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What's New with the BC Route Planner

Last updated on March 26, 2024

March 26, 2024

  • Route Planner 2.2.1 is backward compatible with Route Planner 2.x.
  • The BC Route Planner response now includes timestamps indicating when the data was last processed (dataProcessingTimestamp) as well as the road network data vintage (roadNetworkTimestamp).
  • Use the enable parameter to include a list of Transport Line ID's in the BC Route Planner response that are associated with the route.
    • tl - transportation line IDs; disabled by default
  • Use the snapDistance parameter to adjust the maximum distance (in metres) away from the road that a point can be located within and still find a route. The default value is 1000.
  • Simplify driving directions using the simplifyDirections and simplifyThreshold parameters. The default values are false and 250 respectively.
  • Enhanced route partitioning to include distance per partition.
  • Use the listRestrictions parameter to include a list of all restriction IDs impacting the direction of travel along a route.
  • Specify the source of road restrictions using the restrictionSource parameter. Options include ITN (Integrated Transportation Network) or RDM (Restriction Data Manager). Note that the RDM option is only suitable for demos. The default value is ITN.
  • Use the excludeRestrictions parameter to exclude specific restrictions. Provided as a comma-separated list of restriction IDs.
  • Restriction types can now be passed as parameters using the restrictionValues parameter (only suitable for demos).

October 11, 2022

  • The BC Route Planner betweenPairs request is being updated to better handle situations where a route is not found. The updated version will return route information for all valid points and a -1 time and distance value as well as a routeFound:false value for failure cases. 

Dec 17, 2021

  • BC Route Planner version 2.1.4 released.
  • Support for vehicle-type specific turn restrictions. For example, a road that only commercial vehicles are permitted to use.
  • Support for timed notifications. A timed notification is a notice that has an effective time period. During this period, the notice is displayed on the appropriate leg of the best route in turn-by-turn directions. A notification doesn't affect the computation of best route.

May 1, 2020

  • BC Route Planner version 2.1.3 released.
  • Truck resources now have default for followTruckRoute set to true.
  • Bug fixes.

March 31, 2020

  • BC Route Planner version 2.1 released.
  • Backward compatible with version 2.0.
  • Partitioning of the best route is now supported, e.g., supporting styling ferry and non-ferry or truck vs. non-truck route segments.
  • Truck routes are more compliant with municipal bylaws in the Greater Vancouver area.
  • A "Global distortion field" directs trucks toward more major roads and a "local distortion field" steers trucks away from specific, less suitable, roads.
  • Road network topology and navigation data (including turn-restrictions, one-ways, truck routes, and vehicle height and weight restrictions) in the Greater Vancouver area are greatly improved thanks to contributions by Translink and GeoBC.  Turn restriction parameter is now available for use.
  • See the 2.1 release notes for more details.

June 11, 2019

  • BC Route Planner version 2.0 released.
  • Backward compatible with version 1.x.
  • Specifying departure date and time is now supported.
  • Optional parameter available to ensure your route starts and ends on the correct side of the road, e.g., for deliveries or pickups on a two-way street.
  • See the 2.0 release notes for more details.

June 19, 2018

  • BC Route Planner version 1.5.1 released
  • Route directions are no longer double-quoted.
  • Turn restrictions are now supported, however this feature is disabled until the quality of the source data is confirmed to support it.

April 24, 2018

  • BC Route Planner version 1.5 released.
  • Performance improvements.

January 14, 2018

  • BC Route Planner version 1.4 released.
  • Optimal order of stops is now supported.
  • Allows more stops in a given route request by adding HTTP POST support.
  • Significantly improved performance of "nearest location by road"; from minutes to milliseconds.
  • Improved handling of non-existent routes; returns a "routeFound" flag instead of an error message.
  • In route directions, travel time is output for each leg.

March 17, 2016

  • BC Route Planner version 1 released.
  • Computes the shortest or fastest route between start and end points and returns the route, distance, time, and directions.