Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by gkz

How big of an affect would a Skytrain line to the North Shore have? Could it be a potential solution to the problem, rather than a new vehicle crossing, which seems unlikely to ever be built?

It would be nicer, but I don't think it will change habits too much as the Seabus already does a decent job of public transit across the inlet.

Maybe toll the Lions Gate some nominal amount like $0.50-$1. Any future crossing would be tolled and this would help judge the appetite of people to pay.

[SOSS]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

It would be nicer, but I don't think it will change habits too much as the Seabus already does a decent job of public transit across the inlet.

Maybe toll the Lions Gate some nominal amount like $0.50-$1. Any future crossing would be tolled and this would help judge the appetite of people to pay.

The sea bus only goes from point A to point B. It relies on the existing bus network to act as a collector on the northshore. If sky train was expanded to not only connect to the northshore but also run from, let's say Phibbs or Cap U to West Van it would be very effective at providing a reasonable alternative.

Let's be honest, much of the northshore traffic can be attributed to a) wealthy who would like not take transit nor worry about a toll b) trades people who require their vehicles to work and will just have to pay any possible tolls c) homecare/child care workers who likely already take transit. Hmmm did I just talk myself out of Skytrain on the NS?

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by SOSS

Let's be honest, much of the northshore traffic can be attributed to a) wealthy who would like not take transit nor worry about a toll b) trades people who require their vehicles to work and will just have to pay any possible tolls c) homecare/child care workers who likely already take transit. Hmmm did I just talk myself out of Skytrain on the NS?

Crossing the Burrard Inlet with rapid transit would be an expensive and complex affair.

Maybe an E-W LRT line that goes from Cap to Park Royal would be more reasonable, with key stations along the way, Seabus being one of them.

[gkz]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Crossing the Burrard Inlet with rapid transit would be an expensive and complex affair.

Maybe an E-W LRT line that goes from Cap to Park Royal would be more reasonable, with key stations along the way, Seabus being one of them.

I think that tunnelling under the Burrard Inlet would be an expensive task. Thus, my idea for a North Shore line would be to run it on an upgraded Lions Gate bridge, either above of below vehicle traffic.

Eg alignment: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zZS43UGKhDGo.kyJD1KKTdMd4

[Alex Mackinnon]

Originally Posted by gkz

I think that tunnelling under the Burrard Inlet would be an expensive task. Thus, my idea for a North Shore line would be to run it on an upgraded Lions Gate bridge, either above of below vehicle traffic.

Eg alignment: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zZS43UGKhDGo.kyJD1KKTdMd4

I've been playing with idea of adding a second deck on the 2nd Narrows for a long time now. I've just posted it in transit fantasies.

I think the structure should be able to take the load. Buckland and Taylor did some work about additional lanes a while back.

LGB can't even support suicide barriers as is. Any transit across there would likely need a new structure.

[officedweller]

Yeah, I remember when they renovated Lions Gate, the wider roaddek had to be the same weight as the old roaddeck.
They changed it from an above deck truss to and underdeck structure.

[WarrenC12]

I'd say it's pretty awkward either way.

The places people really want to go are near the LGB, but only the IW can support any transit (maybe).

[Kisai]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

I'd say it's pretty awkward either way.

The places people really want to go are near the LGB, but only the IW can support any transit (maybe).

More likely the Ironworkers bridge will be the next on the hit list since it's older than the old Port Mann.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Kisai

More likely the Ironworkers bridge will be the next on the hit list since it's older than the old Port Mann.

Many bridges are older than the old PMB. Growth in Surrey caused it to be dealt with, and the issues with it's constructions caused it to be replaced entirely instead of "twinned".

[WarrenC12]

Anybody else get the survey from Translink about the Skytrain announcements. It seems like they may be changing the voice for announcing stations. Say it ain't so!

[queetz@home]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Anybody else get the survey from Translink about the Skytrain announcements. It seems like they may be changing the voice for announcing stations. Say it ain't so!

Looks like yet another opportunity for Translink to waste more money on something absolutely unnecessary! The video below says it best...

• Video Link

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by queetz@home

Looks like yet another opportunity for Translink to waste more money on something absolutely unnecessary! The video below says it best...

The survey has more to it than that. Surveying your customers is a key aspect of marketing that many businesses do far too little of.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

The survey has more to it than that. Surveying your customers is a key aspect of marketing that many businesses do far too little of.

They haven't been sending me any surveys and I joined 'TransLink Listens'. This is the first I've heard of this one.

Ooh they're going to be changing the voice on the Skytrain. This isn't the first time. I quickly checked and they changed the voice when Millennium Line started. They'll have to do more recordings when Evergreen starts, which is likely what this is about.

[Gordon]

Are the new bus orders from New Flyer all CNG or are some Hybrids as well?

[jsbertram]

Scarborough's creaking SRT gets a makeover
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/transpor...roughs-creaking-srt-gets-a-makeover.html

Toronto's version of the MkI Expo line cars are getting a minor refurb to help them last another 10 years until the new subway extension to Scarborough is completed, after which SRT will be scrapped.
Estimated cost to keep SRT running: $132 Million over 10 years, and another $125 Million to scrap and demolish it.
And by the way, it has been reported that starting and the stopping the conversion of SRT to LRT has cost the city another $75 Million in 'sunk costs'.

Anyone wanna bet that in 2025 there still won't be a new Scarborough subway, but the SRT is still muddling along after 40 years?

This makes Translink look pretty good, eh?

[Mac Write]

Great now how long will are Mark I's last before they are scrapped?

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

with the Mark I referbs arent they supposed to last another 15-20 years or something?

[dpogue]

Originally Posted by jsbertram

Scarborough's creaking SRT gets a makeover
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/transpor...roughs-creaking-srt-gets-a-makeover.html

Toronto's version of the MkI Expo line cars are getting a minor refurb to help them last another 10 years until the new subway extension to Scarborough is completed, after which SRT will be scrapped.
Estimated cost to keep SRT running: $132 Million over 10 years, and another $125 Million to scrap and demolish it.

What caught my eye was this quote:

In April, the TTC plans to shut down the SRT for three or four weekends while it clears the guideway of leaves and refurbishes the old Thales signal system before the Pan Am Games.

People complain about SkyTrain not running 24 hours a day, but we actually use that time to do guideway maintenance every night. Apparently the TTC does not.

[red-paladin]

Scarborough ICTS trains getting a bad (w)rap:

This is what the TTC's revamped SRT cars look like

The TTC recently announced that a makeover was in store for its Scarborough RT trains. With the aging transit line forced to operate until the completion of a new subway line in Scarborough (at least a decade away), it wasn't possible to put off upgrades any longer. Despite the notorious unreliability of the cars, the city is stuck with them for now, so the the TTC will invest $132 million to overhaul the fleet.

The first car has been re-wrapped as part of the makeover. It will travel the SRT to draw attention to the project and allow for the TTC to solicit feedback on the new design. At first glance, it's a major improvement over the dated 1980s aesthetic of the original trains, though it does bear an odd resemblance to the Montreal Metro.

............

In addition to the new-look exterior, the TTC will replace the motors of these vehicles as well as other aging parts and upgrade the interior space in an effort to make the trains more accessible and bright.

http://www.blogto.com/city/2015/03/this_is_what_the_ttcs_revamped_srt_cars_look_like/

[MIPS]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

with the Mark I referbs arent they supposed to last another 15-20 years or something?

50 years of life is extremely good considering Vancouver was putting their bets on a then still very prototype design that could of screwed them over after ten years. They could always keep an old six car set around like London, Toronto, New York and Wuppertal to run on Sundays. It's not like the signalling system will be changing any time soon.

The first car has been re-wrapped as part of the makeover. It will travel the SRT to draw attention to the project and allow for the TTC to solicit feedback on the new design.

Too much blue. WAY too much of a single color.

In addition to the new-look exterior, the TTC will replace the motors of these vehicles

What is it with the SRT getting shafted so badly on LIM's? Way the hell back in the 80's they had to replace all the motors once already because the waterproofing was faulty.