public transit

Transit drivers with CUPE Local 561 on strike on the picket line on Yale Road West in Chilliwack on April 5, 2023. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress)

Striking Fraser Valley transit union accuses First Transit of bargaining in bad faith

CUPE files complaint with Labour Relations Board also accusing employer of unfair labour practices

 

Hanna Drobot (left) from Urkaine and Suzan Deng from Sudan are among local immigrants being impacted by the ongoing transit strike in the Fraser Valley. (Submitted photos)

Fraser Valley transit strike impacts newcomers to Canada

Many new residents don’t have vehicles, and rely on buses to get to school and work

 

Metro Vancouver Transit Police and Surrey RCMP investigate after the third stabbing on the city’s transit in as many weeks on April 17, 2023. (Shane MacKichan photo)

Petition calls for better safety on Lower Mainland transit

There have been several stabbings buses and SkyTrains in the last month

 

A Toronto Transit Commission streetcar is shown in downtown Toronto Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy

Some U.S. cities may offer model to ease Canada transit violence: experts

American cities have taken a multi-pronged approach to violence on transit

A Toronto Transit Commission streetcar is shown in downtown Toronto Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy
Holly Indridson speaking to the media at the celebration of life on Thursday, April 20, 2023 for her son Ethan Bespflug. Bespflug was stabbed to death on a Surrey bus on April 17, 2023. (Photo: Anna Burns)

‘Just be kind, show love’: Daytime vigil honours teen fatally stabbed on Surrey bus

Holly Indridson, mom of Surrey bus stabbing victim Ethan Bespflug, 17, spoke to a gathering of about 100 people at a celebration of the teen’s life at Holland Park on Thursday

Holly Indridson speaking to the media at the celebration of life on Thursday, April 20, 2023 for her son Ethan Bespflug. Bespflug was stabbed to death on a Surrey bus on April 17, 2023. (Photo: Anna Burns)
Chilliwack Coun. Jeff Shields said asking the province to assign a mediator in the transit strike was a ‘grand idea,’ at city hall on April 18, 2023. (Screenshot/ City of Chilliwack video)

Chilliwack joins regional district, other cities asking province to assign mediator in transit strike

‘Municipalities that are truly affected need to push the provincial government to move forward’

Chilliwack Coun. Jeff Shields said asking the province to assign a mediator in the transit strike was a ‘grand idea,’ at city hall on April 18, 2023. (Screenshot/ City of Chilliwack video)
Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth said transit is safe and blamed BC United for the current state of social services in responding to charges that the NDP is soft on crime.

Question Period heats up in public safety debate following number of stabbings in B.C.

‘So when they ask those kinds of questions, you are darn right, I’m going to hit back,’ Farnworth says

Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth said transit is safe and blamed BC United for the current state of social services in responding to charges that the NDP is soft on crime.
Metro Vancouver Transit Police and Surrey RCMP investigate after the third stabbing on the city’s transit in as many weeks. (Shane MacKichan photo)

Surrey mayor issues statement after 3rd stabbing on city transit in 3 weeks

‘Everyone has the right to feel safe on our regional transit system’: Mayor Brenda Locke

Metro Vancouver Transit Police and Surrey RCMP investigate after the third stabbing on the city’s transit in as many weeks. (Shane MacKichan photo)
(Ethan Bespflug/ Facebook)

‘It’s crushed my will to live’: Mom grieves after teen son fatally stabbed on Surrey bus

Teen died in hospital after he was fatally stabbed April 11 while riding a bus in the 9900-block of King George Boulevard

(Ethan Bespflug/ Facebook)
(Ethan Bespflug/ Facebook)

Police hunt for Ethan Bespflug’s killer after Surrey teen fatally stabbed on bus

‘Now his mother will forever be waiting for him to get off that bus,’ a GoFundMe campaign page reads

(Ethan Bespflug/ Facebook)
Sarah Pringle of Chilliwack is eager to see the transit strike end so she can get Handydart services again. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)

‘How can they cripple the city this way?’ Chilliwack senior asks about Fraser Valley transit strike

‘If customers who feel they’re eligible, are not receiving service, they should contact First Transit’

Sarah Pringle of Chilliwack is eager to see the transit strike end so she can get Handydart services again. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)
Police cars surround a TTC streetcar on Spadina Ave., in Toronto on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 after a stabbing incident. The Toronto Police Service says it is ending its police enhancement on city transit, more than a month after it began deploying officers on overtime shifts in response to high-profile incidents of violence in the system. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey

Lack of data on transit violence amounts to ‘blanket of ignorance’: researcher

‘My concern is that I don’t even see transit authorities reporting such data regularly’

Police cars surround a TTC streetcar on Spadina Ave., in Toronto on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 after a stabbing incident. The Toronto Police Service says it is ending its police enhancement on city transit, more than a month after it began deploying officers on overtime shifts in response to high-profile incidents of violence in the system. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey
(Black Press file photo)
(Black Press file photo)
Fraser Valley-based First Transit bus drivers have voted 98 per cent in favour of job action following a strike vote on Dec. 19. (File photo)

Fraser Valley transit drivers vote in favour of job action

98 per cent of members for job action, looking for improved wages, benefits and working conditions

Fraser Valley-based First Transit bus drivers have voted 98 per cent in favour of job action following a strike vote on Dec. 19. (File photo)
Several routes are being reintroduced and trip time changes are being improved for BC Transit routes in Abbotsford, Aldergrove and Mission starting on Sept. 4. (File photo)

Bus routes being reintroduced for fall in Abbotsford and Mission

Several new seasonal changes, trip times also improved for region says BC Transit

Several routes are being reintroduced and trip time changes are being improved for BC Transit routes in Abbotsford, Aldergrove and Mission starting on Sept. 4. (File photo)
Christy Ridout, vice president of business development at BC Transit, shows off the new NextRide interface, tracking the bus she’s on. (Nicole Crescenzi/Black Press)

NextRide launched in central Fraser Valley and Chilliwack transit systems

Transit users can now track buses from their cell phones, computers

Christy Ridout, vice president of business development at BC Transit, shows off the new NextRide interface, tracking the bus she’s on. (Nicole Crescenzi/Black Press)
Subway trains line up in a TTC yard in Toronto on Thursday, April 23, 2020. Canada’s big-city mayors are calling on the federal government’s help to make up huge shortfalls in transit revenue that threaten to derail the nation’s transit systems. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Future of transit at stake, Canada’s big-city mayors say in plea for federal funds

Pandemic has wrought havoc on transit revenues, with people working from home and avoiding crowds

Subway trains line up in a TTC yard in Toronto on Thursday, April 23, 2020. Canada’s big-city mayors are calling on the federal government’s help to make up huge shortfalls in transit revenue that threaten to derail the nation’s transit systems. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
The Fraser Valley Express, which travels Highway 1 from Langley to Chilliwack, is among the BC Transit services temporarily suspended Thursday (Jan. 6) in the Central Fraser Valley. (Jenna Hauck/Black Press file photo)

Bus service temporarily suspended in Abbotsford-Mission due to weather

BC Transit says Fraser Valley Express to Chilliwack also impacted until further notice

The Fraser Valley Express, which travels Highway 1 from Langley to Chilliwack, is among the BC Transit services temporarily suspended Thursday (Jan. 6) in the Central Fraser Valley. (Jenna Hauck/Black Press file photo)
Construction of the future LRT line is visible from the departures level of the Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport on Wednesday, June 16, 2021.The high cost of Canadian light rail compared to our European counterparts is often chalked up to weather concerns and construction costs. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Kawai

Why Canada gets less for more when it comes to building transit

Political meddling by government — by all parties — can cause a knock-on effect on the price tag of projects

Construction of the future LRT line is visible from the departures level of the Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport on Wednesday, June 16, 2021.The high cost of Canadian light rail compared to our European counterparts is often chalked up to weather concerns and construction costs. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Kawai
southfrasercommunityrail.ca image

Poll says 88% of South Fraser adults want passenger trains between Surrey, Chilliwack

The poll was conducted by Research Co. on behalf of the South Fraser Community Rail Project

southfrasercommunityrail.ca image