SkyTrain Station Renovations

[The_Henry_Man]

Originally Posted by officedweller

From the Journal of Commerce Dec 8, 2015:


http://journalofcommerce.com/Infrastruct...tion-work-at-Broadway-Skytrain-1012022W/

I really hope they would leave enough room in the Cut to put in another railroad track (BSFR) in order to permit expanded and more efficient WCE service to Abbotsford and Chilliwack.

[city-dweller]

Originally Posted by The_Henry_Man

I really hope they would leave enough room in the Cut to put in another railroad track (BSFR) in order to permit expanded and more efficient WCE service to Abbotsford and Chilliwack.

I was thinking the same thing. Would it be possible to fill the entire gap with the track bed and adjust the existing track to fit two?

[casper]

Originally Posted by city-dweller

I was thinking the same thing. Would it be possible to fill the entire gap with the track bed and adjust the existing track to fit two?

Looks like there might even be enough room for a centre platform between the two tracks. Perhaps in a few years a Broadway WestCoast Express station.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by The_Henry_Man

I really hope they would leave enough room in the Cut to put in another railroad track (BSFR) in order to permit expanded and more efficient WCE service to Abbotsford and Chilliwack.

There really isn't enough traffic that goes through the cut that another track is needed. Most of the rail traffic in that corridor leaves the line at Willingdon Junction where the line branches off through the Thornton tunnel to the CN bridge across Burrard Inlet. There are only a handfull of long-haul passenger trains per day and the occasional freight bound for the interchange to the CP downtown yard. I can't imagine that it would be much of a problem to schedule such a light traffic volume to move over the single track.

[urbancanadian]

There's room for two sets of tracks. But I wish they would've managed the space better.

One day I'll post my fantasy maps on here. I could potentially see up to five commuter rail lines in the region in the far future. Three of them would serve the South of Fraser cities, and would terminate at Pacific Central Station via the Grandview Cut. That would definitely mean a station at Commercial-Broadway since it would enable easy access to Central Broadway, UBC, etc...

But realistically, a "Fraser Valley Express" line will surely happen one day, and if it travels through the cut, I'm sure we'll see a station here. It's a no brainer, methinks.

[The_Henry_Man]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

There really isn't enough traffic that goes through the cut that another track is needed. Most of the rail traffic in that corridor leaves the line at Willingdon Junction where the line branches off through the Thornton tunnel to the CN bridge across Burrard Inlet. There are only a handfull of long-haul passenger trains per day and the occasional freight bound for the interchange to the CP downtown yard. I can't imagine that it would be much of a problem to schedule such a light traffic volume to move over the single track.

True, but having twin tracks in that section of BSFR would allow for all day frequent WCE service to the Fraser Valley.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by The_Henry_Man

True, but having twin tracks in that section of BSFR would allow for all day frequent WCE service to the Fraser Valley.

I'm having a really hard time imagining all-day WCE service that needs to be more frequent than about 20-30 minutes outside of rush hours in the foreseeable future.

[urbancanadian]

Doesn't the Port expect traffic to increase by quite a bit along that line? Hence the Powell Street overpass and upcoming Malkin Connector (and overpass), and other upgrades that jlousa alluded to a while back.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by urbancanadian

Doesn't the Port expect traffic to increase by quite a bit along that line? Hence the Powell Street overpass and upcoming Malkin Connector (and overpass), and other upgrades that jlousa alluded to a while back.

Yup - that's why the redevelopment of the False Creek Flats (and removal of the railway tracks) is no longer in the cards.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

I'm having a really hard time imagining all-day WCE service that needs to be more frequent than about 20-30 minutes outside of rush hours in the foreseeable future.

Half hour frequency towards DT in the morning with hourly frequency on the way out of Vancouver.

Hourly frequency in both directions non-peak.

Half hour frequency out of DT in the evening with hourly frequency towards DT.

[Express691]

Hi all

Not to mention, there is have a heavy rail/WCX Proposal discussion here.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=164316&page=41

[Katherine S]

I don't know if this has already been discussed, but I thought I'd add it in case; Surrey has a proposal out now for the north end of the Surrey Central SkyTrain station. This has come out of their December planning reports

http://www.surrey.ca/bylawsandcouncillibrary/PLR_7915-0361-00.pdf

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Katherine S

I don't know if this has already been discussed, but I thought I'd add it in case; Surrey has a proposal out now for the north end of the Surrey Central SkyTrain station. This has come out of their December planning reports

http://www.surrey.ca/bylawsandcouncillibrary/PLR_7915-0361-00.pdf

A couple tidbits:

The scope of work will include a 19-square metre (205 sq.ft.) platform expansion at the north, with a new station house 920 square metres (9,903 sq. ft.) in size. Within the new station house, a new CRU, 82.5 square metres (885 sq.ft.) in size, is proposed at the ground level.

The new 920-square metre (9,903 sq.ft.) station house has been designed as a 2-storey pavilion.

An 82.5-square metre (885 sq.ft.) commercial retail unit (CRU) is proposed adjacent the 103 Avenue entrance, encouraging activity along the street edge. It is has been strategically placed to provide views of the station's interior activities and be near the future bus pick-up bays along 103 Avenue.

[red-paladin]

Originally Posted by Katherine S

I don't know if this has already been discussed, but I thought I'd add it in case; Surrey has a proposal out now for the north end of the Surrey Central SkyTrain station. This has come out of their December planning reports

http://www.surrey.ca/bylawsandcouncillibrary/PLR_7915-0361-00.pdf

Thanks for posting and welcome to the forum!

[Millennium2002]

According to the rendering, this will be the third station (after Scott Road and Burrard) to have separate fare paid zones for the elevator and the stairs / escalators. This is due to the fact that that they plan to have a public passageway in between to allow people to shortcut the corner.

My only nagging points are:
- Why are the widths of the two entrances different?
- I really hope that lime green isn't the shade of green that will be used in the final project...

Otherwise, I think this will be a cool addition to the Downtown Surrey area. Hopefully they will also reconstruct the southern entrances and deep-clean the station to its former glory as part of future phases.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by Sheba

A couple tidbits:

Some renders from the PDF

[urbancanadian]

Thanks Katherine for the info!!

Some tidbits from quickly scanning the document:
- This is only the first phase. The whole station makeover is actually quite complex, and will likely require the North Surrey Arena to go before they can move on past this. The concrete walls on the west side will 🞵🞵🞵🞵 up against future development sites.
- This phase includes a new North station house, with a new elevator, and entries from the north (103rd) and the east (City Parkway).
- Future phase to include a new South station house.
- New CRU along 103 Avenue (likely a cafe).
- Surrounding paving will be similar to, and blend in with City Hall Plaza.
- Roof to be replaced in future phase.
- Once LRT is built, the sidewalk along City Parkway will expand by 3 metres.
- Translink wants to start work in May, 2016.

Here's another render from the document:

http://www.surrey.ca/bylawsandcouncillibrary/PLR_7915-0361-00.pdf

[officedweller]

Nice, thanks!

[Katherine S]

Thanks for the welcome!

My main worry with the renovation planned in the report is the width of the sidewalk currently (that is, until the LRT gets built). With the 502 stop located not too far away, it is possible that it's going to get quite busy and crowded at that corner.

[mcminsen]

I was at Commercial/Broadway today and took these pics. The first two are looking from East 10th Ave, the 3rd - 5th are looking from Broadway, the last 3 are looking into the ravine.



Dec.18 '15, my pics