Winter is coming — put on your socks
TransLink will use Kevlar tire covers on buses assigned to Burnaby Mountain
TransLink has changed its preparation and response plan for snowy weather to avoid issues with buses and other transit that plagued the authority last winter.
Kevlar tire socks are coming to buses on Burnaby Mountain and new ice protection measures to the Canada Line, and designated snow routes are also on the way, TransLink announced Thursday.
“Last winter, we had extraordinary weather in Metro Vancouver. It caused great challenges for commuters, whether travelling by vehicle or travelling with us on transit,” TransLink spokesman Chris Bryan said. “TransLink did a good job of keeping people moving … but there’s always room for improvement. This year, we’re preparing for the worst.”
Stranded buses were a common sight on icy, slushy streets throughout Metro Vancouver last winter, and TransLink faced criticism for not using winter tires or chains on buses that have to navigate hilly routes such as Burnaby Mountain.
TransLink’s Coast Mountain Bus Company uses a snow-rated all-weather tire on all of its buses and has no plans to buy snow-specific tires.
“This tire comes recommended to us by the tire manufacturer as the best tire to run in these conditions,” said Jonathan Leskewich, CMBC’s maintenance engineering manager.
However, this year TransLink will be the first transit authority in North America to test the use of tire socks on four buses running between Production Way-University station and Simon Fraser University, a route often hit hard by inclement weather.
When conditions get bad, maintenance staff will put the fabric covers, which have Kevlar threads running through them, on the back wheels of the test buses. They’re lightweight, easy to install and are expected to improve traction.
“We’re going to see how they hold up. It’s a pretty new technology — especially for transit buses — but we’re really optimistic about them,” said Simon Agnew, a maintenance engineer with CMBC.
Chains have also been purchased as a backup option for those buses, also a first for TransLink.
If the tire socks work well early in the season, it’s possible more could be ordered for other routes. The covers cost about $250 per set and will likely need to be changed after each shift.
TransLink has worked with the municipalities it serves to come up with designated snow routes, which will be prioritized for snow clearing in severe conditions.
The bus company has also made some technological changes to allow it to better communicate service changes to customers.
As in past years, there are three specially equipped trucks that apply glycerine to 300 kilometres of trolley wires to prevent ice from forming on the lines. Articulated buses can be switched out for shorter buses when necessary.
SkyTrain suffered fewer setbacks than the bus system, but ice buildup was a problem on the Canada Line — particularly in February, when part of the route was shut down twice in one day.
“A few lessons were learned last year and we’ve done our best to address them,” said Mike Richard, vice-president of operations for SkyTrain.
TransLink will continue to de-ice on all three lines, and apply sand to Canada Line, but it’s added heat tracing to prevent ice from accumulating and cover boards to protect the power rail from snow and ice.
It will now be possible to amend train schedules, operation and lengths based on conditions.
Trees and branches within 10 metres of train tracks will be examined by an arborist and dealt with if they’re expected to cause any problems.
As in past years, SkyTrains will be equipped with brass-and-carbon shoes, which are more durable than the carbon shoes used the rest of the year, to pick up the electrical current.
Meanwhile, Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement, saying snow is possible for Friday morning on the south coast. By Friday morning, small snowfall accumulations are possible for Fraser Valley and Howe Sound.