Millennium Line - Broadway Extension: Planning & Pre-Construction

[SOSS]

Timing is just math. I'm sure someone could figure it out.

[officedweller]

The timing issue is complicated by delays in the system affecting the spacing and timing on the other lines. If an interlined M-Line train gets delayed on the Expo Line, it would affect not only M-Line frequency and Expo Line frequency, but also Evergreen Line frequency - because that train (and all other M-Line trains behind it that are delayed) would have filled a gap between Evergreen Line trains too.

There are also differing ridership demands, too. The Sapperton Braid area doesn't see much ridership, that's why that study a while back suggested a shuttle serve those stations. So it would be more efficient to keep the trains to the high demand areas, rather than diverting them to serve fewer transferring passengers.

They've studied it and the report recommended against the full interlining.

[SOSS]

Originally Posted by officedweller

The Sapperton Braid area doesn't see much ridership, that's why that study a while back suggested a shuttle serve those stations. So it would be more efficient to keep the trains to the high demand areas, rather than diverting them to serve fewer transferring passengers.

Help me understand this suggestion; trains would bypass the Sapperton Braid station completely? Then this $20+ million station would be serviced by shuttles.

[dpogue]

Originally Posted by SOSS

Help me understand this suggestion; trains would bypass the Sapperton Braid station completely? Then this $20+ million station would be serviced by shuttles.

I think the suggestion was a shuttle train between Columbia and Lougheed. So rather than running trains between Lougheed and Waterfront, you'd just run a few trains back and forth between the two transfers stations for Expo Line and Evergreen Line.

[officedweller]

Yup ... but they can't implement that shuttle routing yet, because a train reversing on the Expo mainline at Columbia Station would disrupt Expo Line trains too much, so they are going with the existing interlined routing, but truncating the M-Line at Lougheed Station or Production Way Station.

Originally Posted by officedweller

Well, here's an excerpt from the 2008 ridership study that recommended the "Break at CO" option -
i.e. the Millennium Line becoming a shuttle between Lougheed and Columbia - BUT - this can't be implemented without the construction of a third platform and siding at Columbia to prevent interference with the Expo mainline.

Running the M-Line as-is but terminating at Lougheed or Production -the "Split-Tail" option - is probably a stop-gap measure until a third platform can be built at Columbia.

Note that the "Double Coordinated" routing was rejected and would require coordination of both Evergreen and Expo Lines in order to maintain desired headways.

It doesn't appear that the names of the lines was a factor in the ridership / service study.





Note that no "Double Coordinated" scenarios were favoured (shaded options).

[urbancanadian]

For the future Great Northern Way Station, the tunnel portal is planned to be adjacent to the BNSF railyard, on the northern edge of the campus.


The City is preserving a staging area for the station and the tunnel boring machine, which won't be developed until after that part of the line is built.




Here's the overall structure plan:


http://former.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20140204/documents/p1.pdf

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by urbancanadian

Here's the overall structure plan:

I'm very happy that they're routing the Central Valley Greenway through that section so that it shortcuts around the extra elevation gain at the corner of GNW and Thornton. Every time I bike past there I think that the route should go the way it's shown on the map. But I guess we won't see it come to fruition until after the Broadway line is approved and built.

[cabotp]

Wow I just skipped past a bunch of crap about how we need to rename the skytrain lines to accomadate the tourists or the people who don't understand the system.

If I'm a tourist in another city. I will learn how subway system works or if I'm driving the freeways work. I don't expect them to name the subway lines or freeways to accomadate me.

[Metro-One]

I think the Canada Line should have been called "The to and from the airport to downtown Vancouver and if you exchange at Bridgeport to Richmond" Line.

Honestly such a goofy conversation. Names, numbers, letters, destinations, it doesn't really make a difference, out of town people (and those who don't use transit) will always be confused either way.

[WarrenC12]

Great to see the city has M-Line construction considerations in the plans for GNW and Emily Carr. Now, if we could only find a few billion...

[cabotp]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

I think the Canada Line should have been called "The to and from the airport to downtown Vancouver and if you exchange at Bridgeport to Richmond" Line.

Honestly such a goofy conversation. Names, numbers, letters, destinations, it doesn't really make a difference, out of town people (and those who don't use transit) will always be confused either way.

Has well an out of town person if they want to go some where. Will learn where they are, where they want to go, and how they can get there.


I suppose london should change their entire underground naming scheme

[AudiA3]

Originally Posted by jsbertram

My commute is spent face down looking at the ipad.
I generally don't need to know what is happening outside (above, on, or below ground) before I get to my next stop.

If the commute is boring, you're not using your time wisely.

Yeah, I hope there will be 3G/LTE connection underground, unlike in the Expo Line's Granville station

[SOSS]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Yup ... but they can't implement that shuttle routing yet, because a train reversing on the Expo mainline at Columbia Station would disrupt Expo Line trains too much, so they are going with the existing interlined routing, but truncating the M-Line at Lougheed Station or Production Way Station.

Thanks OfficeDweller for this info. The Double Coordinated approach is what I envision for the long-term, I just didn't have the name for it. Maybe one day, as long as they put some redundancies in to ensure that outlined issues don't occur, it could happen. But I guess that's more of a transit fantasy at this point.

[Large Cat]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

I'm very happy that they're routing the Central Valley Greenway through that section so that it shortcuts around the extra elevation gain at the corner of GNW and Thornton. Every time I bike past there I think that the route should go the way it's shown on the map. But I guess we won't see it come to fruition until after the Broadway line is approved and built.

I agree! The elevation gain there was annoying, although the already-built path on Thornton is much appreciated. My only worry is with the crossing of the "pedestrian spine" in the campus, although of course the GNW pathway already sort of functions as that spine at present.

[officedweller]

Thanks for the more detailed diagrams.

Hopefully they won't have to wait too long to build the "post-SkyTrain" buildings!

[VarBreStr18]

Originally Posted by cabotp

Wow I just skipped past a bunch of crap about how we need to rename the skytrain lines to accomadate the tourists or the people who don't understand the system.

If I'm a tourist in another city. I will learn how subway system works or if I'm driving the freeways work. I don't expect them to name the subway lines or freeways to accomadate me.

It is about moving forward and embracing newer and better ideas!!! Open minded thinking. No need to get angry .......

[Kisai]

Originally Posted by VarBreStr18

It is about moving forward and embracing newer and better ideas!!! Open minded thinking. No need to get angry .......

To Translink/Vancouver's credit, it had Google Maps working long before the TTC/Toronto did. Toronto is not one integrated system.

[nname]

TransLink had renamed the Broadway Rapid Transit Project page into Broadway SkyTrain Extension project, and released a RFP for phase 3.

[SOSS]

Originally Posted by nname

TransLink had renamed the Broadway Rapid Transit Project page into Broadway SkyTrain Extension project, and released a RFP for phase 3.

Not so much of a mouth full. I prefer it. I also like seeing that this project is entering the next phase now instead of waiting for the referendum.

[red-paladin]

Originally Posted by SOSS

Not so much of a mouth full. I prefer it. I also like seeing that this project is entering the next phase now instead of waiting for the referendum.

Phase 3A will focus on the preferred first phase of rapid transit to UBC, a tunnelled Millennium
Line extension along Broadway to Arbutus (see Figure 2). Rapid transit to UBC could be
introduced in subsequent years through (1) a further extension of the Millennium Line to
complete alternative RRT 1, (2) the introduction of a new LRT line from Main Street-Science
World to UBC to complete alternative Combo 1 or (3) introduction of other rapid transit options
between Vancouver and UBC. Evaluation of these options, and their subsequent reference case
development are not included within the scope of work of this RFP.


The Contractor shall ensure that consideration is given to expandability of the first phase,
including identifying any further work required to accommodate a future extension of SkyTrain
(RRT1) or integration with LRT (Combo1).

Sounds good to me!! Skytrain extension of the M-Line to Arbutus is confirmed 100%.. and Translink will be in a position to either extend it to UBC whenever it can afford to, or leave the door open to pursue LRT.