Night buses to return?

By David Carrigg-Staff writer

TransLink planners are devising ways to reintroduce a night-owl bus out of the downtown core, including a possible community shuttle.

Spokesman Ken Hardie said planners will make a presentation to the June 27 TransLink board meeting outlining options for a new late-night service to replace the one scrapped last October to save money.

The options will be included as part of the approval process for TransLink's 2002/03 budget.

"They are having a look with eyes wide open," said Hardie. "What the exact options are for a night-owl service we don't yet know, but don't discount a public/private sector partnership or a community shuttle."

It was the introduction of a Burnaby community shuttle driven by non-union drivers that sparked last year's bitter bus strike. TransLink has since ordered 12 more community shuttles for routes that don't warrant larger buses.

Since the night-owl service was axed, the last bus out of downtown leaves at 1:20 a.m.-40 minutes before city clubs and pubs close-instead of 3 a.m.

The move outraged anti-drinking and driving advocates as well as club and pub staff and partygoers, who now have to find their own way home through taxis or carpooling. Since the cost-cutting decision, TransLink has been given permission to collect millions of extra dollars in property and gas taxes.

Hardie said the night-owl service was underutilized and costly-the unionized drivers had to be paid extra money for working so early in the morning.

But TransLink's claim the service attracted few passengers has been disputed by drivers who previously plied the route.

Ante Filipovic, a TransLink driver, said when he drove the number 19-which left downtown at 2:09 a.m.-the bus was packed every day before even leaving the Main and Terminal stop.

"They say it was underused but how would they know? They never did passenger counts during the five years I drove the night-owl service."

Hardie confirmed TransLink didn't do passenger counts on the service, but said it wasn't feasible to maintain the service while passengers along some busy daytime routes were passed by because buses were too full.

Hardie said a public/private night-owl service could include cost sharing between TransLink and businesses that would benefit from the service, particularly in light of the province's plans to allow pubs and clubs to stay open until 4 a.m.

Hardie said TransLink will soon reintroduce passenger counts, which the company stopped doing in 1995.