TRANSLINK is preparing all transit services for winter weather, with freezing temperatures in the forecast for Metro Vancouver this week.

Preparations and actions to keep buses operating include:

• Coordinating with municipalities on snow-clearing if priority routes are impacted.
• Spreading anti-icing solution on overhead trolley wires with anti-icing trucks.
• Using brass cutters on some trolley buses to cut through ice on trolley wires.
• Equipping buses with tire socks on portions of steeper routes with heavy snowfall and utilizing snow shuttles.
• Replacing articulated buses with conventional 40-foot buses on some routes, as they are more agile in steep, slippery areas.
• Salting and sanding bus exchanges.

Coast Mountain Bus Company (CMBC) is also trialling new winter-rated tires featuring a different tread pattern on one third of the fleet, which is approximately 500 buses.

As with CMBC’s existing tires, these tires carry the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake rating — the highest winter rating available for bus tires.

Preparations and actions to keep SkyTrain operating include:

• Using de-icing trains to keep the power rail free from ice buildup.
• Running trains overnight to prevent snow buildup in the guideway.
• Connecting Millennium Line trains in four-car configurations to increase capacity.
• Deploying SkyTrain Attendants at the front of trains to limit emergency braking triggered by heavy snowfall.
• Preventing ice buildup on SkyTrain doors with platform teams.
• Salting and sanding walkways at SkyTrain and West Coast Express stations.

Customers are encouraged to build extra travel time in their commute, dress for the weather, and use proper footwear to avoid slips and falls.
Customers can plan their commute using Trip Planner and stay up to date by signing up for Transit Alerts, following TransLink on X (Twitter) @TransLink, or calling Customer Service at 604-953-3333.