TRANSLINK, BC Transit, and BC Ferries are asking customers to plan ahead and choose sustainable modes of transportation when travelling this upcoming long weekend. Thanksgiving long weekend is one of the busiest of the year, with thousands of people travelling across the province to meet with family and friends.

TransLink customers travelling to Vancouver Island can ride directly between Bridgeport Station on the Canada Line and Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal on the 620 bus service. Routes 257 and 250 also offer service between downtown Vancouver and Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal. Extra buses will be added on these routes during the long weekend.

TransLink services on Thanksgiving Day (October 9):

• Customers will only pay a 1-Zone fare for all transit modes.
• Bus, SkyTrain, and SeaBus services will operate on a Sunday/holiday schedule.
• West Coast Express will not be in operation.
• The TransLink Customer Service Centre, Access Transit Customer Care Office, and Lost Property Office will be closed.

Approximately 380,000 ferry passengers are expected to travel on BC Ferries from Thursday through Tuesday, making it the most popular weekend for walk-on passengers. To anticipate demand, BC Ferries is adding 70 additional sailings to the Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay route this long weekend and encouraging customers to travel on foot – as parking lots at major terminals and vehicle deck space can fill up quickly.

For bus riders travelling between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, BC Transit provides direct access to and from Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal and downtown Victoria on routes 70, 71, and 72. To make travel even more accessible, BC Transit customers on the Victoria Regional Transit System can now pay their fares by using Umo, a new electronic system that provides contactless payment methods through the Umo Mobility app and reloadable Umo card.

As part of the provincial government’s Get On Board program, children aged 12 and under can ride public transit for free across B.C.

BC Transit and TransLink customers can use the Transit App for real-time bus tracking. TransLink customers can also consult Trip Planner to map out of their journey or call the Customer Information Desk at 604-953-3333.