Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[xd_1771]

That seems to make sense. Certainly some routes around here used more than others, if they at least shuffle them around and those routes improve it seems like a fairly good compromise. I also think North Delta with the more organized north-south transit routes, new east-west routes such as 388, not being in between any major travel route (i.e. Guildford in between Whalley-Langley) is holding up just fine.

[nname]

Originally Posted by xd_1771

I also think North Delta with the more organized north-south transit routes, new east-west routes such as 388, not being in between any major travel route (i.e. Guildford in between Whalley-Langley) is holding up just fine.

Does the 388 got enough ridership? Based on my own observation and the observation from the others, the 388 is probably the worse performing route in the system right now. I've seen around 10 of those buses on the road, but I've never seen more than 4 people on it at any time (observed between Scott and 152nd, which is supposed to be the busiest segment)

[madmigs]

TransLink's new app will tell you when your next bus is (really) coming

Wondering where your next bus actually is, rather than where it’s supposed to be?
Well, now there’s an app for that.
TransLink is preparing to roll out a new mobile phone website that will allow bus riders to see their buses’ precise distance and arrival time to their stop using real-time GPS technology.
TransLink fitted all of its buses with GPS tracking devices in 2006, both to quickly locate buses in the event of an emergency and to keep the buses from unnecessarily bunching up along their routes.
But now, TransLink plans to allow the public to tap into its Transit Management and Communications, or TMAC, system via a soon-to-be launched mobile website by the end of the year.
TransLink spokesperson Drew Snider told Black Press that the real-time tracking feature could be rolled out by October, first as a text message relay system where riders can text the posted Next Bus numbers already displayed at bus stops and immediately get a reply saying where their bus is and when it’s due at their stop according its current location, rather than its regularly scheduled stop time, which is given now.
After a trial phase, which could be limited at first to the city of Vancouver, the text message service could be rolled into a mobile website for smart phones or the two could operate in tandem to service the needs of more riders.

http://www.bclocalnews.com/greater_vancouver/burnabynewsleader/news/117180898.html

[CLC]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?p=5177281#post5177281

The Transport Politic has a good quote: "A ground-level light rail line or a busway could probably be built for fewer funds. Yet neither would provide the kind of mobility benefits the automated rail line would."

Here is project brochure: http://www.honolulutransit.org/library/files/honolulu%20rail%20transit%20brochure.pdf

Aside form Honolulu, another new automated elevated rail project to keep an eye on is Macau Light Rapid Transit (MLRT).
Phase 1 contract has been signed :
http://www.mhi.co.jp/en/news/story/1103031410.html

[madmigs]

Originally Posted by CLC

Aside form Honolulu, another new automated elevated rail project to keep an eye on is Macau Light Rapid Transit (MLRT).
Phase 1 contract has been signed :
http://www.mhi.co.jp/en/news/story/1103031410.html

A rubber tired LRT, weird, I've never heard of such a thing - from the link at the bottom of the article you posted - http://www.mhi.co.jp/en/products/category/automated_people_mover.html - it looks very similar to a rail LRT but uses rubber tires instead, with a center track for guidance.

[Millennium2002]

That sounds similar to Translohr or Bombardier's GLT products.

[xd_1771]

Originally Posted by nname

Does the 388 got enough ridership? Based on my own observation and the observation from the others, the 388 is probably the worse performing route in the system right now. I've seen around 10 of those buses on the road, but I've never seen more than 4 people on it at any time (observed between Scott and 152nd, which is supposed to be the busiest segment)

Perhaps this proves that the North Delta area really doesn't need any upgrades after all.
The 388 route is filled in for the most part by going to Whalley and taking the Skytrain anyway, which would probably be faster for most.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by madmigs

A rubber tired LRT, weird, I've never heard of such a thing - from the link at the bottom of the article you posted - http://www.mhi.co.jp/en/products/category/automated_people_mover.html - it looks very similar to a rail LRT but uses rubber tires instead, with a center track for guidance.

Probably exclusive guideway - this project is referenced in the press release:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yurikamome
Then, there's always the Paris and Montreal Metros and VAL that use rubber tires.

[madmigs]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Probably exclusive guideway - this project is referenced in the press release:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yurikamome
Then, there's always the Paris and Montreal Metros and VAL that use rubber tires.

Good to know! I suspected after seeing that, that there must be others. I guess I never imagined a rubber tire system instead of rail. Rubber seems inefficient to me compared to rails, but then again the rails of the skytrain need daily maintenance and upkeep, so the maintenance needed for rubber tires wouldn't be all that bad comparatively. Do they have the same kind of performance as like say skytrain?

[SpongeG]

they can't be used above ground at least not in montreal

[SpongeG]

haha i've never seen this before


http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2011/03/translink-bus-fail/

[Millennium2002]

That's been circulated around for awhile. From sources at the CPTDB (of which I'm a member of) it looks like if the bus driver went the wrong way and was attempting to go back on route by doing a shortcut through a grocery story parking lot. =O

I actually think that rubber-tired metros can be used anywhere... in fact they can be particularly good at climbing steep slopes (not sure about corners though). The disadvantage of the RTM is that rubber tires and associated mechanisms usually create more noise than conventional metros. In addition it may be more difficult to be able to procure vehicles from different manufacturers (Siemens and Bombardier primarily), although the same can also be said for linear induction motors (Bombardier and Kawasaki).

I think the biggest factor in the limited uptake is the fact that conventional rail transport is already quite advanced, adaptable, and predominant in the public transport market with many companies offering products from trams to metro cars and high-speed trains, while VAL and LIM tend to occupy smaller, more specialized portions of the market due to unique technical nature and generally incompatible designs.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by madmigs

Good to know! I suspected after seeing that, that there must be others. I guess I never imagined a rubber tire system instead of rail. Rubber seems inefficient to me compared to rails, but then again the rails of the skytrain need daily maintenance and upkeep, so the maintenance needed for rubber tires wouldn't be all that bad comparatively. Do they have the same kind of performance as like say skytrain?

I think the advantage is the cushioned ride, but as SpongeG mentioned, there's no traction in snow, so it has to be underground.

[tybuilding]

Originally Posted by officedweller

I think the advantage is the cushioned ride, but as SpongeG mentioned, there's no traction in snow, so it has to be underground.

I was on the Paris rubber tired metro, it is not as smooth as skytrain. I remember it being fairly wiggly. It was now 11 years ago, but that is what I remember.

[Spork]

Originally Posted by tybuilding

I was on the Paris rubber tired metro, it is not as smooth as skytrain. I remember it being fairly wiggly. It was now 11 years ago, but that is what I remember.

I was on Montreal's in 2008 and it was super wiggly. Skytrain is by far the smoothest that I've rode on (limited).

[madmigs]

Originally Posted by Spork

I was on Montreal's in 2008 and it was super wiggly. Skytrain is by far the smoothest that I've rode on (limited).

Wiggly? You mean rocking side to side? I've been on a few skytrain cars that were just awful for that over the years, but it wasn't all that frequent.

[Spork]

Originally Posted by madmigs

Wiggly? You mean rocking side to side? I've been on a few skytrain cars that were just awful for that over the years, but it wasn't all that frequent.

Side to side and some up and down (mishapen tires?) on Montreal's. On every train you step on to.

[SpikePhanta]

I just don't like how montreal's is pretty loud when coming into the station.

[xd_1771]

I find the Canada Line fairly loud during those underground curving sections. Otherwise it's absolutely silent.

[mezzanine]

Anyhoo, it's game-on again for translink planning as we start to have a provincial govt again. This should be interesting this month and in april...

IMO, Evergreen should be a slam dunk as christie clark as a power base in the Tricities...

Transportation minister Shirley Bond, who last year agreed to give TransLink and the mayors' council an extension until the end of this month to come up with its $400-million share of the Evergreen Line, said in a statement Friday, "Government is in a period of transition and as soon as we have a new executive council this will undoubtedly be a priority issue....

"We have asked the mayors for their ideas and we look forward to receiving those. We hope the mayors will meet their commitment to provide funding for the Evergreen Line."

Walton said the mayors' council is moving forward. He plans to meet with both mayors and councillors to identify the regional differences and perceptions.

A long-term transit plan should be ready by April. "It's going to be more of a basket of options than coming up with one funding source," Walton said. "Every time we have an expansion to the transit system we don't want to have to go through a cathartic experience."

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Perenni...t+worry/4389094/story.html#ixzz1FmO30hnQ