Vancouver transit system braces for back-to-school rush

Last Updated: Monday, September 3, 2007 | 1:25 PM PT

CBC News

Vancouver transit officials are bracing to handle the post Labour Day rush as thousands of commuters return to work or school after the summer vacation.

Traffic is expected to be especially heavy at the Commercial Drive and Broadway Skytrain station Tuesday, where students line up before boarding the 99 bus to the University of British Columbia.

So in a bid to ease the expected congestion, the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority (Translink) will have more transit police available to handle the crowds, check their tickets, and get them onto the buses, said spokesman Drew Snider.

"Three-door loading will be in effect so the bus will basically pull up and leave,'' he said.

In another step to keep commuters moving through one of Vancouver 's busiest transit intersections, some of the Skytrains on the system will only run to the downtown Seabus terminal from Broadway.

Vancouver police say they have nothing special planned for the back-to-work rush this year because it is a time when a larger number of officers are on duty anyway.

However, transit officials are hoping that commuters will use their common sense and will not travel during the morning and afternoon rush hours if they don't have to.

"If you don't have to be at class or work by 8:30 a.m., delay your trip, at least for the first few weeks of September,'' Snider said.