Canada Line | Completed

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

It is Port Metro Vancouver that is blocking the Whitecaps stadium, not the City of Vancouver. The City is on board.

And CP. That waterfront land might be worth a few hundred million to a developer, but it's worth Billions (a year) to the railroad/port.

[Gordon]

I Think Ports Canada may be the problem as well

[CLC]

Delta Optimist
Not as inconvenient as expected

Switch to Canada Line has added time to some commutes, but transit users generally taking change in stride:
http://www2.canada.com/deltaoptimist/news/story.html?id=2e1e5d0c-3ec3-4e99-925a-d2e6bc0921b3

[cabotp]

The only people who seem to be inconvenienced by the discontinuation of the direct bus routes are those who either had a stop along Granville or the bus stopped close to their destination downtown. And while yes those who did get off along Granville do have a point. I do believe that more people have benefited from the new service than have not. But you only really hear the whining and moaning.

Besides the East-West frequency from Cambie to Granville is so frequent that missing one bus. It won't be very long until the next bus comes along. Not like you have to sit for 30 mins while the next bus comes. The only downside is the buses are packed.

[CLC]

Originally Posted by cabotp

Besides the East-West frequency from Cambie to Granville is so frequent that missing one bus. It won't be very long until the next bus comes along. Not like you have to sit for 30 mins while the next bus comes. The only downside is the buses are packed.

Actually it is the fact that you may have to sit for 30 mins if you are waiting for #49 or #25. East-west bus connections certainly do not improve enough to go with Canada Line

#49 is now a near-disaster, you can be passed up by consecutive full buses, which run 8-10 minutes apart most of day time. I can't believe there is no frequency upgrade by Translink , given the huge jump of Langara enrollment + Upass

[cabotp]

Ya I realize that the buses are packed and so it forces you to sit for one to take you. But it is not like one bus goes by and the next one doesn't come until 30 mins later. That is two different things.

I think if ever the broadway line is built it will seriously help all the other routes. But for now like you said they need to really pick up the frequency.

One thought I had is along 41st the curb lane for most the stretch is parking only. Why not turn it into a Bus (HOV) only lane during peak time. So from about Victoria to just before West Boulevard the buses would have a dedicated lane. During off peak it reverts back to being a parking lane.

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by CLC

Delta Optimist
Not as inconvenient as expected

Switch to Canada Line has added time to some commutes, but transit users generally taking change in stride:
http://www2.canada.com/deltaoptimist/news/story.html?id=2e1e5d0c-3ec3-4e99-925a-d2e6bc0921b3

That's the thing, it really only inconveniences people who take the bus to the corner of Granville and Broadway, and the few schools on Granville. Everyone else is much better off. I've seen so many people get on and off at 49th to go to Langara, it must save those people so much time. Broadway is a huge destination, and not just for transfer to buses, but there are a lot of offices near there around the hospital. Those people save so much time, not to mention all the people that work or live in Yaletown. Many of the people who used to get off the buses along Seymour before you get to Georgia were making the long walk into Yaletown, I'm sure they aren't complaining now.

Yaletown used to be so hard to get to on transit. I used to work there, and taking transit in the morning meant I had to make a long walk from Granville or Stadium, in the rain, so whenever it rained I just drove. Now I wish I still worked there so I could take the Canada Line there.

Connecting east west from Broadway City Hall to Granville wouldn't be an issue if we had a Broadway extension of the Millennium line *hint hint*

It makes me wish more areas around the downtown core had subway connections. Imagine how amazing it would be if you could go from Waterfront station to the West End or Kits in just a few minutes.

[cabotp]

^ But of course the media likes the negative story and not so much the positive story. Too much doom and gloom.

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by cabotp

I think if ever the broadway line is built it will seriously help all the other routes. But for now like you said they need to really pick up the frequency.

One thought I had is along 41st the curb lane for most the stretch is parking only. Why not turn it into a Bus (HOV) only lane during peak time. So from about Victoria to just before West Boulevard the buses would have a dedicated lane. During off peak it reverts back to being a parking lane.

Great idea. We could really use some more dedicated peak hour bus lanes in Vancouver. The bus lane on Granville/Marine in the 70th ave area worked great. It was only a few blocks long, but made a huge difference.

One day, (probably in the distant future) I would like to see a high capacity streetcar/tram down 41st from Joyce, past Oakridge, through Kerrisdale then down the UBC Parkway to UBC. It could use dedicated lanes where space allows and traffic requires. The buses already come by less than every ten minutes, I think it would be a good candidate for an upgrade after the Broadway line is built.

[cabotp]

41st ave could easily use a B-line right now with dedicated lanes. It would probably be the easiest and cheapest and quickest way right now to ease congestion on the the other routes.

[twoNeurons]

To be fair, I think it's on the new maps at the stations as a connection... it's practically an unbranded B-Line. Just needs artics.

[BCPhil]

And it could use fewer stops. If you do B-Line I think it should go from Brentwood, past BCIT, BGH, then Joyce and onto 41st to UBC, and only have stops at the major intersections. Not only would it be good to get people to UBC, but also to get people from Richmond to BCIT.

I think they were talking abou doing that, or was it the #25 they were talking about upgrading to B-Line.

[CLC]

Originally Posted by BCPhil

That's the thing, it really only inconveniences people who take the bus to the corner of Granville and Broadway, and the few schools on Granville. Everyone else is much better off. I've seen so many people get on and off at 49th to go to Langara, it must save those people so much time. Broadway is a huge destination, and not just for transfer to buses, but there are a lot of offices near there around the hospital. Those people save so much time, not to mention all the people that work or live in Yaletown. Many of the people who used to get off the buses along Seymour before you get to Georgia were making the long walk into Yaletown, I'm sure they aren't complaining now.

Yaletown used to be so hard to get to on transit. I used to work there, and taking transit in the morning meant I had to make a long walk from Granville or Stadium, in the rain, so whenever it rained I just drove. Now I wish I still worked there so I could take the Canada Line there.

A very good example of Yaletown, or RoundHouse Community Centre that I struggled to find good transit connection to go to, and resorted to walking after taking off from skytrain in the past.

This lucky man from Delta wrote a letter to Delta Optimist editor, praising how his commute to Yaletown has shortened off by 30 minutes:
http://www2.canada.com/deltaoptimist/new...?id=c418d55f-0fa5-45e3-a152-8b84d32f0690

[gillty]

Originally Posted by BCPhil

And it could use fewer stops. If you do B-Line I think it should go from Brentwood, past BCIT, BGH, then Joyce and onto 41st to UBC, and only have stops at the major intersections. Not only would it be good to get people to UBC, but also to get people from Richmond to BCIT.

I think they were talking abou doing that, or was it the #25 they were talking about upgrading to B-Line.

i dont think thats possible!
i've taken the 25 between brentwood and nanaimo for the last 4 years everyday.

major problems Kincaid St/Sanderson way is extremely challenging for the regular buses
1)between ingleton ave and gilmore (the BGH section westbound) the hill challenges the best drivers in the winter (i'd say atleast 10 morning trips during winter i've been stuck waiting at the Canada Way & Willingdon stop for a bus that was never coming)
even more so almost any ice or snow delays buses by atleast 10-20 minutes almost all winter

2)west of BGH (ingleton to Smith) the street is extremely narrow & has residental parking in both directions buses already have to pull over to let a bus coming in the other direction through

3) I would assume it would travel south at smith and kincaid to head to joyce because theres no way it could travel south on Boundary (left turns from kincaid on to boundary are prohibited, combined with traffic you'd need a light there which would really mess up boundary) which brings up another point fourway stops everywhere in that area i cant see an express bus or articulated bline being able to traverse that area quickly, also there is a elementary school between moscrop and kincaid on smith so 30 KPH! and traffic nightmere.

to sum it up
narrow residential streets, winter/grade issues, and just overall a traffic nightmere for any bus traveling between willingdon and boundary

[mr.x]

how many people here use the Canada Line everyday?

[Overground]

I do. So far I don't have too much to complain about either. There's the obvious things of course, but overall it's been a pretty good experience.

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by mr.x

how many people here use the Canada Line everyday?

I don't use it every day as right now I don't work downtown right now.

But on Monday and Tuesday I had a conference to go to at the Convention Center. It was an all day thing so I travelled from White Rock to Vancouver during the peak hours.

On Monday, I drove to Bridgeport to use the Park and Ride. I must have left a bit earlier than most, at 7:25am, because I didn't see any traffic the entire way until I got close to the Oak Street Bridge. It slowed down right before I got to the Bridgeport Exit. The drive took about half an hour from around 8th to Bridgeport. Parked on P4 and walked over to the station and validated a fare.

There was a guy there stopping people from going up to the platform because it was "full". So me and 1 other guy had to wait, but as soon as a train was approaching, and no one else was coming from the bus loop, he let us up. There weren't that many people on the platform. And the train was from YVR so it was almost empty (but there were quite a few on the train all with bags) Every one got on the train with ease and room for probably another 100, I even had a seat. The platform could have been 100% crowded and all would have gotten on. So I think keeping people off the platforms cause more problems than solves. They should just direct people on the platform where to stand and direct people to walk up the rear staircase. Especially for trains from YVR.

The train ride was uneventful. A lot of people actually got on at Marine and many more got on AND off at each and every stations. There wasn't a "dead" station the entire way. By the time it hit Broadway it was full and a lot got off, and more got on, same at Yaletown. A large chuck got off at VCC and the rest rode to Waterfront, where there was a huge number waiting to get on to go the other way (that never happens on old Skytrain, no one goes "the other way").

I got to Waterfront at around 8:15, a grand total of 50 minutes of travel. I was way too early! So I decided to ride the train back to VCC and then transfer to Expo line to see how long it would take.

The train only waited at Waterfront for 40 seconds, then it was off (I think that means they do use only 16 trains at peak?). At VCC the next train inbound was arriving coming from Brighouse. It was cram packed like a sardine can. When the doors opened I think people actually burst out from the pressure. Walking up to street level and into Granville station takes almost no time at all. It's a pretty easy walk and I would say only 30 seconds longer than going through the mall.

On my way back home around 4:30pm Waterfront was busy. I entered in through the Hastings Street entrance, so I didn't notice if there was any line on the other side or not, but the platform was crowded, but not Broadway crowded. The train was for Brighouse, so almost everyone got on it. Leaving Waterfront every seat was taken, and I had one. The train was full at VCC and more crammed on at Yaletown and Broadway.

Surprisingly (or not?) many people got off at King Ed, then more swapped places at 41st. 49th was BUSY! The platform was near full. People tried to get on but the doors closed in their face after a few did. A large number got off at Marine and Bridgeport, and I decided to see what happens in Richmond so I stayed on.

What I found surprising was there were quite a few people at Alderbridge waiting to go South, same at Landsdown. People did get off too. But the train was still packed at Brighouse, where everyone got off and the stairs down was a sea of people.

I rode the train back to Bridgeport, where the bus loop was very busy, but not crazy. It's sort of like Lougheed station, but busier and better controlled because the stairs come down from the station in the center of it all, unlike Lougheed where you have to cross infront of fast moving buses to get from the station to the bus loop. I got in my car and drove home.

On Tuesday I took the bus. This time I got to Bridgeport later than Monday, so there was a lot of traffic on the 99 waiting to get on Oak Street Bridge. The bus zoomed past waiting traffic that was backed up to the 91 interchange. The bus was busy, and a few people were standing. The train was busier as it came from Brighouse. This time a lot more people got off at Langara (closer to class time I guess).

But still packed all the way to waterfront, I had to stand the whole way. But it only took 20 minutes as our train was delayed at Oakridge because someone jammed a door trying to get on. I arrived at waterfront at 8:50am, right on time. The trip took a bit longer, but that's only because the bus takes longer going through White Rock than what I do (heading for the freeway). SO I would say the C-Line saves A LOT of time heading downtown at peak.

There is no way that driving the whole way and finding a parking spot downtown (unless you pay to reserve one) would take less time. I went from my door to my destination's door in around an hour. I can't remember the last time I did that.

The parkade is not very busy, but it's great. I don't think I'll drive all the way into downtown ever again unless I really need to (buying something big or driving people around).

[GoogalieBear]

I use the CanadaLine pretty much everyday for commuting, picking up my son from daycare and doing errands around town.

[raskal]

I take the Canada line every work day, and usually at least one of my days off.

[CLC]

I do not use Canada Line everyday , since I rarely use transit on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays.

My "home" station is 49th , though I need to take a 12-15 minutes bus ride on #49 to get to it; unfortunately since Langara in session the #49 become the weakest link of my commute. I have other option like walk to 41th street or ride or walk(!) to 33th street to take east-west bus, or my old route of #20 to Commerical-Broadway skytrain hub.

BCPhil above gives a description of how busy the 49th-Langara station is. Systemwide I would rank the 49th station among the top half of busiest station, and probably just shy of top 5.