Canada Line | Completed - Page 500

CLC · #**9981** Posted **Oct 10, 2009, 8:24 AM**

Just an aside about how our southern neighbor is doing:
Sound Transit ridership rises; funding takes hit
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010029034_soundtransit09m.html

Seattle Link daily ridership data:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2009/10/09/2010033943.pdf

The_Henry_Man · #**9982** Posted **Oct 10, 2009, 1:43 PM**

^Ouch!! That's consistently worse than even the old 98 B-Line, and 6-8 times less ridership than the Skytrain C-Line. And Seattle has higher population base than Van. It makes even our medium-performing bus routes look good!! And also notice that special events like NFL games have no influence on the ridership either. As for the opening of this line, looks like there are way more transit tourists who are just curious about the LRT line than regular serious transit commuters. At this rate, even with future extension of ST LRT lines, it'll never break the 100,000 daily ridership.

Zassk · #**9983** Posted **Oct 10, 2009, 9:23 PM**

Ouch, 15k/day is terrible for $3B. I know it is supposed to improve after the university extension, but that extension also has a huge cost. Plus, there is the previous $0.5B expense for the downtown tunnel... it's an appalling return on investment, and sure puts the Canada Line in perspective.

Metro-One · #**9984** Posted **Oct 10, 2009, 9:38 PM**

If you are one of the ST users it would be great though! having almost your own private system. Makes no sense to me, and it just goes to show how different Canadians and Americans are culturally even though we look the same on the surface.

CLC · #**9985** Posted **Oct 10, 2009, 10:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Henry_Man

At this rate, even with future extension of ST LRT lines, it'll never break the 100,000 daily ridership.

Their first target to reach is 26,000 by early 2010.

digged this nice photo of Templetion station from flickr (Credit: stormchild)

Political_R · #**9986** Posted **Oct 10, 2009, 10:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Henry_Man

. At this rate, even with future extension of ST LRT lines, it'll never break the 100,000 daily ridership.

So connecting it to UW will not increase ridership that much? Aren't University students looking for an easy alternative and perfer not to drive due to the expense? I beg to differ with the UW connection. Airport Link will come in December which will hopefully make some difference since it will be a one seat ride. Those who would park near the airport for a week or more even with a coupon would save lots of dollars with light rail.

mr.x · #**9987** Posted **Oct 10, 2009, 10:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CLC

Their first target to reach is 26,000 by early 2010.

digged this nice photo of Templetion station from flickr (Credit: stormchild)

lol what's with all those road markings?

SFUVancouver · #**9988** Posted **Oct 10, 2009, 10:58 PM**

Great photo.

Call me dense, but could someone enlighten me to the purpose of the markings beside the station? Is it for shuttle bus pick up/drop off managment? I thought there was just going to be a giant parking lot next to the station.

deasine · #**9989** Posted **Oct 10, 2009, 11:15 PM**

Keep in mind YVR does want it to be a passenger drop-off zone.

Metro-One · #**9990** Posted **Oct 10, 2009, 11:18 PM**

That is a great idea! I would much rather be picked up there then the horribly crowded pick up area near the arrivals.

Waders · #**9991** Posted **Oct 10, 2009, 11:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Henry_Man

Just wondering, if anyone by chance are in the Richmond Centre area, can someone take some pictures of No.3 Rd south of Lansdowne towards Richmond Centre (including Richmond-Brighouse Stn, the street furniture and its bus loop) and post it on here? I would like to see how No.3 is looking now that a lot of the restoration is probably on the finishing touches. I tried to find pictures of the restored No.3 Rd south of Lansdowne but turned up nothing. Man, I'm missing Van a lot now. Thanks so much!!

BTW, it's snowing now here in St. Cloud at 1 deg cel.

Vancouver has another sunny day with 13 deg. temperature

.
I just came back from Richmond and I took some pictures along No. 3 road from Lansdowne Station to Richmond-Brighouse Station:

Outside Lansdowne station. It looks tidy:

New wood furniture:

New plant at base of guideway:

Special tiles at crosswalk. I haven't seem this done anywhere else in Vancouver:

More metal furniture along no. 3 road:

New sidewalk. Concrete is still wet. No wonder a contruction crew(you can see his shadow) is keeping a watchful eye. Someone may want to press the hand onto the wet concrete or make a signature on it

:

Still a construction mess at some blocks:

Sidewalk closure and traffic jam near Richmond-Brighouse station:

People waiting for bus at bus loop outside the station:

It looks like another 1 to 2 months before all the work can be completed.
This is still much better than Granville Street at Vancouver. The street is still a construction mess outside Granville Station.

Metro-One · #**9992** Posted **Oct 10, 2009, 11:53 PM**

These are everywhere in Japan. What is funny is the only other place in metro-Vancouver these can be found are at newly renovated intersections downtown Maple Ridge.

The_Henry_Man · #**9993** Posted **Oct 11, 2009, 12:19 AM**

Thanks so much for the pics Waders. They look great!! Lucky you guys with another sunny day. I hope I can come back this Christmas (I most likely will but I'll make my final decision in early Nov when I buy my air tickets)

For the last picture, I see a new set of traffic lights almost right at Richmond-Brighouse Stn. Is that a pedestrial controlled light for people crossing the street to Richmond Centre? As I mentioned before YEARS ago, they should've built a pedestrian bridge from the station to Richmond Centre. Now that part is going to be so congested!!!

And wow, looks like No.3 Rd is dramatically being expanded to accomodate the southbound bike lanes in the Saba area. Yeah, that'll take forever to finish. They're not even close. And the bus loop at the station now definitely resembles the loop at Metrotown Stn. SO BUSY NOW!! My mom has been telling me (through Skype) how busy No.3 Rd is after the C-Line is opened, it's pretty much like HK, and she's so NOT used to it (she rather prefers a quiet suburban lifestyle), after having been used to the small-town Richmond lifestyle in the past. And this is ironic, as my parents and I all immigrated from HK. Plus with the construction going on there and on Gilbert near Westminster/Elmbridge, my mom told me there's huge traffic jams on No.3, Gilbert and Cooney and Garden City and she's so frustrated with the current situation right now. But another irony is that my parents STILL haven't taken the C-Line yet and we live 5 min away from Richmond Centre by car.

The paving job by Imperial Paving is —. They didn't even bothered to repave the southbound No.3 Rd from Sea Island to Cambie. Same thing for the Lansdowne intersection. It's funny to STILL see cars on Lansdowne Rd stopping at the point where the cross-street used to be before the C-Line was built.

Overall, I think Richmond >>>>>>>>>>>>> Vancouver in street beautification projects.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waders

Vancouver has another sunny day with 13 deg. temperature

.
I just came back from Richmond and I took some pictures along No. 3 road from Lansdowne Station to Richmond-Brighouse Station:

It looks like another 1 to 2 months before all the work can be completed.
This is still much better than Granville Street at Vancouver. The street is still a construction mess outside Granville Station.

Yume-sama · #**9994** Posted **Oct 11, 2009, 12:28 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metro-One

These are everywhere in Japan. What is funny is the only other place in metro-Vancouver these can be found are at newly renovated intersections downtown Maple Ridge.

They are supposed to be an aid to the blind, which is nice. Japan in general is becoming very handicap friendly, especially with their aging population.

I'm afraid it doesn't make huge sense to put them in random places in Vancouver, as there is no network of them to rely on, down every sidewalk and etc.

Though if you come over from Asia, and are blind, at least you'll know where there is a crosswalk, once in awhile!

Metro-One · #**9995** Posted **Oct 11, 2009, 12:53 AM**

Well we have to start somewhere. Again I am surprised that downtown Vancouver has not been the first one to establish such a system in our region.

Waders · #**9996** Posted **Oct 11, 2009, 3:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Well we have to start somewhere. Again I am surprised that downtown Vancouver has not been the first one to establish such a system in our region.

The skytrain platform would be a good place to start, though I don't know where Translink can find the money.
Two weeks ago a blind passenger fell between two Skytrain cars at Waterfront station. http://www.theprovince.com/news/systems+after+blind+near+fall+SkyTrain/2042809/story.html
In another city I had lived, the rapid transit system installed these titles on the train station platform to guide people who have sight problem.

Waders · #**9997** Posted **Oct 11, 2009, 3:26 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Henry_Man

For the last picture, I see a new set of traffic lights almost right at Richmond-Brighouse Stn. Is that a pedestrial controlled light for people crossing the street to Richmond Centre? As I mentioned before YEARS ago, they should've built a pedestrian bridge from the station to Richmond Centre. Now that part is going to be so congested!!!

I think the traffic light may have been installed only temporaily. One lane is still closed for traffic and I found it difficult to cross the street from Richmond Centre to get to the train station.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Henry_Man

And the bus loop at the station now definitely resembles the loop at Metrotown Stn. SO BUSY NOW!! My mom has been telling me (through Skype) how busy No.3 Rd is after the C-Line is opened, it's pretty much like HK, and she's so NOT used to it (she rather prefers a quiet suburban lifestyle), after having been used to the small-town Richmond lifestyle in the past. And this is ironic, as my parents and I all immigrated from HK. Plus with the construction going on there and on Gilbert near Westminster/Elmbridge, my mom told me there's huge traffic jams on No.3, Gilbert and Cooney and Garden City and she's so frustrated with the current situation right now.

With C-Line completed and more and more development around and along C-Line route, Richmond's densification will accelerate. It will be a very different city 10 years from now. To justify a 2 billion dollar transport system, densification is required. Increase of human traffic is inevitable.

CLC · #**9998** Posted **Oct 11, 2009, 3:36 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr.x

lol what's with all those road markings?

seems like the same kind of dropoff/pick-up area at ferry pier.

Another new set of photo of Templetion station taken by some member in a car forum
http://tl.acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?p=11391145

Stingray2004 · #**9999** Posted **Oct 11, 2009, 3:56 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by deasine

Keep in mind YVR does want it to be a passenger drop-off zone.

Yeah..... I've made a previous query in this thread about the purpose of the Templeton Station but nobody seems to want to respond.

Why would I want to drop off someone at Templeton when it takes me another minute or so to drop off someone at YVR?

I mean, dropping someone off at Templeton would mean another 5 - 10 minutes for utilizing the Canada Line, plus the additional Canada Line fare. Does that make sense?

Is the parking cheaper at Tempelton than at the YVR garage?

Does anyone here have a logical answer for the reasonable purpose of the Templeton station?

Frankly, I'm still awaiting an answer for the past month....

... Or maybe I'm just not clued in!

deasine · #**10000** Posted **Oct 11, 2009, 3:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waders

The skytrain platform would be a good place to start, though I don't know where Translink can find the money.
Two weeks ago a blind passenger fell between two Skytrain cars at Waterfront station. http://www.theprovince.com/news/systems+after+blind+near+fall+SkyTrain/2042809/story.html
In another city I had lived, the rapid transit system installed these titles on the train station platform to guide people who have sight problem.

We have platforms. When TransLink took control, replacing BC Transit, a review took place on the safety and security of the SkyTrain system. The lack of platform tiles and non-existent safety waiting zones were some of the results. When the Millennium Line opened, TransLink added those tactile-feedback tiles on the Expo Line. With the Canada Line, there are even tactile-wayfinding-tiles. We can't do anything else, other than installing platform screen doors, which isn't really possible on the Expo & Millennium Lines.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stingray2004

Yeah..... I've made a previous query in this thread about the purpose of the Templeton Station but nobody seems to want to respond.

Why would I want to drop off someone at Templeton when it takes me another minute or so to drop off someone at YVR?

I mean, dropping someone off at Templeton would mean another 5 - 10 minutes for utilizing the Canada Line, plus the additional Canada Line fare. Does that make sense?

Is the parking cheaper at Tempelton than at the YVR garage?

Does anyone here have a logical answer for the reasonable purpose of the Templeton station?

Frankly, I'm still awaiting an answer for the past month....

... Or maybe I'm just not clued in!

You aren't supposed to be parking at Templeton because it's a staff parking lot, or what will be one. YVR does want to reduce traffic entering into YVR and there were plans, including maybe tolling Grant McChonachie Way after Templeton to force people to use the Canada Line, not that it would be smart thing to do. I don't think they would do this anyway: just an idea.

Templeton is for staff at YVR so they can move the parking lot there and add those buses to Long Term or South Terminal. Also keep in mind, there will be offices built around Templeton.