Canada Line | Completed

[Metro-One]

The Canada line will definitely be the best line for weather. The portions that are elevated in Richmond see some of the least amounts of snow in the metro-area and also see quite a lot less rain than the E/M lines.

[lightrail]

Originally Posted by mr.x

Yea, unfortunately that's one of the reasons why they didn't go for a bored tunnel.

During cut and cover construction, they did several months of blasting before being able to pour in the concrete.

Yep - Little Mountain is a lateral vent from the Garibaldi Volcano near Whistler - Vancouver is actually on the slopes of a volcano.



Source: Natural Resources Canada
http://gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/urbgeo/vanrock/index_e.php

[Waders]

Originally Posted by mr.x

^ and just imagine the views we would have, it's already amazing south of Marine Drive.

It would also make the system more easily expandable.

Have it elevated from Marine Drive to just south of King Edward. People will also get amazing views of the city skyline and mountains just before the Cambie median ends.

Totally agree. I especially enjoy the view when the train is on the North Arm Bridge, crossing the Fraser River.

[Waders]

Originally Posted by lightrail

Yep - Little Mountain is a lateral vent from the Garibaldi Volcano near Whistler - Vancouver is actually on the slopes of a volcano.



Source: Natural Resources Canada
http://gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/urbgeo/vanrock/index_e.php

Thanks for the link. I now know a bit more about geology around Vancouver.
Now should I start to worry about the possiblity of volcano eruption?

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by lightrail

Yep - Little Mountain is a lateral vent from the Garibaldi Volcano near Whistler - Vancouver is actually on the slopes of a volcano.



Source: Natural Resources Canada
http://gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/urbgeo/vanrock/index_e.php

Yea, both Stanley Park (to be specific, where Siwash Rock is located) and Little Mountain were extinct volcanoes. I read somewhere that both were thousands of feet high, but were eroded by glaciers over time.

It explains why Little Mountain is the highest peak in Vancouver proper.

I had no idea there was a fault between Vancouver and Whistler.


lol, anyone remember the 1997 movie "Volcano"? A new volcano forms in the middle of Los Angeles when they build a subway under a hot spot. You never know, it could happen... j/k

• Video Link

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by Waders

Thanks for the link. I now know a bit more about geology around Vancouver.
Now should I start to worry about the possiblity of volcano eruption?

Don't forget about Mt. Baker just to the south.


I wonder what would happen to our water supply in the North Shore.

[Stingray2004]

Originally Posted by Waders

I never know Little Mountain is an extinct volcano!

Yeah, one single family dwelling on the east-side of Cambie Blvd. at QEP has a distinguishable outcrop of ancient lava rock in its front yard. Noticed that every time I've driven by since I was a kid.

BTW, I know it has been discussed here before, but after observing same for a long period of time and after picking up someone from YVR today... WHAT IS the EXACT PURPOSE of the TEMPLETON STATION.... in close proximity to YVR ...IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE????!!!!!

[Metro-One]

I wonder what would happen to our water supply in the North Shore.

Nothing really, prevailing winds in the Pacific Northwest go from West to East, the vast majority of ash from a volcanic eruption from Mt. Baker would fall to the east of the mountain.

The only area in true danger is the Sumas Prairie area, which could receive mud flows if the glaciers/snows of Mt. Baker were to quickly melt during the eruption.

[Waders]

Originally Posted by mr.x

Don't forget about Mt. Baker just to the south.

Hm. Time to stock up my emegency supply.

BTW, can Canada Line withstand earthquake?

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by Waders

Hm. Time to stock up my emegency supply.

BTW, can Canada Line withstand earthquake?

It was technically designed to withstand an earthquake, even the Richmond/Sea Island elevated guideways.

I would think the Canada Line (maybe excluding the Richmond elevated segments) would fair much better than the Expo Line.

We also can't just say whether or not it'll be able to withstand an earthquake, it also of course depends on location of the epicentre, proximity, depth, magnitude, and the type of shockwave the earthquake emits. "S-wave" shockwaves are the most devastating.

I really do wonder if a tsunamis (say, 20 feet) during peak high tide would be able to penetrate Richmond and Sea Island's flood dikes.

[TransitJack]

Originally Posted by mr.x

I really do wonder if a tsunamis (say, 20 feet) during peak high tide would be able to penetrate Richmond and Sea Island's flood dikes.

Though flooding due to any breach in the dikes could be an issue for at grade portions of the line, the threat of tsunami is unlikely as we are protected by that large lump of land called Vancouver Island.

I think a big threat during an earthquake is liquifaction. Which would certainly affect more than just the Canada Line.

I had a geomorphology prof who once told the class he spent years trying to find the most geologically stable place to live in the Lower Mainland, drove his wife nuts. I think he ultimately settled (no pun intended) on the hills in south surrey. He also warned that Richmond is not the place to be in any earthquake over 8 on the r scale.

[TransitJack]

Originally Posted by tGill

goodbye canada line thread, one day i will ride the actually thing.

I love the Obamicon signage

[TransitJack]

Originally Posted by mr.x

Wow....we really are transit geeks at heart.

Haha, yes its true. But I'm okay with that

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by TransitJack

Though flooding due to any breach in the dikes could be an issue for at grade portions of the line, the threat of tsunami is unlikely as we are protected by that large lump of land called Vancouver Island.

After the Indian Ocean tsunamis a few years ago, there was a lot of press on how a tsunamis could hit the Lower Mainland. It can. I remember watching this provincial government flash animation on the swells of what a tsunamis would do - how high the waves will be. Essentially, it would funnel itself into the Strait of Georgia and smack us hard. Really hard. Especially in the inlets.

I think a big threat during an earthquake is liquifaction. Which would certainly affect more than just the Canada Line.

Definitely.

I believe the Richmond/Sea Island elevated guideways were built to reduce the impact that liquefaction would create during an earthquake. They were built specially.

Liquefaction would also be a huge issue in the False Creek Flats, where the Expo Line runs through.

I had a geomorphology prof who once told the class he spent years trying to find the most geologically stable place to live in the Lower Mainland, drove his wife nuts. I think he ultimately settled (no pun intended) on the hills in south surrey. He also warned that Richmond is not the place to be in any earthquake over 8 on the r scale.

lol. oh the irony if his house collapsed during an earthquake, not that i'm wishing for that to happen.

I highly doubt our region would ever be able to recover from a massive earthquake like an 8 on the r.s. I'm pretty sure quite a few of our bridges would also have tumbled down...the Lions Gate, Second Narrows, the old Port Mann, Patullo...perhaps even the George Massey would be at risk.

At least it'll resolve any Canada Line capacity worries!

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by mr.x

It was technically designed to withstand an earthquake, even the Richmond/Sea Island elevated guideways.

I would think the Canada Line (maybe excluding the Richmond elevated segments) would fair much better than the Expo Line.

We also can't just say whether or not it'll be able to withstand an earthquake, it also of course depends on location of the epicentre, proximity, depth, magnitude, and the type of shockwave the earthquake emits. "S-wave" shockwaves are the most devastating.

I really do wonder if a tsunamis (say, 20 feet) during peak high tide would be able to penetrate Richmond and Sea Island's flood dikes.

I think both the Millennium line and Canada Line use the same style of construction, with the guideway being concrete blocks held in place by a series of tight wires (instead of being solid casts), so I think that makes them somewhat flexible and gives them a good chance to survive an earthquake.

If an earthquake were powerful enough to knock over any of the Skytrain tracks, I think that would be low down on the list of "casualties" as it would probably mean schools, hospitals, office towers and Condos have also been severely damaged. But it would give us an opportunity to replace it with a larger system.

I think Vancouver Island and the Gulf and San Juan Islands protect Vancouver and Richmond from tsunamis that start in the Pacific Ocean. The Vancouver area is in a low risk zone and are unlikely to be affected by a Tsunami in the Pacific, or even the region. Tsunamis are even unlikely along the Victoria Coast on the South end of VI. Vancouver is really only in danger from Local tsunamis that might start in the Georgia Straight if the fault is under water.

I grew up in Port Alberni on the Island we had a series of loud speakers and sirens specifically for use by the "Tsunamis warning system". The town was hit hard by a tsunami that started in Alaska, and the inlet isn't facing in that direction, but I don't think Vancouver blinked. They also have signs all over the Oregon coast about Tsunami evacuation areas. With overly cautious Vancouver, with nothing even close to this, I don't think it is a real threat.

http://www.pep.bc.ca/hazard_preparedness/Tsunami_Preparedness_Information.html

It is agreed by scientific and technical experts, that areas around Victoria and Vancouver are generally not seriously threatened in these types of situations.

[CLC]

anyone going to use transit can view online update by Translink spokesman:
http://twitter.com/KenHardie


Bridgeport passed AM rush hour test, but Richmond-Brighouse is real busy as expected

[metroXpress]

^ Bridgeport stn bus loop had 54 buses coming in in an hour!!

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by CLC

anyone going to use transit can view online update by Translink spokesman:
http://twitter.com/KenHardie


Bridgeport passed AM rush hour test, but Richmond-Brighouse is real busy as expected

CKNW reports everything is busy but ok. Caught this live picture of mr. x:

[Vancity]

Lol

[Vancity]

On just a side note, I was coming down on Cambie the other night, and saw a bus going west on 41st ave, with one of those electronic advertisement boards on the side of the bus. I must say, it looks really nice! eye catching for sure. I hope they install them eventually on all the buses across the lower mainland.