Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[xd_1771]

If its a short-turn service then I think it would be easier to have a separate route from Guildford to Braid/Lougheed via the 152 St on-ramp. That would be easier and quicker to implement as no extra stop is needed, cheaper for TransLink because of the shorter distance and no need to extend bus routes to 156th, and probably higher ridership potential as there's more destinations on the 152nd than the 156th.

That defeats the point. The bus would have to move lanes to hit the HOV lane for the Lougheed exit and vice-versa; it'd be shared traffic, as there'd be no queue jumping, and not as predictabe, which is an important part of the point for the 555. As well, #555 access at 156 St should remain a priority, as it could be key for connections further east in the future (Fraser Valley) as well. You are suggesting that your suggested service is an excuse to forget about the 156 St stop, which shouldn't happen.

I agree, it would be easier to some extent to just bring such a service to Guildford Exchange, but it distracts from what needs to be done and who really needs to be serviced here. Fraser Heights is the fastest-growing transit market in the City of Surrey. Fleetwood, which would also be best-serviced from 156 St, would somewhat miss out. You'd lose out on the benefits of providing service to the almost-forgotten East Guildford Park-n-Ride. And, finally, 156th St is a 3 minute bus-ride from Guildford Exchange by several different bus routes.

My idea would have the short-turn service the exit at 160 St, turn right on 104 WB and stop to service the E Guildford P&R, stop again at 156 St northbound (to service transferees from 326/335 from Fleetwood or Guildford Exch), stop at the westbound HOV ramp, and then continue on. It would run alongside 555 service (with the added stop in both directions).

Also, the distance/travel time would be neither shorter/cheaper for the 152 St exit idea - it would probably be the opposite.

I keep thinking.. it would be nice if they extend the #375 to either Coquitlam or Braid/Lougheed via Hwy 1, and eventually upgrade it to a FTN or B-Line...

I think the 375 was sort of designed for such an extension in the future, although Coquitlam Centre would probably make more sense. Riders probably wouldn't save much time with a direct extension to Braid of the 375, compared to taking the 96 B-Line or 345 up to SkyTrain and then using that.

[logicbomb]

Originally Posted by allan_kuan

I'm not sure if they should do that... Perhaps they can promote the start and end times of the buses better, like the 96?

Yeah, the first 2 weeks of the 96 saw very low ridership. During rush hour, you'd see buses running nearly empty.

In the beginning of October, translink started promoting the B-Line, this by:
-Having attendants near the 321 and 320 lines directing them to the 96
-Installing signs around Surrey Central directing them to Bay 12 and 13.
-Installing map signs at the designated stop
-Placing "VIA SURREY CENTRAL STATION" destination signs/cards placed at the front and, on the side of the buses.

--------------------------
Worth noting the 555 will terminate at Lougheed come late winter.


Similarly, the service, and time savings benefits needs to advertised here. Despite what Translink's trip planner tends to suggest. A commuter from Langley going to Downtown Vancouver can shave off 10-15 min off their commute (~1 hour) by taking the 555 to Braid -> Train to Commercial -> Train to Waterfront. A commuter heading to SFU from Langley can save a lot of hassle....

[Mac Write]

When will the 555 be extended to Lougheed station, and how much time will that add to the route?

[xd_1771]

^ Should be winter-ish this year, and not much if at all.

[groovyg]

I'm trying to get educated on the issue (s), hoping it's been discussed here.
SFU is hosting a discussion next Tuesday at the Surrey Centre Library, I am hoping for some extra info to bring to the table....

[GeeCee]

I don't think we've really talked about it much in the Vancouver section. If it all, you might find some in the Road Infrastructure thread.

[groovyg]

I'll head on over!

[logan5]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

I've been left behind 2 out of the 6 times I've ridden it from Braid, though that's during rush hour.

Weekend and midday ridership could be better though, and this is where a stop at Guildford (156th) would really bolster ridership.

I wonder how that park and ride lot is doing. They seem to get to capacity everywhere else, so I imagine the Carvolth lot will be at capacity soon. Travel time to Burrard Station averages 55 minutes, which is pretty good. I hope Translink will encourage more ridership by providing more parking, instead of discouraging park and ride like they have been.

[go_leafs_go02]

Originally Posted by logan5

I wonder how that park and ride lot is doing. They seem to get to capacity everywhere else, so I imagine the Carvolth lot will be at capacity soon. Travel time to Burrard Station averages 55 minutes, which is pretty good. I hope Translink will encourage more ridership by providing more parking, instead of discouraging park and ride like they have been.

It's pretty much full already. Even when they started charging last month, on weekdays it's still pretty close to full.

Carvolth and the 555 have been a HUGE success.

[go_leafs_go02]

Originally Posted by xd_1771

That defeats the point. The bus would have to move lanes to hit the HOV lane for the Lougheed exit and vice-versa; it'd be shared traffic, as there'd be no queue jumping, and not as predictabe, which is an important part of the point for the 555. As well, #555 access at 156 St should remain a priority, as it could be key for connections further east in the future (Fraser Valley) as well. You are suggesting that your suggested service is an excuse to forget about the 156 St stop, which shouldn't happen.

I agree, it would be easier to some extent to just bring such a service to Guildford Exchange, but it distracts from what needs to be done and who really needs to be serviced here. Fraser Heights is the fastest-growing transit market in the City of Surrey. Fleetwood, which would also be best-serviced from 156 St, would somewhat miss out. You'd lose out on the benefits of providing service to the almost-forgotten East Guildford Park-n-Ride. And, finally, 156th St is a 3 minute bus-ride from Guildford Exchange by several different bus routes.

My idea would have the short-turn service the exit at 160 St, turn right on 104 WB and stop to service the E Guildford P&R, stop again at 156 St northbound (to service transferees from 326/335 from Fleetwood or Guildford Exch), stop at the westbound HOV ramp, and then continue on. It would run alongside 555 service (with the added stop in both directions).

Also, the distance/travel time would be neither shorter/cheaper for the 152 St exit idea - it would probably be the opposite.

I think the 375 was sort of designed for such an extension in the future, although Coquitlam Centre would probably make more sense. Riders probably wouldn't save much time with a direct extension to Braid of the 375, compared to taking the 96 B-Line or 345 up to SkyTrain and then using that.

My idea:

Construct roundabout at 108 Avenue & 156 Street
Extend B-Line along 104 Avenue turning left on northbound 156 Street and turning around at the roundabout. Layover to take place under Highway 1.
B-Line & 555 suddenly connected.
Guildford residents don't have to deal with buses turning around.
Two bus routes with 10 minute or less frequencies in the peak hour suddenly connect.

[logicbomb]

Originally Posted by go_leafs_go02

My idea:

Construct roundabout at 108 Avenue & 156 Street
Extend B-Line along 104 Avenue turning left on northbound 156 Street and turning around at the roundabout. Layover to take place under Highway 1.
B-Line & 555 suddenly connected.
Guildford residents don't have to deal with buses turning around.
Two bus routes with 10 minute or less frequencies in the peak hour suddenly connect.

This should definitely be explored, at least for a short-term basis until they construct that bus loop at Guildford Exchange, or is that plan now dead in the water?

[xd_1771]

Construct roundabout at 108 Avenue & 156 Street
Extend B-Line along 104 Avenue turning left on northbound 156 Street and turning around at the roundabout. Layover to take place under Highway 1.
B-Line & 555 suddenly connected.
Guildford residents don't have to deal with buses turning around.
Two bus routes with 10 minute or less frequencies in the peak hour suddenly connect.

My attendance at some recent FHCA (Fraser Heights Comm. Assc.) meetings is making it clear that there are big community concerns about a roundabout. They want to do something with that intersection, but a roundabout is unlikely to be it. A big roundabout would be pretty much impossible, and the roundabout at 108th and 158th is already having trouble with standard-sized buses on the 337, which often strike the inner curb (well, not really, it's more of a slightly raised portion) while trying to get through.

A turn-around will need to be supplanted by a proper, full-scale exchange. I believe this can be and should be a priority in the future, and a 96 to 555 connection would be very nice and helpful. What's going to define this is how the development will turn out at the NE corner 104 & 156th.

[tybuilding]

This is pretty cool, electric mini buses in Quebec City http://www.auto123.com/en/news/small-electric-buses-hit-the-streets-of-quebec-city?artid=98098

[TransitJack]

Originally Posted by tybuilding

This is pretty cool, electric mini buses in Quebec City http://www.auto123.com/en/news/small-electric-buses-hit-the-streets-of-quebec-city?artid=98098

I saw buses like this in Florence, Italy. One row of seats on the back, and everyone else stands.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by TransitJack

I saw buses like this in Florence, Italy. One row of seats on the back, and everyone else stands.

They have similar ones in Madrid and in Segovia (small city an hour north of Madrid), but I'm not sure if they were electric.

[SFUVancouver]

Paris has these small electric buses as well. They run through Montmartre up to Sacre Coeur.

[splashflash]

Originally Posted by TransitJack

I saw buses like this in Florence, Italy. One row of seats on the back, and everyone else stands.

See end of article. QC mayor says they are lemons.

I saw them too when they were first used in the Old Quarter.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/back+drawing+board+electric+plan/9049370/story.html

[DKaz]

Lol Italian built, lemons, not surprised. We'll see how all these Fiats (Fiat 500, Fiat 500L, Dodge Dart) turn out in 5 years.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by DKaz

Lol Italian built, lemons, not surprised. We'll see how all these Fiats (Fiat 500, Fiat 500L, Dodge Dart) turn out in 5 years.

The new Dodge Dart is built in Illinois. Hopefully the overpriced and overcompensated UAW labor force will build it to better standards than Fiat/Alfa workers do in Italy.

[jlousa]

Sounds like a major skytrain outage this morning. M-Line running from Columbia to VCC and the E line broken up with KG to Edmonds and then Main to Waterfront, no trains between Main and Edmonds. Wonder what the issue is I've heard power rails at Main and I've heard track damage at Joyce.