Originally outlined in the 2005 Vancouver/UBC Transit Plan as the 91 B-Line,[4] the route was planned to be operational in December 2009, replacing the 43 Express peak-only service betweenJoyce–Collingwood station and UBC. However, shortfalls in the 2010 TransLink budget resulted in a delay in the implementation of this route, the95 B-Line (replacing 135 Express service onHastings Street), and other service expansions. Nevertheless, the 43 Express was included as a main transit connection in a plan released following the opening of theCanada Line, indicating the importance of the route within the TransLink network.[5]
On November 23, 2016, the Mayors' Council and TransLink's board of directors approved the first phase of the 10-Year Vision, which included provisions for new B-Line routes (including the 41st Avenue B-Line) which began service on January 6, 2020.[1][6] On July 23, 2019, the route was officially rebranded the R4 41st Ave.[7]
The R4 41st Ave RapidBus was the second busiest bus route in TransLink's network in 2024, with 8,803,000 total boardings.[8]
The R4 travels mainly on 41st Avenue in Vancouver, and also along Joyce Street, Southwest Marine Drive, West 16th Avenue, and Wesbrook Mall.[9]
UBC Exchange – Western terminus, servingUBC's campus centre; transfer point for services to other Vancouver neighbourhoods,Richmond, Burnaby, andWest Vancouver.
Agronomy Road – Serves the southern part of UBC's campus; transfer point for services to other Vancouver neighbourhoods, Richmond, and Burnaby.
West 16th Avenue – Serves Thunderbird Park and Wesbrook Village
