Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion - Page 729

Sheba · #**14561** Posted **Feb 10, 2016, 6:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BCPhil

I bet that somewhere at Translink there is a Big Book of Skytrain. In this book are details of all the possible routes and even the backup plans.

The great thing about the Skytrain System has been it's ability to expand. The demo track integrated with the initial system. New West logically lead to Columbia. Columbia provided a way to Scott Road and Surrey, and up to Lougheed. From there they could go to Port Moody or into North/Central Burnaby. The history of the BCRTC doesn't seem to be a by the seat of their pants operation.

King George station clearly points to their intention to extend down Fraser Highway (which in theory could take them eventually all the way to Abbotsford). The station at VCC Clark clearly indicates the intention to continue west. The third platform at Lougheed was part of their plan to extend to Coquitlam. The layout of the tracks at Coquitlam allow them to branch off to Port Coquitlam (and beyond to Maple Ridge), and the end of the line can be extended up Burke Mountain if needed.

Even Waterfront was going to be extended as Bombardiers proposal for the RAV line (and those ideas date back to at least the early 90's), which would have happened had the Liberals not been in such a hurry to get it built in time of the Olympics and unload as much of the cost as possible as a PPP.

I think it all shows that they don't just orient the stations a certain way or add platforms at the last minute of the design phase as what ifs. I think it shows they are working off a master plan in some back office and make concentrated efforts to align the current project with the next one they hope they do.

Stanford85 · #**14562** Posted **Feb 10, 2016, 10:35 PM**

Translink has chosen their new CEO, Kevin Desmond who was the general manager of King County Metro down in washington, and also worked for the MTA in NYC. He also oversaw the launch of the Orca card for the greater Seattle area, maybe he can bring some public stability to Compass. I watched a clip of him speaking at a public meeting in Seattle on Global last night, he seems to be less averse to public interaction than previous Translink CEOs which is a definite plus imo.

Quote:

New CEO Kevin Desmond to lead TransLink
TransLink, February 10 2016

NEW WESTMINSTER, BC — Following an international candidate search and careful review process, the TransLink Board of Directors has selected a new Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Desmond. He assumes the role March 21.

Mr. Desmond is currently the General Manager of King County Metro Transit, overseeing a large regional transit system with strong parallels to Metro Vancouver. He’s been with King County since 2004, which serves the Seattle metropolitan region with a mix of transit modes, including buses, trains, vanpools and paratransit service.

“We look forward to welcoming Kevin Desmond to TransLink, which will benefit from his expertise and leadership,” said Don Rose, Chair of TransLink Board of Directors. “His experience — including public votes on transit funding and the introduction of a light rail line – and his emphasis on collaboration with customers and local stakeholders will be invaluable as we move forward.”

During his tenure, Metro Transit launched light rail and streetcar service, several bus rapid transit lines, grew transit ridership by 44 per cent, and rolled out the ORCA Card – much like TransLink’s Compass Card. Kevin has also been part of three successful votes on transit funding, including the most recent successful Seattle transit ballot initiative in 2014, which is allowing Metro Transit to expand service, address customer demand, and combat overcrowding.

http://www.translink.ca/en/About-Us/Medi...CEO-Kevin-Desmond-to-lead-TransLink.aspx

memememe76 · #**14563** Posted **Feb 11, 2016, 2:22 AM**

Don't know anything about the new CEO, but I HATE public transit in Seattle.

Metro-One · #**14564** Posted **Feb 11, 2016, 2:37 AM**

Yeah, and Seattle loves its surface rail LRT... which has a tiny fraction of the ridership of Skytrain.

These guy better not have a surface rail fetish...

Bdawe · #**14565** Posted **Feb 11, 2016, 7:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Yeah, and Seattle loves its surface rail LRT... which has a tiny fraction of the ridership of Skytrain.

These guy better not have a surface rail fetish...

What surface rail fetish?

Link isn't Max. It's much more grade-separated, they just tragically cheaped out over a few segments.

Metro-One · #**14566** Posted **Feb 11, 2016, 7:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bdawe

What surface rail fetish?

Link isn't Max. It's much more grade-separated, they just tragically cheaped out over a few segments.

While many sections are grade separated, several sections are also at grade with at grade crossings.

That was a massive mistake in building Link. Far larger than any mistakes made with the Canada Line IMO.

So yes, that does worry me.

For me arguable the largest aspect defining quality of a system is full grade separation or not. (of course I am aware that there are many other large aspects, but for me this is a key aspect)

Hence I would still take the Canada Line over Link.

Quote:

Service began on Sound Transit's 13.9-mile (22.4 km) Central Link light rail line on July 18, 2009, serving 12 stations and running 4.4 miles (7.1 km) on elevated tracks, 2.5 miles (4.0 km) in tunnels and 7 miles (11 km) at grade.

Half of a line at grade is half of a line too much.

Large Cat · #**14567** Posted **Feb 11, 2016, 11:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metro-One

While many sections are grade separated, several sections are also at grade with at grade crossings.

That was a massive mistake in building Link. Far larger than any mistakes made with the Canada Line IMO.

So yes, that does worry me.

For me arguable the largest aspect defining quality of a system is full grade separation or not. (of course I am aware that there are many other large aspects, but for me this is a key aspect)

Hence I would still take the Canada Line over Link.

Half of a line at grade is half of a line too much.

And half of a line travelling from nowhere to nowhere along a freeway ROW with no potential for access or redevelopment is half a line too much. Grade separation is good, but people and city separation is terrible. Not to mention a massive deviation in routing to accomplish that.

officedweller · #**14568** Posted **Feb 11, 2016, 12:03 PM**

For all its twists and turns, Link doesn't even get close enough to Southcenter Mall.
And for East Link, Kemper Freeman (owner of the mall) opposed it coming close to Bellevue Square Mall.

Gordon · #**14569** Posted **Feb 11, 2016, 3:27 PM**

full year 2014 ridership Seattle link Light Rail just over 39,000\day
Skytrain was over 354,000 \day Canada line 117,000\day

MIPS · #**14570** Posted **Feb 11, 2016, 3:37 PM**

Good lord the Hastings 14 was especially filthy last night. The back seats had bloody alcohol wipes AND dirty syringes scattered about. Nobody was sitting back there. Did someone seriously shoot up on the bus??

xd_1771 · #**14571** Posted **Feb 11, 2016, 5:33 PM**

Just so that everyone's clear on this, Kevin Desmond is coming in from King County Metro. King County operates Seattle's city bus and trolley-bus network, along with a few streetcars that they operate but are owned/built by the City itself.
KCM doesn't operate the regional light rail system in Seattle, as that is Sound Transit's responsibility.

Kisai · #**14572** Posted **Feb 11, 2016, 8:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by xd_1771

Just so that everyone's clear on this, Kevin Desmond is coming in from King County Metro. King County operates Seattle's city bus and trolley-bus network, along with a few streetcars that they operate but are owned/built by the City itself.
KCM doesn't operate the regional light rail system in Seattle, as that is Sound Transit's responsibility.

I'd actually welcome expansion of the Trolley-bus system, but with cratering oil prices this might only happen under pressure to lower GHG and nothing else.

Gas prices should have dropped by 60% by now from where they were in August 2014. But in Metro Vancouver? Nah, it's actually went up all over 2015 and then cratered back down only 30%. Gas really should be around 60c/L by now.

bluefox · #**14573** Posted **Feb 11, 2016, 10:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kisai

Gas prices should have dropped by 60% by now from where they were in August 2014. But in Metro Vancouver? Nah, it's actually went up all over 2015 and then cratered back down only 30%. Gas really should be around 60c/L by now.

It technically is that price... once you subtract the $0.42 per litre we pay in taxes. Most gas stations in the City of Vancouver right now seem to be around $1.00-1.03/L for regular.

WarrenC12 · #**14574** Posted **Feb 11, 2016, 11:34 PM**

Gas prices are based on refinery supplies, which are constrained.

twoNeurons · #**14575** Posted **Feb 12, 2016, 12:02 AM**

It sounds like Vancouver is an upgrade for Desmond. Probably a no-brainer move for him and his family.

Like it or not, Vancouver doesn't look like it's easily going to attract super-high talent... what with all the bickering, the lack of control due to the province and the high cost of living here, it's definitely not easy to attract talent.

We already lost Tom Prendergast CEO to New York a few years ago. A CEO who was actively calling the province out for its double-handed tactics. http://www.translink.ca/en/About-Us/Media/2008/July/Thomas-Prendergast-named-TransLink-CEO.aspx

LeftCoaster · #**14576** Posted **Feb 12, 2016, 12:04 AM**

Not to mention no one wants the CEO to be paid like a CEO.

Given the citizens of the city, who in the world would want the job?

nname · #**14577** Posted **Feb 12, 2016, 12:56 AM**

No one complained when Prendergast got paid more than 1M a year, but everyone complained when the next two CEOs got paid only 40% compared to him.

NewfBC · #**14578** Posted **Feb 12, 2016, 4:00 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by twoNeurons

It sounds like Vancouver is an upgrade for Desmond. Probably a no-brainer move for him and his family.

You think he's actually moving his family here? I would guess he will commute... That $1500/month housing allowance will help cover a small 1br rental.

Ron.

officedweller · #**14579** Posted **Feb 12, 2016, 4:11 AM**

Came across this regarding installation of a funicular elevator at the new Hudson Yards Subway Station in NYC.
In theory, a funicular could have been used to provide handicapped access @ Granville Station from the Hudson's Bay concourse.
http://theink.nyc/hudson-yards-subway-station-debuts-nycs-first-inclined-elevators/

Sheba · #**14580** Posted **Feb 12, 2016, 5:43 AM**

Technically it's an incline elevator. There aren't many stations we could have used it on here.

Quote:

In addition, passenger access to the station includes a pair of custom-made incline elevators, which are installed in the southernmost of the two shafts between the upper and lower mezzanines, at the 34th Street end of the station. In April 2014, the first of two 172-foot-long (52 m) incline elevators was installed in the station. The elevators are relatively slow in order to encourage non-disabled riders to use the escalators.
34th Street - Hudson Yards