TransLink's Review Shows Metro Vancouver Transit Ridership Nearing Pre-Pandemic Levels

TransLink's annual service performance review reveals that Metro Vancouver's transit ridership has nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels, with 233 million trips recorded in 2022, a 20.5% increase from the previous year. The transit authority's data shows that total annual boardings reached 390 million in 2023, up 20% from 2022 and approaching the 2016-2017 levels.

However, the rebound in ridership has also led to a resurgence of overcrowding, with around 10% of all trips experiencing overcrowding, mirroring the levels seen in fall 2019. TransLink says the recently-funded 2024 investment plan will provide some short-term relief, but a stable long-term funding plan is needed to serve the growing population in Metro Vancouver.

Why this matters: The return of transit ridership to near pre-pandemic levels is a positive sign for the region's economic recovery and sustainability efforts. However, the accompanying overcrowding highlights the need for long-term investment in public transportation infrastructure to keep pace with population growth and maintain service quality.

The review also breaks down ridership growth by sub-area, with the Southeast (29%), Northeast (23%), and Southwest (22%) sub-areas experiencing the strongest growth. The Expo and Millennium SkyTrain lines saw over 100 million boardings, a 21% year-over-year increase, while the Canada Line recorded over 140 million boardings, a 20% increase.

Waterfront Station remains the busiest SkyTrain station, with 9.89 million boardings in 2023, up from 7.89 million in 2022 but still below the pre-pandemic level of 13.27 million. The report also highlights the ongoing recovery of ridership in downtown Vancouver's Central Business District, with stations like Burrard, Granville, and Vancouver City Centre seeing increases but still lagging behind pre-pandemic levels.

TransLink is implementing short-term measures through the recently approved 2024 Investment Plan, which includes increasing bus service on the 60 most overcrowded routes, expanding service hours, and enhancing late-night HandyDART service. However, the agency emphasizes that more investment is needed to address its structural funding gap and progress major transit expansion through the 10-Year Access for Everyone Plan.

The main reason for the funding shortfall is the decline in revenue from the gas tax, TransLink's main funding driver, as more people choose to drive electric cars. TransLink says simply increasing fares or the number of bus boardings would not help alleviate the funding shortfall, and that senior levels of government need to come up with a holistic solution to ensure the continued growth of the transit system.

Key Takeaways

• Transit ridership in Metro Vancouver nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels.
• Overcrowding has also resurfaced, affecting 10% of trips, mirroring 2019 levels.
• Strongest ridership growth in Southeast, Northeast, and Southwest sub-areas.
• Waterfront Station remains the busiest SkyTrain station, but still below pre-pandemic levels.
• Funding shortfall due to declining gas tax revenue, requiring long-term investment plan.