Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[waves]

Originally Posted by cornholio

In the future there could also be a revival of a highway (as proposed pre Olympics) from Iron workers up towards Seymour lake and tunneled over to the north end of Indian arm and on its way to Squamish, which would help most metro Vancouver traffic bound for Squamish/Whistler to pretty much by pass the north shore.

Interesting idea. The tunnel would have to be 6km long, then another 35-40km of highway. However, maybe this discussion should be going on in the Transit Fantasy thread?

[Reecemartin]

Sometimes I think this forum needs a "transit fantasy" button that just bumps posts to the fantasy thread.

"Hey guys why don't they build an underground maglev from Chillawack to Vancouver like Japan!" (Smashes transit fantasy button)...

[cornholio]

Originally Posted by waves

Interesting idea. The tunnel would have to be 6km long, then another 35-40km of highway. However, maybe this discussion should be going on in the Transit Fantasy thread?

This was not long ago a studied option. And why I mentioned it.

Originally Posted by Alex Mackinnon

I think the most likely routes to that would be up either the east side of Indian Arm, or up Buntzen Lake. The most likely route going that way would be up Harrison Lake though.

I haven't heard anything about going up Indian Arm recently. The Seymour, Capilano and Coquitlam watersheds are no-go areas, because Metro Van is very protective of their water quality.

I've been hearing that Jordan Sturdy and some of the First Nations Groups are advocating for the Stsailes Rd. (West Harrison FSR) to be paved. That would be pretty sweet in my opinion, and it would take a lot of the pressure off advocacy for another route to Whistler. That area also has fairly limited amounts of restricted access lands, and the logging road is treacherous as hell. So it's a win-win compared to other roads.

I agree the Buntzen lake option with a short bridge up to Barnet highway and on to Gaglardi and the number one would be superior for the region (and it was studied as well and if memory servers me right the pre Olympic cost was in the 3 billion range for a 4 lane highway along Indian arm to Squamish and Whister and a connection to no1 via Gaglardi). You also make a good point that there would likely be a issue with the watershed no matter what sort of design was proposed. The Buntzen/Indian arm option also has very little property in the way, well except 2km stretch of rural land in Anmore. Indian arm is pretty tough along the shore there but once you are at its end its easy going to Squamish.

Regarding the west Harrison lake road. It was looked at pre Olympics as well and they decided not to pave it at the time, but it will be paved one day. Honestly it makes sense to pave the road and create a new connection between the two points. Plus it would help the native communities there. There already is a forestry road that is perfectly passable with a vehicle with high enough clearance (I made it through with out a 4x4 and have driven that road dozens of times in my life). Having said all this the day its paved would be a a bit of a sad day for me as well as it would sort of ruin that area by making it so much more accessible. By by Sloquet, and by by all the places along there you can camp and be alone and free.

Regarding the West Harrison road. Cost Benefit Analysis
http://inshuckch.com/wp-content/uploads/...UCKchFSRsocioeconomicreportNov2010-1.pdf

Either way any of these options would relieve some pressure for the north shore.

[xd_1771]

Heads up everyone,
News1130 reporting that the Mayors are going to do a news conference at King George Station this morning. Although I live near there, I won't be available to attend.

Apparently they will be "asking Victoria" for funds or whatever it is they want this morning. The choice of location is curious.
http://www.news1130.com/2017/04/05/mayor...-improve-transit-across-metro-vancouver/

[Metro-One]

They have 40% from the feds, and now 40% promised by both the NDP and the Liberals (ironically still only 33% as a base from the Greens), what are the asking for now?

Their share has shrank from 33% to 20%, that is already a major win. Not that i would be against either the Feds or the Province giving more, but at this point i feel like the mayors are starting to push their luck.

[xd_1771]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

They have 40% from the feds, and now 40% promised by both the NDP and the Liberals (ironically still only 33% as a base from the Greens), what are the asking for now?

Their share has shrank from 33% to 20%, that is already a major win. Not that i would be against either the Feds or the Province giving more, but at this point i feel like the mayors are starting to push their luck.

Yeah I am wondering what's up. I've decided to scrap those plans and attend the news conference which starts in 7 minutes

[WarrenC12]

Looks like a non-story. Just calling on all provincial parties to promise to fund the plan...

[xd_1771]

And a yes campaign website 2.0 (curecongestion.ca)
Containing neither real numbers nor business case figures. Clearly they are trying to rely on going populist to move transit and I don't think this is a good strategy... I'm also guessing they wanted to draw attention away from the Massey Tunnel related press conferences today

[officedweller]

Running Rail Replacement Program
http://www.translink.ca/en/About-Us/Media/2017/April/Running-Rail-Replacement-Program.aspx

[Reecemartin]

Kind of curious has anyone created a map to show what transit will look like after the Mayors' vision is fully implemented? All this new b-lines would look great on this map...
http://infomaps.translink.ca/System_Maps/129/MVTM-Dec%202016.pdf

[Reecemartin]

Also in other news was watching the Translink board meeting and noticed that they are doing a trial with a BYD electric bus soon, somewhat interesting. Desmond also mentioned a meeting with NFI about electric buses anyone heard any details?

[SpongeG]

• Video Link

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by Reecemartin

Kind of curious has anyone created a map to show what transit will look like after the Mayors' vision is fully implemented? All this new b-lines would look great on this map...
http://infomaps.translink.ca/System_Maps/129/MVTM-Dec%202016.pdf

Not a nicely drawn up one like that, but I did draw them into Google Maps, because I agree, it's awesome looking at all the lines everywhere:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=19maag7y_51HiEEkShAYCrewDSSg&usp=sharing

[Reecemartin]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

Not a nicely drawn up one like that, but I did draw them into Google Maps, because I agree, it's awesome looking at all the lines everywhere:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=19maag7y_51HiEEkShAYCrewDSSg&usp=sharing

Good to see that we are focusing on a few corridors, hopefully in the future that means we will have the density to run 24/7 service on all of them.

[Marshal]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

Not a nicely drawn up one like that, but I did draw them into Google Maps, because I agree, it's awesome looking at all the lines everywhere:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=19maag7y_51HiEEkShAYCrewDSSg&usp=sharing

Anyone hazard a guess when the Mayor's Plan will be fully implemented? Let's just assume it stays as is. Also, what will the population of Metro be? And, the saddest question (potentially) will the entire Fraser Valley be covered in buildings and roads by then . . . will geographical growth outpace the plan's reach?

[Reecemartin]

Originally Posted by Marshal

Anyone hazard a guess when the Mayor's Plan will be fully implemented? Let's just assume it stays as is. Also, what will the population of Metro be? And, the saddest question (potentially) will the entire Fraser Valley be covered in buildings and roads by then . . . will geographical growth outpace the plan's reach?

In Langley and Surrey most growth will happen along major transit corridors such as Fraser Highway and 200st. Imo the longest term projects are the LRT and Broadway Subway, I'm pretty confident everything will be operational within 10 years perhaps sans a Fraser Highway Expo Line Extension.

[officedweller]

Came across this video of a Coquitlam-bound M-Line trains using Platform 1 at Lougheed dated March 15, 2017:

• Video Link

Vancouver-bound M-Line train using Platform 3 at Lougheed on the same day
Looks like Expo Line trains still used Platform 2 - so westbound trains were split between 2 platforms.

• Video Link

No wrong-railing that day!

Notice how the Expo Line train leaves Platform 2 and the M-Line train leaves Platform 3 soon after - both westbound.
Maybe it was a test to maintain short headways? (instead of westbound trains lining up/waiting at Platform 2?)
The M-Line train arrives at Production Way as the Expo Line train is leaving.
Platform 2 could be Expo Line to Production Way and Platform 3 M-Line to VCC-Clark.

************

Here's the regular eastbound pattern to Platform 3 at Lougheed (and wrong-railing to Burquitlam):

https://youtu.be/ejjAGaSdTt4

[TransitJack]

There was a switch out of service up by Burquitlam so they had to run it this way. Kind of seems more efficient this way but I imagine it could have affected headways on Expo.

[Vantage]

Wow, that seems way more efficient. I wonder if they've considered using that pattern permanently.

[Reecemartin]

Originally Posted by Vantage

Wow, that seems way more efficient. I wonder if they've considered using that pattern permanently.

More confusing for passengers though, since Platform 2 and 3 are both servicing westbound service while platform 1 would alternate destination?