When it snows in Burnaby, some areas of Burnaby suffer due to the hills.
Burnaby Mountain, Willingdon near Metrotown, Cariboo Hill are just three the spots that become treacherous in Burnaby when it snows.
Snow is in the forecast and so TransLink says it’s activating plans to keep transit moving – including putting snow socks on buses destined for Burnaby Mountain.
“Environment Canada is forecasting late night rain, followed by snow through the morning commute,” said a news release. “This sequence of precipitation will not allow for early salting and sanding as the materials will wash away before snow hits. We are encouraging customers to dress for the elements and use proper footwear to avoid slips and falls.”
This is what TransLink says it is doing:
- Calling in extra staff to assist customers and coordinate service.
- Coordinating with municipalities on snow clearing if priority routes are impacted.
- Coupling Millennium Line trains into 4-car configurations to increase capacity while SkyTrain attendants monitor guideways.
- Deploying special trucks to spread anti-icing solution on trolley wires.
- Installing brass “cutters” on some trolley buses to cut through ice on trolley wires.
What we’ll do if conditions are severe
- Replace articulated buses with 40’ conventional buses when necessary, as they are more agile on steep, slippery areas.
- Install tire socks on buses on Burnaby Mountain and on key North Shore routes where hills and traction are an issue.
- Position attendants at the front of each Expo and Millennium Lines trainto improve reliability on the system by limiting emergency braking triggered by heavy snowfall.
- Run a special SkyTrain that sprays de-icer on the power rail to keep trains moving.
- Run trains through the night if snow is especially heavy, to keep tracks clear.
- Send HandyDART out with two staff per vehicle, to ensure customers get safely to their door, and assist in digging out the bus if required.
- Activate further staff increases to assist customers right across the system.
