here's all of the important points:
Investing for the Future – a $14 Billion Action Plan
The Government of British Columbia is investing in innovative transit options for the benefit of all British Columbians now and into the future. By 2020, the plan calls for the provincial government and its federal and local government partners to commit $14 billion to significantly expand transit in communities across the province and to double transit ridership.
Successful implementation of the Provincial Transit Plan requires the cooperation and commitment of our partners. Of the $11.1 billion in new funding, the Province is committing up to $4.75 billion and is calling on the federal government for $3.1 billion, TransLink for $2.75 billion and local governments for $500 million along with supportive land use decisions.
For Metro Vancouver, the transit market share is about 12 per cent during weekdays. The Provincial Transit Plan will result in increasing transit market share by five per cent to a total of 17 per cent by 2020. By 2030, transit market share is expected to increase by an additional five per cent as people get out of their cars and onto the expanded transit network. In the Victoria Regional Transit System, the present transit market share is about seven per cent. The Provincial Transit Plan is aimed at increasing transit market share
by 2.5 per cent by 2020, bringing the total market share to 9.5 per cent. By 2030, market share is expected to grow by an additional 2.5 per cent to 12 per cent in the region.
SECURITY:
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Installing electronic gates and closed-circuit cameras at rapid transit stations
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Launching a smart-card system for rapid transit and buses that users can reload at vending machines or on the Internet
- Taking action against people who do not pay fares with on-the-spot fines and other measures
- Increasing security personnel in and around rapid transit stations
SKYTRAIN EXPANSION:
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$2 billion to construct the new,
19 kilometre Canada Line from downtown Vancouver to Vancouver International Airport in Richmond by end of 2009
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$1.4 billion to build the
11 kilometre Evergreen Line by 2014, connecting Coquitlam Centre to the Lougheed Town Centre Station
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$2.8 billion to build a new,
12 kilometre line from Broadway Station to University of British Columbia by 2020
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$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 additional SkyTrain cars
RAPID BUS:
The Provincial Transit Plan calls for
$1.2 billion to be invested in RapidBus BC by 2020. RapidBus BC will be available along
nine lines in British Columbia:
- From Westbank to the University of British Columbia Okanagan in the central Okanagan
- From Douglas Street in downtown Victoria to Langford on the West Shore
- Highway 1, connecting Lougheed Station to exchanges in Surrey and Langley across the Port Mann Bridge
- Hastings Street from downtown Vancouver to Simon Fraser University
- 41st Avenue from the Canada Line to the University of British Columbia
- Highway 99 from White Rock to the Canada Line in Richmond
- King George Highway from Surrey Centre south to White Rock
- Fraser Highway, connecting Langley to the Expo Line in Surrey
- Highway 7 from the Evergreen Line in Coquitlam across the new Golden Ears Bridge
As the core of the transit system in communities like Kelowna, Victoria and Metro Vancouver, RapidBus BC offers:
- Frequent, reliable service at regularly spaced intervals
- Express service with few or no stops between main stations
- Priority movement in traffic through dedicated lanes, in some cases bypassing congested intersections
- Pre-paid fare collection to minimize boarding delays
- Integrated fare systems, allowing free or discounted transfers between routes and transit modes
- Easy-to-understand route and schedule information
- Modern, efficient, high capacity vehicles, which are easy to board, quiet, clean and comfortable to ride
- Contemporary, conveniently located bus stations with nearby amenities
- Seamless integration with other transit options and coordination with cycling and walking infrastructure
- Separate lanes on all or some parts of routes
- Use of High Occupancy Vehicle lanes
- Signal priority and queue jumping provisions
- Effective security measures
EXPANDED BUS FLEET
The Provincial Transit Plan will significantly increase the provincial bus fleet to improve service in many communities around the province. By investing
$1.6 billion in 1,500 new, clean energy buses and related maintenance infrastructure, and increasing the hours of service, transit riders will have
access to more buses, more often. The new buses will be selected to meet the specific needs of communities in cost-effective, energy efficient ways.
Clean technologies include:
■ Hydrogen
■ Hybrid
■ Electric
■ Natural Gas
■ Low emissions diesel
In addition to conventional buses, the new fleet will be made up of a variety of bus types customized to meet the needs of individual communities and users. Options include:
■ Community shuttles – smaller, quieter vehicles that minimize impacts on neighbourhoods
■ Custom transit – specialized vans and minibuses for dial-a-ride, door-to-door handyDART service, and taxi programs to serve mobility challenged transit users and others who cannot access conventional transit
■ Para-transit – mini-buses, taxis and vans offering flexible routes and schedules
■ Articulated and double-decker buses – high capacity buses to serve passengers on routes where demand is heavy
■ Conventional buses – the mainstay of the fleet