Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion II

[Vantage]

Originally Posted by Mac Write

Can anyone get concrete info on this? ChatGPT extended thinking said it was a straight shot even when I said it wasn't. So lets get some contrite info and maybe they will do a video on how they assemble the train for us.

I'm sorry, but why would you use ChatGPT for a question like that? Seems like it would require a lot of very particular knowledge, which it probably doesn't have, to be able to give you a proper answer.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Vantage

I'm sorry, but why would you use ChatGPT for a question like that? Seems like it would require a lot of very particular knowledge, which it probably doesn't have, to be able to give you a proper answer.

The only way someone is going to figure this out is to stand there and watch or fly a drone. Someone has some drone footage on YouTube but they only filmed trains on OMC1

[jollyburger]

Kingsway-Main Street transit improvements
More than 48,000 bus trips are impacted by delays on the Kingsway-Main St corridor each day. We're making it easier for buses to stay on time and move more people. We're working with TransLink to improve bus service on Kingsway between Main St and Boundary Rd, and part of Main St between Union St and E 7th Ave.

We are planning to extend bus lanes, relocate some bus stops, and improve major intersections to help buses move smoothly through traffic. These upgrades support bus routes 19, 3, 8, 25, and 26.

https://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/kingsway-main-street-transit-improvements.aspx

[logan5]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

https://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/kingsway-main-street-transit-improvements.aspx

I don't know if widening Quebec Street and connecting it to Kingsway is still an option, given recent developments along Quebec, but that traffic is only going to get a lot worse when Mt. Pleasant rapidly grows in population in the next 2 decades.

I've been on the Main Street bus during rush hour, and it takes an eternity to go from Main Street Station to Main and Broadway. A light jog on foot would be faster.

Once the Broadway subway comes on line, there will be even more buses required along Main Street to serve Mt. Pleasant Station. There needs to be more road space for all these buses. That's the reality. Or another option would be to extend the Expo Line up to Main and Broadway. That would provide a huge relief valve for both cars and transit.

[GenWhy?]

"Parking changes
Parking will be restricted on both sides of Main St between 7am and 7pm every day. "

"Left turns will be restricted during peak hours to keep buses and traffic moving at the following intersections:"

It's a good start. TransLink is reducing stops as well which will speed the routes up.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

"Parking changes
Parking will be restricted on both sides of Main St between 7am and 7pm every day. "

"Left turns will be restricted during peak hours to keep buses and traffic moving at the following intersections:"

It's a good start. TransLink is reducing stops as well which will speed the routes up.

Stop removal is just on the 19?



https://www.translink.ca/plans-and-proje...-priority-projects/route-19-bus-priority

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by logan5

I've been on the Main Street bus during rush hour, and it takes an eternity to go from Main Street Station to Main and Broadway. A light jog on foot would be faster.

Once the Broadway subway comes on line, there will be even more buses required along Main Street to serve Mt. Pleasant Station. There needs to be more road space for all these buses. That's the reality. Or another option would be to extend the Expo Line up to Main and Broadway. That would provide a huge relief valve for both cars and transit.

There's already a bus lane there 7am-7pm. Are you sure it takes that long? I drive this area and it's not ideal but it's not the end of the world either, and buses are faster.

I do think they need to ban left turns off Main along that stretch.

[madog222]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Stop removal is just on the 19?

https://www.translink.ca/plans-and-proje...-priority-projects/route-19-bus-priority

“While most changes will be on Route 19, some stops shared with routes #3, #5, #8, #22, #25, and N19 may also change.”

[logan5]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

There's already a bus lane there 7am-7pm. Are you sure it takes that long? I drive this area and it's not ideal but it's not the end of the world either, and buses are faster.

I do think they need to ban left turns off Main along that stretch.

OK, it's been awhile since I rode the bus, so maybe before those bus lanes, but there are 3 buses that use that stretch, so buses tend to pile up.

As a side note, I wish the cops would ticket people who use that bus lane as their own personal express lane.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by logan5

OK, it's been awhile since I rode the bus, so maybe before those bus lanes, but there are 3 buses that use that stretch, so buses tend to pile up.

As a side note, I wish the cops would ticket people who use that bus lane as their own personal express lane.

I have seen police there a few times but not much.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

I have seen police there a few times but not much.

It's only $109 and no penalty points currently. They should just jack up the fine.

[bluefox]

Originally Posted by logan5

Or another option would be to extend the Expo Line up to Main and Broadway. That would provide a huge relief valve for both cars and transit.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding your comment, but you want to create a one-station spur of the Expo Line? Not sure that's remotely feasible either from a construction standpoint, or for how it would affect SkyTrain operations on the rest of the line.

[logan5]

Originally Posted by bluefox

Maybe I'm misunderstanding your comment, but you want to create a one-station spur of the Expo Line? Not sure that's remotely feasible either from a construction standpoint, or for how it would affect SkyTrain operations on the rest of the line.

I mean an extension (not a spur) of the Expo line starting at Waterfront, going east, then turn south down Main Street towards Main and Broadway (with some stations in between), and beyond from there. That would provide a huge relief for the Main, Fraser, and Kingsway buses, and reduce traffic volumes.

That would also provide a relief line for the Canada Line. The Broadway subway is going to funnel a lot of people onto the Canada Line at City Hall Station, and the Broadway Corridor population is going to explode in the next 20 years. There's no way the Canada Line will be able to handle that passenger volume.

Some will argue that we need that Expo Line extension for Hastings, but I don't see why the Canada Line cannot do that. The Hyundai Rotem cars can make that turn onto Cordova Street - I measured at least a 35 meter turning radius within the street boundaries using Google Earth Pro - and travel up Hastings from there.

[Migrant_Coconut]

The Canada Line literally can't extend past Waterfront because the Expo's in the way. What it can do is run 50% more trains and solve capacity for the next ten years, then eventually extend the platforms to fit the C-cars.

The Expo is going down Hastings to Brentwood (if it even gets extended at all); anything else is kind of a pipe dream.

[logan5]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

The Canada Line literally can't extend past Waterfront because the Expo's in the way. What it can do is run 50% more trains and solve capacity for the next ten years, then eventually extend the platforms to fit the C-cars.

The Expo is going down Hastings to Brentwood (if it even gets extended at all); anything else is kind of a pipe dream.

The Dunsmuir tunnel is 25 meters away from the intersection of Granville and West Cordova, so that part of the street is free and clear of the Expo Line. It would be a pretty standard subway project - excavate a section of Cordova street and a small section of Granville. Pretty sure the Canada Line cars can do 30 meter radius turn, so the Canada Line can make a right turn onto Cordova Street (underground). By my measurements, you could go as high as a 40 meter radius turn if need be.

Or maybe there is some major underground utilities that prohibits running a subway down Cordova, otherwise it looks like a very real option.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by logan5

- snip -

Doesn't leave a lot of room for argument. They're literally right up next to each other; no amount of engineering gymnastics lets the Canada Line extend past Waterfront without a significant rebuild.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Doesn't leave a lot of room for argument. They're literally right up next to each other; no amount of engineering gymnastics lets the Canada Line extend past Waterfront without a significant rebuild.

Possibly into fantasy territory - would it be possible (without being crazy expensive) to have a Hastings Skytrain line extend past Waterfront towards Stanley Park, or is there too much in the way and it would have to terminate at Waterfront?

[officedweller]

In addition, the 'sea wall' is at the end of the Canada Ljne station between it and Expo Waterfront Station. That's the massive concrete barrier separating downtown from the reclaimed areas that used to be waterfront.
You'd have to branch off further south and leave the station as a stub.

If you want a Main St line, you could reorient Expo Line and WCE tracks to create 2 Expo platforms - one for a terminus for either a Hastings Line and a Main St line. The Waterfront Hub study contemplated another platform. (whether commuter rail or SkyTrain).

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Sheba

Possibly into fantasy territory - would it be possible (without being crazy expensive) to have a Hastings Skytrain line extend past Waterfront towards Stanley Park, or is there too much in the way and it would have to terminate at Waterfront?

Depends on if there is room among the pilings under Waterfront Centre and nearby condos to get to the solid soils of the escarpment or cut and cover under Cordova?

[logan5]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Doesn't leave a lot of room for argument. They're literally right up next to each other; no amount of engineering gymnastics lets the Canada Line extend past Waterfront without a significant rebuild.

I don't think you are understanding what I am proposing. Maybe that's my fault, but I am saying have the Canada Line make a right turn at the intersection of Granville and Cordova, so that the line then travels east under Cordova street. Not going north, so no interaction with any part of Waterfront Station, or crossing any Expo Line tracks. There is no rebuild of anything.