Coast Mountain Bus Company also known as CMBC is the contract operator for bus transit services in Metro Vancouver.
It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority, known locally as TransLink, the entity responsible for public transit in the region.
CMBCy was established on April 1, 1999, concurrent with the implementation of TransLink.
Bus service in Metro Vancouver was formerly provided by BC Transit (the provincial government crown corporation that operates transit outside of Metro Vancouver).
As the largest operating company in the integrated TransLink enterprise, Coast Mountain Bus Company (CMBC) operates a fleet of clean-fuel conventional and community shuttle buses.
Their Fleet are zero-emission trolley buses, and passenger ferry SeaBuses in Metro Vancouver, the largest single transit service area in Canada.
Within the Bus Division, CMBC also administers Contracted Transit Services comprised of accessible transit HandyDART service, West Vancouver Blue Bus and contract community shuttle operations in Langley, New Westminster, Tsawwassen First Nations, Lions Bay, and Bowen Island.
Coast Mountain Bus Company Fleet Line
They have a diverse fleet of low and zero emissions vehicles including the following types:
262 electric trolley buses
116 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses
226 diesel-electric hybrid buses
697 low-emissions diesel buses
108 gasoline community shuttle buses
47 diesel community shuttle buses
3 SeaBus vessels
Contracted Transit Services’ fleet includes:
48 conventional diesel and hybrid buses
39 gasoline community shuttle buses
307 HandyDART vehicles
Coast Mountain Bus Trolleys
For the past 60+ years, trolleys have played a central role in Metro Vancouver’s urban transit network. Today, with a fleet of 188 40-foot conventional and 74 60-foot articulated trolleys.
CMBC operates the second largest and most modern electric trolley fleet in North America. Each trolley utilizes a network of overhead wires that span 315 kms through Vancouver and Burnaby, providing an environmentally friendly transit solution.
Coast Mountain Bus Company Service Line
The company operates most bus routes across Metro Vancouver. West Vancouver operates its own municipal transit service and a select number of Community Shuttle routes are contracted out to First Transit.
Service is provided using a large fleet of conventional diesel, compressed natural gas, and electric trolleybuses, in addition to gasoline Community Shuttles.
Coast Mountain Bus Company’s services are:
Regular transit service
Trolleybus service in the City of Vancouver (with one route extending to Burnaby)
B-Line, a limited-stop bus rapid transit service
Community Shuttle, a minibus service that connects areas that have a lower demand for buses
ExpressBus, a suburban express transit service
NightBus, a late-night bus service that runs after midnight up until early morning
SeaBus, a passenger ferry service
Community Shuttle
Community Shuttle is a minibus service offered by TransLink and operated by Coast Mountain Bus Company, with a select number of routes operated by a private contractor.
Introduced in September 2000, the Community Shuttle was a cost-effective solution to providing bus service on routes that had low ridership and were expensive to operate.
The Community Shuttle service maintains transit coverage while operating a smaller vehicle with lowered costs and serves as a method of traffic calming in quiet, residential areas.
Initially introduced in the Burnaby Heights area, the Community Shuttle service has expanded to operate in every city in Metro Vancouver,
both as a replacement for low performing routes and as new service in communities that lacked transit service.
Coast Mountain Bus NightBus Services
Covering more ground than three SkyTrain lines, the NightBus service provides overnight coverage for all three SkyTrain lines and major corridors.
NightBus routes meet in downtown Vancouver and operate about every 30 minutes or better, seven days a week.
NightBus routes are identifiable with the letter N in front of the route number. On maps and signage, they are marked with a dark shade of blue.
In total, there are ten NightBus routes.
Coast Mountain Bus SeaBus Services
Introduced in 1977, the SeaBus is a passenger ferry service that connects Waterfront Station in Vancouver and Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver across the Burrard Inlet with a crossing time of about 10 to 12 minutes.
Service operates seven days a week and every 15 minutes for most of the day and every 30 in the early morning and late evening.
Cycling Services
Cycling can be the fastest way of getting around, especially in more urban areas of Metro Vancouver. It’s also one of the healthiest and most enjoyable ways to travel.
TransLink is committed to making cycling a realistic travel option by providing funding for municipal bike routes and making it easy to connect with our transit services by bicycle.
Coast Mountain Bus Compass: Load. Tap. Ride.
Compass is the reloadable fare card that works everywhere on transit in Metro Vancouver. It’s convenient, easy to use, and secure. Simply load Stored Value or a pass onto your card and tap your way across the system.
Where to load: Load your Compass Card online at compasscard.ca, at a Compass Vending Machine or by phone at 604.398.2042.
Compass Cards can be loaded with the fare product of your choice including Monthly Passes, DayPasses, and Stored Value. View our fare prices.
There are two types of Compass Cards; Adult and Concession:
Blue Adult Compass Card
The most commonly used card, It can be loaded with pass products or Stored Value for pay-as-you-go trips.
Orange Consession Compass Card
Eligible for HandyCard holders, seniors 65 years and older and youth 14-18 years with valid photo identification proving age, and children 5-13 years.
Compass Cards can be purchased at compasscard.ca, by phone, at retailer locations or from a Compass Vending Machine (Adult Cards only).
$6 Refundable Card Deposit: Compass Cards cost $6, which is a refundable deposit, meaning that if you no longer need your card you can return it to us at one of our customer service locations or by mail. Visit our Refund Policy page for more information.
Coast Mountain Bus Offices & Contacts For Enquiry
TransLink Head Office
Map to the TransLink office from Sapperton SkyTrain Station
T: 778.375.7500
F: 604.636.4809
Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
400 – 287 Nelson’s Court
New Westminster, BC V3L 0E7
Transit Information & Customer Feedback
T: 604.953.3333
5:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Monday to Friday
6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday/Sunday
Coast Mountain Bus Compass Customer Service
T: 604.398.2042
Toll Free: 1.888.207.4055
Compass Customer Service Centre & FareDealer Administration
Stadium–Chinatown Station
Unit 1 – 590 Beatty Street
Vancouver BC, V6B 2L3
Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding holidays
BC Rapid Transit Company (BCRTC) Head Office
T: 604.520.3641
F: 604.521.2818
6800 14th Avenue
Burnaby, BC V3N 4S7
Coast Mountain Bus Company (CMBC) Head Office
T: 778.375.6400
Coast Mountain Bus Mail:
287 Nelson’s Court
New Westminster, BC V3L 0E7
Head Office:
13401-108 Avenue
Surrey, BC V3T 5T3