Canada Line | Completed

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by DKaz

Then how did it end up costing so much?

Unnecessary tunneling down Cambie, forced by NIMBY residents and businesses.

[Metro-One]

Thank you! The Cambie section should have been elevated, so i say f-u to these businesses, for they were among those who forced the line to be tunneled (cut and cover) and now they are complaining about that, so frustrating!

[officedweller]

Found a video of the "1st ride" at Global BC under Noon News (all of 20 seconds):

http://www.globaltv.com/globaltv/bc/video/index.html

[The_Henry_Man]

Just ran into another Canada Line video showing the bored tunnel and the stations:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p27SSUTyqko

Sure some construction workers don't really give a — about safety.

[clooless]

Originally Posted by mr.x2

Unnecessary tunneling down Cambie, forced by NIMBY residents and businesses.

In my opinion an elevated line would have destroyed the character of the boulevard and its unique flora. The boulevard is essentially one long, linear arboretum.

http://cambieboulevardheritagesociety.org/history.htm

I find it troubling that anyone would so easily trade a jewel from our history for construction expediency. While not perfect for everyone, the tunneling was the best compromise that could be found.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by The_Henry_Man

Just ran into another Canada Line video showing the bored tunnel and the stations:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p27SSUTyqko

Sure some construction workers don't really give a — about safety.

0:58 - Vancouver City Centre Station street entrance
1:17 - Vancouver City Centre Station concourse - escalator to platform
1:29/1:41 - City Centre Station platform - escalator
1:56 to end - tunnel


The City Centre station concourse and platform appears to be quite spacious.

[amor de cosmos]

yay for the Canada Line!

Nov. 12, 2008
Office of the Premier
Government of Canada

FIRST PASSENGERS MARK CANADA LINE MILESTONE

RICHMOND – Premier Gordon Campbell was joined by the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, the Honourable James Moore, on behalf of Canada’s Transport and Infrastructure Minister, John Baird, as well as provincial Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Kevin Falcon and project partners as the first passengers on a trial run of the Canada Line from Bridgeport Station to the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) Station today.

“The Canada Line will be a fast, convenient and inexpensive travel option for commuters and visitors, carrying riders from the airport or Richmond to downtown Vancouver in just 25 minutes – about half the average time it takes to drive the same distance,” said Premier Campbell. “The Canada Line will ensure reliable transportation for an estimated 100,000 riders every day by 2010 – and increasing to close to 125,000 per day by 2021.”

“Today’s trial run celebrates not only a milestone for this essential transit project, but also the important role that the Canada Line will play in easing traffic congestion, cutting commute times, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and clearing the air for residents and visitors to the Greater Vancouver Area,” said Moore. “This project reflects our government’s commitment to working with our provincial and municipal partners to improve British Columbia’s essential transportation infrastructure.”

Testing and commissioning of the trains on the Bridgeport Station to YVR-Airport Station section of the Canada Line is almost complete. Testing is now underway on the Richmond and south Vancouver sections of the line. Construction is also progressing on schedule for the 16 stations along the line.

When finished in 2009, the Canada Line will carry people between the centre of Richmond, YVR and Vancouver’s Waterfront Centre in 25 minutes or less.

“The Canada Line has been a regional priority for decades, and TransLink is proud to be part of the partnership that is making it a reality,” said TransLink CEO Tom Prendergast. “Some transit services become icons that people around the world associate with the cities they serve, and I have no doubt that the Canada Line will very quickly become one for Metro Vancouver.”

“With the beginning of Canada Line operations in 2009, YVR will join the ranks of major international airports with direct rapid transit links to downtown centres, and we know our passengers and Sea Island employees will appreciate this new, convenient transportation option,” said Larry Berg, president and CEO of the Vancouver Airport Authority. “The Canada Line will also help us deliver on our long-term gateway and sustainability strategies by reducing vehicle trips to Sea Island.”

The Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia, the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority (TransLink) and the Vancouver Airport Authority are proud partners in the Canada Line, which is also supported by the cities of Vancouver and Richmond.

The project is overseen by Canada Line Rapid Transit Inc. (CLCO), a subsidiary of TransLink. The Line is being designed, built, operated, maintained and partially financed by InTransitBC.

http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2005-2009/2008OTP0270-001715.htm

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by clooless

I find it troubling that anyone would so easily trade a jewel from our history for construction expediency. While not perfect for everyone, the tunneling was the best compromise that could be found.

The RFP only required tunnel (whatever form) south to 46th Ave. Bombardier's proposal would have built a permanent open trench in the boulevard south of 46th (or 49th Ave.) to 64th Ave. There is a requirement for no loss of green space, so the slopes of the trench may have been "greened" - but InTransitBC's design solution certainly provided a better end result than the other proposal (Bombardier's).

[clooless]

Yes, I recall the Bombardier group's proposal. It seems there would have been greater impact on the boulevard with their plan. Regardless of the plan that was chosen there were going to be trade offs.

Anyway, it's nice to hear that things are really clipping along. Less than year before it opens.

[officedweller]

On the Global News coverage, Falcon mentioned plans to extend Skytrain to Guildford "and Cloverdale and eventually Langley".

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by clooless

In my opinion an elevated line would have destroyed the character of the boulevard and its unique flora. The boulevard is essentially one long, linear arboretum.

http://cambieboulevardheritagesociety.org/history.htm

I find it troubling that anyone would so easily trade a jewel from our history for construction expediency. While not perfect for everyone, the tunneling was the best compromise that could be found.

they should have just gone down arbutus as originally planned...
but no the richies on the west side whined

[agrant]

It's interesting how both the residents around Arbutus and those along the Cambie corridor are getting slammed by some of you guys. People should have a right to voice their concerns on projects, the people making the final decision should be the ones you guys should be bashing, if any.

[crazyjoeda]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

they should have just gone down arbutus as originally planned...
but no the richies on the west side whined

Are serious? Arbutus would have been a terrible route. The only reason it was ever considered was because it already has a rail right of way. But it didn't make sense because it would generate very little ridership, there are no major destinations between downtown and Richmond if that corridor were to have been used.

Cambie was the best option, but more of it should have been elevated. I hope the businesses along Cambie street don't get any financial compensation. People and companies are negatively affected by construction all the time it would be a dangerous precedent to give them money.

[Metro-One]

It's interesting how both the residents around Arbutus and those along the Cambie corridor are getting slammed by some of you guys. People should have a right to voice their concerns on projects, the people making the final decision should be the ones you guys should be bashing, if any.

Quite the opposite, i praise those who made the decisions because now we have another important piece of needed infrastructure almost done! If we allow the special interest groups to rule the day we would never have such mega projects. Don't forget that once the line is complete countless business will benefit from its existence, and they will say "why didn't we have a train running down this road decades ago!"

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

they should have just gone down arbutus as originally planned...
but no the richies on the west side whined

You've only said that three dozen times before, yet we give you the same reasons over and over again......I highly doubt you understand the Cambie and Arbutus corridors enough to make an educated opinion.

[agrant]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Quite the opposite, i praise those who made the decisions because now we have another important piece of needed infrastructure almost done! If we allow the special interest groups to rule the day we would never have such mega projects. Don't forget that once the line is complete countless business will benefit from its existence, and they will say "why didn't we have a train running down this road decades ago!"

I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm happy with the way it has been done, but at the same time feel for the people who've apparently lost thousands, hundreds of thousands in business.

[deasine]

I don't think the Cambie Merchants should get compensation at all... or else we would be paying a lot of money to many businesses, large corporations i.e. Best Buy, then we would have the No.3 Road businesses complain... slippery slope from there.

What about the Millennium Line construction? Many businesses along Nanaimo suffered when the overpass was taken apart. NDP refused to give compensation to those...

[agrant]

I just feel for them, that's all. Not saying we should compensate them. I don't know all the facts of what went on, but I think the Cambie merchants were misinformed about how the construction would be carried out.

[deasine]

Well originally it was assumed that the construction method would be bored tunnel which would be less disruptive but more costly. They changed it later to cut and cover, but I guess that wasn't EMPHASIZED enough... which allowed the businesses to use that as an excuse that they were "misinformed."

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by agrant

I just feel for them, that's all. Not saying we should compensate them. I don't know all the facts of what went on, but I think the Cambie merchants were misinformed about how the construction would be carried out.

I agree. I do sympathize them.....and just imagine if you were in their position.

City hall may have given them mixed messages that the project would be bored.