$14 Billion For Transit

[Holden West]

B.C. unveils huge transit plan

DARREN YOURK
Globe and Mail Update
January 14, 2008 at 2:23 PM EST

The British Columbia government unveiled a $14-billion transit and transportation strategy Monday, calling it a key measure in the province's plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Premier Gordon Campbell and Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon announced the plan in Vancouver.

The agreement is highlighted by $10.3-billion investment in four new rapid transit lines in Metro Vancouver — the Evergreen Line, the UBC Line, the upgraded Expo Line and the Canada Line. Another $1.2-billion has been earmarked for a new energy-efficient, high-capacity RapidBus BC service along nine major routes in Kelowna, Victoria and Metro Vancouver.

The plan, scheduled for completion in 2020, also includes a $1.6-billion investment in 1,500 new, clean energy buses and related maintenance infrastructure to provide communities with improved bus service.


The British Columbia government has announced
a $14-billion transit and transportation plan aimed
at helping curb greenhouse gas in the province. (The Globe and Mail)

Internet Links

• B.C. Government: Read Monday's announcement

“Our new plan will double transit ridership by increasing choice for people around the province, with new fleets, green technology, new lines and new innovative services like RapidBus BC,” Mr. Campbell said.

“The plan focuses on safe, comfortable, reliable services that will highlight green technologies and will reshape our communities by encouraging integration of work, home and recreational activities. It provides people with the choices they need to make a difference.”

The provincial government says the project will save 4.7 million tonnes in transportation greenhouse gases – about the equivalent of parking all the cars and light trucks in Metro Vancouver for a full year.

The province has committed $4.75-billion toward the project, with the remainder coming from partners including the federal government, TransLink and local governments.

There are also plans to increase security measures to enhance transit safety. Electronic gates and closed-circuit cameras will be installed at rapid transit and new RapidBus stations. A smart-card system for rapid transit and buses, which users can reload at vending machines or on the Internet, will also be implemented.

“The transit plan sets out innovative, integrated, customized solutions for individual communities to keep people and goods moving efficiently in B.C. as part of our broader transportation strategy,” said Mr. Falcon.

“Increased transit will allow people more choice, and often time savings. For example, during peak periods, transit riders travelling between Coquitlam Centre and Vancouver International Airport can save more than an hour every day compared to drivers.”

[LeftCoaster]

WOW

I am blown away. Perhaps my hatred of Falcon was unjust.

[clooless]

This announcement raised more questions than anything. Has the federal government committed to the balance of funding expected of it? Why was there not a corresponding federal announcement?

On the bright side the brochure indicates that the provincial government plans on extending the M-Line right to UBC, while the Evergreen Line route looks unchanged. In Surrey it appears that the plan is to extend Skytrain to Guildford, but the map is pretty noncommittal.

We already knew about the Rapidbus expansion for Victoria, but the purchase of new buses and expansion of Rapidbus lines in the Lower Mainland is a nice surprise.

All in all, it's a great plan, but I wonder how much of it is really an announcement and how much is just a pipe dream.

[Holden West]

Gosh, Victoria gets a bus.

I'm seriously considering giving back my giant license plate.

[MistyMountainHop]

Holy shit.

[mattropolis]

Cool!!!

Maps of the rapid transit lines and bus network.

[twoNeurons]

From CKNW:

Premier says: "It's pretty obvious that the UBC Line will be Skytrain technology and the skytrain will be extended in Surrey."

[Stingray2004]

$14-billion transit and transportation strategy

$10.3-billion investment in four new rapid transit lines

the Evergreen Line, the UBC Line, the upgraded Expo Line and the Canada Line.

$1.2-billion has been earmarked for a new energy-efficient, high-capacity RapidBus BC service along nine major routes in Kelowna, Victoria and Metro Vancouver.

scheduled for completion in 2020

$1.6-billion investment in 1,500 new, clean energy buses

I think that about sums it up!

[vanman]

I'm in total disbelief, I would have never imagined anything so Fucking massive. I think I know who I'm voting for next election.

[twoNeurons]

Hmmm... Four New Lines?

You could argue that it's 2 plus extensions.

1. M-Line (New)
2. Evergreen Line (New)
3. Expo Line (Extension)
4. Canada Line (New? This is wrapping up with funding already allocated)

Although it's conceptual, I know, but that Surrey Skytrain conceptual line extension looks to go along 96th to 152nd and somehow cut down across neighbourhoods to meet Fraser Highway and 160th... I'll be curious on the actual implementation and routes that are analyzed.

[vanman]

Condo developers must be very giddy right now.

[mr.x]

OMG...O_O

Gordon Campbell, you have my vote for the next 1000 years. This is what I have always dreamed of.

[cornholio]

looks good. i guess evergreen will be skytrain with the increased price tag and the talk of time and time savings by gordo and falcon. maybe we will get a spur to poco also which would be nice, and we still dont know the aligment though i have a feeling it will stick too the NE with a price tag of 1.4billion which sounds about right with skytrain technology. as far as the UBC line goes ill guess it will be done in at least two phases with the first one going to Arbutus or Granville and the rest being extended to UBC later next decade. hopefully they can start construction right after the Olympics since the millennium line extension is needed right now to at least Arbutus.

All in all sounds great, though always have to remember that right now we still have nothing and until the shovel hits the ground these projects can be canceled easily just like the last major skytrain expansion which should of had the millennium west extension and the evergreen line extension complete already.

[Overground]

Originally Posted by tintinium

Hmmm... Four New Lines?

You could argue that it's 2 plus extensions.

1. M-Line (New)
2. Evergreen Line (New)
3. Expo Line (Extension)
4. Canada Line (New? This is wrapping up with funding already allocated)

Although it's conceptual, I know, but that Surrey Skytrain conceptual line extension looks to go along 96th to 152nd and somehow cut down across neighbourhoods to meet Fraser Highway and 160th... I'll be curious on the actual implementation and routes that are analyzed.

Curious too as to why they would show that route on their map. I guess it's probably to have a stop as close as possible to Guildford even though it's almost a mile away. Still odd even though it's conceptual.

[mr.x]

- $3.1 billion to double capacity on the existing
Expo Line, including major improvements to
stations starting in 2009 and a 6 kilometre
extension in Surrey by 2020. Improvements will
include lengthening platforms to handle 6 car
trains, additional storage track, upgrades to the
control system, vehicle storage depots, maintenance
facilities and adjacent transit exchanges.

- $1 billion for new rail cars

[clooless]

Once again, I am asking: Has the federal government committed to providing the 3.1 billion dollars necessary for this plan to actually be implemented? If not, it is just a pipe dream. Why was a representative of the federal government not present during the announcement if they're ponying up 3.1 billion? It's all very strange.

I know every is giddy with delight, but come back to earth for a second and ask yourselves if this plan is really going forward.

[djh]

Originally Posted by clooless

Once again, I am asking: Has the federal government committed to providing the 3.1 billion dollars necessary for this plan to actually be implemented? If not, it is just a pipe dream. Why was a representative of the federal government not present during the announcement if they're ponying up 3.1 billion? It's all very strange.

I know every is giddy with delight, but come back to earth for a second and ask yourselves if this plan is really going forward.

^ Derek Corrigan

[cornholio]

^They have committed 4.6 billion, or 1/3 of the 14 billion. So yeah for now its still a vision and nothing more but i think as long as the liberals stay in a power for a bit longer and are good for their world then we should be able to get another 1/3 out of the current federal government right now...though 10 years down the road it could be a different story again. That leaves another 1/3 for Translink, and P3 partners, this would be a challenge but I think its dooabel if you get the right movers and shakers involved. I guess only time will tell but I completely agree with you clooless about not getting to excited about this announcement and thinking its a done deal, we took a big step right now in the right direction but theres many more to take to actually get this done.

[vanman]

delete

[clooless]

Originally Posted by djh

^ Derek Corrigan

???????

Ah, Larry Campbell.