Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[LeftCoaster]

Came across a pretty interesting statistic today in a CBRE market report:

"Office buildings outside of the 500m radius of a skytrain station have an overall vacancy rate of 22%, while Richmond's inventory that falls within 500 m of a skytrian station has a vacancy rate of 3.4%

We already knew the power of Skytrain on recent office development but I'd never seen it displayed this overtly. Very cool stat.

[TransitJack]

I saw a pic on twitter, follow @thetransitsite to see

The interior is light grey with on single wide seating at the ends. 1 + 1 vs 2 + 1. Looks like the same blue seats are being used.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Came across a pretty interesting statistic today in a CBRE market report:



We already knew the power of Skytrain on recent office development but I'd never seen it displayed this overtly. Very cool stat.

And yet what does Translink get out of this?

How about an extra property tax levy for those commercial spaces with X of a Skytrain station?

[s211]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Came across a pretty interesting statistic today in a CBRE market report:



We already knew the power of Skytrain on recent office development but I'd never seen it displayed this overtly. Very cool stat.

The Richmond stat is distorted by the fact that there's so very little space along Skytrain to begin with. It's a microscopic sub-market. That fact won't stop people from stopping the presses and claim that Skytrain is their personal lord and saviour.

[gillty]

Originally Posted by TransitJack

I saw a pic on twitter, follow @thetransitsite to see

The interior is light grey with on single wide seating at the ends. 1 + 1 vs 2 + 1. Looks like the same blue seats are being used.

(Credit: twitter.com/thetransitsite)

[MIPS]

The interior is essentially the Detroit People Mover now. Just white with blue seats that are turned 90 degrees at the ends.


Image Courtesy of Xuan Zhang at urbanrail.net

[officedweller]

Definitely looks cleaner than the red, white and blue scheme.
The PeopleMover seems to have horizontal bars.

[theKB]

they definitely look less dated now but geez, they look so small!

Every time I get into one of those MK1 trains they really do look dated and feel quite cramped.

[city-dweller]

(this may require a new thread)

This week I have heard mention of two new (re-proposed?) Canada Line stations.

In the Georgia Straight today, an article about the Pearson Dogwood redevelopment mentioned one at 57th and Cambie. web edition

Vancouver Coastal Health’s proposal for the Pearson Dogwood Lands includes about 3,000 units of housing, a community health centre, park space, and a new Canada Line station on the corner of Cambie Street and 57th Avenue

However, later in the article Geoff Meggs says:

“I think from the public’s standpoint, what is proposed there is a very significant 10-year development of a lot of housing, that will have supportive housing elements in it and it’s affordable housing, and possibly a new connection on the Canada line,” he said.

So, given the amount of people slated to move into the new development a new station would be a no brainer. However, the C-line capacity and additional dwell time would probably irritate those riding the whole line.

The second new station was described at the UBC Dialogs: Transportation? lecture put on by UBC alumni. FYI:The panel included Larry Frank (UBC), Ian Jarvis (CEO translink), Carole Jolly(UBC transportation), Paul Lee (City of Surrey transportation), and Ian Druce (consultant~did the latest UBC corridor study) and moderated by Steven Quin from CBC. Anyway, on the topic of funding options, when the discussion turned to DCCs, Ian Jarvis discussed the Sapperton station was being discussed with a developer volunteering to build the station Now, after I got off the floor and returned to my seat..
I would note that Ian wasn't specific to what the developer would get in exchange, but given the topic of DCCs, it is safe to say the only way they are getting that station is if the developer builds it.

So if you have more details on either project, please share.

[logicbomb]

Originally Posted by theKB

they definitely look less dated now but geez, they look so small!

Every time I get into one of those MK1 trains they really do look dated and feel quite cramped.

Yeah, that crappy feeling when your knees are squishing against the metal frame of the seat in front of you.

That's why I always just wait for a MKII car during rush hour, so worth it.

[Zassk]

Originally Posted by city-dweller

Ian Jarvis discussed the Sapperton station was being discussed with a developer volunteering to build the station Now, after I got off the floor and returned to my seat..

Which station? Sapperton's already built and on a different line. :-)

[Ehlun]

Originally Posted by Zassk

Which station? Sapperton's already built and on a different line. :-)

He's probably referring to Capstan Way Station which is being paid for by developers entirely. All $25 million.

http://www.richmond.ca/newsevents/city2012/capstanstnfunding.htm

[xd_1771]

Ooooh I do so like those Detroit rungs that could have stanchions on them.

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

Yeah, that crappy feeling when your knees are squishing against the metal frame of the seat in front of you.

That's why I always just wait for a MKII car during rush hour, so worth it.

Oh my God I hate people like you People do a similar thing on the Canada Line when they wait for the train from the airport and let the one from Richmond-Brighouse pass by. It fills up the the entire platform and makes it difficult for everyone

[Meraki]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

Oh my God I hate people like you People do a similar thing on the Canada Line when they wait for the train from the airport and let the one from Richmond-Brighouse pass by. It fills up the the entire platform and makes it difficult for everyone

As someone who has to deal with riders who pile on a 99 To Boundary to go to Commercial ignoring the 99 to Commercial right behind it, I encourage people to wait for the most logical vehicle.

Sure either bus gets you to your transfer point at Commercial, but you screw me over by filling the one I -actually- need when taking the other one works out for both of us.

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by Meraki

As someone who has to deal with riders who pile on a 99 To Boundary to go to Commercial ignoring the 99 to Commercial right behind it, I encourage people to wait for the most logical vehicle.

Sure either bus gets you to your transfer point at Commercial, but you screw me over by filling the one I -actually- need when taking the other one works out for both of us.

Well if it's literally right behind it, then sure. But you can't expect people to just pass up a bus because it goes farther than they need to go.

[Meraki]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

Well if it's literally right behind it, then sure. But you can't expect people to just pass up a bus because it goes farther than they need to go.

Yes, I understand that. I mean literally two buses pulling up after a red light and they all fill the Boundary one because it happened to be in front.

[DKaz]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

Oh my God I hate people like you People do a similar thing on the Canada Line when they wait for the train from the airport and let the one from Richmond-Brighouse pass by. It fills up the the entire platform and makes it difficult for everyone

I normally don't mind the MKIs but I refuse to get on when it's 30C outside and 42C in those MKIs. I don't see a problem with waiting for a more favourable train.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by DKaz

I normally don't mind the MKIs but I refuse to get on when it's 30C outside and 42C in those MKIs. I don't see a problem with waiting for a more favourable train.

It all depends how full the car is too. I wonder if there's something they could do to improve airflow, if installing A/C is impossible.

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by MIPS

Except they have less space because they needed to add in a drivers cabin. TransLink would be more likely to store them somewhere and pull parts off them.

So then during the rebuild, the un-needed parts that were included by the Province and TTC to keep the Ontario unions happy - like the 'driver position' - can be completely removed.

These cars could also become 'trailer cars', where the electronics needed to communicate with the OMC control can be removed, but the in-car electronics needed for operating the doors, chimes, lights, A/C, &tc are refurbished. This type of a 'Trailer Car' can be inserted between an existing Mk I pair, and they become a mated three-car unit. The trailer car will take commands from the car(s) operating the train (open doors; close doors; ring chime; &tc), and it would still have the power shoes and the LIM hardware for propulsion.

Perhaps two of these trailer cars could be inserted in the middle of a Mk I pair to create a four-car unit.