Millennium Line - Broadway Extension: Planning & Pre-Construction

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

does anyone know if the "L-Line" actually saves money being at grade compared to elevated SkyTrain? i keep hearing that the price difference might be very minimal.

[Reecemartin]

[Deleted]

[VarBreStr18]

Originally Posted by VarBreStr18

Admittedly they have been drilling at various locations along proposed route, in preparation for something to come? Also the north east corner of Cambie/Broadway has been vacant for some time,which would be ideal location for station.If you ride the Broadway line at all, the ridership exponentially increased with the Evergreen line added. Now with Fed money announced and election coming, it would be political suicide if they don't do something. There is some pressure.

Now that funding in place from 2 levels of government. it is up to the municipal level to find the rest. One way is charge new developments within certain distance to transit nodes a fee. Don't know who owns that empty lot on NE of Cambie/Broadway, if indeed belongs to CoV , wont hurt to do public / private partnership to build hi rise there in return for a portion of sales toward M Line extension. Cambie Star is right on top of King Edward station. it is such a waste for prime land used solely for station such as the Broadway/city Hall station. Besides it is in lower stretch of Cambie , therefore wont affect Vancouver City Hall precious view cone.

[Rico]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

does anyone know if the "L-Line" actually saves money being at grade compared to elevated SkyTrain? i keep hearing that the price difference might be very minimal.

The price difference is not minimal, it is significant. However the question should be what is the best value for dollar. I don't pretend to know for sure on the L line but would expect bus would be best followed by LRT followed by Skytrain for value per dollar. That said if the money exists better transit will have better outcomes.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by Rico

The price difference is not minimal, it is significant. However the question should be what is the best value for dollar.

Exactly. Elevated transit is more expensive, but it will attract a greater ridership, be of better utility to its customers, and continue to be useful for many more years as population and congestion grow.

[Reecemartin]

[Deleted]

[Feathered Friend]

I know it's unrelated to the funding announcement, but I was happy to see the drilling truck was out taking core samples tonight at Ontario and Broadway.

It's nice to know that now, no matter which party wins in May, the extension will be happening sooner rather than later.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by retro_orange

I believe most on this forum were saying 'that' while you were still believing that the Canada line was operating at under capacity and stating the Broadway extension is not needed.

When have I ever said that?

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by Reecemartin

Indeed but, it's excessive is a lot of areas, and if transit is being built it's probably best to save money in areas like this in order to have the capital for Langley and UBC both of which are more consequential.

It's not like an LRT cannot grow to serve more people it's just ultimately going to be capable of less if it's not grade seperated, but if we are not considering trade offs in terms of cost then I think Surrey should consider quad track local express subways with 200m platforms

The problem with LRT in Surrey is that it costs a lot closer to elevated Skytrain but provides service that's a lot closer to surface BRT, which would be far cheaper. Framed in terms of the 80/20 rule, it's like you're paying 80% of the cost for 20% of the benefit. Yes, I know those figures aren't accurate, but that's the gist of the problem.

[cornholio]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

Exactly. Elevated transit is more expensive, but it will attract a greater ridership, be of better utility to its customers, and continue to be useful for many more years as population and congestion grow.

Elevated transit is not more expensive. At-least not all the time. The evergreen line per km is cheaper then recent LRT lines in Calagary or certainly will be cheaper then the proposed Surrey LRT line. LRT lines are more disruptive, need more land acquisition, as much utility relocation, a complicated foundation, over head wires, and if any grade separation is required it is more expensive because of the larger and heavier vehicles.

Building a skytrain line out of pre fab concrete blocks all the way can be cheaper. I will make a small wager that the Surrey LRT line will end up more costly then skytrain.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by cornholio

Elevated transit is not more expensive. At-least not all the time. The evergreen line per km is cheaper then recent LRT lines in Calagary or certainly will be cheaper then the proposed Surrey LRT line. LRT lines are more disruptive, need more land acquisition, as much utility relocation, a complicated foundation, over head wires, and if any grade separation is required it is more expensive because of the larger and heavier vehicles.

Building a skytrain line out of pre fab concrete blocks all the way can be cheaper. I will make a small wager that the Surrey LRT line will end up more costly then skytrain.

I'm with you - Surrey LRT is gonna be more expensive than elevated Skytrain
(image too large to post)

[Reecemartin]

[Deleted]

[retro_orange]

Foundex is back to work along Broadway near Quebec St., not sure what they were doing today though.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by Reecemartin

Anyone have any idea/educated guess on whether we will see island or side platforms on the Broadway Subway (acronym BS) ?

my guess, it will depend if they use the Canada-Line style with 2 small boring machines or the Evergreen-Line with 1 large boring machine.

if they use 2 like the Canada-Line, island would make sense since the space between the 2 tunnels can be knocked out. if its 1 like the Evergreen-Line, side would be the only real option.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by retro_orange

Foundex is back to work along Broadway near Quebec St., not sure what they were doing today though.

Says they are drilling for the next two weeks from Manitoba to Main.

http://vanmapp1.vancouver.ca/roadahead/events/details/43ca3818-c005-49c0-85c8-0ac5bdeb9df0

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Says they are drilling for the next two weeks from Manitoba to Main.

http://vanmapp1.vancouver.ca/roadahead/events/details/43ca3818-c005-49c0-85c8-0ac5bdeb9df0

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Says they are drilling for the next two weeks from Manitoba to Main.

http://vanmapp1.vancouver.ca/roadahead/events/details/43ca3818-c005-49c0-85c8-0ac5bdeb9df0

weren't those blocks of Broadway already drilled last year?

Smells like the sub-surface geology around there isn't what was expected, or they are planning to tunnel deeper in that area.

Curious....


or they've found traces of Gold & Diamonds and need to see if there's enough to cover the unfunded costs of this project.

[Reecemartin]

[Deleted]

[VarBreStr18]

Originally Posted by Reecemartin

My number one concern remains the stations themselves, very interested to see more fleshed out plans. I think alot of people (especially on this forum) will have some choice words if we see one narrow staircase and escalator per platform. I'm really hoping that we see this line built very future proof.

Also multi exits for busy stations such as Broaway/ Commercial and Broadway/Cambie to alleviate surface pedestrian crossings.

[twoNeurons]

I wanna see shallow stacked stations under 10th. Then you could have a walkway from the Broadway entrances which didn't even have stairs.