Vancouver Downtown Streetcar | Proposed

[Migrant_Coconut]

If we're going to factor the False Creek redevelopment into this, I suppose enough rezoning/setbacks could create a brand-new ROW that skips 6th and Lameys Mill altogether. But I suspect we're drifting into fantasyland.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

I think the streetcar/LRT idea is dead and will probably never happen in our lifetime.

something people tend to forget is that the CoV cannot legally create a competing transit system. no city can. legally, only TransLink is allowed to run the transit system in their operating region.

TransLink is also not going to want to pay the $$$ to run this since itll be more than buses, and not be much more useful than buses.

i am disappointed they never rebuilt to have the historic railway continue, but so be it.

what is interesting, though, is when olympic village was built, the lamp standards on 1st ave were built with the streetcar in mind. if you look down the street youll notice they all lean back slightly. this was done on purpose because the weight of the overhead wires for the street car would have pulled them up straight.

so it was seriously planned at one point.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

something people tend to forget is that the CoV cannot legally create a competing transit system. no city can. legally, only TransLink is allowed to run the transit system in their operating region.

That's only relevant if the City intended to establish a transit organisation to run the streetcar without the agreement of the provincial government. Both TransLink and the City are regulated by the province, and if it was the opinion of the provincial government that it would be great for the City of Vancouver to get into the transportation business, then they can make any necessary legislative changes to allow that to happen.

I don't think the City has ever indicated that was what they wanted. The idea has always been that it should be part of the TransLink operation, with integrated fares. When Suzanne Anton made it part of her platform when she ran for mayor, she was suggesting a P3 like the Canada Line, for construction and running the streetcar.

That idea was never tested for viability because she lost the election, but the Canada Line history shows the provincial government ultimately decides how TransLink expands with new service.

Realistically, the City couldn't take on a billion dollar debt to build the system without provincial legislation either. Municipalities can't borrow unlimited funds, or operate with a deficit; the only time the City has had significant debt was when they bought the Olympic Village to ensure it was completed in time for the games. Provincial legislation had to be passed to allow them to take the debt on, and it was only allowed for that specific circumstance.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

what is interesting, though, is when olympic village was built, the lamp standards on 1st ave were built with the streetcar in mind. if you look down the street youll notice they all lean back slightly. this was done on purpose because the weight of the overhead wires for the street car would have pulled them up straight.

so it was seriously planned at one point.

There's also a giant useless median from Ontario all the way to the Cambie bridge.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by Changing City

That's only relevant if the City intended to establish a transit organisation to run the streetcar without the agreement of the provincial government. Both TransLink and the City are regulated by the province, and if it was the opinion of the provincial government that it would be great for the City of Vancouver to get into the transportation business, then they can make any necessary legislative changes to allow that to happen.

TransLink has 0 interest in that, and never has. same with the Arbutus-Line. so it would have to be forced onto TransLink, which i guess it could be, but that seems unlikely. while the province can do whatever it wasnt to TransLink, the city, they wouldnt.

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

There's also a giant useless median from Ontario all the way to the Cambie bridge.

i wouldnt call it a giant useless median. i would say it has the potential to be what the Cambie median is. i would landscape the crap out of it if i was the city, focusing on native plantings such as coniferous trees, ferns, flowers that honey bees would like, etc.

they just havent... nothing stopping them from doing it though...

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

i wouldnt call it a giant useless median. i would say it has the potential to be what the Cambie median is. i would landscape the crap out of it if i was the city, focusing on native plantings such as coniferous trees, ferns, flowers that honey bees would like, etc.

they just havent... nothing stopping them from doing it though...

Of course it has the potential to be all kinds of things, like a streetcar line!

They explicit put up "no stopping" signs on the paved portions. Why not install temporary paid parking? It's really lacking around OV right now.

[mcj]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Of course it has the potential to be all kinds of things, like a streetcar line!

They explicit put up "no stopping" signs on the paved portions. Why not install temporary paid parking? It's really lacking around OV right now.

Probably because when they eventually go to remove said parking it'll cause headaches like every other example of removing street parking.

[officedweller]

It would be nice if the Feds purchase 2 vehicles and run a federally-funded Granville Island shuttle between OV Station and Granville Island as a starter line. It could be extended if there is public appetite for it. If TransLink needs to be involved, it could be contracted out to the Feds the same way other services like HandyDart are contracted out.

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

i wouldnt call it a giant useless median. i would say it has the potential to be what the Cambie median is. i would landscape the crap out of it if i was the city, focusing on native plantings such as coniferous trees, ferns, flowers that honey bees would like, etc.

they just havent... nothing stopping them from doing it though...

Except future public backlash if they ever do want to install rail tracks.

[CanSpice]

Originally Posted by officedweller

If TransLink needs to be involved, it could be contracted out to the Feds the same way other services like HandyDart are contracted out.

TransLink would need to sign off on it.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by CanSpice

TransLink would need to sign off on it.

Yeah, contracted out by TransLink to the Feds (or another operator) using Federally-owned assets.

[CanSpice]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Yeah, contracted out by TransLink to the Feds (or another operator) using Federally-owned assets.

Why would the federal government do this? Do they operate other transit lines elsewhere in the country?

[Migrant_Coconut]

It's a moot point - scrap metal thieves stole the overhead wires, remember?

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by CanSpice

Why would the federal government do this? Do they operate other transit lines elsewhere in the country?

CMHC operates Granville Island, so they have a vested interest in managing traffic to from there.

Parks Canada operates shuttle buses to manage tourist volumes in National Parks (which supplements other options like public transit or private vehicles).
A streetcar would just be a different vehicle.
Other private tourist destination operators run shuttles to drive volumes (like Grouse Mountain).
Granville Island may have a business case to run a streetcar shuttle.

https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/parkbus/louise#parkscanadashuttles

[cganuelas1995]

I'd say a good start would be some bus changes with all door boarding

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by officedweller

It would be nice if the Feds purchase 2 vehicles and run a federally-funded Granville Island shuttle between OV Station and Granville Island as a starter line. It could be extended if there is public appetite for it. If TransLink needs to be involved, it could be contracted out to the Feds the same way other services like HandyDart are contracted out.

not a bad idea. i would support this. but lets be realistic. the Feds wont do anything for us out here. we would need to be quebec, ontario, or atlantic to be able to get anything.

Originally Posted by officedweller

Except future public backlash if they ever do want to install rail tracks.

there will be a backlash no matter what. i would rather just chop the trees down in 30yrs when it might happen.

Originally Posted by officedweller

CMHC operates Granville Island, so they have a vested interest in managing traffic to from there.

Parks Canada operates shuttle buses to manage tourist volumes in National Parks (which supplements other options like public transit or private vehicles).
A streetcar would just be a different vehicle.

Granville Island may have a business case to run a streetcar shuttle.

https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/parkbus/louise#parkscanadashuttles

yup, good idea. but yeah, Feds wont do crap for us out here.

[mcj]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

not a bad idea. i would support this. but lets be realistic. the Feds wont do anything for us out here. we would need to be quebec, ontario, or atlantic to be able to get anything.

there will be a backlash no matter what. i would rather just chop the trees down in 30yrs when it might happen.

yup, good idea. but yeah, Feds wont do crap for us out here.

This is where, in theory, local representatives should be the voice for the community. I wonder what you can realistically point to in Hedy Fry's career that she's managed to deliver for the residents in her riding. Maybe it's time for a new local representative

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by mcj

I wonder what you can realistically point to in Hedy Fry's career that she's managed to deliver for the residents in her riding.

nothing. shes a grifter. i know someone who works for an airline, and has dealt with her on flights more than once. "entitled", "full of herself", "rude" were the words used to describe her.

she has been a back-bencher since i was single digit in age and toes the party line, and is a liberal in a hardcore liberal riding. theyd vote liberal no matter what runs in that riding. Fry, Fry;s body, a flaming bag of dog poop.

[WarrenC12]

I've lived in Fry's riding since 2001. I've literally never seen her. Nothing of note in the community, and of course has the distinct honor of being in Parliament for 30+ years (governing for almost 20?) without a cabinet post. Unreal.

[cganuelas1995]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

I've lived in Fry's riding since 2001. I've literally never seen her. Nothing of note in the community, and of course has the distinct honor of being in Parliament for 30+ years (governing for almost 20?) without a cabinet post. Unreal.

She goes out in the pride parade. I'd say it's time to do away with voting representatives and start representing ourselves.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

nothing. shes a grifter. i know someone who works for an airline, and has dealt with her on flights more than once. "entitled", "full of herself", "rude" were the words used to describe her.

she has been a back-bencher since i was single digit in age and toes the party line, and is a liberal in a hardcore liberal riding. theyd vote liberal no matter what runs in that riding. Fry, Fry;s body, a flaming bag of dog poop.

Good thing she can count on West End voters being drones who will just keep voting for her regardless. Hopefully the Cons will put up someone who can ride the Poilievre wave and kick her to the retirement curb.

I raised it in the BC election thread but can anyone point to anything at the provincial level that Spencer Chandra-Herbert has delivered for the same bloc of voters?

Getting funding for something like the streetcar would give each of them a perfect opportunity to show some benefit delivered!