West Vancouver residents hold protests over proposed B-Line bus route

The proposed creation of a bus lane in West Vancouver brought residents on both sides of the issueonto the streets for duelling protests on Saturday.

Around 150 opponents of the Marine-Main B-Line walked down Marine Drive to 13thStreet, blocking a lane of traffic each way. They came into contact with around 20 peoplein support of the proposal outsidethe West Vancouver Memorial Library.

The protests follow West Vancouver Council's approval last summer of a proposal by Translink to create a new B-Line rapid service bus line running on Marine Drive from Dundarave in West Vancouver to Phibbs Exchange in North Vancouver.

The Marine-Mainlineis one of four new B-Line routes Translink plans to build in 2019 as part of a 10-year-vision plan. TheB-Line bus routes are designed to be faster and more reliableby combining stops that are at leastone kilometre apart.

Opposition to plan

Translinkpresented the details of the planto council in Nov. 2018 and it has since garnered significant opposition.

Under the plan, some parking will be removed and a lane of traffic in each direction on Marine Drive will be converted to a bus-priority lane that drivers can only use when turningright or when parking.

Opponents complain the bus lane will add to congestion and negatively impact businesses in the area.

"People of West Vancouver do not want their roads closed, they do not want parking taken away from the business district, and the children do not want articulated buses running past their school," said rally organizer NigelMalkin.

Malkinsaid his group was not opposed to the bus linebutthey want the terminus station moved further east to Park Royal Shopping Centre.

Supporters said the new line will improve commute times and possibly get more people out of their cars.

"Transit is the inevitable future of our communities ... 25parking spots cannot stand in the way of that," said Graham Garnett.

"The people on this protest are completely out of touch with the actual people who live and commute to West Van.

Council rethink

Opposition to the proposal caused council members to rethink the plan. West Vancouver has since launched a consultation process after many residents complained they were not consulted by Translink when it developed its plan.

"I'm looking for the middle ground here," said West Vancouver Mayor Mary-Ann Booth, who visited both rallies.

"I'm hoping that council can regain the trust of the community and make a decision where we can find some middle ground on this that meets the needs of everyone in the community."

Councilwill consider a motion at its March4 meeting instructing city staff to work withTranslinkto identify possible alternative options for the terminus station.