Time for Vancouver to Tear Down Its Viaducts? - Page 97

IanS · #**1921** Posted **Nov 21, 2011, 5:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by racc

There will be I expect a robust debate regarding the viaduct options over the next few months both by themselves and as part of the transportation plan. I would think that options to remove all or parts the viaduct would be accompanied by major transit improvements including the Evergreen Line, expanded capacity on the Expo Line and the UBC Line. It would even like to see an eastward extension of the Expo Line from Waterfront along the Hastings/Powell corridor. If this happened, I think removing the viaducts would be a no brainer.

I sure hope you're right here. Given the outcome of the weekend election, I'm not sure who will be debating exactly. Probably posters on this and other boards, I guess. Robust? Sure. Futile? Almost certainly.

But I do hope that some common sense prevails and the viaducts are not removed until far in the future, when all of the transit improvements you identify are in place.

jlousa · #**1922** Posted **Nov 21, 2011, 7:48 PM**

I'm going to go out on a limb here and make a prediction that goes against current stats and state that in 10yrs we will acutally see a slight increase in cars traveling into d/t. Anyone want to wager a costco hotdog and drink?

aberdeen5698 · #**1923** Posted **Nov 21, 2011, 9:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlousa

I'm going to go out on a limb here and make a prediction that goes against current stats and state that in 10yrs we will acutally see a slight increase in cars traveling into d/t. Anyone want to wager a costco hotdog and drink?

I'm going to be very interested to see what happens when the Gateway project opens up. It could go either way - reduced congestion could lead to an increase in vehicle commutes, or the tolls could shift more people to transit.

I don't have anywhere near enough confidence in one outcome or another to to take you up on your offer. Especially when future gas prices are also a big unknown.

Alex Mackinnon · #**1924** Posted **Nov 21, 2011, 10:41 PM**

The projects are up on the Viaduct competition.

Link

I'm still going through them. Mine is in the Connecting the Core category, see if you can figure out which one it is.

There's some pretty impressive projects, so far I really like the False Creek Hill one. That one is super impressive. I wish I had those kind of resources to put into this kind of thing, but alas I just had SketchUp, Google Earth, Powerpoint and GIMP.

Enjoy.

deasine · #**1925** Posted **Nov 21, 2011, 11:03 PM**

Of all the projects that involve removing the viaducts, I really enjoy this one as it takes into account traffic integration while solving the issue of public realm:
http://www.viaductscomp.ca/view_submission.php?ID=71

racc · #**1926** Posted **Nov 22, 2011, 12:46 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlousa

I'm going to go out on a limb here and make a prediction that goes against current stats and state that in 10yrs we will acutally see a slight increase in cars traveling into d/t. Anyone want to wager a costco hotdog and drink?

How about a beer and a burger?

Alex Mackinnon · #**1927** Posted **Nov 22, 2011, 12:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlousa

I'm going to go out on a limb here and make a prediction that goes against current stats and state that in 10yrs we will acutally see a slight increase in cars traveling into d/t. Anyone want to wager a costco hotdog and drink?

I think the timeline is longer. I give it another 15 years of decline due to rising gas prices, then rebound due to EV prices dropping.

jlousa · #**1928** Posted **Nov 22, 2011, 1:43 AM**

I'll stick with 10yrs, so 2011 numbers vs 2021 numbers and I'm willing to do a burger and beer instead. Feel free to printscreen this page for documentation.

My theory is that travel has declined into downtown due to modest office space growth but explosive residential growth which has resulted in more and more of the people working d/t living here. With residential bound to grow at a much slower pace over the next 10yrs d/t while office space grows at a much higher rate then it did, the pattern will reserve slightly as more outsiders fill those positions and drive into the core. I don't think we'll go back to peak numbers, just higher then current ones.

deasine · #**1929** Posted **Nov 22, 2011, 2:01 AM**

jlousa, to clarify, you mean number of cars entering the car instead the modal share of cars relative to other modes of transport?

jlousa · #**1930** Posted **Nov 22, 2011, 2:59 AM**

Correct total number of cars, not percentages.

I have racc done, anyone else interested?

amor de cosmos · #**1931** Posted **Nov 22, 2011, 4:17 AM**

deletedddd

Alex Mackinnon · #**1932** Posted **Nov 22, 2011, 8:57 AM**

They just sent out an email on regarding the competition. We're now allowed to promote our own entries.

So here's me.

Industrial Densification and Preservation.

They posted a strangely low-res version of my posterboard, which is odd considering most of my pics in the PDF were about 4000x2000 pixels. So I'm reposting my pics and PDF.

Legend using standard Sim City colour coding

Map Overview

Sample mixed use industrial/commercial office buildings.

Overview of the Viaducts/Malkin Conn.

Same area in Plan View

Cantilevered bike lane

Possible Vernon Connector Map

Looking East

Station St. Point of View w/ HSR Station

Viaduct Park

Prior Street Point of View Before/After

red-paladin · #**1933** Posted **Nov 22, 2011, 9:03 AM**

Fantastic!

Metro-One · #**1934** Posted **Nov 22, 2011, 9:12 AM**

Loved yours! It speaks exactly how I feel towards the ducts and what should be done.

I gave yours a 5 star vote btw

BCPhil · #**1935** Posted **Nov 22, 2011, 9:21 AM**

Cool ideas, but I think we should keep the False Creek Flats as our ace in the hole for the future when Vancouver hosts the Summer Olympics. Our Olympic Village, Stadium, and pool have to go somewhere.

Jebby · #**1936** Posted **Nov 22, 2011, 2:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlousa

I'm going to go out on a limb here and make a prediction that goes against current stats and state that in 10yrs we will acutally see a slight increase in cars traveling into d/t. Anyone want to wager a costco hotdog and drink?

Do people ever pay up? I recall towerguy3 still owing someone here a steak...

WarrenC12 · #**1937** Posted **Nov 22, 2011, 2:41 PM**

Great work on your plan!

I'm with jlousa. racc will be well fed!

jlousa · #**1938** Posted **Nov 22, 2011, 3:17 PM**

Not sure I follow WarrenC12

Great job Alex Mackinnon, very little I would change from your proposal. Perhaps would've thrown in the proposed Concord towers along Pacific and stressed the connectivity that already exists under the viaducts as for some reason lack of connectivity keeps getting brought up by some folks. You certainly did better then what I would've been capable of putting together.

WarrenC12 · #**1939** Posted **Nov 22, 2011, 4:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlousa

Not sure I follow WarrenC12

Sorry my mixup, too early in the morning. I agree that there will be slightly more vehicle traffic going into d/t... I'm with you, and I want my burger!

Now, will beef be a lot more expensive in 10-15 years?

Alex Mackinnon · #**1940** Posted **Nov 22, 2011, 9:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlousa

Not sure I follow WarrenC12

Great job Alex Mackinnon, very little I would change from your proposal. Perhaps would've thrown in the proposed Concord towers along Pacific and stressed the connectivity that already exists under the viaducts as for some reason lack of connectivity keeps getting brought up by some folks. You certainly did better then what I would've been capable of putting together.

It would have been more elaborate but my computer was starting to really dislike that sketchup model. As is it's 27mb. The "extended context" model they posted was almost 70mb. I have no idea who can run a model like that and still be able to edit it properly.