Millennium Line - Evergreen Extension | Completed

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Also, most of the West LRT is either elevated, underground, or in a very expensive and almost pointless trench... elevated seems to be cheaper. The portion at grade is very small. Over half is UG/Trench and forced the reconstruction of several important intersections. I'm not sure what "easier terrain" that guy is talking about though... the only obstacle Evergreen has is Burnaby Mountain.


Great news to see the first column complete!!!

The Evergreen Line with have much more elevated and underground portions than the West LRT, and the Evergreen budget also includes all the involved road mitigation and land acquisition. Do remember there were a substantial number of houses that had to be purchased for the south portal, businesses around Lougheed station, and the CPR rails will have to be adjusted, just to mention a few.

So in the end, yes, Vancouver seems to get great deals when it comes to mass transit.

[queetz@home]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

The Evergreen Line with have much more elevated and underground portions than the West LRT, and the Evergreen budget also includes all the involved road mitigation and land acquisition. Do remember there were a substantial number of houses that had to be purchased for the south portal, businesses around Lougheed station, and the CPR rails will have to be adjusted, just to mention a few.

So in the end, yes, Vancouver seems to get great deals when it comes to mass transit.

Small houses (i.e. near the "Korean Restaurant") in the boonies (i.e. not prime properties) and small businesses (i.e. OK Tire, Dairy Queen), and a minor minor adjustment on CP tracks ($2 measley million dollars) vs large commercial buildings, schools and swaths of private property near the City Centre in a city with a ridiculously low unemployment rate...its really no contest when it comes to mitigation costs. I remember saying to Calgary forumer, AB Born, pointing to a lot of fairly new and expensive buildings....."the proposed LRT extension is going to go through all that????" with utter disbelief.

There is a reason why Evergreen photos aren't numerous today, because a lot of it are in areas that are not quite built up and all. Did you know there are additional columns in Port Moody also being constructed but are virtually invisible, or inaccessible to the casual public observer?

[amor de cosmos]

press release on the first column

Evergreen Line project construction takes shape: first column in place

COQUITLAM, BRITISH COLUMBIA – The Evergreen Line project is beginning to take shape, with the first guideway column for the upcoming Metro Vancouver rapid transit line in place.

The elevated guideway column stands near the south tunnel portal at the corner of Como Lake Avenue and Clarke Road in Coquitlam.

“The Government of Canada is proud to invest in infrastructure projects like the Evergreen Line that create jobs and economic growth, and improve public transit for Canadians,” said the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport. “This investment demonstrates the Government of Canada’s commitment to safe, secure, efficient, and environmentally responsible travel, and to building the infrastructure Canada needs for a strong future.”

http://news.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do?nid=763169

[Kwik-E-Mart]

The construction of the Evergreen Line will no doubt speed up the demise of Lougheed Mall, with access to Coquitlam Centre made easier in 2016. The owner of Lougheed Mall should start preparing for alternates - including constructing apartments in the vast parking lots that are closest to Lougheed Station and having stores catering to the everyday needs of the residents in the vicinity instead of focusing on fashion-based retail, for example.

This is just another instance of consolidation of shopping malls into several major ones in the region (Metrotown, Coquitlam Centre, Oakridge, Surrey Central and Richmond Centre).

Maybe I should start my own thread on this issue... Ha!

[cabotp]

Originally Posted by Kwik-E-Mart

The construction of the Evergreen Line will no doubt speed up the demise of Lougheed Mall, with access to Coquitlam Centre made easier in 2016. The owner of Lougheed Mall should start preparing for alternates - including constructing apartments in the vast parking lots that are closest to Lougheed Station and having stores catering to the everyday needs of the residents in the vicinity instead of focusing on fashion-based retail, for example.

This is just another instance of consolidation of shopping malls into several major ones in the region (Metrotown, Coquitlam Centre, Oakridge, Surrey Central and Richmond Centre).

Maybe I should start my own thread on this issue... Ha!

As far as I know. There are plans to redevelop Lougheed Mall into a residential/business/shopping hub. Same as they are planning to do at Brentwood and Oakridge.

[SpongeG]

from facebook


Evergreen Line Rapid Transit Project
Liked · 4 hours ago

Preparing to reveal the completed guideway column


Crews working to remove the form used for the guideway column

[Chadillaccc]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

The Evergreen Line with have much more elevated and underground portions than the West LRT, and the Evergreen budget also includes all the involved road mitigation and land acquisition. Do remember there were a substantial number of houses that had to be purchased for the south portal, businesses around Lougheed station, and the CPR rails will have to be adjusted, just to mention a few.

So in the end, yes, Vancouver seems to get great deals when it comes to mass transit.

So I guess you just didn't understand my post. I wasn't bragging about the elevated portion, or even coming close to implying that ours is anywhere even remotely close to the length that Evergreen's will be. I said most of the line is either underground, or in a trench... and I'm not sure how you figure that more of Evergreen will be underground than the West Line is... but okay. You do know there are 3 sections of tunnel on the West Line, the longest being over a kilometer, right? The trench almost definitely cost more than it would cost to have it at grade or elevated for the length of said trench, and the underground portion without a doubt cost more, especially considering the removal of tons of businesses and a major regional high school in order to build the ug section. Unfortunately, the NIMBYISM in extremely affluent western Calgary led to a skyrocketing of costs because nobody wanted the train elevated through their burbs as it would spread noise far and wide, and no one wanted it at-grade because it would still make noise, so they had it put in a half billion dollar trench... out of sight, out of mind. However, the stations in the trench are pretty cool.

[Metro-One]

I believe the tunneled portion of the Evergreen Line is 2.2 km, and half of the remainder is elevated (and even the non elevated portions will involve retaining walls and other such features akin to the Grandview Cut and Nanaimo section of the Expo Line).

Also do remember there is a new secondary OMC being built with this project as well.

Less than 2km of the West LRT is elevated i believe.

I still feel that for the price paid by Calgary it amazes me that there are still at grade crossings on the West LRT. Don't get me wrong, it is a great transit addition, but I do feel Vancouver has been getting a great bang for our buck when it comes to mass transit projects in comparison to many other cities in North America.

Again, not my fault that people in Calgary forced such an unnecessary trench and increased the cost so dramatically.

Also I feel Queetz@Home purposely downplayed how much has been expropriated for the Evergreen Line and how much roadwork is going to be needed to be done along North Road, small sections in PoMo, and of course through Coquitlam. It is not the "booneys" as he proclaims and a considerable number of houses and businesses have been removed, anyone who has driven North Road from Lougheed to Como Lake can see this.

[queetz@home]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Unfortunately, the NIMBYISM in extremely affluent western Calgary led to a skyrocketing of costs because nobody wanted the train elevated through their burbs as it would spread noise far and wide, and no one wanted it at-grade because it would still make noise, so they had it put in a half billion dollar trench... out of sight, out of mind.

Sounds familiar...explains why the proposed Broadway Line using the exact same technology as the Evergreen Line and only 1 km longer is said to cost twice....

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Also I feel Queetz@Home purposely downplayed how much has been expropriated for the Evergreen Line and how much roadwork is going to be needed to be done along North Road, small sections in PoMo, and of course through Coquitlam. It is not the "booneys" as he proclaims and a considerable number of houses and businesses have been removed, anyone who has driven North Road from Lougheed to Como Lake can see this.

Maybe I've been living in Yaletown for too long but Coquitlam is quite boonieville, especially compared to the areas of the Calgary LRT extension. And really, those houses and businesses ain't exactly luxury mansions or high end botiques. Most of them are pretty much old, a few even run down, and aren't exactly trendy.

[DKaz]

Yea, you've been in Yaletown for too long.

[GlassCity]

I'd rather we tunnel whenever possible, it just saves room on the street.

[ryanmaccdn]

Originally Posted by DKaz

Yea, you've been in Yaletown for too long.

Survey says.... YES! Ha.. 9 out of 10 people agree. It must be true. And what world do you live in to say Coquitlam is boonys.

[officedweller]

Looking at the transition structure -there are two tunnels separated by a concrete wall.

I recall someone suggesting that this would be a single bore tunnel.
Anyone know if that is the case?

[Alex Mackinnon]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Looking at the transition structure -there are two tunnels separated by a concrete wall.

I recall someone suggesting that this would be a single bore tunnel.
Anyone know if that is the case?

Yup. Single bore, a bit over 6m diameter. It would be a nice tunnel to work in.

Same spec as tunneling magazines list for the upcoming UBC line bid. Incidently that one lists the UBC line tunnel as 12,000' long. Basically Main to Arbutus.

[officedweller]

Thanks!

[GMasterAres]

Originally Posted by Kwik-E-Mart

The construction of the Evergreen Line will no doubt speed up the demise of Lougheed Mall, with access to Coquitlam Centre made easier in 2016. The owner of Lougheed Mall should start preparing for alternates - including constructing apartments in the vast parking lots that are closest to Lougheed Station and having stores catering to the everyday needs of the residents in the vicinity instead of focusing on fashion-based retail, for example.

This is just another instance of consolidation of shopping malls into several major ones in the region (Metrotown, Coquitlam Centre, Oakridge, Surrey Central and Richmond Centre).

Maybe I should start my own thread on this issue... Ha!

There were plans posted somewhere else on the forums of a Brentwood-like development plan for Lougheed. I can't actually see it vanishing like you think. Coquitlam Center is still a jaunt away, and shopping at a mall using transit is a pain in the behind as you can't carry much with you. Also for people living in the area why remove infrastructure they already have.

Such as the redevelopment of Guildford. It's 5 minutes away from where I live and Surrey Central mall, but both exist for different purposes and I would hate for them to say "Ok because Guildford is now the region's second largest mall, we're closing down Surrey Central and Willowbrook." Seems silly.

Don't expect the malls to vanish any time soon. Redevelop sure, but go away, not a chance not where they are located and the population around that area. Best sustainable development isn't getting people on transit to go to a mall somewhere else, it's having people walk to the mall right beside them imo.

As for Evergreen, great to see the supports starting to take shape. Can't wait to ride the new line when it opens.

[memememe76]

I don't think Burnaby SFU students will traverse all the way to Coquitlam Centre for a break from campus. Lougheed (and Brentwood) will still be top of mind.

I just hope the distance between Coquitlam Centre and the Skytrain won't be annoying like at Brentwood, Lougheed, Landsdowne and Surrey Central (although I'm less annoyed by Surrey Central just because there are other things that that area offers). More like Oakridge or Richmond Centre.

ETA: I agree Coquitlam is not the Boonies. Isn't the Evergreen going through Port Moody? I *LOVE* Newport Village.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by memememe76

I don't think Burnaby SFU students will traverse all the way to Coquitlam Centre for a break from campus. Lougheed (and Brentwood) will still be top of mind.

If the 145 SFU bus is rerouted to terminate at Burquitlam station then Coquitlam will be just about as close Lougheed in terms of travel time. It will boil down to which mall is handier to get to from its respective station. Any redevelopment of Lougheed would be crazy not to place the mall entrance a lot closer to the Skytrain station.

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by Alex Mackinnon

Yup. Single bore, a bit over 6m diameter. It would be a nice tunnel to work in.

Same spec as tunneling magazines list for the upcoming UBC line bid. Incidently that one lists the UBC line tunnel as 12,000' long. Basically Main to Arbutus.

The PDFs I've seen on the official website show two separate bored tunnels, denoted by separate centre Line (CL) notations, and cross-connectors every hundred meters (or so) for emergency access between the tunnels.

Not very different from the Canada Line tunnels construction from Olympic to Waterfront.

We'll know 'fer sher' when the first tunnel is completed, if the TBM has to be pulled back to do the second bore.

[Meraki]

Originally Posted by jsbertram

The PDFs I've seen on the official website show two separate bored tunnels, denoted by separate centre Line (CL) notations, and cross-connectors every hundred meters (or so) for emergency access between the tunnels.

Not very different from the Canada Line tunnels construction from Olympic to Waterfront.

We'll know 'fer sher' when the first tunnel is completed, if the TBM has to be pulled back to do the second bore.

Which PDF? This one from July 2013 mentions a 10m diameter TBM.

The Canada Line had dual 5.3m tunnels.