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Posted Sep 8, 2009, 6:12 PM
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victory in near
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: North Vancouver
Posts: 1,783
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from the vancouver sun
Quote:
Big crowds experiencing few problems on busy day of commuting
By Kelly Sinoski and Darah Hansen, Vancouver SunSeptember 8, 2009 9:28 AM
METRO VANCOUVER - South Surrey and White Rock bus users are having to crush into crowded trains or wait for the next one as they're funnelled off their buses onto the Canada Line at Bridgeport Station.
Every second train coming from the airport or Richmond-Brighouse is full, prompting some commuters to wait nearly four minutes for the next train, which is fairly empty.
"I really don't want to stand," said Chris Joy, who waited for the next train. "On the bus I would get a seat. I'd sleep and now I'm dealing with this."
TransLink spokesman Ken Hardie said there hasn't been any major problems this morning.
He noted that although some people will be upset with the packed trains every second one from the airport will be nearly empty.
"I'm sure some of the former one-seat rides are anxious about this but they're already downtown," he said. "People are going to spend some time now studying the routes and seeing what their options are."
Bronwynne Sove, who commutes from White Rock to VCC downtown, said she may consider taking the 321 bus to King George station instead as it will mean fewer transfers.
Allyson Shone estimates her commute from South Surrey to her job on Pender Street will take longer from now on.
"Its a little nerve-wracking because before I would sit on the bus and walk three blocks," she said. "I don't even know what stop to get off."
Noriko Yamashita takes the Canada Line from Brighouse station to Bridgeport and transfers over to the airport train because it's usually emptier.
"This one's too crowded," she said. "I don't want to take a chance; I'm afraid of H1N1."
Yamashita who has driven from Richmond to her job downtown for the past 30 years, said this is the first time she has used public transit.
She expects to cut her commute from 45 minutes to 20.
Passengers had to wait three rows deep for a train. But some were pleased with their free newspaper and snacks handed out down at street level.
Passengers were herded down the platform to wait for the trains, with attendants advising them they would have a better chance of getting on at the furthest end.
While they waited, some complained of the cold biting wind whipping through the station while others were upset when seeing the packed train coming their way. "This is going to happen every day," one woman grumbled.
"There's no way we're going to fit in there," another woman said.
Peter Glover, a civil engineer who commutes daily from White Rock to downtown Vancouver, said his bus was standing-room only this morning.
Although he believes the trains will be a huge help in the winter, he's not sure he will keep taking the Canada Line. He may take the SkyTrain from King George station instead.
"This worries me because it can be a cattle car with everyone standing and waiting," he said.
Commuters at Waterfront station so far say they've had no problems with transit this morning.
Margo Metcalfe came in on the Canada Line from City Hall and said the new rapid transit line has made things easier for her.
"It's fabulous," Metcalfe said.
Terresa LaRose of Ladner started her commute 15 minutes earlier this morning in anticipation of crowds, but said she was pleasantly surprised by how easy the transit was.
"It wasn't too bad this morning. You just went up the escalator right onto the train and there were seats," she said after arriving at Waterfront station.
But she predicts transit conditions will get worse and more people encorporate the Canada Line into their daily commute.
" I have visions of thousands of people converging on this (transit system) all at once," she said.
TJ Gita of Delta said the new transit schedule has added another 10 to 15 minutes onto his daily commute.
"It was actually a little more crowded than normal, not that many seats," Gita said of the Canada Line this morning.
New transit schedules for commuters on the Canada Line this morning were drawing mixed reviews from users.
Heather Seymour of White Rock said her commute was smooth, despite having to change from a bus onto the new rapid transit line in Richmond.
"I was pleasantly surprised," she said.
Dennis Teo of Richmond said the new transit system was clean and quiet, but has done nothing to ease his own commute.
"Actually, the time is about the same," he said.
Stephen Tang suggested Translink add another compartment to the rapid transit line in order to better accomodate crowds.
"Starting from Bridgeport station (in Richmond) it is really crowded," he said.
On the SkyTrain line, passengers continue to crowd on to the 99 B Line at Broadway-Commercial station.
TransLink spokesman Drew Snider said police have been helping to keep things orderly on the platforms.
Tuesday and Wednesday are the two busiest days for commuters on the TransLink system.
"Expect lots of crowds out there, especially at Commercial, Broadway, and Brighouse and Bridgeport stations," Snider said Tuesday morning.
Snider said about 50 routes are affected by the new Canada Line through increased schedules, rerouting and about a dozen of routes being discontinued South of the Fraser and the Richmond areas.
TransLink’s latest alerts say that traffic at the Commercial-Broadway “choke point” is quite light so far, but Snider warns that the heaviest time of the day is approaching.
On SkyTrain, transit officials are running turnback trains, which run empty from Waterfront Station to Commercial Station and then pickup inbound passengers.
Traffic officials are warning that an MVI on the Golden Ears Bridge may cause heavier than usual traffic.
A VancouverSun.com reader participating in The Sun’s commuter live chat is complaining that passengers are getting unruly on the Canada Line.
“Lot of shoving at Bridgeport.” Gromit advised at 7:27 a.m. “People don't want to wait for another train.”
A VancouverSun.com reader emailed the Sun's newsroom to say he took the 351 bus from White Rock to Bridgeport and then Canada Line downtown
“Within two minutes, exactly the same as when 351 was an express bus,” he wrote. “The new train is very clean, spacious and quiet........should be excellent!”
SkyTrain is running 12 extra trains to help clear stations faster, Snider said.
At 7:25 a.m., TransLink advised that the Production Way station had moderate traffic, but that 40 passengers had been left behind from a recent trip on the 145 bus.
“That’s less than half a busload,” Snider said.
"Please remember to reserve the seats nearest the doors for the handicapped and the elderly. We've had a lot of complaints about that so far and we expect people will do the right thing."
Paul Bucci, the Sun's deputy managing editor, said commuter traffic on Highway One was definitely busier than usual at 5:30 a.m. this morning, with some drivers being very aggressive.
A VancouverSun.com reader participating in The Sun’s commuter live chat warned that there is some jostling among passengers on the new Canada Line.
“Just got off the Canada Line,” Hector wrote. “Crowds aren't too bad, but the d-bags pushing on before you can get off so they can get the front seat are nearly bringing people to violence. TransLink has to do something about that and fast.”
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun
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i have no idea what's going on
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It should take WAY less time. First he doesn't need to go all the way to Granville and 41st. Second, Canada Line comes by more frequently to Bridgeport than the 98 came by to Airport Station. Third, the 620 now doesn't need to deal with traffic on the Airport Bridges and can avoid the longest light in the world at No 3 road. Half hour my ass, he still needs to make the same number of transfers.
Also, I had an aircraft change (no delay, unlike my 6 hour delay out of Vancouver), they used a 747 that is usually on the Hawaii route, thus was 3 class. I was bumped up from Business to First. It was great. First class is usually never available (purposely) to or from Canada.
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