TransLink has once again posted sky-high usage on all forms of transit.

Total boardings were up 7.1 percent in 2018 over the previous year. That's the largest annual increase in the regional transportation authority's 21-year history.

Ridership on buses was up 8 percent. It rose 6 percent on SeaBus.

Meanwhile, SkyTrain posted a 5.7 percent annual increase in boardings, whereas the West Coast Express usage jumped by 7 percent. HandyDart registed a 5.8 percent increase.

“Ridership is exploding, and our region is growing,” TransLink Mayors’ Council chair Jonathan Coté said in a news release. “If we are going to cure congestion, we need to invest in both new transportation infrastructure and service expansion to make commutes quicker and easier now, and into the future.”

The record ridership came, in part, from the addition of 75,000 annual bus service hours and 48,000 HandyDart trips.

In Surrey and Delta, bus boardings jumped 16.7 percent and 16.3 percent, respectively.

The largest increase at any rapid-transit station was 21.1 percent at Templeton on Vancouver International Airport Authority property. It's near the McArthurGlen designer-outlet mall.

“We want the public to see the numbers for themselves and understand where we need to invest even more in transit services," TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond said.

99 B continues to attract heaviest ridership

The 10 busiest bus routes are all travel through Vancouver. They are, in order of boardings:

1. Number 99 B: 17.4 million boardings (Vancouver/UBC)

2. Number 49: 9.3 million bordings (Vancouver/UBC/Burnaby)

3. Number 20: 8.7 million boardings (Vancouver/UBC)

4. Number 41: 8.6 million boardings (Vancouver/UBC)

5. Number25: 8.3 million boardings (Vancouver/UBC)

6. Number16: 7.9 million boardings (Vancouver/UBC/Burnaby)

7. Number 9: 7.4 million boardings (Vancouver/UBC)

8. Number 5/6: 7.2 million boardings (Vancouver/UBC)

9. Number 3: 7 million boardings (Vancouver/UBC)

10. Number 95 B: 6.8 million boardings (Vancouver/Burnaby)