Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion II

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Something, something, "rail bias," something something "cost savings" (which are pretty miniscule)...

In this particular case, it's an off-street traffic-free ROW that has the chance of yielding decent ridership and is legally bound to surface rail only; it's the cost that's held it back, which is possibly no longer the case.

Is the Granville eastwards right of way limited to surface rail only? That's the Arbutus corridor, which isn't currently contemplated for any transit use.

[Mac Write]

I would love to see them rebuild/conditions the rails in GI so a one way loop could be built with multiple stops allowing people who can't walk easily easier access to all of the major areas around Granville Island. Add in the ease of understanding all the major areas to anyone using he line.

[jollyburger]

Solaris trolley bus pilot buses in Q3 2026

• At SeaBus, a pilot was conducted from mid-Q2 to early Q3 2025 to validate a new passenger
counting system. Data will be compared from the proposed technology against the existing
turnstile system to ensure the system meets Transport Canada requirements.
• Next steps include exploring barrier deployment options to prevent passengers from
boarding once the vessel is at full capacity.

https://www.translink.ca/-/media/transli...5/october/public-board-meeting-oct-1.pdf

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by Changing City

Is the Granville eastwards right of way limited to surface rail only? That's the Arbutus corridor, which isn't currently contemplated for any transit use.

Fair, but if the Arbutus ROW is locked to rail, and it's considered an extension of the False Creek ROW, then False Creek might as well be rail too.

[jollyburger]

(deleted)

[Migrant_Coconut]

I doubt even Vancouver's lawyers can spin that one to CP.

[cganuelas1995]

After how many trips per month does the monthly pass start paying for itself?

[RedArbutus]

Originally Posted by cganuelas1995

After how many trips per month does the monthly pass start paying for itself?

For Compass? It's 20 roundtrips or something to that effect. If you commute every weekday M-F, in a calendar month you'll be getting like 2 or 3 trips back free. Someone correct me here if they have the actual numbers.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

If I'm reading the squiggly line correctly, the future extension would use the median on 1st... then duck across Quebec into Western or Station Street (presumably buying out the Midas standing in the way)? Definitely sounds like a "deal with it later" answer.

Yes there is land set aside in the middle of 1st Ave, similarly on Pacific on the north side of FC.

So there is some space dedication and it could achieve an almost grade-separated level of benefit with signal priority through the various intersections, but then you're also relying on drivers paying attention and not blocking intersections, lanes, etc.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by cganuelas1995

After how many trips per month does the monthly pass start paying for itself?

It depends on the fare zone. If you have a 1-zone pass, it's cheaper after 41 trips (using a Compass Card). With a 2-zone pass it's 37 trips, and a 3-zone it's 39 trips. And if you have a pass you also get unlimited travel on buses (and HandyDART) at any time, and across all zones on all modes on weekends, statutory holidays, and after 6:30 p.m. on weekday evenings.

[cganuelas1995]

Originally Posted by Changing City

It depends on the fare zone. If you have a 1-zone pass, it's cheaper after 41 trips (using a Compass Card). With a 2-zone pass it's 37 trips, and a 3-zone it's 39 trips. And if you have a pass you also get unlimited travel on buses (and HandyDART) at any time, and across all zones on all modes on weekends, statutory holidays, and after 6:30 p.m. on weekday evenings.

I'll be commuting through two zones from next Tuesday until the end of May, then I go back to school. Although my final destination is in zone 1

[ilikeredheads]

it really depends when and how you travel. Zone fares only applies on weekdays before 630pm, so for example if you are working M-F but get off after 630pm, 2 zone pass is actually not worth it. Furthermore, buses are flat 1 zone fare regardless so if you are taking the bus to cross the zone boundary, there's no need for 2 zone pass. For example, my current job had reassigned me to the north shore but I didn't buy 2 zone pass because I was taking 210 to get to north van.

You just have to do the math yourself. (FYI, it's a $1.50 addfare if you have a 1 zone pass and take a 2 zone trip)

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by ilikeredheads

You just have to do the math yourself. (FYI, it's a $1.50 addfare if you have a 1 zone pass and take a 2 zone trip)

I think the Compass system should calculate discount fares automatically.

For example, if you travel enough on a single day that the individual fares exceed the cost of a Day Pass, your maximum cost should top out at the cost of the Day Pass.

If you travel enough during a single month that the individual fares exceed the cost of a 1-, 2- or 3-zone monthly pass, the costs should top out at the cost of one of those passes.

Let Translink's computers do the math and save us from having to guess ahead of time whether it's worth it to buy a special pass or not.

[GMD]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

I think the Compass system should calculate discount fares automatically.

For example, if you travel enough on a single day that the individual fares exceed the cost of a Day Pass, your maximum cost should top out at the cost of the Day Pass.

If you travel enough during a single month that the individual fares exceed the cost of a 1-, 2- or 3-zone monthly pass, the costs should top out at the cost of one of those passes.

Let Translink's computers do the math and save us from having to guess ahead of time whether it's worth it to buy a special pass or not.

Agreed - I always thought this would be a relatively simple way to provide some value to frequent transit users (and tourists)

[Migrant_Coconut]

Something about Cubic's crappy-assed farecards not being able to store the data (which is why tap-out was abandoned). Need a whole new card system, and when that happens, we might as well jump to distance fares as well.

[madog222]

Translink's 2027 Investment Plan is set to include construction of OMC5, the initial three BRT lines, and the Burnaby Mountain Gondola and procurement of 175 buses, 110 Skytrain cars, and a Seabus vessel.

This will require securing significant additional funding from the provincial and, in particular, federal government.

https://www.translink.ca/-/media/transli...council--public-mtg--oct-2-2025--web.pdf

[mcj]

Originally Posted by madog222

Translink's 2027 Investment Plan is set to include construction of OMC5, the initial three BRT lines, and the Burnaby Mountain Gondola and procurement of 175 buses, 110 Skytrain cars, and a Seabus vessel.

This will require securing significant additional funding from the provincial and, in particular, federal government.

https://www.translink.ca/-/media/transli...council--public-mtg--oct-2-2025--web.pdf

If I'm reading this correctly:

The first three years of this plan – which require senior government capital funding support starting
in 2026 to remain on schedule – include the following shovel-ready capital projects to support the
service expansion proposed in AFE that residents and businesses in this region need:

• 175 new buses, 110 new SkyTrain cars and one SeaBus to support the next tranche of bus expansion – to stay on track to double service over 10 years – starting in 2027 (in addition to the expansion approved in 2024 and 2025).
• The first three (of nine proposed in AFE) Bus Rapid Transit lines connecting high-growth areas like Langley, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Surrey, White Rock, Burnaby, and the North Shore
• Upgrade and expand bus depots to support AFE service increases
• Burnaby Mountain Gondola
• Station upgrades, Bus Speed and Reliability infrastructure and Golden Ears Way project to support new BRTs
• Construction of a new SkyTrain Operations and Maintenance Centre to support the SurreyLangley SkyTrain and network-wide service expansion.
• Complete the planning and design work for future major projects identified in the Access for Everyone Plan, including the Burrard Inlet Rapid Transit Study on the North Shore and the SkyTrain Extension to UBC.

The capital projects proposed in the first three years of the 10-Year Access for Everyone Plan are estimated to cost $13.3 billion

Inflation is crazy if only that will cost a little more than double what the Surrey Langley Skytrain is costing, with only BRT and a Gondola for major construction projects (should only be $2-3 Billion total based on previous cost estimates). The other items are all very important and necessary but it's $13.3 Billion, that seems like a lot for some feasibility studies, OMC5 and fleet/station/depot upgrades.

[RedArbutus]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Something about Cubic's crappy-assed farecards not being able to store the data (which is why tap-out was abandoned). Need a whole new card system, and when that happens, we might as well jump to distance fares as well.

IIRC the bus tap-out was jettisoned because the amount of time measured in literal seconds it would take to tap off on the way out the door would cause such a backup that it would impact bus performance, not to mention customer satisfaction. Cubic couldn't implement it in any way that wouldn't bring negative side-effects.

edit: maybe that's another facet of "storing the data". apologies

[RedArbutus]

Originally Posted by madog222

Translink's 2027 Investment Plan is set to include construction of OMC5, the initial three BRT lines, and the Burnaby Mountain Gondola and procurement of 175 buses, 110 Skytrain cars, and a Seabus vessel.

This will require securing significant additional funding from the provincial and, in particular, federal government.

https://www.translink.ca/-/media/transli...council--public-mtg--oct-2-2025--web.pdf

Have we heard anything elsewhere about them ordering another Seabus? That was news to me. There's also some mention of "upgrades" to the Seabus terminal @ Waterfront, I think.

edit: I looked through Transport 2050 and the 10 year priority plan says they want to "replace an aging seabus with a zero-emissions vessel" and "increase service 25%" specifically through more frequent service in off-peak hours. So maybe that's what this purchase would accomplish?

[mcj]

Originally Posted by RedArbutus

Have we heard anything elsewhere about them ordering another Seabus? That was news to me. There's also some mention of "upgrades" to the Seabus terminal @ Waterfront, I think.

edit: I looked through Transport 2050 and the 10 year priority plan says they want to "replace an aging seabus with a zero-emissions vessel" and "increase service 25%" specifically through more frequent service in off-peak hours. So maybe that's what this purchase would accomplish?

Yeah on page 9

Upgrade and/or expand transit-related facilities and infrastructure:
a. Station Upgrades: Columbia Station, West Coast Express Waterfront Station, SeaBus Terminal, and design of future upgrades

The Burrard Beaver is doneso.