Fraser Valley Express to Link Abbotsford, Chilliwack & Langley

By Heather Lemieux, Editor - The Bradner Barker

On April 6th, 2015, the Fraser Valley Regional District will launch the Fraser Valley Express (FVX), that will provide transit services between Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Langley BC. The FVX (Route 66 Fraser Valley Express), will connect four independent transit systems: Central Fraser Valley, TransLink, Chilliwack and Agassiz-Harrison.

The Fraser Valley Express is a partnership between the FVRD, BC Transit, the City of Abbotsford and the City of Chilliwack. Open houses were held in September 2014 at various locations in the Fraser Valley. More planning regarding schedules, routes, fees and expansions will be discussed in the coming months.
 
There will be a total of six (6) express stops along the FVX route. 

• Carvolth Exchange - Bay 13 (Langley)
  
• Highstreet Shopping Centre Park & Ride (Abbotsford) 
  
• McCallum Park & Ride (Abbotsford) 
  
• Lickman Park & Ride (Chilliwack) 
  
• Vedder at Luckakuck (Chilliwack) 
  
• Downtown Chilliwack 

At first, plans did not include a FVX stop at Highstreet Shopping Centre at the Mt. Lehman interchange because of the complex configuration of the road system in that area, but a survey showed a high demand for the service to Highstreet. 

The FVX will operate seventeen (17) total round trips on weekdays. The first trip will depart Downtown Chilliwack at 5:15am and the last trip will leave Carvolth Exchange (Langley) at 9:05pm. On Saturdays there will be 4 round trips with the first trip departing Downtown Chilliwack at 9:00am and the last trip leaving Carvolth Exchange (Langley) at 6:30pm.  The FVX schedule is subject to change pending final analysis. The final FVX schedule will be available online prior to the April 6th, 2015 launch.

The City of Abbotsford, Chilliwack and BC Transit will each pay for part of the service. Abbotsford's projected share is $411,897, Chilliwack's at $233,709 and BC Transit will contribute $704,813.

Image Source: http://www.fvrd.bc.ca/Services/Transit/Documents/Transportation/FVXServicePlanSummary.pdf