Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by Tfreder

And what a surprise to see the Hastings B-line, after decades of anticipation.

Once upon a time it was actually a trolley route - #34 Hastings Express. The express overhead is still there...

[Sheba]

TransLink will be initiating public outreach and consultation under the banner of Transit Network Consultation. Through this program TransLink will be seeking public input on each of the proposals. Management will be engaging municipal councils on the proposals in late September and October. The public input period will be from October 13 to November 6, 2015. TransLink will thereafter report out on the results of the public consultation, and recommendations. Based on those recommendations, TransLink management and its operating entities will work to implement the changes on a quarterly basis, starting in 2016.

Board meeting report

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by allan_kuan

Route 26 is becoming way too convoluted. It needs more of an overhaul vs a detour to cover the section that the 49th won't cover.

To simplify it I'd pull it off 49th (which already has the 49 and 430) between Tyne St and Boundary and instead have it continue down Tyne to Blake St / Matheson Cres. Of course I don't know how many people use transit in that area...

[Millennium2002]

There was some old talk regarding the 2/22, which involved several parts iirc:
Combining the 2 into the 22
More short turn runs between 16th/Trutch and Knight/Kingsway
Eliminate peak hour trips via Terminal and replace with shuttle bus
Reduce frequencies for full-length routes

I'm kind of glad it didn't go ahead as planned, as the reduced frequency would have caused havoc with my schedules...

[st7860]

A few years ago the 26 27 29 were reduced to hourly service after 10pm nightly and every 20m during the daytime on weekdays. That was the first time I ever saw a full sized bus route in vancouver with frequencies that low

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by bardak

Agreed but if that routing allows them to remove the detour from the 49 I am all for it. The 26 can be fixed later.


I would like to see them just cancel the 480 and put the funds towards implementing the B-line on 41st. the only people that save any time from using the 480 are prople coming to Bridgeport from the 351/601. Even then it only saves a few minutes if there happens to be one loading when they get dropped off.

The CoV could improve the 49 immensely by replacing parking on 49th with a curb side bus lane. Robertson like to talk a lot about sustainability transportation and this would probably be of the quickest and cheapest way to achieve that.

I take the 480 from the 601 and it exists to be able to get all those South of Fraser riders onto a bus to UBC. Getting on the 41/43/49 at the Canada Line stops is not a pleasant experience. Even with additional service, I'm not sure they'd be able to handle that increased load. I'm not sure the Canada Line could either for that matter. You should see some of the lines that exist even just to get on the 480, and it comes every 8 minutes...

[Express691]

Its just basic trigonometry, where people would rather ride the hypotenuse (480) instead of the adjacent and opposite sides (49/43/41 and Canada line).

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

I take the 480 from the 601 and it exists to be able to get all those South of Fraser riders onto a bus to UBC. Getting on the 41/43/49 at the Canada Line stops is not a pleasant experience. Even with additional service, I'm not sure they'd be able to handle that increased load. I'm not sure the Canada Line could either for that matter. You should see some of the lines that exist even just to get on the 480, and it comes every 8 minutes...

But there are times when the 480 seems to be overdone.

Several months ago, I was heading out to the ferry one evening and waiting for the 620 at Bridgeport. The 620 was severely delayed. About 200 people were lined up for the 620 bus. During that time about 4 480 buses, all articulated left, with about 2 passengers total (yes, 3 buses left empty).

Although, I guess it will be busier starting today, as you can ride it to escape an extra zone fare. You can go from White Rock to UBC on a 1 zone fare!

[dandor31]

Originally Posted by BCPhil

But there are times when the 480 seems to be overdone.

Several months ago, I was heading out to the ferry one evening and waiting for the 620 at Bridgeport. The 620 was severely delayed. About 200 people were lined up for the 620 bus. During that time about 4 480 buses, all articulated left, with about 2 passengers total (yes, 3 buses left empty).

Although, I guess it will be busier starting today, as you can ride it to escape an extra zone fare. You can go from White Rock to UBC on a 1 zone fare!

I've definitely seen the 480 packed leaving UBC, but do agree it is a bit of an odd bus and redundant with the Canada Line. I think it might just help pick up some of the overload of the 41/43 during peak hours. It does seem like it might truly be helpful for people in Marpole getting out to UBC (given that there aren't really and E-W buses south of 49th).

I did have a bit of an idea how to modify it. Why not send it to Marine Dr Station? It seem it is more and more becoming the hub for south Vancouver. This could get rid of another "2-zone" bus as well. I think combined with truncating the 100 as Marine Dr Station (instead of sending it all the way to Marpole) might have a worthwhile business case without really reducing service. Or even combining it with the 100 (if there is significant through traffic at the Canada line, but I expect there is a large passenger turnover there).

I do have to admit I don't travel around Marpole that often so it may be outlandish.

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by BCPhil

But there are times when the 480 seems to be overdone.

Several months ago, I was heading out to the ferry one evening and waiting for the 620 at Bridgeport. The 620 was severely delayed. About 200 people were lined up for the 620 bus. During that time about 4 480 buses, all articulated left, with about 2 passengers total (yes, 3 buses left empty).

Although, I guess it will be busier starting today, as you can ride it to escape an extra zone fare. You can go from White Rock to UBC on a 1 zone fare!

Several months ago, as in during the summer? When school isn't in session? Bridgeport Station at 7-9am in the school months is crazy, and people are occasionally passed up by the 480 and have to wait for the next one (I'm not counting the people that stand and wait so they can get a seat). I don't have a problem with extra transfers, and Canada Line>49/41/43 is actually a few minutes faster than the 480. But I would be concerned as to whether those buses would be able to handle the huge load that gets onto the 480 every 8 minutes. If it works, then sure get rid of it, but I'd be skeptical that it could.

I agree that it should be seriously reduced in the summer, if not straight up eliminated. But I think it does play an important role right now, as evidenced by its popularity.

[st7860]

The 41/43 are not running even close to the amount of buses as the 9/99 - they could easily handle the 480s load if the vehicles were transferred.

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by st7860

The 41/43 are not running even close to the amount of buses as the 9/99 - they could easily handle the 480s load if the vehicles were transferred.

Yeah I guess that's true. Like I said, if it would work than I would support it, because I agree that the 480 is a bit redundant. I think the best solution is to extend the Millennium Line to UBC

[Large Cat]

Originally Posted by dandor31

I've definitely seen the 480 packed leaving UBC, but do agree it is a bit of an odd bus and redundant with the Canada Line. I think it might just help pick up some of the overload of the 41/43 during peak hours. It does seem like it might truly be helpful for people in Marpole getting out to UBC (given that there aren't really and E-W buses south of 49th).

I did have a bit of an idea how to modify it. Why not send it to Marine Dr Station? It seem it is more and more becoming the hub for south Vancouver. This could get rid of another "2-zone" bus as well. I think combined with truncating the 100 as Marine Dr Station (instead of sending it all the way to Marpole) might have a worthwhile business case without really reducing service. Or even combining it with the 100 (if there is significant through traffic at the Canada line, but I expect there is a large passenger turnover there).

I do have to admit I don't travel around Marpole that often so it may be outlandish.

Better yet, get rid of the 480 and EXTEND the 100 all the way to UBC. This helps everyone in Marpole/South Vancouver get to UBC, and gets rid of the river crossing redundancy. They could even use artic buses on this route given high levels of congestion east of Marine Dr Stn, and given anticipated high ridership west of Marine Dr Stn given the absence of the 480. This is not my original idea.

[Express691]

100: They would need to upgrade 22nd street station to accomodate Articulated buses. I do hope this happens soon because the 410 and 100 are in dire need of articulated buses.
The other thing I am worried about is that routing from 22nd street all the way to UBC would mean that the buses would fall behind schedule easily. Proof: 100 used to be called the 800 and ran between Port Coquitlam and the Airport. It was then split in the 1990s at New Westminster and the leg to Coquitlam was renumbered the 158.

What I do reccommend is for the 480 and 100 to be interlined with each other with additional buses on the separate routes added during Rush hour.

601: I hope they redevelop Springs Boulevard so it could accept traffic from 52 street so that the 601 does not have to make that acute left turn onto Highway 17 to head slightly Borth again.

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by Express691

100: They would need to upgrade 22nd street station to accomodate Articulated buses. I do hope this happens soon because the 410 and 100 are in dire need of articulated buses.
The other thing I am worried about is that routing from 22nd street all the way to UBC would mean that the buses would fall behind schedule easily. Proof: 100 used to be called the 800 and ran between Port Coquitlam and the Airport. It was then split in the 1990s at New Westminster and the leg to Coquitlam was renumbered the 158.

What I do reccommend is for the 480 and 100 to be interlined with each other with additional buses on the separate routes added during Rush hour.

601: I hope they redevelop Springs Boulevard so it could accept traffic from 52 street so that the 601 does not have to make that acute left turn onto Highway 17 to head slightly Borth again.

But by doing that the 601 would miss the entire busy portion of 56 Street, or am I misunderstanding something?

[Express691]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

But by doing that the 601 would miss the entire busy portion of 56 Street, or am I misunderstanding something?

Actually,my mistake. Woops

[bardak]

Ideally Delta would spend some money and create a short transitway between 52nd and 56th street to eliminate most of the negatives of the 601 reroute. It would also serve an undeserved area of tsawwassen around 52nd and springs blvd.

My prefers idea is along the red route and Translink's plan is in orange,

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by bardak

Ideally Delta would spend some money and create a short transitway between 52nd and 56th street to eliminate most of the negatives of the 601 reroute. It would also serve an undeserved area of tsawwassen around 52nd and springs blvd.

My prefers idea is along the red route and Translink's plan is in orange,

I think longterm TransLink wants to build a full exchange at the rec centre parking lot and that routing would miss it. Also, that right of way between 52nd Street and the park is first of all a bike route, second of all owned by BC Hydro who seems to be very protective of that corridor for whatever reason. TransLink's current planned reroute might not be perfect but I don't think it's really that bad. It's probably the best compromise they could've come up with.

[bardak]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

I think longterm TransLink wants to build a full exchange at the rec centre parking lot and that routing would miss it. Also, that right of way between 52nd Street and the park is first of all a bike route, second of all owned by BC Hydro who seems to be very protective of that corridor for whatever reason. TransLink's current planned reroute might not be perfect but I don't think it's really that bad. It's probably the best compromise they could've come up with.

Don't worry I'm fullly aware that my proposal belongs in the fantasy thread.

Edit: as for the hypothetical bus exchange my route would be less than a one minute detour to get to it. Many routes take much larger detours to get to bus exchanges. The detour to ladner exchange is further than my routing would be. That being said my routkbg would never happen because somebody would have to actually spend money.

[xd_1771]

100: They would need to upgrade 22nd street station to accomodate Articulated buses. I do hope this happens soon because the 410 and 100 are in dire need of articulated buses.

22nd has previously accommodated articulated buses, during the rare instance when an XDE60 does the 410 run.