The HMA learned on March 21 that Translink decided not to proceed with seven-days-a-week 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Bus Only Lanes on Hastings Street between Willingdon and Duthie Avenues, as was proposed to Burnaby City Council in November 2024.

The HMA supports this decision, and wishes to communicate this news to our community as quickly as possible, as many of you continued to ask us about it, at times daily, since the proposal was first known to us all.

For full details provided by Translink, please visit https://www.translink.ca/plans-and-projects/projects/bus-projects/hastings-street-improvement-project

Please note: The “Hastings Street Improvement Project / HSIP” refers to the seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Bus Only lanes that were proposed last fall for Hastings Street curb lane from Willingdon to Duthie. This HSIP project is distinct and separate from the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project to connect Park Royal and Metrotown, currently being studied by Translink. The latter project, BRT, is still actively being pursued by Translink. The HMA continues to monitor the progress of the BRT project and communicate our merchants’ and community’s needs to Translink as well as the City of Burnaby. We encourage our community members to do the same.

The HMA has always supported efficient and reliable public transit to meet the community’s needs. Since the 1990s, we’ve advocated for several bus routes, including #129, #131, #132, and #160, as well as for bus bulges since 2010.

We understand that this is a complex matter and that sometimes unintended consequences can emerge from transportation decisions. That is why we always strive for a balanced and measured approach.

Transportation needs vary greatly from person to person, depending on their circumstances and period of life: consider mobility, age, or those with young children. Shoppers may also need to carry heavy or fragile items, or even sick or injured pets, across our 2 km shopping district. Not everyone lives near a bus stop. This is why the HMA aims to make our district accessible and user-friendly to all.

Businesses also have unique and diverse transportation needs that need equitable policies. For example, a grocery store’s, daycare’s or veterinarian’s requirements differ from those of a café or insurance agency. A one-size-fits-all transportation policy would create an unviable, inequitable environment for both businesses and their shoppers.

The HMA supports exploring multi-modal transportation policies that address the diverse needs of our community and region while helping small businesses thrive in a challenging economy. We continue to advocate for improved bus frequency, shorter waits, and better reliability. We believe that if Translink focuses on these aspects, bus speed will improve as a result.

Finally, HMA advocates for retaining streetfront parking, and opposes the removal of street-front parking access for those who still rely on vehicles for their errands in the Heights.

We welcome continued conversation around this important policy area and look forward to continuing to seek solutions with Translink, the City of Burnaby, community members, transit users, and business owners, all at the table together.

The HMA wishes to thank wholeheartedly our many merchants, residents, and customers who wrote letters, shared in discussions, and helped advocate that our community remain a vibrant, diverse, and fully functional district for all users.

The HMA also sincerely thanks the City of Burnaby, Mayor and Councillors, as well as staff, for hearing our voices and considering our community’s needs as you sought solutions with Translink.