Canadian LRT/RT projects U/C

[Bobert]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Provincial and Federal funding is in place, the approval of phase one for the 10 year plan has allowed both projects to enter detailed design phases, if phase 2 of the 10 year plan is approved both projects (and especially the Broadway Extension) will commence construction in 2018.

So not what I would consider the distant future.

They've recently opened the property tax can of worms, I wonder if that's the preferred method going forward now that the sales tax is out.

[vanman]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

What's next for Vancouver?

Millenium line extension to Arbutus in Vancouver



New LRT lines in Surrey.

[lrt's friend]

Sorry for my ignorance, but why would they not just extend the Expo Line to Langley?

[Coldrsx]

So important, but also ridiculous that they are stopping it at Arbutus.

[p_xavier]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Sorry for my ignorance, but why would they not just extend the Expo Line to Langley?

There is a big debate about LRT vs SkyTrain, much like Toronto Subways vs LRT. The council prefers LRT because it favors locals.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by casper

Looks great. They are beautiful stations. Laminated beams add to the warmth.

On the west coast wood is a staple building material and intrinsic to a "west coast" building style. I wonder it would go over well in other parts of the country or it would look out of place.

I see wood accents trending everywhere.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

Vancouver's Millenium and now Evergreen Lines have done an excellent job at incorporating wood into their designs. The wood gives the station a more intimate feel and feel less utilitarian and look less sterile. When you are in one of the stations you don't feel like you are in a glorified concrete bus stop. It's actually quite inexpensive to do but adds some humanity and intimacy to the station. Congratulations to Vancouver for acknowledging that a station doesn't have cost a fortune {ie Spadina extension} to be attractive and inviting.

We haven't seen the Spadina Stations but, the potential is there for them to be spectacular. A little bit of wood is a nice touch here but, it doesn't make than any less utilitarian. Combinations of Concrete, aluminum, glass and, wood is quite commonplace. Glass doesn't work too well underground either.

[vanman]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Sorry for my ignorance, but why would they not just extend the Expo Line to Langley?

Surrey city council prefers LRT but the best business case is for Skytrain. Already there have been rumours that the provincial government will step in and switch the extension to skytrain which has happened in the past.

[cjones2451]

Originally Posted by vanman

Surrey city council prefers LRT but the best business case is for skytrain. Already there have been rumours that the provincial government will step in and switch the extension to skytrain which has happened in the past.

Cost of land acquisition continues to rise which is driving up the LRT costs, so costs I think will end up being close so I think Skytrain will end up being used for at least the Freaser Highway to Langley portion

[ssiguy]

Langley also wants SkyTrain.

[vanman]

Skytrain to Langley with BRT for the other spurs makes the most sense.

[Metro-One]

It does, but will never happen. Give Surrey their LRT to finally shut them up, and get the most important link (to Langley) built properly with the Expo Line extension. Makes zero sense to switch technologies on a route half way.

[OutOfTowner]

I love the Skytrain. Fast, frequent, easy to use, great views.. what's not to like?

[lrt's friend]

so, it isn't cut and dried about what to do with the Surrey to Langley route? Is there a official position from the politicians on what to do?

[cjones2451]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

so, it isn't cut and dried about what to do with the Surrey to Langley route? Is there a official position from the politicians on what to do?

I think the provincial government has always preferred Skytrain. I think getting into multiple modes (LRT, BRT, Skytrain) gets messy

I know Surrey wanted LRT because they thought it gave them the most coverage per dollar, but I think that keeps going up, has a higher long term costs to operate (drivers etc. but don't quote me on that I may be wrong) but the ridership numbers are not as high as Skytrain

[casper]

Originally Posted by cjones2451

I think the provincial government has always preferred Skytrain. I think getting into multiple modes (LRT, BRT, Skytrain) gets messy

I know Surrey wanted LRT because they thought it gave them the most coverage per dollar, but I think that keeps going up, has a higher long term costs to operate (drivers etc. but don't quote me on that I may be wrong) but the ridership numbers are not as high as Skytrain

Translink it the authority that operates the system. Their board stretches beyond Surrey. I think at the end of the day it is going to be Skytrain technology.

[nname]

Originally Posted by cjones2451

I know Surrey wanted LRT because they thought it gave them the most coverage per dollar, but I think that keeps going up, has a higher long term costs to operate (drivers etc. but don't quote me on that I may be wrong) but the ridership numbers are not as high as Skytrain

Operating cost is TransLink's issue; ridership and revenue from ridership is also TransLink's issue. The city don't pay for operating cost directly, and even if it end up to be a money hole, they can blame the operating company, and there are 21 other municipalities to help cover the cost. Surrey just want something that's as cheaply build as it can so it can get the most km out of the funding - everything else is not their problem. They want quantity, not quality.

[GlassCity]

There are a lot of different reasons Surrey prefers LRT. For instance, they have been quoted as saying that having a transfer to SkyTrain may serve as an impdeiment to travel to further municipalities, thus keeping more people within the city centre (where the Skytrain and LRT would meet).

But the really important thing to remember is who's on what side. Surrey wants LRT. Langley, TransLink and the Province all want SkyTrain. We'll have to see what happens. It's really in the Province's hands.

[p_xavier]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

There are a lot of different reasons Surrey prefers LRT. For instance, they have been quoted as saying that having a transfer to SkyTrain may serve as an impdeiment to travel to further municipalities, thus keeping more people within the city centre (where the Skytrain and LRT would meet).

But the really important thing to remember is who's on what side. Surrey wants LRT. Langley, TransLink and the Province all want SkyTrain. We'll have to see what happens. It's really in the Province's hands.

I find this kind of thinking to be extremely damaging. You usually don't choose where to work, so to impede flow of people means that people won't live in your town. Regions should be easily accessible, not only cities.

[MalcolmTucker]

Hence why the Translink Board should go for Skytrain as a trunk to Langley, with a simultaneous LRT phase. Surrey likely believes if Skytrain is built they will not get LRT within a generation, which is probably right.