Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[AKA-007]

Originally Posted by officedweller

DPB City staff report for the GM Place office tower:

http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/dpboard/2008/PDF/800%20Griffiths%20Way%20-%20DE411483.pdf

Staff want to require the developer to extend Stadium Station to the south side of Expo Blvd - this will happen anyways with the platform extensions:

Glad to finally see an improvement to that chaotic mass that exits the stadium after every game or event.

[officedweller]

But I just realized that they should retain access to Costco!

[AKA-007]

Originally Posted by officedweller

But I just realized that they should retain access to Costco!

I've always wondered, how many people actually take the skytrain to costco? Every time i've gone there i've always found it impossible to carrymore than just a few things at a time, let alone carrying that onto a skytrain.

[officedweller]

I know people from our office (who have transit passes) who Skytrain it to Costco to get lunch and browse the store (no serious big item shopping)

[quobobo]

Originally Posted by AKA-007

I've always wondered, how many people actually take the skytrain to costco? Every time i've gone there i've always found it impossible to carrymore than just a few things at a time, let alone carrying that onto a skytrain.

I can't speak for Costco, but I take Skytrain to the Superstore at Rupert all the time. Between two people you can carry enough to make it worthwhile to do big shopping trips on transit.

[SpongeG]

just get an old lady cart and you can carry more

[Lee_Haber8]

Originally Posted by AKA-007

I've always wondered, how many people actually take the skytrain to costco? Every time i've gone there i've always found it impossible to carrymore than just a few things at a time, let alone carrying that onto a skytrain.

Couldn't they just get the groceries delivered later? Does this Costco have that service? I do that every time I buy a lot of groceries.

[SFUVancouver]

February 21, 2008
Mayors’ Council to hold open meetings and recruit TransLink Commissioner

Original Press Relsease

The Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation, a body created by the new provincial legislation that has restructured TransLink’s governance, decided at its first regular business meeting on February 20th to hold open meetings and to proceed with the process to recruit a Regional Transportation Commissioner.

Under the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Act, the Mayors’ Council, made up of all Metro Vancouver mayors, has the authority to appoint TransLink’s directors from qualified candidates identified by an independent screening panel. The Council also maintains the final approval of TransLink’s strategic expansion plans for the region’s road and transit systems as well as increases in TransLink’s sources of revenue above inflation, including property taxes and fares. Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts chairs the Mayors’ Council.

The Council adopted the following ‘rules of procedure’ for its future meetings:

* Meeting agendas and staff reports will be posted on a special section of TransLink’s website six days prior to the meetings.

* The first hour of each regular business meeting will be reserved to hear presentations from the public.

* Meetings will remain open to the public except for matters such as personnel issues, land transactions, financial negotiations or litigation that are normally dealt with in-camera.

* Minutes of meetings will be posted on the website once they are approved, normally at the next regular Council meeting.

All of the information and the process for making a presentation to the Council will be posted in a new “Board News” section on TransLink’s website: The Mayors’ Council also approved a motion to proceed with the process to recruit a Regional Transportation Commissioner by August 1st to fill the position created by the SCBCTA Act. The appointment will be for a five-year term.
The Commissioner has the power to approve cash fare increases above inflation and review the sale of any major asset or facility. As well, TransLink’s customer satisfaction surveys and complaint resolution process will now be subject to the Commissioner’s review and approval.

The Mayors’ Council has appointed a search committee, comprised of Mayor Richard Walton (District of North Vancouver), Mayor Peter Fassbender (City of Langley) and Mayor Hal Weinberg (Village of Anmore) to conduct the search for the first Commissioner.

[deasine]

When would the SkyTrain platforms supposed be completed by again...? 2009-2010?

[eduardo88]

Originally Posted by deasine

When would the SkyTrain platforms supposed be completed by again...? 2009-2010?

I'm not too familiar with the timeline, but I'm guessing 2012.
2010 is way too early a timeline, remember that we also have to expand 3 underground stations downtown. I'm guessing that Main St, Broadway and Metrotown could be done first and finished around 2010, but for the whole thing to be done 2012 would be more realistic. If anyone knows better, please correct me, but 2012 seems like a reasonable date for full completion.

[SpongeG]

TransLink will get commish

Metro Vancouver mayors have backtracked and agreed to hire an independent TransLink commissioner after a warning from transportation minister Kevin Falcon.

The mayors wanted to indefinitely delay filling the position, which several argued was a redundant layer of bureaucracy and a waste of money. The office is expected to cost up to $600,000 per year after the commissioner hires staff, inspectors and outside consultants as needed.

The commissioner’s main role is to rule on future fare increases and advise the mayors council on the plans and recommendations coming from TransLink’s board.

Falcon said he’d consider changes but cautioned the mayors that without the commissioner, TransLink would be unable to exercise its new power to increase fuel taxes in the region by three cents per litre, or increase transit fares further.

He also noted the commissioner is to independently monitor TransLink’s performance and ensure systems are in place to deal with public complaints and measure public satisfaction.

The minister told reporters Wednesday no immediate changes to the TransLink structure are possible.

The regional mayors council voted Wednesday to reverse their stance and begin the hiring process.

“There’s no choice,” said chair and Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts. “We cannot access the three cent-a-litre tax they’ve given us unless there’s a commissioner appointed.”

The commissioner and up to two deputy commissioners to be appointed by the mayors council will serve six-year terms.

Although the legislation governing TransLink lets the commissioner rule on proposed fare increases, those decisions can still be overruled.


http://www.bclocalnews.com/tri_city_maple_ridge/tricitynews/news/15854197.html

[deasine]

Originally Posted by eduardo88

I'm not too familiar with the timeline, but I'm guessing 2012.
2010 is way too early a timeline, remember that we also have to expand 3 underground stations downtown. I'm guessing that Main St, Broadway and Metrotown could be done first and finished around 2010, but for the whole thing to be done 2012 would be more realistic. If anyone knows better, please correct me, but 2012 seems like a reasonable date for full completion.

I think I mixed up dates with the platform expansion and fare gates =S Too much happening lately =D

Btw, for those who don't know laready, 98 B-Line is all door boarding now.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by deasine

Btw, for those who don't know laready, 98 B-Line is all door boarding now.

i noticed that too, and service is a lot better. it never ever did make any sense for 50 people at Burrard or Broadway to enter the bus at the front door...it adds like an extra 5 minutes.

btw, 21 months until the 98 B-Line is decommissioned.

[zivan56]

^^ I was taking the bus Saturday evening around 7 and got on at the first stop after Richmond. The bus was jam packed, but the stop was a 3 door one making it somewhat easier to get on. Good to know it will be replaced soon...

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by zivan56

...Good to know it will be replaced soon...

Replaced with something that is equivalent to three B-Line buses arriving at the same time every 3-4 minutes in Vancouver and 6-7 minutes in Richmond and Sea Island.

The other day I was waiting for the 98, the schedule at the stops read every 5-6 minutes.....it was more like 20-minutes.

[deasine]

Originally Posted by mr.x2

Replaced with something that is equivalent to three B-Line buses arriving at the same time every 3-4 minutes in Vancouver and 6-7 minutes in Richmond and Sea Island.

The other day I was waiting for the 98, the schedule at the stops read every 5-6 minutes.....it was more like 20-minutes.

it happens occasionally, which is why I try to take some other bus that goes to richmond, like 480, 491, etc.

[lightrail]

Originally Posted by deasine

it happens occasionally, which is why I try to take some other bus that goes to richmond, like 480, 491, etc.

Occasionally? The 98-B-line has to be the worst route in the region for on-time performance. The problem is the loop in Vancouver - no time for recovery. So by the time the buses leave Vancouver they're way behind schedule. Journey times are much worse than the old 401, 403, 407 express services that used to run. It is really unreliable when connecting to another bus, like the 620 at Airport Station - might as well get the 601 to Ladner, it leaves downtown 15 minutes later than the B-line and connects you with the same 620 to the ferry.

I've never liked the 98-B-line and I'll be glad to see the end of it.

And BTW - that bus lane in Richmond was used for how many years? - what a complete waste of money.

[deasine]

Originally Posted by lightrail

Occasionally? The 98-B-line has to be the worst route in the region for on-time performance. The problem is the loop in Vancouver - no time for recovery. So by the time the buses leave Vancouver they're way behind schedule. Journey times are much worse than the old 401, 403, 407 express services that used to run. It is really unreliable when connecting to another bus, like the 620 at Airport Station - might as well get the 601 to Ladner, it leaves downtown 15 minutes later than the B-line and connects you with the same 620 to the ferry.

I've never liked the 98-B-line and I'll be glad to see the end of it.

And BTW - that bus lane in Richmond was used for how many years? - what a complete waste of money.

Well originally, the Canada Line was supposed to be a LRT via Arbutus and No. 3 Rd, thats until the Provincial and Federal Governments upgraded the line to ALRT using Conventional technology (instead of linear).

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by lightrail

And BTW - that bus lane in Richmond was used for how many years? - what a complete waste of money.

Well, the money was that significant. Including the purchase of B-Line buses, stop shelters, and traffic signal priority, the 98 bus lanes in Richmond cost $50-million.

I'm more worried about the $$$ for future investments to improve the Canada Line.

[SFUVancouver]

Regarding the 98 B-Line's $50M startup budget, the buses and shelters are reusable assets. Obviously the hardscaping, landscaping, and labour that went into building both on No3 road are not. Then again they served their purpose for close to a decade and built up a 40,000+ passenger per day bus route so they were not wasted per se.