As we enter 2025, Maple Ridge stands on the threshold of a transformative era.
The four proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stations along Lougheed Highway, spearheaded by TransLink, represent more than just enhanced transit options – they symbolize a gateway to community growth, economic vitality, and a more connected future.
Expanded BRT will firmly position Maple Ridge as a strategic hub in Metro Vancouver, aligning with our vision for growth.
By embracing transit-oriented development, we can create diverse, livable, and walkable neighbourhoods that reduce car dependency and provide access to more affordable housing.
This is a pivotal piece of the Maple Ridge Moves Plan, which focuses on securing provincial and federal funding to improve access to frequent transit services, new housing, job opportunities, and green spaces.
The BRT project is not merely about transportation; it’s about community transformation.
By concentrating development around transit hubs, we can thoughtfully integrate housing, parks, shops, and services while preserving our natural spaces.
This approach reduces infrastructure costs, alleviates financial pressures on taxpayers, and promotes a more sustainable way of living.
The ripple effects are far-reaching.
Enhanced transit access boosts land values, revitalizes underutilized areas, and fosters vibrant, compact communities.
By prioritizing mixed-use development, we can address the growing demand for diverse housing options and create opportunities for small businesses to thrive. This, in turn, increases the tax base, allowing for investments in public amenities such as parks, recreational facilities, and public safety, while also advancing our climate goals by reducing vehicle trips and encouraging transit use.
Looking ahead, the Lougheed Highway Corridor and Town Centre areas will become focal points for growth over the next 15 years, supported by improved connections to industrial lands.
This growth will strengthen our local economy, create jobs, and build a more resilient tax base.
To complement these efforts, the city is streamlining development processes. A new development concierge will guide developers through permitting processes, with faster turnaround times, fast-tracking options for specific permits, and fully digital submissions to save time and effort.
We want to hear from you. I encourage all residents to participate in TransLink’s BRT survey, open online until Feb. 9, to share your perspectives on this exciting initiative.
Following this, the city will launch community engagement on the proposed Lougheed Transit Corridor Area Plan to shape the housing, services, and public amenities envisioned around the BRT stations.
Your input will be vital in creating a corridor that reflects our shared aspirations.
Investing in our transportation network is more than just building infrastructure – it’s about building a brighter, bolder future.
Together, we can create a community with affordable, diverse housing, vibrant businesses, and the amenities that make Maple Ridge a place we’re proud to call home.
– Dan Ruimy is the mayor of Maple Ridge
