Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by Zassk

I wish they had built that station down at the south end of Granville now... I wonder if there was allowance made in the tunnel path before it turns toward Yaletown for a future station.

It appears that the tunnels are reasonably straight and level under Granville until the curve into Yaletown starts at Helmcken.

If there's an extra $50-75 Million lying around, we can cut in a new platform between Nelson and Helmcken with entrances on both of those streets @ Granville.

I recall that one of the original iterations of the RAV design had 3 stations downtown:

a) Waterfront
b) Georgia - Dunsmuir (which would connect with the M-Line and E-Line Granville Station)
c) Nelson - Helmcken

Budget cutbacks killed the 3rd downtown station and moved the middle station south to Robson-Georgia - we know it today as Van City Center.

[red-paladin]

Translink & the Olympic Streetcar seem to the be best organized part of Olympics.

[roleypolinde]

I don't know if this is good news or bad news for the long term, accountants tend to take the most conservative path possible in my experience:

http://www.bclocalnews.com/business/84645052.html
Jarvis takes permanent role as TransLink's CEO
By Jeff Nagel - BC Local News

Published: February 17, 2010 4:00 PM
Updated: February 17, 2010 4:57 PM

There won't be any steep learning curve for TransLink's new CEO.

Ian Jarvis had served as interim CEO since former CEO Tom Prendergast stepped down in November to return to New York City.

TransLink's board has now decided to keep Jarvis in the role permanently and forego a search for a replacement.

Chair Dale Parker cited Jarvis' lengthy experience at TransLink.

"Although Ian had been interim CEO for only a short time, he quickly demonstrated strong leadership," he said.

A chartered accountant who studied commerce at UBC, Jarvis has worked for TransLink as a senior executive since the authority's creation in 1999.

He has also served as chief financial officer for the Greater Vancouver Regional District, as vice-president of finance at Coast Mountain Bus Co., and serves on the Transit Police board.

Jarvis said his priorities are ensuring TransLink is efficient and effective.

"We've already delivered significant improvements to our road, transit and cycling network, and I'm going to be focused on having TransLink ready, organizationally and financially, to deliver the services the public needs today and the next round of expansion our region needs for its future," Jarvis said.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by mr.x

I didn't think it was possible, but Translink has done a pretty good job...relatively speaking, so far (i hope i don't jinx it), things have been pretty smooth with acceptable wait times. Well done!

I'd like you to go on record saying the Canada Line is handling the load as well.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by red-paladin

Translink & the Olympic Streetcar seem to the be best organized part of Olympics.

Transportation was a disaster in Torino, so that was probably something that was focused on since day 1. Translink is also an established authority that has dealt with big events (fireworks, concerts, etc).

Most winter olympics are in cities that need entire temporary systems setup, like the olympic bus network here, which is a marginal success at best.

[CLC]

New record again!
C-Line Tuesday ridership #: 220,000

from Province report:
http://www.theprovince.com/sports/2010wi...ner+Thursday+February/2580385/story.html

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by jsbertram

It appears that the tunnels are reasonably straight and level under Granville until the curve into Yaletown starts at Helmcken.

If there's an extra $50-75 Million lying around, we can cut in a new platform between Nelson and Helmcken with entrances on both of those streets @ Granville.

I recall that one of the original iterations of the RAV design had 3 stations downtown:

a) Waterfront
b) Georgia - Dunsmuir (which would connect with the M-Line and E-Line Granville Station)
c) Nelson - Helmcken

Budget cutbacks killed the 3rd downtown station and moved the middle station south to Robson-Georgia - we know it today as Van City Center.

Wouldn't it be great if there were a permanent connection built between C-Line Vancouver City Center, and Granville Station. It would expedite things, and make it a lot less hassle than having to exit at Waterfront, and stroll around to find the connection.

Too much money, too complex, I guess. *sigh*

[Zassk]

^ A connection between City Center and Granville stations would probably take the form of a pedestrian tunnel built in a trench under the road. It would follow the same route that people currently walk outside.

Since the lines are connected at Waterfront anyway, I don't see the urgency for this. I would rather see a tunnel connecting City Center with Robson Square. That would increase the effective footprint of the downtown stations by quite a bit.

[twoNeurons]

Originally Posted by Zassk

^ A connection between City Center and Granville stations would probably take the form of a pedestrian tunnel built in a trench under the road. It would follow the same route that people currently walk outside.

Since the lines are connected at Waterfront anyway, I don't see the urgency for this. I would rather see a tunnel connecting City Center with Robson Square. That would increase the effective footprint of the downtown stations by quite a bit.

First thing my wife said when connecting between Waterfront and... Waterfront was: "Why don't they just connect the two stations together?"

The connection is far from clear and convenient. It's not much of a connection, really.

Another thing I was thinking: At the Granville station at the bottom of the escalator, does anyone else think they should have a "London Tube-like" set of maps for Right and left. I can't find an example, but it's a set of two straight-line maps one showing stations one way, one with stations the other.

At the very least an overhead sign which indicates that "Waterfront" is to the left, "Burnaby, New Westminster, Surrey Right"

I've been at that station thousands of times and I had a momentary lapse of... uhm... which way is East again?

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by Zassk

^ A connection between City Center and Granville stations would probably take the form of a pedestrian tunnel built in a trench under the road. It would follow the same route that people currently walk outside.

Since the lines are connected at Waterfront anyway, I don't see the urgency for this. I would rather see a tunnel connecting City Center with Robson Square. That would increase the effective footprint of the downtown stations by quite a bit.

I agree with you 100%, but people seemed to react with so much indifference or negativity that that thread got dropped. Someone opened it up again, and I think that a City Centre >> Robson Square connection is a very pertinent issue worth pursuing. Thanks for that feedback.

[deasine]

Originally Posted by twoNeurons

First thing my wife said when connecting between Waterfront and... Waterfront was: "Why don't they just connect the two stations together?"

The connection is far from clear and convenient. It's not much of a connection, really.

There isn't much more they can connect. The current underground walkway cannot make a direct connection to the the Expo and Millennium Lines because of thick concrete structural wall separating the two areas along with the fact that this underground connection must also go down a set of stairs and then going back up another set of stairs. Canada Line Waterfront isn't a deep station; it's practically on the same level as the Expo and Millennium Line platform.

Once the Waterfront hub project begins, the reconfiguration of the main concourse should make things easier.

Originally Posted by twoNeurons

Another thing I was thinking: At the Granville station at the bottom of the escalator, does anyone else think they should have a "London Tube-like" set of maps for Right and left. I can't find an example, but it's a set of two straight-line maps one showing stations one way, one with stations the other.

It's there. Look for it.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by deasine

Once the Waterfront hub project begins, the reconfiguration of the main concourse should make things easier.

Where is there information on the Waterfront hub project, please? I'd like to know more about it.

[deasine]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Where is there information on the Waterfront hub project, please? I'd like to know more about it.

Projects like this always have its own thread at SSP.
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=146079&page=6

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Pennywise604

I noticed that on Hastings. 6pm on Monday: No traffic between Cambie-Victoria EB, it flowed very fast, and every light was green... People are doing a great job keeping traffic light. I almost feel guilty having to drive to East Van all the time. It's not just lighter downtown though. Hwy 91 NB in the mornings hardly a traffic jam. Nordel Way nothing, not even a small bunch up around the curve. Hwy 1 EB in the afternoons absolutely no slow downs... I drove from Hastings-Gaglardi in 8 minutes at 2:30pm on tuesday. That's amazing compared to normal.!

Hmm, don't know about cheapest places to park on weekdays. Saturdays the best daytime deal is the HSBC building, enter off Hornby. $4 for the day right in the heart of downtown.

I notice that people are parking in the vacant lot north of the 49th-Lanagara C-Line station. Did Intransit open that up, or did folks just decide to do it on their own!

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by deasine

Projects like this always have its own thread at SSP.
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=146079&page=6

WOW!! What an exciting project. The entries stop at year 2008 though, so I wonder how far into the future the Waterfront Hub project really is (or IF it really ever will be) If yes, it will give downtown a dynamic new element. I hope they don't dither over it it for too many years, although that is likely to happen, given the nature of civic politics, and the current economic climate.

[lightrail]

Originally Posted by twoNeurons

Another thing I was thinking: At the Granville station at the bottom of the escalator, does anyone else think they should have a "London Tube-like" set of maps for Right and left. I can't find an example, but it's a set of two straight-line maps one showing stations one way, one with stations the other.

At the very least an overhead sign which indicates that "Waterfront" is to the left, "Burnaby, New Westminster, Surrey Right"

I've been at that station thousands of times and I had a momentary lapse of... uhm... which way is East again?

You mean something like this? This is on the platform and shows all station served from that platform. The station you're at is at the top, so stations in the other direction are not shown. Maps like this are also placed as way finding to get to the correct platform.



Source:z.about.com

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Wouldn't it be great if there were a permanent connection built between C-Line Vancouver City Center, and Granville Station. It would expedite things, and make it a lot less hassle than having to exit at Waterfront, and stroll around to find the connection.

Too much money, too complex, I guess. *sigh*

you can exit at Van City Centre, walk across Georgia to the Bay and north half a block to the E-Line/M-Line station entrance.

Bonus: its a walk downhill.

[racc]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

WOW!! What an exciting project. The entries stop at year 2008 though, so I wonder how far into the future the Waterfront Hub project really is (or IF it really ever will be) If yes, it will give downtown a dynamic new element. I hope they don't dither over it it for too many years, although that is likely to happen, given the nature of civic politics, and the current economic climate.

The Waterfront Hub is really not that impressive. They are only planning one more platform for rail and there is no grand waterfront plaza. Instead they are destroying Granville Square so tour buses can stop along the water. If you want to see how to do it right, check out the Transbay Terminal project in San Fran., this is a really exciting project and what we really need especially now that there is talk of high speed rail to San Diego.
http://transbaycenter.org/

[racc]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

WOW!! What an exciting project. The entries stop at year 2008 though, so I wonder how far into the future the Waterfront Hub project really is (or IF it really ever will be) If yes, it will give downtown a dynamic new element. I hope they don't dither over it it for too many years, although that is likely to happen, given the nature of civic politics, and the current economic climate.

The Waterfront Hub is really not that impressive. They are only planning one more platform for rail and there is no grand waterfront plaza. Instead they are destroying Granville Square so tour buses can stop along the water. If you want to see how to do it right, check out the Transbay Terminal project in San Fran.
http://transbaycenter.org/

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by racc

The Waterfront Hub is really not that impressive. They are only planning one more platform for rail and there is no grand waterfront plaza. Instead they are destroying Granville Square so tour buses can stop along the water. If you want to see how to do it right, check out the Transbay Terminal project in San Fran., this is a really exciting project and what we really need especially now that there is talk of high speed rail to San Diego.
http://transbaycenter.org/

Yes indeed, the Transbay Terminal project is grand and beautiful. (San Francisco has a talent for doing things on the right scale.)

Has the Vancouver waterfront hub been scaled back? It looked good in the images, but
if it is going to be as you say, then it would seem that they're going with a downsized version. Any info on this?