in B.C.

Quick Facts:

• B.C.’s three-year exemption under section 56(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to decriminalize people who use drugs was first requested on Nov. 1, 2021, and enacted on Jan. 31, 2023.
• Since 2017, the Province has opened 600 publicly funded substance-use treatment beds throughout B.C.
• Since 2019, the Province has invested $35 million to support 49 community counselling agencies provincewide, and more than 250,000 free or low-cost counselling sessions have been delivered to individuals, couples and families.
• There are currently 50 overdose prevention sites around the province to provide people who use drugs with the tools and supports they need to use safely and connect to care. 
• Almost half (24) of these sites provide inhalation services.

Three backgrounders follow.

Backgrounders

Stopping illegal drug use in all public places.

The B.C. government is currently working with Health Canada to urgently change the decriminalization policy to stop drug use in public and has requested an amendment to its s.56 exemption to exclude all public places. That includes a place to which the public has access as a right or by invitation, express or implied, whether or not a fee is charged for entry, and on public transit.

Importantly, the Province is working to ensure the exemption continues to apply to private residences, healthcare clinics that provide outpatient addictions services such as Rapid Access Addictions Clinics, sanctioned overdose prevention sites, including those operated by housing providers, as well as drug checking sites and to people lawfully sheltering overnight.  

The Province is also working with police on guidance to ensure that people who merely possess drugs but are not threatening public safety, their own safety or causing a disturbance, will not be subject to arrest or charge.  

In November 2023, the B.C. government passed the Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act (RPCISA). The intention of the act was to provide law enforcement with more tools to address instances of inappropriate drug use in a variety of public places, such as parks, beaches, sports fields and community recreation areas, as well as near business and residential building entrances and bus stops. This legislation is currently being challenged in court.

Opioid agonist treatment

Opioid agonist treatment (OAT) is a medication-assisted treatment for people who have an opioid-use disorder. OAT uses medications, such as Suboxone and methadone, to treat opioid addiction, reduce drug-related harms and support long-term recovery.

The treatment helps people who live with opioid addiction stabilize their lives, manage withdrawal symptoms and work toward recovery. It can lower the risk of drug-related harms, including hepatitis C and HIV transmission as well as fatal overdose. It can also help people stay in treatment and engage in their care.

Since 2017, the Province has been taking action to reduce barriers and expand access to OAT:

• There are approximately 2,000 clinicians prescribing OAT in the province, an increase from 773 in June 2017.
• In 2021, BC allowed registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses to be trained to prescribe this treatment – a first in Canada. More than 280 nurses have enrolled in this training and to date, more than 170 have completed their training and are qualified to be OAT prescribers.
• In 2023, the Province made OAT free for B.C. residents with MSP coverage by adding OAT medications to Plan Z, the Province’s universal coverage plan.

As of December 2023, 24,232 people were receiving OAT – this is just over 30% of the people with a diagnosed opioid use disorder in B.C. Barriers continue to exist for some people to access OAT, including a lack of prescribers in many rural communities.

Creating a provincewide system to provide virtual access to OAT will reduce barriers for people no matter where in B.C. they live.

Taking action to make hospitals safer, better manage addictions for patients

The Ministry of Health is developing a consistent approach to prevent illicit drug use in B.C. hospitals through universal policies, practice requirements, and appropriate enforcement approaches. Working in partnership and consultation with First Nation and Indigenous partners, health-care providers, professional associations, health-care unions, patients and communities, the actions below outline elements of a policy framework that will be implemented across all hospitals: Action 1. Take consistent action across B.C. to prohibit drug possession, use, and purchasing of illicit drugs in hospitals or hospital sites:   

• This will be made explicit to all patients and visitors in outpatient clinics, emergency departments, and during admission to inpatient care through a single policy prohibiting street drug possession or use, along with a no tolerance policy for drug trafficking in hospitals.  
• Non-compliance will be addressed by hospital security and through an escalation process that could include discharge (with support) from the hospital and/or police involvement.  

Action 2. Improve how patients with substance or opioid-use illnesses are supported toward treatment and recovery services:

• Hospitals will expand and develop active medical oversight and addictions support to better manage patient addictions while the patient is in hospital, and improve discharge planning for post-discharge treatment in the community.
• Patients will be provided with post-discharge care and ongoing support and treatment. Hospitals will establish expedited referral pathways to community-based addictions care and treatment.

Action 3. Add in-person addiction specialists to large hospitals and virtual clinical consultation in smaller regional and rural hospitals.

• Addiction and mental-health support teams will be added in major hospital sites for immediate response and engagement with patients with severe addictions or mental-health issues. 
• These teams will also provide inpatient care management services related to managing addiction and/or mental-health illnesses while in care and be responsible for post-discharge care co-ordination related to severe addiction and or mental-health issues.

Action 4. Remain focused on a culturally safe approach to implementing change.

• Transitioning to a universal policy will be undertaken in partnership and consultation with local and regional First Nations and Métis leadership to ensure clear plans, processes and pathways are established to prevent Indigenous people from further harm and marginalization, while ensuring critical supports for Indigenous patients accessing and receiving quality and culturally safe care throughout their recovery journey.
• Treatment services rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing are critical, alongside harm reduction and mental-health services that support individuals where they are at. The integration of cultural safety and humility and Indigenous-specific anti-racism into hospitals or hospital sites will be essential to ensure Indigenous patients receive the care and wraparound supports needed and is reflective of the region and work underway with Indigenous partners and local/regional communities since the In Plain Sight report was released. 

Action 5. Actively address unacceptable behaviour such as aggression, noncompliance with the policy, and drug dealing in hospitals through additional security.

• The safety of staff and patients is of the utmost importance. Security capacity reviews will be completed at all hospital sites to ensure adequate security capacity is available for rapid response and ensuring the safety of patients and health workers.
• Where it is deemed necessary, additional security will be added to quickly respond to any incidents involving possession or use of drugs, aggressive or violent behavior.  

Action 6. Introduce improved education and awareness efforts to better equip and support staff facing unsafe situations.

• While the intention of the work above is to eliminate exposure to illicit substances, health-care workers will have improved training and access to the necessary protective equipment in the event of suspected exposure to the secondhand effect of drug use.
• Increased staff education will include: enhanced understanding of addictions and addiction treatment, trauma-informed care, cultural safety supports for Indigenous patients, training to manage difficult conversations, and de-escalation strategies when confronted with aggressive behaviour.

Action 7. Ensure existing overdose prevention (OPS) sites are working for people

• Existing overdose prevention sites will continue to operate.
• Use of an OPS by an inpatient will be restricted to only when expressly stated that it is permissible to do so as part of an addiction’s treatment care plan.
• The Province is currently taking action to establish minimum service standards for overdose prevention sites, as recommended recently by the auditor general to support consistent, quality care for people and a safe environment for workers. These standards will establish baseline operational and facility requirements for all provincially funded, fixed and mobile, overdose prevention services in B.C.
• PublicDrugUse._Korean.pdf
• PublicDrugUse_Chinese(simplified).pdf
• PublicDrugUse_Chinese(traditional).pdf
• PublicDrugUse_French.pdf
• PublicDrugUse_Punjabi.pdf
• PublicDrugUse_Vietnamese.pdf

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TransLink’s 2024 Investment Plan to address critical overcrowding approved

Work now underway for long-term Investment Plan in 2025

April 25, 2024                            

BURNABY, B.C. – The 2024 Investment Plan has been approved by the Mayors’ Council and TransLink’s Board of Directors as a short-term plan to address overcrowding. Work is now underway on a 2025 Investment Plan that seeks a long-term solution to help TransLink keep up with unprecedented population growth.

“This Investment Plan is a solid and necessary first step in improving how people get around this region, but we also need to be thinking long-term,” says Mayors’ Council Chair Brad West. “Work is underway on a 2025 Investment Plan, and I look forward to working with both the federal and provincial governments on a new transit funding model that supports long-term growth as Metro Vancouver’s population rapidly expands.”

The following improvements will begin rolling out later this year:

• Increasing service on 60 bus routes to address overcrowding
• Extending evening hours on 11 bus routes
• Expanding the bus fleet to prepare for Bus Rapid Transit
• Increasing Canada Line frequencies
• Earlier SeaBus sailings by 15 minutes on weekdays
• Enhancing late-evening HandyDART service
• Investing in road safety and new cycling and walking infrastructure
• Adding new bus priority infrastructure

“The 2024 Investment Plan provides critical transit expansion on our most overcrowded routes for the first time since 2019,” says TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn. “As we implement this short-term solution, it is critical that we simultaneously look to the future and work with all levels of government to develop a funding model that is capable of supporting transit investments that keep up with our rapid population growth.”

The plan includes up to $300 million in capital funding from the Government of British Columbia to support the purchase of new buses for future service increases. TransLink will work with senior government partners on a 2025 Investment Plan to help identify a new long-term funding model for transit.

“The Province is proud of our historic investments in TransLink to keep buses moving during the pandemic and to support the strongest transit recovery in all of North America,” says Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Rob Fleming. “This funding builds on our 2023 Investment Plan of $479 million and ensures that transit service can expand for people who count on it.”

More information: Read the full 2024 Investment Plan here

Media contact: TransLink Media Relations E: [email protected]