Millennium Line - Evergreen Extension | Completed

[DKaz]

Until they decide whether or not to go with extended platforms or just go with 5-car MKII trains, I don't think they're going to make any decision to order 3-car sets yet. I suspect they'll just order enough trains for the Evergreen Line and observe ridership for a year or two. I'd have to place my bets on extending the platforms, we're going to be completely maxed out by 2020 with our current platforms.

[mezzanine]

This is the second time i've asked this (i've searched the thread), but again, can we get other companies besides bombardier to work on evergreen (e.g other LIM manufacturers?) I didn't have an answer last time, I am wondering if there any contractual violations/proprietary infringement issues with that.

[Gordon]

It looks as if Kawasaki Heavy Industries makes a Linear Induction Motor That are used in Subways so Bombardier does have some compeptition for these trains.

I think 5 car Marks 2 Trains would allow maximun use of the current platforms, the last Rapid Transit report that included the Evergreen Line mentions the use of a large number of 5 car trains.

[yogiderek]

so an expansion of the existing system. Seems logical to me. Though, I can hear the screaming from the light rail people already. Malcolm Johnston will be fuming as usual. LOL

[rather_draconian]

For ONCE I feel like Harper and the conservatives are doing something right. Funding for rapid transit, and tougher crime laws! Yay!

[mr.x]

I wonder where they'll get the remaining $173-million.....i'm assuming the private sector, it'll be interesting to see what type of P3 model they will come up with. Though I would assume that given the much smaller private sector contribution, they wouldn't be responsible for designing the line (thank god).

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by DKaz

I'd have to place my bets on extending the platforms, we're going to be completely maxed out by 2020 with our current platforms.

Please stop.

I'm sure you'd be back in 1983 telling us that the Expo line's platforms would be "maxed out" by 1997 too.

[mrjauk]

And the clouds parted to let the sunshine in on this glorious occasion. Now if we could just get the millenium line to be extended to Cambie by the time Evergreen begins to roll, it would do a lot to alleviate congestion at Broadway/Commercial.

Quick question: How much track would have to be built (and how much of this would be underground) in order for an extension between VCC and Broadway/Cambie? What would a reasonable cost/km be for this segment?

[wrenegade]

I would have to imagine the extension from VCC to Cambie would be one of the most challenging and expensive portions of the UBC extension. The combined boring of the tunnel in order to get to the Main/Kingsway/10th/Broadway area, as well as station construction there and Cambie is going to be pricey and time consuming. That and the fact that the plans for the Great Northern Way campus haven't been finalized, so the line could be at-grade or beneath grade through that section. It would be so nice if they could get their act together and extend it to there with the opening of the Evergreen, but it's not going to happen.

[amor de cosmos]

Georgia Straight:

February 26, 2009
Prime Minister Stephen Harper commits $350 million more to Evergreen Line
By Matthew Burrows

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and B.C. premier Gordon Campbell joined forces for a feel-good announcement in Burnaby today (February 26) to confirm they will pony up for the long-awaited rapid-transit line through Vancouver’s northeastern suburbs.

“We will build the Evergreen Line,” Harper told cheering party supporters and local politicians at the TransLink operations centre.

Earlier on in his speech, Harper said, “Consensus on one issue was very clear. We all want to put Canadians to work now building the bridges, roads, and other public transit facilities needed to generate long-term economic growth tomorrow.”

In his remarks, Campbell gave credit to Harper’s right-hand man in B.C.—Heritage Minister James Moore, the MP for Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam.

“Prime minister, I want to join with you in recognizing the work of James Moore, who has been a strident advocate for the Evergreen Line expansion,” Campbell said. “I don’t know if you noticed, because you were looking out to the audience, but when you announced that you were going to be full partners in the Evergreen Line, [B.C. transportation minister] Kevin Falcon almost hit the roof. So I just want to say thanks to Kevin and James for the work they have done.”

A joint federal-provincial press release issued today confirmed Harper’s government is committing $350 million in additional funding from the Building Canada Fund for the $1.4-billion rapid-transit line, which would connect Burnaby to Coquitlam and Port Moody.

The 2008 federal budget already pledged $66.7 million for the line, according to the release.

The provincial contribution is $410 million, and TransLink’s share is $400 million. The remaining $173 million is expected to come from the private sector or “transit-oriented land development”, the release states.

Harper also said, “From coast to coast to coast, we are working with provinces and territories to cut red tape and get projects up and running. Here in the Lower Mainland we’re moving forward on several ambitious infrastructure initiatives, and, as our gateway to India, China, and the rest of the Asia-Pacific, British Columbia has a unique role to play in building the Canada of the future. That’s it’s so imperative that we continue to build the infrastructure needed to speed the flow of people and goods through the Lower Mainland.”

In another press release issued today, B.C. NDP transportation critic Maurine Karagianis questioned whether TransLink, facing a yearly deficit of over $100 million, will be able to match the federal funds.

“Today’s announcement isn’t anything new on the Evergreen Line,” Karagianis said in the release. “We always knew the Federal government would have to step in and help. The real news people are waiting for is when Campbell will get his act together and finally deliver.”

Coquitlam MLA Diane Thorne claimed in the same release, “Today marks the fifth time the Campbell government has promised the Evergreen Line.

“The last thing we need is more announcements, photo ops, broken promises and delays; we need Campbell to stop stalling and finally start construction on a route he promised over five years ago,” Thorne said.

http://www.straight.com/article-203818/p...-commits-350-million-more-evergreen-line

[mrjauk]

I just Google-Mapped it and the distance is about 2.9 km, assuming the line goes to about the middle of the proposed Great Northern Way campus area, and then runs northwest to Main/Broadway/Kingsway.

I've gone back and seen that a reasonable cost estimate is about 100 million/km (I'm not so sure it's entirely reasonable as it is a nice even number), but that would mean about 300 million.

[officedweller]

The main problem with doing it piecemeal is that if the tunnel is bored, the False Creek Flats would be the staging area/opening for the tunnel and spoil form the tunnel would be removed (by conveyor belt) at that end - which means that there is an advanatge to boring the whole tunnel in one uninterrupted progression (prevents the need for a second staging area).
Cut & cover wouldn't have that problem.

[Jared]

Originally Posted by mr.x2

I wonder where they'll get the remaining $173-million.....i'm assuming the private sector, it'll be interesting to see what type of P3 model they will come up with. Though I would assume that given the much smaller private sector contribution, they wouldn't be responsible for designing the line (thank god).

Of course they're going to be responsible for designing the line, who exactly do you think would be? . I'm curious as to who exactly do you think designed the Millenium Line, or the Convention Centre, or all the projects that you think "didn't cut corners"? The provincial government?

The MoT (possibly via the owner's engineer, CH2M Hill), will send out some conceptual drawings (engineering drawings i mean, though I'm sure they'll send out some laypeople renderings as well for the general public to provide feedback on). However, the contractor is ultimately responsible for the final design (this is why we got a mega-port mann, it was Kiewitts idea, not MoT's, hence why the original MoT rendering from a couple years back has the twin bridges), subject to meeting constraints and scope of work set out by the owner (the MoT).

[excel]

good news.

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by Stingray2004

8 years ago.... Ya mean February 26, 2001? The NDP was still in power.

haha NICE ... Ravman you really have no brain do you? how old are you? 14? 15?

[cornholio]

Originally Posted by ravman

Gordo cancelled it... stalled the projects and now are pushing forward months before an election... this should have been bulit 8 YEARS ago.

For once I agree with you.

The only problem is that the NDP act exactly the same, history proves this point.

[giallo]

Yeah, this is wonderful news.
Now that I think of it, Vancouver has pretty much been building skytrain lines non-stop since the late '90s.

[metroXpress]

Excellent news that they relize the importance of this fast growing
region in Canada....Bravo! And what's next after 2014?

[amor de cosmos]

Originally Posted by Allen

Excellent news that they relize the importance of this fast growing
region in Canada....Bravo! And what's next after 2014?

another skytrain line

[GeeCee]

Originally Posted by amor de cosmos

another skytrain line

to seattle!