Transit Improves Life in the City

Translink is the name of the consolidated transit system for the metro-Vancouver area.  Two lines of its driverless SkyTrain share tracks through a short tunnel in downtown New Westminster, BC. One stop is directly at the base of our buildings. We can take the elevator to our underground parking and exit right into the Columbia Station at the basement level.

The system connects to surrounding communities, the airport, and downtown Vancouver. A train passes by our apartment in each direction every three minutes during the day.

 

We frequently go by SkyTrain rather than driving.  For example, the hassle of driving and the cost of parking means I never drive Kimchi, our EV, into downtown Vancouver.  The train is stress free!

Jay and I now have senior discount cards at an annual cost of  CA $45/year.  We find ourselves onboard more than ever, even though the cost was never a prohibiting factor.  For a little exercise, it's easy to walk to the other end of our waterfront park and take the train to return home.  

In the photo above, taken today, we were about to return from the New Westminster Station from the other end of downtown. We live at the next station along that empty track.  The train heading to the Waterfront was going west and would be at Vancouver harbor in about 35 minutes.