Metro Vancouver residents brace for planned transit strike Wednesday

Nov. 26, 2019 por Isolda Barrera

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Residents in Metro Vancouver are getting ready for the potential impact of a bus shutdown this week in the area, leaving many in a difficult situation as they depend on this form of transportation for their everyday commute, going from students all the way to caregivers and more.

Both sides in the Metro Vancouver transit strike resumed talks on Tuesday in the hopes of avoiding a system-wide bus strike. If a new deal isn’t reached by Tuesday night, there will be no bus or SeaBus service from Wednesday to Friday.

But Unifor national president Jerry Dias was on hand for Tuesday’s negotiations, and says that there is a possible sign that a deal could be within reach.

Schools across Metro Vancouver have warned students to start making alternative plans and expect busy roads in and around campus. Many students are scrambling to figure out just how they'll make it to campus, and some have become creative.

On Monday, plans were announced to help customers get around during those three days, including an increase in Expo and Millennium line frequency, relaxing rules on bringing bikes onto trains during peak hours and encouraging commuters to arrange alternate modes of transport, including car-sharing and carpooling.

Also, TransLink is also working to set up temporary pickup and drop-off zones near SkyTrain and West Coast Express stations for commuters who need to be driven to stations.

It is also looking to allow drop-offs and pickups at unused bus stations and bus loops, he said.

Services like Evo will still be available and it is mentioned in the past days their increase of new members in the area has gone up 30%, as many are looking for alternative ways of transportation if the situation is not solved by Tuesday night the latest.

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