UBC Exchange

UBC Exchange (formerly known as UBC Loop) is a major public transit exchange point in the University Endowment Lands adjacent to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The first major bus loop located at the University of British Columbia (UBC) opened in September 1945 to serve students, staff, and faculty.[1][2]

UBC Exchange
Unloading zone located at the north loop
LocationUniversity Endowment Lands
British Columbia, Canada
Coordinates49°16′6″N 123°14′52″W
Operated byTransLink
Bus routes16
Bus stands13
Bus operatorsCoast Mountain Bus Company
Connections 99 B-Line
R4 41st Ave
Other information
Fare zone1
History
OpenedSeptember 1945
Rebuilt1988, 2003, 2017–19
Previous namesUBC Loop

History

On September 5, 1988, trolley wires were extended to the loop providing the University with trolley bus service for the first time.[3]

In 2003, the campus opened two temporary loops used by TransLink buses travelling to and from UBC: the south loop (used mainly for trolley buses) and the north loop. These temporary loops replaced the old bus loop to make room for a proposed new underground bus loop that was ultimately never built.

The new underground bus loop was slated to be built beside the Student Union Building, on the site of a small mound called the "Grassy Knoll", which was set to be removed to make way for the new loop. This plan was unpopular with a number of UBC students. Several students were arrested after a protest in support of the knoll was shut down by the police in April 2008.

On October 27, 2009, the University announced in an open letter that, because Translink was no longer committing $10 million toward the $50 million underground loop project, a surface loop would be built instead.[4]

On July 9, 2014, it was announced that due to construction of the new UBC Aquatic Centre starting on MacInnes Field, pedestrian and cyclist access to the bus loop would be restricted, and several stops would be temporarily moved. It was estimated the construction would be completed in 2016.[5]

In March 2017, all diesel bus stops in the former north loop were relocated to Wesbrook Mall for the duration of construction on the new UBC Exchange.[6] Construction was completed in late August 2019 at a cost of $22 million.[2][7]

Routes
99 B-Line with service to Commercial–Broadway is located in the north loop

The following routes terminate at UBC Exchange.[8][9] Routes highlighted in green with a dagger () are express/limited-stop.

North bus loop

The north loop, serving most diesel and hybrid bus routes, is surrounded by MacInnes Field to its west, the Aquatic Centre to its north, and the War Memorial Gym to its south. The loop is partially underneath the Exchange residence located on the west side of Wesbrook Mall.

Bay Route Destination Notes
1 33 29th Avenue Station
68 Westbrook Village
2 84 VCC–Clark Station
  • Limited stops between UBC and 4th Ave & Fir
3 44 Downtown
Waterfront Station
  • Limited stops between UBC and Burrard & 2nd Ave
  • Weekdays only; final departure at 7:49 pm
4 R4 41st Ave Joyce Station
5 480 Bridgeport Station
  • Weekdays only
  • Limited stops in Vancouver
6 49 Metrotown Station
  • Early morning and late night trips terminate at Dunbar Loop; final weekday departure from UBC at 9:16 pm
7 99 B-Line Commercial–Broadway Station
  • Some trips continue to Boundary & 1st Ave
8 25 Brentwood Station
  • Late night trips short turn at King Edward & Granville

South bus loop
Trolley bus service terminates at the south loop on University Boulevard

The south loop, serving trolley buses and limited-service diesel buses, is located on University Boulevard west of Wesbrook Mall.

Bay Route Destination Notes
9 9 Boundary
Boundary Loop
Commercial–Broadway Station
  • Weekday peak hours only
  • Operates to/from UBC only when UBC is in winter session (Sep–Apr)
10 14 Hastings
11 4 Powell
Eton & Renfrew
  • Evening trips to Cambie & Hastings only
  • Early morning trips to/from Blanca Loop
N17 Downtown
Howe & Dunsmuir
  • NightBus service
12 HandyDART —
13 258 West Vancouver
Marine & 25th St
  • Weekday PM peak only – limited number of departures; final departure at 5:08 pm
  • Operates only while UBC is in winter session (Sep–Apr)

References
  1. "Bus Stop to Cafeteria" (PDF). The Ubyssey. University of British Columbia. September 25, 1945. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  2. Kertcher, Sarah (September 4, 2019). "Welcome to your new UBC Exchange!". The Buzzer Blog. TransLink. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  3. "Trolleys go to UBC" (PDF). The Buzzer. BC Transit. September 23, 1988. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  4. "Open Letter to the UBC Vancouver Community" (PDF). University of British Columbia. October 27, 2009. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
  5. http://parking.ubc.ca/events-news/ubc-bus-loop-renovation-summer-2014-%E2%80%93-2016
  6. "UBC Bus Loop Closes March 6, 2017". University of British Columbia. Archived from the original on October 13, 2017. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  7. Chan, Kenneth (September 4, 2019). "The new $22-million UBC bus loop is finally complete (PHOTOS)". Daily Hive. Archived from the original on September 5, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  8. UBC Exchange (PDF) (Map). TransLink. January 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  9. Jakopin, Christina (September 1, 2017). "UBC Exchange bus stops are moving September 4!". The Buzzer Blog. TransLink. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
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