[HD] The Suburban Buses of Highway 99

Hello and welcome back to the channel!
This time we have a look at the suburban network of Highway 99.
I am a bit late in uploading this video. However in light of today being the 3rd anniversary of double deckers in Metro Vancouver, I thought today would be a good day to upload the documentary for this month.
The Highway 99 Suburban Network consists of the following routes:
311 Scottsdale
351 White Rock Centre
352 Ocean Park
354 White Rock South
601 South Delta
602 Tsawwassen Heights
603 Beach Grove
604 English Bluff
620 Tsaww. Ferry
A mainstay for generations, Highway 99 is a throughway for commuter routes into Surrey and Delta.
Bus types include:
Orion V Suburban
Nova LFS Suburban
Alexander Dennis Enviro500

[@jmstransit]

Just some touch ups as of April 2023: -All original Orion V units are retired. Nine remain in the fleet and were built in 2008. -Route 620 has been switched to use double deckers for the most part. An articulated bus will still make a seldom appearance though.

[@justinm.1]

Am I the only one that finds it weird to see a NovaBus with only the front door??

[@jamallhayden2512]

Thank You!

[@JuliasCesar]

I feel the only way Translink will attract stronger ridership in Tasawaassen and South Delta is running the 602,603 & 604 more often. It would make getting out there far easier than relying on the 601 outside peak hours. I feel like there was more service that reached as far as Ladner Exchange as pre Canada line buses served a lot of these far out exchanges like Airport station, South Delta and Ladner I wish the Transit agency had more funding to as, they are far more alike to Transport For London in terms of their operations and controls. They operate all of the road network of Metro Vancouver a whole lotta bridges including Patullo and more and all the mass cycling networks all across the region. They are in charge of all truck routes and movement of goods in the region too. This including a police force makes Translink a governing body more than a public transportation.

[@jmstransit]

Can argue that south delta/TSAWW needs to be built up more - there's only so many people near a bus stop. Someone else made a point on TransLink attempting to retain ridership on peak 603/604 in a demographic that's largely work-from-home (since 2020) rather than cut hours on popular routes (R4, 49) To their credit there was 1 trip added this season before the PM rush. I'd keep my eyes peeled once all the new deckers arrive. As it stands now there won't be enough 2008 Orion/2018 Nova Suburban to do the non-decker stuff (352/354/601-604)

[@jmstransit]

Now that I think about it, a 601 video will have a plethora of interesting points. I just have a planned slowdown because my November is quite loaded.

[@JuliasCesar]

definitely true that the area still has a long way to go building up. The south delta areas population is quite low so i see your point about low population meaning low ridership. I use to think that it was just build it and they will come but, when not a lot of people work in downtown or nearby cities it makes sense as to why the 601 is the only regular operating route 7 days a week. With the level of buildout going on in South Delta I assume more service will come eventually.

[@lightplane]

Love the video. Slight correction. Long before Canada line and 620, passengers had to get the 601 to and from Ladner Exchange then change to the 640 to the ferry. In the last year or so of this operation unadvertised 620 buses made the trip from tsawwassen to downtown Vancouver. They bypassed Ladner Exchange but observed all the suburban drop off stops in Vancouver. This only operated from the ferry to Vancouver, not from Vancouver to the ferry. As I said they were not advertised but more like overload buses that were numbered 620 and signed Vancouver. Part of the problem was overcrowding on the 601. So technically the 620 did run to downtown Vancouver.

[@jmstransit]

Yeah I was focusing on the post-2009 era so I tried to generalize the service pattern into 1-2 sentences. I do plan on making a video focusing specifically on 2009 though, since that was a major turning point.

[@Train43Kaleb]

Subscribe from California

[@DaShawnOnDemand]

Excellent job! Well Done! Please keep these going!

[@ridemtbbc9409]

Great video! I personally haven't ridden the Orions. I hope to soon. Enjoyed watching them when they drove on the 183 route in 2019.

[@unwarym1190]

0:48 is that the stop at Highway 17A and Ladner Trunk Road?

[@jmstransit]

rather, that's South Delta Exchange/Park and ride

[@unwarym1190]

@@jmstransit ah, thanks!

[@alraintowers2061]

You’re not the only one I am too I saw to😂