Apparatus and method for implementing virtual path aggregation (VPA) of underlying virtual connections at a switching node of a connection based communications network. A multi-service traffic shaping module (MTSM) at the switch implements algorithms to aggregate the VC and VP connections onto the aggregate VP by representing an aggregate VP as a plurality of circular linked lists or loops and assigning each VC connection to a link or element in the circular linked lists according to traffic descriptors. Weighting factors are used as between loops to dynamically select the next loop to service. Once this loop is chosen, the next VC to be serviced is identified by examining the circular linked list structure.