Time for Vancouver to Tear Down Its Viaducts? - Page 237

s211 · #**4721** Posted **Aug 16, 2016, 2:27 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vin

Are you guys prepared to foot half a billion dollars for this useless Vision pet project?

When's the next election? I know how I'm voting.

Migrant_Coconut · #**4722** Posted **Aug 16, 2016, 4:21 AM**

Traffic wouldn't be that much of a problem if there weren't three cross-streets (and corresponding traffic lights) in the way. How did the City arrive at "only three more minutes" of additional commute time? Have they ever driven, taken a bus or otherwise used ANY arterial road at rush hour?

I do try not to be a hater (believe it or not

). But it seems that Robertson, Meggs and company - like so many politicians before them - are so caught up in their Big, Shiny Legacy Project that they can only see the numbers that they want to see, and not the numbers they'll actually get on opening day.

Bcasey25raptor · #**4723** Posted **Aug 16, 2016, 7:39 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

The reason that the area around the viaducts is the last to be developed is because it's the least desirable area on the Concord Lands for a number of reasons, including proximity to the DTES.

The longer they wait, the better the price they can probably get for their condos sales due to limited sites as the rest are developed.

i.e. remember in the late 1990s or early 2000s when Bosa cancelled (or put on hold) the last tower of CityGate because it wasn't selling?
That's the one farthest north / closest to the viaducts.

The same would have applied to a Concord project in the same area.

I don't see the concord pacific lands in question as being that close to the DTES, they are quite detached especially thanks to the viaducts.

I live on main street across from the city gate towers and I wouldn't really say this is that close to the dtes, the whole of chinatown is in the way, the dtes doesn't really start until around pender.

trofirhen · #**4724** Posted **Aug 16, 2016, 12:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by logicbomb

The only thing that could replace the viaducts would be an expensive tunnel. Other than that....a gaggling-choking-bottleneck seems like an inevitable nightmare. Well done Vancouver, well done...

Vancouver does many things very well; downtown liveability, green space, oceanfront access, a Super rrt system up and running with more to come ...unfortunately, when it comes to roads, it just doesn't have it.

officedweller · #**4725** Posted **Aug 16, 2016, 10:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bcasey25raptor

I don't see the concord pacific lands in question as being that close to the DTES, they are quite detached especially thanks to the viaducts.

I live on main street across from the city gate towers and I wouldn't really say this is that close to the dtes, the whole of chinatown is in the way, the dtes doesn't really start until around pender.

I'm thinking more historically - in the 1990s before International Village was built out.
The viaducts were there - but along Abbott St., etc. it was a empty until you got to the DTES.

Here's a 1996 shot after Andy Livingstone Park (repository for contaminated soils from International Village) was built:

http://www.globalairphotos.info/large/BC/Vancouver/Downtown/1996/086/2

trofirhen · #**4726** Posted **Aug 16, 2016, 11:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Traffic wouldn't be that much of a problem if there weren't three cross-streets (and corresponding traffic lights) in the way. How did the City arrive at "only three more minutes" of additional commute time? Have they ever driven, taken a bus or otherwise used ANY arterial road at rush hour?

I do try not to be a hater (believe it or not

). But it seems that Robertson, Meggs and company - like so many politicians before them - are so caught up in their Big, Shiny Legacy Project that they can only see the numbers that they want to see, and not the numbers they'll actually get on opening day.

Where does Geoff Meggs buy his clothes anyway? And where does he get his hair cut? And does he shave? Looking the way he does, no wonder he needs a "legacy project." It's his version of an image makeover.

Express691 · #**4727** Posted **Aug 18, 2016, 6:18 PM**

Mark 3s go in service today, as far as I know they will be on the Expo line only for today at least.

Expecting a 1:50ish pm departure from King George (based on what time the inaugural run departs waterfront)

Jebby · #**4728** Posted **Aug 18, 2016, 6:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Express691

Mark 3s go in service today, as far as I know they will be on the Expo line only for today at least.

Expecting a noon time-ish departure from King George (based on what time the inaugural run departs waterfront)

Wrong thread?

Vin · #**4729** Posted **Aug 18, 2016, 8:27 PM**

Ohh guess what?! They just narrowed the east-bound direction of Pacific Boulevard in front of the new Casino to 2 lanes. So much for the super-road concept, eh?

posted/photo by mcminsen

trofirhen · #**4730** Posted **Aug 18, 2016, 8:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vin

Ohh guess what?! They just narrowed the east-bound direction of Pacific Boulevard in front of the new Casino to 2 lanes. So much for the super-road concept, eh?

Ah, but this is Vancouver .... in Toronto, Montreal, San Fran, even Seattle, they'd all be laughing till their stomachs hurt, but not here. Not in Vancouver.
As I said, the city just doesn't have the mentality or basic savvy for this kind of thing. And I still hate to think of the gridlock that awaits. They'll learn.

Vin · #**4731** Posted **Aug 18, 2016, 8:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Ah, but this is Vancouver .... in Toronto, Montreal, San Fran, even Seattle, they'd all be laughing till their stomachs hurt, but not here. Not in Vancouver.
As I said, the city just doesn't have the mentality or basic savvy for this kind of thing. And I still hate to think of the gridlock that awaits. They'll learn.

Maybe we should just put forward the idea to shut the section down to become a public plaza like Robson Square. They love little quirky stuff like that it tickles their fancy.

Migrant_Coconut · #**4732** Posted **Aug 18, 2016, 8:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Ah, but this is Vancouver .... in Toronto, Montreal, San Fran, even Seattle, they'd all be laughing till their stomachs hurt, but not here. Not in Vancouver.
As I said, the city just doesn't have the mentality or basic savvy for this kind of thing. And I still hate to think of the gridlock that awaits. They'll learn.

Or will they only see the dozen new bikes on the road and call it a success? Selective memory is a chronic illness among policy makers.

trofirhen · #**4733** Posted **Aug 18, 2016, 9:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vin

Maybe we should just put forward the idea to shut the section down to become a public plaza like Robson Square. They love little quirky stuff like that it tickles their fancy.

If they did that, where would all the vehicle traffic go? ..... hmmm? Suggestions welcome.

jbrizzy · #**4734** Posted **Aug 18, 2016, 9:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vin

Ohh guess what?! They just narrowed the east-bound direction of Pacific Boulevard in front of the new Casino to 2 lanes. So much for the super-road concept, eh?

posted/photo by mcminsen

EB Pacific is two lanes from BC Place west and it's been like that for a while.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.27464,-123.1140077,202m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

officedweller · #**4735** Posted **Aug 18, 2016, 9:24 PM**

Yeah, the super-road will only be east of the new Georgia St. ramp.
This part of Pacific Blvd will remain one-way eastbound.

idunno · #**4736** Posted **Aug 18, 2016, 9:47 PM**

I was wondering - maybe this space is for the future streetcar a la Pacific/Davie?

officedweller · #**4737** Posted **Aug 18, 2016, 9:59 PM**

Yes it's the streetcar RoW.

jsbertram · #**4738** Posted **Aug 18, 2016, 10:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trofirhen

I can't help fearing that what will replace the Viaducts will turn that area into a gagging, choking, bottleneck at rush hours. I just hope that some innovative traffic engineers work on it.

That's when the roads are open.

What about when they're closed for the many marathons that have their start or finish lines at BC place (closing Expo Blvd and /or Pacific Blvd) and use the nearby parking lots (site of future waterside parks) as staging areas.

These closures may only happen a few times a year, but each time will clog all the other roads to/from eastside Vancouver.

With the Viaducts, if Expo Blvd and /or Pacific Blvd are closed for these events, traffic on the viaducts just blissfully glides by....

jsbertram · #**4739** Posted **Aug 18, 2016, 10:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

I'm thinking more historically - in the 1990s before International Village was built out.
The viaducts were there - but along Abbott St., etc. it was a empty until you got to the DTES.

Here's a 1996 shot after Andy Livingstone Park (repository for contaminated soils from International Village) was built:

http://www.globalairphotos.info/large/BC/Vancouver/Downtown/1996/086/2

Had a laugh at seeing "Lake Henderson" before Tinsletown was built.

Vin · #**4740** Posted **Aug 18, 2016, 10:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

Yeah, the super-road will only be east of the new Georgia St. ramp.
This part of Pacific Blvd will remain one-way eastbound.

Since it's going to be a super road, shouldn't they plan to have it widened further up towards Yaletown? Say if an accident blocks off traffic on the West Georgia ramp or along West Georgia, diverted traffic can go onto this so-called "super-road" starting from Burrard Street. Doesn't make sense to make it constricted like that for a Super-road, whatever that means, especially since there will be added densities along Pacific Boulevard (Vancouver House, Charleson, 1300-1320 Richards, The Arc, One Pacific, Parq Vancouver and the future Plaza of Nations development). Looks like there isn't any long-term transportation planning IMO. EB Pacific Blvd. should at least have 3 lanes: 2 lanes for through traffic and an additional lane for the new development or stadium access, etc.