Abstract Manager

Public transportation is more than a means of travel—it is a vital connector linking people, places, and opportunities. Through TransLink’s Bus Speed and Reliability (BSR) Program, the City of Burnaby collaborated with TransLink to enhance transit performance and strengthen mobility connections across the city. With ISL Engineering as transportation consultant, the Burnaby BSR Hot Spot Study reflects the conference theme Transportation for a Stronger Canada by applying data-driven analysis, cross-agency collaboration, and targeted design interventions to improve the daily experience of transit users.

The study focused on seven key corridors in Burnaby identified in the BSR Report as having persistent bus delay and reliability issues. Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative data—including delay, level-of-service, operational observations, and operator feedback—the project team identified and prioritized twenty “hot spots” where congestion, turning movements, or signal inefficiencies most significantly impacted bus performance. A structured three-phase methodology was applied: (1) project initiation and methodology definition, (2) location selection and option development, and (3) operational analysis, concept design, and high-level cost estimation.

Each hot spot was assessed using a prioritization framework that balanced transit benefits, cost, and potential impacts to other road users. This approach ensured that proposed improvements optimized travel times while supporting multimodal safety and community access. A range of transit priority measures was evaluated, including passive signal priority, queue jumps, bus-bay infills, bus stop relocations, and left-turn pocket modifications. Design concepts were refined through site visits that examined real-world interactions among buses, general traffic, pedestrians, and cyclists, reinforcing Burnaby’s commitment to safe, multimodal connectivity. Constructability considerations and high-level cost estimates were developed to support implementation planning and funding decisions.

Among the evaluated treatments, queue jumps and dedicated turn pockets demonstrated the highest benefit-cost ratios, delivering meaningful travel time improvements with minimal impacts to general traffic operations. These targeted, incremental interventions illustrate how modest infrastructure changes can collectively enhance regional mobility and make transit a more reliable and attractive option.

The study also identified challenges common to urban transit planning, including data gaps, narrow corridors, and variability in delay patterns. By focusing on high-ridership corridors and aligning with TransLink’s regional priorities, the Burnaby BSR Hot Spot Study offers evidence-based model for municipalities seeking to improve transit performance. Ultimately, the study demonstrates how collaborative planning and thoughtful design can create meaningful connections—between agencies, transportation modes, and the communities they serve—while advancing a more connected, sustainable, and accessible region.