Two new bus routes are coming to Burnaby's Metrotown mall next month, including an express route between Metrotown and the North Shore that would help connect north and south Burnaby.

The 222 Willingdon Express will provide an express service connecting the Phibbs Exchange in North Vancouver to Metrotown in Burnaby, travelling along Willingdon Avenue.

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Demand for the route was established as part of TransLink’s Integrated North Shore Transportation Planning Project.

But with only six stops along the route, it would also provide a rapid route between south and north Burnaby, connecting Metrotown with BCIT, Brentwood Town Centre SkyTrain station and the Kootenay Bus Loop on its route to the Phibbs Exchange.

The 222 Willingdon Express route in Burnaby. TransLink graphic The issue of rapid north-south transit was brought up in a recent Burnaby city council meeting in which elected officials heard from staff on progress toward a new transportation master plan. In those discussions, staff said the plan was to move away from cars and ensure the majority of commutes beginning in the city are taken by active transportation modes or public transit.

Councillors pressed staff on the issue of north-south transit, which has not been as strong or rapid as the east-west transit corridors driven by the Expo and Millennium lines. Staff said the city has been in communications with TransLink to push for stronger north-south connections.

TransLink has also approved the creation of the 31 River District/Metrotown bus, which will serve a growing commercial and residential route to the southwest of Burnaby and in southeast Vancouver. It will run from Metrotown to an area of Marine Drive just west of Boundary Road.



The 31 River District/Metrotown route in Burnaby. TransLink graphic

The routes were both approved through last year’s Transit Network Review, which included a consultation with transit users to help optimize the system.

Through that process, 12 routes were proposed and these two are the first to have their proposals implemented.

For these two routes, which will get rolling on April 6, 4,000 surveys were completed, according to TransLink. Just about 80% of respondents said they would likely use the Willingdon Express, and roughly two-thirds said they would likely use the River District bus.

“These new routes will make a big difference for students at BCIT and Capilano University, as well as residents in the River District, Burnaby, and the North Shore,” said TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond in a statement.

“This is part of our important commitment to deliver on the mayors’ 10-year vision and provide more and better transit services to customers across the region.”