Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[zivan56]

Originally Posted by deasine

Not UniverCITY it's University. We don't want people to be confused with the UniverCITY on SFU Mountain - that area isn't UniverCITY.

I don't think we should keep the name University because there are two in the region (we need more!!!!). I was originally thinking of Production Way - Burnaby Mountain, but then SFU is a shorter name =P

There's ur Sasamat station Mr.X. I also updated the map with the Transfer Station logos... just to match TransLink.

Woops, meant University the first time and UniverCity the rest. I would argue that SFU and UniverCity are the main reason people go to that station...the rest of the businesses there have overflowing parking lots for people who work there.

[lightrail]

Some people beat me to it - but seeing as I finally finished it, here's my version of the Vancouver System using a Beck Diagramatic.

http://picasaweb.google.com/marlor.david/Trains/photo#5162666836609413170

The system is as follows:

Expo Skytrain Line - Waterfront to Columbia, line splits, to Lougheed and to Willowbrook/Langley

Millenium Skytrain Line - UBC to Douglas College in Coquitlam

Canada Skytrain Line - Waterfront to Bridgeport, Line splits, to YVR Airport and to Richmond - Brighouse

West Coast Express - Waterfront to Mission

41st Avenue B-Line Rapid Bus - UBC to Brentwood Town Centre via 41st Avenue and Joyce Station

Hastings B-Line Rapid Bus - Burrard Station to Lougheed Station via Hastings and SFU

King George B-Line Rapid Bus - Surrey Central Station to Newton bia King George Highway (maybe should continue to White Rock Centre)

Golden Ears B-Line Rapid Bus - Willowbrook - Langley Station to Maple Meadows Station via 200 Street

Port Mann B-Line Rapid Bus - Lougheed Town Centre to Walnut Grove (possible extension to Abbotsford)

SeaBus - Waterfront to Lonsdale Quay

Locations and names of stations on extensions, and actual routing of extensions illustrative only.

[worldwide]

the 145 may just be a lone bus, but its one of the buisiest in the system.

production station is really well used by students. i think they should keep the name

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by lightrail

Some people beat me to it - but seeing as I finally finished it, here's my version of the Vancouver System using a Beck Diagramatic.

http://picasaweb.google.com/marlor.david/Trains/photo#5162666836609413170

Great work!

[deasine]

Originally Posted by lightrail

Some people beat me to it - but seeing as I finally finished it, here's my version of the Vancouver System using a Beck Diagramatic.

http://picasaweb.google.com/marlor.david/Trains/photo#5162666836609413170.

No one beat you to anything - your sharing your own ideas. That's good to see more metro maps =)

Imagine these for our RapidBus stations:

[mr.x]

errr, those aren't the best ones. i believe they are TransJakarta, which made a poor attempt at copying Transmilenio in Bogota.

These are the real jewels:





Notice the glass platform gates at the bus stations:
• Video Link

[deasine]

Let's beat them with a better design >=P

[SFUVancouver]

If you want to talk good design, take a look at these new stations in the Moscow Metro.









From the Moscow Metro thread.

[deasine]

Moscow's metro stations are like classy office building seriously...

Their trains aren't very new though... but who needs new trains when u have amazing stations...

[deasine]

OOOOO LOOK AT THEIR FARE GATES WOW....





Source: http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=137740

I'm so easily amused

[mr.x]

everything is so shiny and polished....can we tear their stations apart, ship all the pieces back to Canada, and put it back together for SkyTrain and Canada Line renovations?

[djh]

A major subliminal difference between, say, Moscow's stations and the best stations on the M-Line, believe it or not, is this: Advertising. (OK,aside from using polished marble and other gorgeous materials). An architect can design something great and on paper it looks wonderful, but then when it gets built, the tenant puts up ugly advertising and ruins the lines. Go look at any new building in Vancouver for an example (anybody seen the HOMESENSE sign just gone up on Robson at L'Hermitage?)

If Translink was to remove all the advertising on their trains and stations, they would look 100% better. Then again, they'd be broke, but if we're being purists, that would make a huge difference.

[paradigm4]

Originally Posted by djh

A major subliminal difference between, say, Moscow's stations and the best stations on the M-Line, believe it or not, is this: Advertising. (OK,aside from using polished marble and other gorgeous materials). An architect can design something great and on paper it looks wonderful, but then when it gets built, the tenant puts up ugly advertising and ruins the lines. Go look at any new building in Vancouver for an example (anybody seen the HOMESENSE sign just gone up on Robson at L'Hermitage?)

If Translink was to remove all the advertising on their trains and stations, they would look 100% better. Then again, they'd be broke, but if we're being purists, that would make a huge difference.

AFAIK, advertising only brings in about $11 million per year on SkyTrain stations. Could be completely wrong here, but that number sticks out in my memory. I'm sure we could find the stats on TL's yearly financial reports.

[deasine]

BREAKING NEWS:

February 06, 2008
Automated ‘Next Stop’ Announcements to be Featured
on all TransLink Buses

TransLink ’s Board has approved a $3.2 million system that automatically announces
bus stops to be installed on over 1,300 buses operated by the Coast Mountain Bus
Company. Coast Mountain is currently testing the ‘automatic annunciators’ on 316
trolley and B-Line buses where passengers hear and see information on the next stop
through onboard speakers and message displays.
If tests now underway at 1,500 stops are successful, close to 8,000 bus stops will be
covered. A separate project, included in TransLink’s 2008 capital budget, will be
brought to the Board later this year to expand the system to West Vancouver’s ‘Blue Bus’
service.
TransLink CEO Pat Jacobsen says the new technology will make transit services more
welcoming to disabled passengers. “Having next stop information provided
automatically, clearly and reliably will be a major service improvement for all bus riders
and take some of the pressure off of bus operators in terms of assuring their passengers
don’t miss their stop. Clearly it will be a particularly valuable feature for hearing or
visually-disabled passengers,” she says.
Jacobsen adds that automatic stop announcements will help a large number of tourists
who use the transit system to get to shopping and various points of interest. During the
summer months, over 20 per cent of transit passengers in the ‘off-peak’ hours are
visitors to Metro Vancouver.
The new system is part of a major upgrade to transit communications that will improve
safety, security and customer service. The key element is a new $44 million radio system
capable of providing the exact location of every bus in the system and ‘real time’ arrival
information for customers waiting at bus stops.
The automatic stop announcement system will be a major step in TransLink’s ‘Access
Transit’ program, which aims to make transit services accessible to all Metro Vancouver
residents.

Source: TransLink

This means that the Nova Buses are compatible with the INIT system

February 06, 2008
TransLink to Proceed with SkyTrain Station Lighting Upgrades

TransLink will proceed with lighting upgrades at seven more Expo Line SkyTrain
stations as part of a program that will see lighting improved at all 20 stations by early
next year.
The second phase of TransLink’s project to improve lighting at Expo Line SkyTrain
stations will see upgrades at the Main Street, 29th Avenue, Joyce-Collingwood, Patterson,
Metrotown, Royal Oak and New Westminster stations completed by year’s end. The
first phase, due to be finished in September, is already underway at the Waterfront,
Burrard, Granville, Stadium, Broadway and Columbia stations.
“SkyTrain customers report feeling safer and more secure when lighting at the stations,
particularly on the platforms, is brighter,” said TransLink CEO Pat Jacobsen.
The lighting upgrade project has been supported by over $1.4 million in funding from
the federal government through Transport Canada’s “Transit Secure” program. In
recognition of the power savings from the new lighting system, TransLink also received
$80,000 in project funding from BC Hydro. TransLink’s share of the total cost is $1.7
million.
Phase three of the project, due to begin later this year, will complete the upgrades at
Nanaimo, 22nd Street, Scott Road, Gateway, Surrey Central and King George, by
February 2009.

Source: TransLink

Oh good. =)

[mr.x]

that's awesome, but i do hope they change the voice. it's quite difficult to hear what the announcer is saying.

it also means people can stop asking the driver for directions, all they would have to do is listen to the announcements.

and with regards to SkyTrain announcements, one thing i don't like about it is that they make the station announcements about 10 secs away from the station. i think it would be better if the announcements are made right after the last station so that passengers are given advanced warning. that's how they do fit for most metro systems around the world.

[djh]

Originally Posted by paradigm4

AFAIK, advertising only brings in about $11 million per year on SkyTrain stations. Could be completely wrong here, but that number sticks out in my memory. I'm sure we could find the stats on TL's yearly financial reports.

"only" $11million? That probably covers the maintenance and maybe even the security of the stations, so it's not a drop in the bucket.
I'd be glad to see the advertising go, but not if it means the lost revenue is taken from my pocket. I'm sure in Moscow (where the stations shown above had no advertising), the State pays for everything, from taxes. No thanks.

[deasine]

Originally Posted by mr.x2

that's awesome, but i do hope they change the voice. it's quite difficult to hear what the announcer is saying.

it also means people can stop asking the driver for directions, all they would have to do is listen to the announcements.

and with regards to SkyTrain announcements, one thing i don't like about it is that they make the station announcements about 10 secs away from the station. i think it would be better if the announcements are made right after the last station so that passengers are given advanced warning. that's how they do fit for most metro systems around the world.

Agreed. Our messages are way too late. I do hope they remove the destination messages (i.e. Expo Line to King George) and instead, announce them at the stations, just to give people information earlier. MTR does that. Example:

"The Expo Line Train to King George is now arriving. Please let passengers exit first."

The only time they should have the destination message is at Columbia:

"This Expo Line Train is bound for King George. The next station is Scott Road."

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by deasine

The only time they should have the destination message is at Columbia:

"This Expo Line Train is bound for King George. The next station is Scott Road."

It's better for the system to have passengers board the correct train at the station of origin rather than transferring at the last station before the lines diverge. This reduces platform crowding at that last station.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by djh

A major subliminal difference between, say, Moscow's stations and the best stations on the M-Line, believe it or not, is this: Advertising. (OK,aside from using polished marble and other gorgeous materials). An architect can design something great and on paper it looks wonderful, but then when it gets built, the tenant puts up ugly advertising and ruins the lines. Go look at any new building in Vancouver for an example (anybody seen the HOMESENSE sign just gone up on Robson at L'Hermitage?)

If Translink was to remove all the advertising on their trains and stations, they would look 100% better. Then again, they'd be broke, but if we're being purists, that would make a huge difference.

you should see the amount of advertising in London

Vancouver looks advertising free in comparison

even in south africa - advertising was everywhere

I am quite surprised how little we have here

no wonder tourists comment on how clean and green the city is

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by mr.x2

that's awesome, but i do hope they change the voice. it's quite difficult to hear what the announcer is saying.

it also means people can stop asking the driver for directions, all they would have to do is listen to the announcements.

and with regards to SkyTrain announcements, one thing i don't like about it is that they make the station announcements about 10 secs away from the station. i think it would be better if the announcements are made right after the last station so that passengers are given advanced warning. that's how they do fit for most metro systems around the world.

i don't recall any on train announcements in london - except i think once of the lines had them

other than that you have to watch the map and pay close attention