Millennium Line - Evergreen Extension | Completed

[Olden Retreiver]

The at-grade section between Ioco and Coq Centre in nnames's beautiful photos is indeed one of the last guideway sections other than the tunnel. This is where they used timber piles to overcome the very bad soil conditions, and the work took about a month longer than expected.

http://egrtconstruction.ca/wp-content/up...Balmoral-Drive-to-Falcon-Drive-FINAL.pdf

[mattropolis]

my pictures from Sunday March 1, 2015


Coquitlam City Hall SkyTrain Construction - last portion of guideway left to be built.


Coquitlam Larfarge Lake Douglas Station


Coquitlam City Hall SkyTrain Construction - another view.

[Metro-One]

Awesome updates guys, love seeing this line come together, it is actually quite interesting given the variety of segments.

Re-posted these updates on the Canada section, interrupting their conversation about how the Quebec BRT will be using rubber wheels, hehe.

[nname]

They are starting to put the roof in place today at Lafrage. There were already 2 pieces of woods that span across the platform (similar to Port Moody ones) by 9am this morning.

[Windex]

It's looking great. I really like the look of Inlet Centre.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

why is Evergreen-Line getting up/down escalators yet Canada-Line only got up escalators? its good they are putting in both though. but seems weird since their construction isn't that far apart. is Canada-Lane the only line with no down escalators? I've only been on Expo-Line from waterfront to main street so i don't know about the rest.

[ssiguy]

I really like what they have done with the M-Line and Evergreen Line stations.

Most transit stations are basically sterile affairs with the obligatory few pieces of art which no one looks at. These stations look very nice due to the extensive use of wood. Not only does it give the stations colour but also a sense of warmth and they seem more inviting. It makes them look less utilitarian and they meld in nicer to the surroundings. You don't feel like you are standing in a bunker waiting for a train but rather a pleasant wooden train station of yester year.

The designers and Translink should be commended on them.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

why is Evergreen-Line getting up/down escalators yet Canada-Line only got up escalators? its good they are putting in both though. but seems weird since their construction isn't that far apart. is Canada-Lane the only line with no down escalators? I've only been on Expo-Line from waterfront to main street so i don't know about the rest.

Most of the Expo Line doesn't have down escalators - a few of the stations don't have up escalators either. I don't remember Millennium Line having many down escalators.

[Meraki]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

why is Evergreen-Line getting up/down escalators yet Canada-Line only got up escalators? its good they are putting in both though. but seems weird since their construction isn't that far apart. is Canada-Lane the only line with no down escalators? I've only been on Expo-Line from waterfront to main street so i don't know about the rest.

Because the Canada Line was built cutting as many corners as possible so that the P3 proponent could walk away with a bigger profit.

The Evergreen Line has to be built to the standards and systems set by BCRTC since they will be operating and maintaining it.

It's like how new condo developments are built like crap because the developers only need to sell it and then walk away, where purpose-built rental towers are designed to be cost effective and low maintenance because there's a stakeholder who has to deal with it.

[GeeCee]

The gantry crane appears to now be in the final position for the last segment as of a few hours ago, but no prefab pieces were in the air yet when I drove by.

[officedweller]

I don't think Metrotown Station has a down escalator - and there are stairs to the ticketing area - from the street and from the passarelle.

[MIPS]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

I really like what they have done with the M-Line and Evergreen Line stations.

Most transit stations are basically sterile affairs with the obligatory few pieces of art which no one looks at. These stations look very nice due to the extensive use of wood. Not only does it give the stations colour but also a sense of warmth and they seem more inviting. It makes them look less utilitarian and they meld in nicer to the surroundings. You don't feel like you are standing in a bunker waiting for a train but rather a pleasant wooden train station of yester year.

The designers and Translink should be commended on them.

Expo stations used to have a bit more color but they've been slowly stripping that away. Additional kludges have not improved the matter. (IE: the faregate expansions)

[Zassk]

Originally Posted by Meraki

Because the Canada Line was built cutting as many corners as possible so that the P3 proponent could walk away with a bigger profit.

Blame the mayors - they rejected that project twice when it had a "normal" budget. Corners were cut, stations removed (some permanently) and the proponent took on a significant share of costs to finally earn approval.

I am glad to see that the lesson about cost cutting appears to have been learned. The Evergreen Line might not be gold-plated, but it doesn't appear to be stripped to the bone, either.

[Kisai]

Originally Posted by officedweller

I don't think Metrotown Station has a down escalator - and there are stairs to the ticketing area - from the street and from the passarelle.

It never had a down escalator. If you look at the physical design of the station, much of it was an after-thought once you consider how close the two neighboring stations are. Remember... the Skytrain predates Metrotown Mall. Both were opened officially in 1986. What used to be there, and still is, is the Sears/Toys-R-Us.

I actually moved to Vancouver before the mall was reconfigured into it's current layout, but it was after Eatons was closed.

http://www.ivanhoecambridge.com/~/media/imported/website/properties/60001/site-plans/site-plan.pdf

This is a map of the ground level of the mall:
http://www.ivanhoecambridge.com/~/media/...erties/60001/lease-plan/ground-level.pdf

And a map of the Upper level:
http://www.ivanhoecambridge.com/~/media/...perties/60001/lease-plan/upper-level.pdf

It would probably make more sense for the passerelle to be reconfigured and the Zara store moved somewhere else in the mall (Probably would make more sense to just reconfigure the entire transit-facing side of the mall so there are more 24-hour restaurant/shops facing the transit side of the mall.) That way there is no silly "go to the ground, cross at grade, come back up" process just to get to the mall. The existing Passerelle gets crowded enough.

[queetz@home]

Originally Posted by Zassk

Blame the mayors - they rejected that project twice when it had a "normal" budget. Corners were cut, stations removed (some permanently) and the proponent took on a significant share of costs to finally earn approval.

I am glad to see that the lesson about cost cutting appears to have been learned. The Evergreen Line might not be gold-plated, but it doesn't appear to be stripped to the bone, either.

Of course, if the Evergreen Line wasn't pushed back in favour of the Canada Line, then the mayors could have approved both projects...or maybe not since Vancouver itself is the one that ultimately kept rejecting the Canada Line until the third vote....

On other news, drove by Pinetree this morning and most if not all the guideway segment pieces are up but not attached yet. They could finish as early as the end of the day today, and tomorrow, we shall see it completed for sure.

[Olden Retreiver]

Originally Posted by nname

Same location looking west, showing Moody Centre Station

Happened to walk across the pedestrian bridge by Golden Spike Way today, and Evergreen crews were welding tracks segments together in the white tents you see in name's photo, and pulling (or pushing) the rails east toward Ioco on rollers before setting then into the clips. Continuous sections are at least 300 metres long. You can see one rail and the rollers above. Today they were making the second rail on that side. Pretty cool to see.

[casper]

Originally Posted by Kisai

It never had a down escalator. If you look at the physical design of the station, much of it was an after-thought once you consider how close the two neighboring stations are. Remember... the Skytrain predates Metrotown Mall. Both were opened officially in 1986. What used to be there, and still is, is the Sears/Toys-R-Us.

....

The Mall was developed into its current form around the same time as the Expo line opened. That said, parts of it go back to the 1950s. The reason the Sears part of the building looks old, is it was standalone Sears for decades. There was a tinny mal and then another large are that served as a the discount or outlet store for Sears.

[TransitJack]

Originally Posted by Meraki

Because the Canada Line was built cutting as many corners as possible so that the P3 proponent could walk away with a bigger profit.

The Evergreen Line has to be built to the standards and systems set by BCRTC since they will be operating and maintaining it.

It's like how new condo developments are built like crap because the developers only need to sell it and then walk away, where purpose-built rental towers are designed to be cost effective and low maintenance because there's a stakeholder who has to deal with it.

Your comments are somewhat misleading, suggesting that the Priavte sector made things cheap to generate more profit. They built the system as defined in contract, and though efficiencies were likely generated helping their bottom line, it's unfair to suggest that the Private sector is to blame for smaller stations and trains sets, or lacking down escalators (the big complaints of how it's a "cheap" system). It all was approved by RAVCO, overseen by TL and the rail division plus the Province.

Let's not forget the project was killed two times and really only was completed due to "efficiencies" of the Private sector.

Also fair to consider that UG stations are waaaaay more expensive than above ground ones or those at grade. Hence why you get small stations on the CLine.

Broadway extension will be mega bucks as the station platforms, UG, will have to match the lengths of the existing Skytrain network, but then... We will have a new tax to help finance it.

[Olden Retreiver]

There's a short video recently posted on EGRT Facebook page.

"The last segment of the Evergreen Line elevated guideway has been installed! Construction crews celebrate as the final segment of the elevated guideway is lifted in Coquitlam."

[GeeCee]

Originally Posted by Olden Retreiver

There's a short video recently posted on EGRT Facebook page.

"The last segment of the Evergreen Line elevated guideway has been installed! Construction crews celebrate as the final segment of the elevated guideway is lifted in Coquitlam."

That certainly seemed to happen quickly. Now all we'll have to watch is the station construction, I guess.