Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[Alex Mackinnon]

They really should have put a roof over every portion of the track which has sensors.

[Kisai]

Originally Posted by GeeCee

It's usually not the accumulation of snow that stops SkyTrain, it's the falling snow playing games with the track intrusion systems and causing alarms to go off. Today has been no exception.

Sounds like the stations need a "snow tent" over those areas then

Realistically though, if there are areas that are impacted by snow, they could just put a semi-permanent cover over the section that the snow just falls to either side. I'm guessing that the alarms are from the snow interrupting infrared sensors because it absorbs IR.

Or they could just install platform-edge doors.

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by Kisai

Sounds like the stations need a "snow tent" over those areas then

Realistically though, if there are areas that are impacted by snow, they could just put a semi-permanent cover over the section that the snow just falls to either side. I'm guessing that the alarms are from the snow interrupting infrared sensors because it absorbs IR.

Or they could just install platform-edge doors.

Nah, they just turn off the sensors and man the trains with drivers with their fingers over the emergency stop button. It sounds expensive, but for the 2 days a year it snows, I bet over 25 years it's cheaper than installing doors or more structures.

[ilikeredheads]

installing platform screen doors is not an option at all until all the Mark Is are retired.

[MIPS]

Originally Posted by Alex Mackinnon

They really should have put a roof over every portion of the track which has sensors.

A roof has not stopped the leaves.


Image courtesy of MIPS

The entire use of IR and laser intrusion monitoring was always an afterthought on the SkyTrain and the system is simply not designed to use it. We've band-aid fixed it at least half a dozen times now since it rolled out in the 90's.

[dpogue]

They had the usual issues with Millennium Line platform-level intrusion detection systems today, but they were saying the Evergreen ones were "holding their own". The main difference is that the Evergreen stations seem to have two banks of lasers, each spanning half the platform length; rather than a single bank stretching the entire platform length.

They had issues with the pressure plate sensors at some of the Expo stations (New West and 29th in particular), with clumps of snow falling from the roof into the track.

I'm hoping at some point they'll replace the IR sensors at the platform ends with the new camera system that they have at the Evergreen stations, and they're supposed to investigate replacing the older intrusion detectors as part of the McNeil report.

[red-paladin]

Originally Posted by Olden Retreiver

Does TransLink openly or officially acknowledge they don't have enough rolling stock to properly operate "the World's longest automated driverless transit system?"

Service levels on the Millenium Line through Burnaby and East Van are simply not acceptable.

Translink is doing the best they can, they have been denied the needed funding in the referendum, forced to cut and redistribute resources, made to refurbish the MK Is when the original plan was to replace them all with Mk IIIs, and now they have a plan in place to buy more trains next year AND increase the off peak capacity.

However, as someone that takes the M-Line every day to work and back, I think the existing service levels are not that bad anyway.

[Olden Retreiver]

Originally Posted by red-paladin

Translink is doing the best they can, they have been denied the needed funding in the referendum, forced to cut and redistribute resources, made to refurbish the MK Is when the original plan was to replace them all with Mk IIIs, and now they have a plan in place to buy more trains next year AND increase the off peak capacity.

However, as someone that takes the M-Line every day to work and back, I think the existing service levels are not that bad anyway.

Your standards for acceptable service evidently differ from mine.

It is an oversimplification to say TransLink was denied sufficient funding by the referendum. Fact is, transit in metro Vancouver doesn't get enough capital
or operational funding from the province. Yet another regional tax for TransLink was not the appropriate way to fund it.

If it matters, I held my nose and voted 'Yes' but was actually pleased when it failed. Time for everyone to put more pressure on Victoria. Too many metro Van mayors are political allies of the current provincial government and won't make the right requests or complaints.

[SpongeG]

changes to bus routes = the 135 is becoming a b-line with limited stops on hastings, the 160 will become a route with local service on hastings to kootney loop

• Video Link

[nname]

Originally Posted by Olden Retreiver

Time for everyone to put more pressure on Victoria.

But instead, I'm sure 99% of the public put pressure and blame on TransLink, and Victoria got away free.

This was always Victoria's plan ever since the creation of TransLink. It did not change even with the change of government.

[Gordon]

I wonder what the NDP's transit policy is. A good policy could get them votes.

I would think when the enough new trains arrive Mark3s will replacce mark 1s on the expo line giving Translink more capacity for the millennium line.

[MIPS]

Remembering what the NDP did last time they had their hands on regional transit, I trust none of what they say.

[retro_orange]

I still want the Broadway subway first but this is a very close second. The ferry terminal should connect to the train line in the near future.

Delta mayor pushes for expanded transit out to Abbotsford

by James Cybulski
Posted Dec 6, 2016 7:46 am PST
Last Updated Dec 6, 2016 at 7:48 am PST

DELTA (NEWS 1130) – Have you ever taken public transit for a weekend trip to Vancouver Island? You probably know the drill, you have to take the 620 bus to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. Now imagine a day where the Canada Line expands right to the terminal. That’s just a small part of Delta Mayor Lois Jackson’s vision for the future of transit in Metro Vancouver.

With the Evergreen Line extension now complete and showing it’s early benefits during Monday’s blast of snow, the debate is underway once again as to where TransLink should expand next. While Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson has pushed for a Broadway extension to UBC, Jackson sees a greater need south of the Fraser River.

“If we could magically take the Canada Line over our [Massey Tunnel replacement] bridge,” she says. “All the way down the freeway, all the way out to Langley, and all the way out to Abbotsford. That’s what I’d like to see.”

While it’s an ambitious plan, there’s some logic to the suggestion. Surrey is the second largest city in the province and boasts the largest school district in BC. Combining the populations of Abbotsford, Delta, Langley and Surrey, you’re looking at approximately 850,000 people that could benefit from her vision.

“It seems we’re a little behind the times over here on the south side of the river. I think the north side of the river from a point of view of service hours per person per year, I think the north side of the river is being handled very nicely. South side of the river we’re terribly underserviced in my opinion. We have to pay attention to that.”

For many that deal with daily bottlenecks through the Massey Tunnel and over the Alex Fraser Bridge, Jackson’s idea would be a welcome one. “It’s got to be fair. I’m for a system on the south side of the river that would be convenient, save time for people, and money.”

Construction on the 10-lane Massey Bridge is set to get underway in 2017 at a cost of $3.5 billion.

http://www.news1130.com/2016/12/06/delta-mayor-pushes-transit-abbotsford/

[LeftCoaster]

She wants to take the Canada line to Abbotsford?

That just might be the single dumbest thing I've ever read on this forum.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

That just might be the single dumbest thing I've ever read on this forum.

Nah, we've had dumber.

Seriously, if Jackson'd said "Canada Line to Tsawwassen" or "Expo Line to Abbotsford," it'd be fantastical and expensive, but it'd make at least some sense.

But "Canada Line to Abbotsford?" There's a LOT less ridership in Burns Bog than she thinks there is...

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by retro_orange

I still want the Broadway subway first but this is a very close second. The ferry terminal should connect to the train line in the near future.

http://www.news1130.com/2016/12/06/delta-mayor-pushes-transit-abbotsford/

Is she smoking crack? Sending rapid transit through empty ALR lands is just stupid.

[ilikeredheads]

even this were SimCity where you can just bulldoze your way to build anything without consequences, it's still dumb idea. LOL

[nname]

Just check TransLink's Q3 Report... Noticed there is a huge increase of Expo and Millennium Line ridership:

Jan-Sept 2015: 57,167,000
Jan-Sept 2016: 70,942,000 (+24%)

Ridership also increased by 21.5% when comparing only the first half of each year.

Why is there such a big increase? Was the ridership for E&M line underestimated using the old method before? Or there was a large amount of fare cheats before (20% of fare evaders!?), or people just start flocking to the system because they "feel safe" after the gate closed?

Ridership on Canada Line, on the other hand, only increase by about 8%.

Despite bus is now cheaper than SkyTrain, bus ridership fell 1% over the same period.

[nname]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Nah, we've had dumber.

Seriously, if Jackson'd said "Canada Line to Tsawwassen" or "Expo Line to Abbotsford," it'd be fantastical and expensive, but it'd make at least some sense.

But "Canada Line to Abbotsford?" There's a LOT less ridership in Burns Bog than she thinks there is...

I think what she really wants is a line from Delta to Abbotsford... But maybe even she think that's not a good idea, so making it as an extension of Canada Line just makes it sound "better"

[Waders]

Originally Posted by nname

Just check TransLink's Q3 Report... Noticed there is a huge increase of Expo and Millennium Line ridership:

Jan-Sept 2015: 57,167,000
Jan-Sept 2016: 70,942,000 (+24%)

Ridership also increased by 21.5% when comparing only the first half of each year.

Why is there such a big increase? Was the ridership for E&M line underestimated using the old method before? Or there was a large amount of fare cheats before (20% of fare evaders!?), or people just start flocking to the system because they "feel safe" after the gate closed?

Ridership on Canada Line, on the other hand, only increase by about 8%.

Despite bus is now cheaper than SkyTrain, bus ridership fell 1% over the same period.

I think the old "visual" count method was simply inaccurate.