After months of public consultation, TransLink has released its recommendations for bus service cuts in the region — a plan it says will optimize the system by moving service away from routes that don't have a lot of passengers and increase service to other routes.

TransLink looked at 34 routes across the region and in many cases recommended service cuts in order to increase service in other areas. It backed off making any changes in only one case — a bus route near Deep Cove in North Vancouver.

Spokesperson Derek Zabel says wasted resources in the system reduce the overall quality of service.

"We're able to use these resources and put them into different areas where there might not be service or put them onto areas that are in need of more service," he said.

TransLink is proposing a number of changes to 34 bus routes across Metro Vancouver, which are shown in purple in the map above from TransLink' 2013 Bus Service Optimization Consultation Summary. One route, the N24, is not shown but is also being reviewed. (TransLink)

"We've had an earful from people in Surrey over the poor bus service, with SkyTrain north of the Fraser [River] taking all the dollars and attention."

Zabel says any money saved from the cuts will be put back into the system on a local basis.

But critics like Steve Burke, president of the Surrey Citizens Transportation Initiative, says route adjustments will mean fewer buses and longer wait times.

Burke, whose group is planning to rally against the changes at Surrey's SFU campus Tuesday afternoon, says his city is already behind other regions when it comes to public transit.

"We have about one bus for about 4,000 Surrey residents and the Metro average is about one for 1,700 and Vancouver is probably closer to one for 1,500," he said.

"So just the numbers themselves tell you we're disadvantaged when it comes to public transit."