Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[DKaz]

I saw a 6-car MK-I train set the other day near Metrotown.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by DKaz

I saw a 6-car MK-I train set the other day near Metrotown.

Cool I've been wondering why I see so many 4 car MK2 trains, but also still 4 car MK1s.

I was on train set 331-332 yesterday, I'm guessing the first 34 trains from the first order are already active. Are the next 14 in house at the OMC?

[DKaz]

We still have quite a few 2-car MKII sets running around. We may see a couple of 6-car MKI sets once the next order of 14 MKIIs is completed.

[DKaz]

Everyone always remembers the huge snowfall of 2008-09, no one ever remembers 2006-07 when this 6-car MKI train photo was taken. Even 2007-08 had quite a bit of snow.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by DKaz

We still have quite a few 2-car MKII sets running around. We may see a couple of 6-car MKI sets once the next order of 14 MKIIs is completed.

I see them too, just not during peak times anymore.

[WarrenC12]

Can't find any articles to link, but heard this on CKNW. Let the fat trimming begin!

[officedweller]

The Buzzer Blog officially announces the introduction of the "Big T":

Look out for the big T: new transit station markers are here


New T markers will be posted at three Canada Line stations this December. This one is at Richmond-Brighouse Station.

Hey hey — look out for big white T signs at three Canada Line stations.

The T signs are our new transit station markers, acting as beacons to help you to spot the location of transit nearby. (The T stands for “transit”.)

They’re planned for the entire system, but we’re putting them up at Marine Drive, Bridgeport, and Richmond-Brighouse Stations first.

So why are we doing this?

Well, the big Ts are part of our new wayfinding standards: that is, a new system of signage and information sharing to help you better plan trips and get around our system. It’s a really big project and we’re still hard at work on it.

As you also probably know, cities worldwide have similar markers to help wayward riders find transit services. For example, London has its famous red, blue, and white roundel logo to help you find transit.

How the Ts work


Artist’s rendering of alternate T markers for some stations. This is not the final location for this sign!

The large Ts, which are 1m square and stand 6m tall, are meant to guide you to a nearby station or exchange. Maps inside the transit facility will then help you figure out where you’re going.

But since a tall T beacon isn’t necessarily the best sign for all locations, we’ve also put together an alternate, shorter blade-type marker. It’s slated to have both the T and additional information.

By the way, the maps inside the stations and the alternate marker are also part of our new wayfinding system.


New maps at Richmond-Brighouse.

These new maps include a simplified regional transit network diagram, which has already begun to appear on the system.

There’s also a diagram showing the routes of buses leaving that specific facility and where to catch them, and a walking map showing destinations that can be reached on foot from that facility, for customers arriving on transit.

And these maps have already been installed at three Canada Line facilities: Marine Drive, Bridgeport, and Richmond-Brighouse.

So what’s next?


A station marker at Marine Drive.

Well, for the Olympics, we’re also hoping to get some Ts and other wayfinding signage installed in downtown Vancouver.

However, that project depends on installation and approval timelines — if we aren’t able to put them in by December 31, they will go up after the Olympics.

And for the future, we’re hoping to roll out these wayfinding elements further across the system.

But I’ll keep you posted on that — we’ve got to see just how much our current funding situation will allow us to do.

Let us know what you think!
Please let us know what you think of this signage — feel free to use the comments or the Buzzer’s e-mail address to send in your thoughts. Your feedback is more than welcome, and any questions will be passed on to the planning department for answers.

[CLC]

New maps at Richmond-Brighouse.

These new maps include a simplified regional transit network diagram, which has already begun to appear on the system.

There’s also a diagram showing the routes of buses leaving that specific facility and where to catch them, and a walking map showing destinations that can be reached on foot from that facility, for customers arriving on transit.

And these maps have already been installed at three Canada Line facilities: Marine Drive, Bridgeport, and Richmond-Brighouse.:

I saw the newer map in Richmond stations. It even show the hotels' locations, I wonder if the hotels pay for the "advertisement"

[Waders]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Can't find any articles to link, but heard this on CKNW. Let the fat trimming begin!

Source: http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local...link_091211/20091211?hub=BritishColumbia

TransLink dismisses three top vice-presidents
Updated: Fri Dec. 11 2009 12:24:21

Darcy Wintonyk, ctvbc.ca

Three top employees at Metro Vancouver's transit authority have been let go from their jobs.

Long-term employees Sheri Plewes, Terry Peterson and John Madden were all TransLink vice-presidents.

All three have been replaced by other employees within the organization.

TransLink spokesperson Ken Hardie told ctvbc.ca the cuts have nothing to do with a recent provincial comptroller report questioning the number of high-paid executives.

"This is the process that started a year ago now," he said, adding there will be more cuts to come.

"We're not finished yet."

There is no word on whether the executives will receive a financial compensation package from the company.

Plewes had worked as VP of capital management and engineering since 1999, with responsibilities including the design and construction of all transit operations.

John Madden joined the company as VP of human resources and public safety in 2005 while Terry Peterson became the company's first corporate chief information officer in April 2008.

Shake up

This is the second major shake up in a month for TransLink's executive structure.

Last month, CEO Tom Prendergast resigned as company president and returned to New York City to run its public-transit system

Prendergast was recruited in July 2008 from New York City, where he was the senior vice president of the city's subway system.

Ian Jarvis, TransLink's chief financial officer, is now serving as interim president & CEO.

Jarvis previously served as TransLink's chief operating officer and as vice president of finance and corporate services for Coast Mountain Bus Company.

[deasine]

The "T" is huge... about time. I have to point out that these new signs don't really match up with TransLink's signage design. I wonder when we can have something unified. Hopefully they will get them done before Dec31.

[Dave2]

Originally Posted by DKaz

I saw a 6-car MK-I train set the other day near Metrotown.

There was a 6-car train on the M line this morning, of course I caught the next train which was a 2-Car MK-II set, not quite sardine can level but still quite crowded.

[teriyaki]

Hope that giant T lights up at night.

Also, the comm'l bdway on the 99b-line was not a hoax. I saw this with my very own eyes while at UBC the other day. Odd how they're still playing with this.

[Metro-One]

Those big Ts look like a good idea, but I also hope they light up at night, again enhancing the ability to find transit statins with ease.

[deasine]

Originally Posted by teriyaki

Also, the comm'l bdway on the 99b-line was not a hoax. I saw this with my very own eyes while at UBC the other day. Odd how they're still playing with this.

It was never a hoax: a sign at Broadway with Comm'l Bdway was the hoax, photoshopped by Yume (of Flickr, not the one at SSP). But some have been changing back to Commercial Stn as the destination instead of Comm'l Bdway.

[arashi_1987]

Originally Posted by Dave2

There was a 6-car train on the M line this morning, of course I caught the next train which was a 2-Car MK-II set, not quite sardine can level but still quite crowded.

rode on a VCC-bound 6-car MKI train from New West late this evening around 10pm...I was nervous and thought it was a snow/cold related break down

[usog]

Nice, looks like they'll be prepared this winter. Well, at least better than the clusterfk that was last winter.

[GeeCee]

Yay for the T! Hopefully they can get them up before the Olympics.

The street-level signage at Commercial-Broadway could use some work. If you're driving me, you can see the yellow (m-line) and blue (e-line) signs on either side of the street, but they don't actually say the names of the lines. At pedestrian level they seem to say where each platform goes, but the signs should state which line that side of the street is for in a bigger font IMO.

[mr.x]

Great to see the T finally being used.....it seems the design has changed slightly. If I recall correctly, original renderings/drawings of it showed a yellow circle around the T as well as a swoosh in the middle.


Not sure if they plan to add more, but it could really use the station name beneath it:

[TransitJack]

I saw a big giant T on Stadium station also, near the Costco entrance.

[Waders]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Cool I've been wondering why I see so many 4 car MK2 trains, but also still 4 car MK1s.

I was on train set 331-332 yesterday, I'm guessing the first 34 trains from the first order are already active. Are the next 14 in house at the OMC?

333-334 is also in service. I counted 12 new MK-II trains within a 5 minutes period on Sunday.

Edit on Monday: I just got off from train #337-338. They look so 'pristine'(not a single scratch or dirt)!.