Simulation of The Vine, courtesy C-TRAN

C-TRAN will hold a groundbreaking ceremony later this month to celebrate the construction launch of its Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, known as The Vine.

The ceremony will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, August 24 at Turtle Place Park in downtown Vancouver (7th Street between Main and Washington streets). The public event will include speeches from dignitaries as well as refreshments provided by local businesses.

Set to open in late 2016, The Vine will implement a modern, enhanced transit line along the Fourth Plain and Fort Vancouver Way corridors between downtown Vancouver and the Westfield Vancouver Mall – C-TRAN’s busiest corridor. Along the route, 34 stations designed specifically for BRT will offer passengers a safe, secure and reliable transit experience.

BRT buses will be new 60-foot low-floor hybrids with nearly double the passenger capacity of standard buses, all while providing level boarding for all passengers.

The Vine will operate on 10-minute frequencies much of the day (15 minutes in off-peak periods and on weekends), and include wheelchair self-parking areas, as well as on-board bike racks. Travel time is projected to be reduced by up to 10 minutes each way.

“We have worked for four years toward implementing this very important project,” said C-TRAN Executive Director & CEO Jeff Hamm. “We’ll take a moment to celebrate, but the real work is just beginning. We want everyone to know that C-TRAN is committed to minimizing potential construction impacts on businesses, property owners and transit riders throughout the duration of construction.”

The $53 million project is being funded primarily with federal funding (80 percent). The remainder of funds is from the state and C-TRAN.

Once in operation, The Vine is expected to cost less than the service it will replace.

To learn more about the project, visit www.c-tran.com/thevine.

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