Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by red-paladin

Great video and pics!

Thanks! I got more pics and videos to come.

[Metro-One]

So I took a few more general skytrain glamour shots.

Skytrain just lends itself to photography, especially in New Westminster it seems.

Skytrain by Ian, on Flickr

Skytrain Through New Westminster by Ian, on Flickr

Layers of New Westminster by Ian, on Flickr

New Westminster Skytrain Station by Ian, on Flickr

Skytrain in New Westminster by Ian, on Flickr

Urban Skytrain by Ian, on Flickr

I also want to note that using the compass card was fantastic! I rode skytrain about 10 or so times, so convenient.

I only witnessed one loser sneaking behind people, he tried to get behind me but I stopped and didn't let him. In the old days I am pretty sure there would have been far more than just one person not paying to ride during those times.

[Klazu]

Great snaps, Metro-One!

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Klazu

I don't ride Skytrain often but got a chance ride on a new Mark III this evening to see the UFC fight in Downtown and almost caught the same train on my way! It's nice but I doubt many will be able to differenciate it from Mark II. A little but quieter, but not by much. I like the seating, though.

I got to ride a Mark 3 again today. They don't look that different than a Mark 2.5 so yeah people who aren't transit nerds aren't likely to notice much of a difference. The door chimes and announcements were louder, the doors and power (can't say engine) were slightly quieter and sounded a bit different - I can't really say how but if you listen you'll hear it.

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Great snaps, Metro-One!

Thank you very much! Wish I took more.

Here is one more Skytrain video I made. This one is just the elevated portion of the Canada Line going northbound.

• Video Link

[dpogue]

I was on 408 on Wednesday evening, rode it from Stadium to VCC-Clark. When we got to Sapperton inbound, the interior destination sign and map display shut off. They briefly turned back on between Braid and Lougheed (with the map doing its usual glitch of lighting up all the stations), but shut off again just before pulling into Lougheed inbound. They stayed off for the remainder of the trip, but more worryingly is that the station announcements also seemed to shut off. Door chimes worked, but there were no announcements until VCC-Clark when the train was being taken out of service for the night.

I did mention it to TransLink on Twitter, and to the STA at VCC-Clark, but hopefully they can find a way to prevent that from happening.

[Millennium2002]

Originally Posted by dpogue

I was on 408 on Wednesday evening, rode it from Stadium to VCC-Clark. When we got to Sapperton inbound, the interior destination sign and map display shut off. They briefly turned back on between Braid and Lougheed (with the map doing its usual glitch of lighting up all the stations), but shut off again just before pulling into Lougheed inbound. They stayed off for the remainder of the trip, but more worryingly is that the station announcements also seemed to shut off. Door chimes worked, but there were no announcements until VCC-Clark when the train was being taken out of service for the night.

I did mention it to TransLink on Twitter, and to the STA at VCC-Clark, but hopefully they can find a way to prevent that from happening.

IIRC the same map and destination sign glitch happens with the Mark 2.5s on a periodic basis. I'm not sure what's going on with that... perhaps the older vehicle control computers can't handle the extra information very well or have intermittent communication problems with the on-board ones?

As for the announcements not playing as they should, did you check to see if they were working on other trains? Occasionally they do maintenance or someone's radio accidentally turns on... Although I trust that your account of the situation is probably accurate.

[dpogue]

Originally Posted by allan_kuan

IIRC the same map and destination sign glitch happens with the Mark 2.5s on a periodic basis. I'm not sure what's going on with that... perhaps the older vehicle control computers can't handle the extra information very well or have intermittent communication problems with the on-board ones?

As for the announcements not playing as they should, did you check to see if they were working on other trains? Occasionally they do maintenance or someone's radio accidentally turns on... Although I trust that your account of the situation is probably accurate.

Yeah, I know the map glitches somewhat routinely on the newer Mark IIs. My suspicion is that it gets confused when it gets any sort of "special" command from the control centre (i.e., holding the train at a station, flagging it to go out of service, crossing it over at one of the terminus stations). On the Mark IIs though, that doesn't affect the announcements.

I'm 99% sure the Mark III announcement issue was tied to the map, because it did announce Lougheed in the brief period where the map was working again.

[SOSS]

I guess residents don't feel that buses are a community benefit. I wonder how ecstatic they're going to be once developers start construction of a (likely huge) new development. Granted - that was an odd location for a bus depot.

It’s the last stop for the North Vancouver Transit Centre.

Starting this weekend, TransLink is decommissioning the bus depot on Third Street at St. Davids Avenue and moving the buses to the Burnaby Transit Centre.

The decision, which TransLink first announced in 2012, has been fought over the years by the City and District of North Vancouver councils and UNIFOR Local 111, the union representing the drivers.

All three lobbied heavily for the transit authority to find a new location on the North Shore so, in the event of an earthquake shutting down the bridges, the North Shore would still have a fleet of buses available.

“We did an extensive search of alternatives that included building a new facility on the North Shore; however, current estimates put the cost at $100 million – something TransLink cannot presently afford,” said Chris Bryan, TransLink spokesman.

In 2012, TransLink estimated consolidating the Third Street depot with the Burnaby one would save $20 million over 10 years, eliminating the need for costly upgrades.

In the event of a catastrophe, West Vancouver’s Blue Buses, which are marshalled at a facility off Lloyd Avenue can be pressed into service, Bryan added.

Bus drivers will have to make their way to the Burnaby depot at about 5:30 a.m. to start the morning run and deadhead back at night, but residents who ride transit shouldn’t notice any difference in service, Bryan said.

Neighbours around the depot, however, are welcoming the change. The depot has prompted complaints over noise and diesel fumes since it opened in the early 1940s.

“There’s a celebration that’s going to occur when it closes,” said Jeff Murl, a Fourth Street resident who lives across from the depot.

Murl said he purchased his home knowing the depot was there, but found it to be an even more disruptive neighbour than he thought possible.

“On Sunday at 1 p.m. in the winter, they would just turn on all the buses and idle them for like 45 minutes. There were 20 buses just shaking my house,” he said.

This was in contravention of the city’s anti-idling bylaw, he noted.

“That was pretty annoying,” he said.

The yard was also a source of light pollution thanks to one large spotlight.

“I’m hoping they turn that off when they leave – last one out, turn the lights off would be a good way of doing it.”

What will happen with the site is now an open question.

“As far as its future life goes, our real estate division is going to take a look at that property and see what its best use and what the best option is for the future. At this point, we haven’t made any decisions,” Bryan said. “We always seek to derive best possible value for the properties we have when we decommission so we can return the best possible outcome for taxpayers.”

The city’s official community plan foresees medium-density mixed-use commercial/residential development on the site with a maximum floor space ratio of 2.5 and a maximum height of four storeys.

In 2015, the land was assessed at $5,089,500.

Murl said he’s not bothered by the thought of a four-storey building along Third Street, especially if it includes some kind of grocery store, but he’d like to see some of the land on the north side of the property reserved for community use.

“For me, ultimately, I’d love to see it turned into something that benefits the neighbourhood.

“Everything on Third is going to be sold to the highest bidder, real estate, maxed-out zoning, all that kind of stuff,” he said.

source

[Sheba]

The city’s official community plan foresees medium-density mixed-use commercial/residential development on the site with a maximum floor space ratio of 2.5 and a maximum height of four storeys.

In 2015, the land was assessed at $5,089,500.

Murl said he’s not bothered by the thought of a four-storey building along Third Street, especially if it includes some kind of grocery store, but he’d like to see some of the land on the north side of the property reserved for community use.

“For me, ultimately, I’d love to see it turned into something that benefits the neighbourhood.

“Everything on Third is going to be sold to the highest bidder, real estate, maxed-out zoning, all that kind of stuff,” he said.

Oh yeah, that's sooo maxed out

[Express691]

Big day in Translink as Hamilton Transit Centre starts service today.

Hamilton will take over routes 100 101 104 106 112 116 123 125 128 134 136 144 155 410 and 430.

The fleet at Hamilton consists of around 70 D40LF, 65 Nova LFS, and 13 XN40.

This means we will be seeing D40LF on 106 and 123, and Novabus on 410.

NVTC and OTC have closed as of today. HTC will also take OTC oeprations and BTC will take over former NVTC ops. This explains the transfer of several Burnaby/New Westminster routes to HTC. Routes 26-29 and 130 will stay at BTC.

Today is also the start of the new sheet, with massive changes in Surrey and Langley. 341/342 split being the most significant, improving service for KPU students for the most part.

Minor tweaking around the network as well, new buses still coming in, and PCTC set to take over a few 135 and 145 trippers. The 49 is being returned to VTC. VTC has 28 XDE60 (25 from RTC and 3 from BTC) and they will be operating the artic buses on weekends as they reduce frequency from every 10 minutes to wvery 12 minutes.

[Bdawe]

I haven't been following Hamilton, but come to think about it, why is it a good idea to locate a new bus barn in an area that is only accessible by congested bridges?

[Mac Write]

OTC is closing? NOOOOOOOO!!!!

[Kisai]

Saw this mentioned on Twitter today

http://buzzer.translink.ca/2016/09/vivie...questions-online-and-in-person-sept-7-8/

September 6, 2016, 4:07 pm
Vivienne King – BCRTC President & CEO wants to answer your SkyTrain questions online and in person (Sept 7 & 8)!

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by Mac Write

OTC is closing? NOOOOOOOO!!!!

You had an attachment to it?

[Mac Write]

Yes it's of historical value. They should rebuild it as a Trolly only deep and sell the air rights (aka have a 40ft roof and buildings on top). Now that would be cool and keep the 1940's look.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Kisai

Saw this mentioned on Twitter today

http://buzzer.translink.ca/2016/09/vivie...questions-online-and-in-person-sept-7-8/

I added some questions to the list (prob won't be on reddit or at Waterfront in the morning rush).

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by Mac Write

Yes it's of historical value. They should rebuild it as a Trolly only deep and sell the air rights (aka have a 40ft roof and buildings on top). Now that would be cool and keep the 1940's look.

I love that era too, have any pics of the buildings? I don't think i have ever actually seen it.

What are the future plans for the site? Maybe they can at least maintain the buildings on site for a new use.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Bdawe

I haven't been following Hamilton, but come to think about it, why is it a good idea to locate a new bus barn in an area that is only accessible by congested bridges?

Cheap land?

[nname]

TransLink just released 2015 Transit Service Performance Review

Seems like Appendix A and E have the most interesting information. Appendix F1 have very detailed station usage data for Canada Line. Expo and Millennium only have detailed data dated back in 2011.

Some of the key information:

• Top 10 routes with most ridership: 99, 41, 20, 9, 49, 16, 25, 22, 135, SeaBus
• Other key routes (rank): 410 (13), 319 (17), 130 (20), 96 (21), 97 (22), 250 (24), 239 (25), 145 (31), 502 (33), 701 (41), C23 (44), 601 (63), 555 (75)
• Routes in top 25 for lowest cost per passenger, most boarding per hour, and most turnover: 9, 20, 25, 41, 49, 99, 106, 135, 319
• Bottom 25: 259, 606, C1, C2, C12, C19, C41, C48, C49, C87, C88, N15, N16
• Most crowded: 99, 49, 25, 41, 240, 135, 130, C23, 502, 319
• Most unreliable: 480, N8, 345, 503, 340, N15, 257, C19, N35, 395
• Most reliable: C5, C12, C86, 258, 28, C87, C15, C20, C6, 84
• Weekday ridership for SeaBus 18,170; Canada Line 121,700; WCE 10,400
• Peak load pphpd (per car): Expo 13,250 (400), Expo Surrey 5760 (260), Millennium 3640 (330), Canada 6250 (350), Canada Richmond 2900 (320)