Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[Alex Mackinnon]

Originally Posted by Caliplanner1

...and (silly me) to think that the local economy was "booming" via BUSINESS GROWTH (even in terms of optics) as a partial function of foreign investment (weather from American tech firms here or the economic multiplier effect when foreign real estate spending positively impacts the local construction/housing materiel or input supply chain industries etc.)?

It is. Housing prices rose about 30% in a year. The economy grew by 5%.

Pretty huge discrepancy.

[Caliplanner1]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

foreign real-estate investment from China hasn't done anything except drive prices up, increase the vacancy rate, and decease the urban canopy ~3% in ~20 years.

yes, sure, construction is great. but no one can afford to buy those places with either acquiring lots of debt, moving from a place they bought many years ago, or rich Chinese people.

tech firms is new and has nothing to do with local politicians. but with the cost of rents going up so much firms are moving to other places and local "mom and pop" shops are closing down. Robsonstrasse is really no more.

so we get a lot of cheaply made, over priced glass boxes, and not enough of them because of government policies. and the demand for them keeps going up due to government lack of policies.

now interest rates are going up at a time when house hold debt is so high due to the housing market being over inflated. that isn't a good recipe for people.

I generally agree with what you say above (e.g. foreign investors helping to drive up local house prices etc.) except for the point about the government being at fault for not "growing the local economy". If I'm not mistaken Christy Clark's administration has been aggressively pro-business,...not sure if any other administration could be more right wing in their "selfish"/pro-wealthy economic policies.

Further, I question the rationality of your assertion that cheaply made/overpriced glass boxes are the construction result of government policies and NOT capitalist private sector (profit) mantras and attendant (real estate) market forces!

Finally, provincial government policies in B.C. over the last 16 years of right-wing (Liberal) governance have been capitalistic, not socialistic so blame related market-based public sector economic strategies, and not just "government" (itself) per se!

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by Alex Mackinnon

It is. Housing prices rose about 30% in a year. The economy grew by 5%.

Pretty huge discrepancy.

Especially with wage growth only 2.2% last year. We also earn notably less across most employment sectors in Canada in comparison to the U.S..

We do not have the jobs to support our housing prices.

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by invisibleairwaves

Why would Translink want to make a Mission/Vancouver commute more attractive?

This. Mission isn't in TransLink's service area, so it's really not its responsibility to provide service there. If the Province ever wanted to expand TransLink's coverage area to the Valley (as I believe has come up every now and then before?) then maybe they would put more resources into it, but for now, there's really no benefit.

Originally Posted by Trainguy

Urban sprawl has an underlying element.. greed! People want it all and in exchange double or triple their commute time in each direction. What happened to living and working in your community?

Well there's not much you can do when the housing you most prefer is in one place and the best job you can get is another. Sure to some people proximity to work is important, to others it's not. There's nothing wrong with travel—it's part of what living in a city means. The question is on how to make this travel as efficient and sustainable as possible.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Yup. "Live where you work" only works if A) your job is near your home and B) your salary matches your rent/mortgage... evidently, that is not the case for everybody.

[cganuelas1995]

http://www.delta-optimist.com/news/delta...n-pending-express-bus-changes-1.21231393

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by urbancanadian

The day after a Transportation Minister is named, I suggest you all email him/her about your concerns WRT grade separation. I will certainly do the same.

It would send a stong message if on the first day on the job the new minister received a couple dozen emails on the topic.

Metro Vancouver mayors have high hopes for new NDP TransLink boss

Members of TransLink’s Mayors’ Council say rookie MLA Bowinn Ma has the right qualifications to be parliamentary secretary for TransLink, a portfolio that’s important to Metro Vancouver residents.

The appointment came Tuesday as Premier John Horgan and his new cabinet ministers were sworn in during a ceremony in Victoria.

The government brought TransLink, responsible for Metro transit and major roads, under the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and appointed Ma, who was an engineer and project manager for the Vancouver Airport Authority, as parliamentary secretary to deal with the transit authority.

“Bowinn is obviously very excited about taking on the role. I think she’s got a really interesting background with an engineering degree and connection to transportation policy, so I think she’ll be very knowledgeable,” said New Westminster Mayor Jonathan Coté, who chairs the TransLink Mayors’ Council’s funding-strategy committee.

He said it was “critically important” to have someone who is familiar the issues faced in the region responsible for TransLink.

Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore, who is also on the Mayors’ Council, agreed.

“I think it’s excellent that we have someone from the Lower Mainland responsible for TransLink,” Moore said.

...

The new transportation minister, Claire Trevena, will oversee the elimination of bridge tolls, the future of the Massey bridge project, highway upgrades, and B.C. Ferries.

Bowinn Ma's website and wiki page
also
Claire Trevena's website and wiki page

[Pinion]

Bowinn impressed me while campaigning, did way more than anyone else (ever) to try to get me to vote for her. And of course with the north shore now having the worst bottlenecks and public transit this side of Surrey it makes sense.

Here's another article:

New North Vancouver MLA to oversee TransLink

North Vancouver’s newly elected NDP MLA Bowinn Ma has been named the parliamentary secretary responsible for TransLink.

As the parliamentary secretary, Ma will answer to Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Selina Robinson, but her main job will be overseeing the transit authority as it goes through a critical phase of expansion.

Ma said she received word on Monday from John Horgan’s chief of staff that she was being asked to take the post, which she was “thrilled” to accept.

“I was not going to say no to this file. TransLink is so crucial to us being able to resolve the traffic congestion issue here on the North Shore,” she said.

Ma, an engineer by training and a daily SeaBus commuter prior to entering politics, has specialized in transportation in her academic study.

“It is an issue that I am passionate about. I am an avid public transit user. It’s a fantastic opportunity for me to serve B.C. and the North Shore,” she said.

The NDP has already committed to funding 40 per cent of the TransLink Mayors’ Council vision, which includes another SeaBus and 10-minute service, a B-line bus from Phibbs Exchange to Dundarave and an increase in regular bus service.

It’s still early days to know exactly what the portfolio will have in store beyond that but Ma said her government will start consultations soon on what’s on Metro Vancouverites’ transit wish list beyond the current Mayors Council vision.

“We also acknowledged that it’s not enough. The public consultations will be about the long-term vision. Where do we go beyond the 10-year mayors’ plan? It doesn’t talk about rapid transit to the North Shore. Is that something we want to pursue? These conversations will come out from the public consultation and help inform how we go about developing a long-term plan,” she said.

City of North Vancouver Darrell Mussatto, who was at the swearing in ceremony, said he was “extremely happy” with the choice of Ma.

Ultimatley, it will benefit local residents and commuters to have Ma in that role, he added

“I think it will mean that TransLink is going to better understand the issues on the North Shore, which are getting worse by the day,” he said.

Mussatto said Ma will face a steep learning curve but he has every confidence in her. “I’m very impressed with her abilities. She’s very talented,” said.

Ma received words of encouragement from North Vancouver-Seymour’s Liberal MLA Jane Thornthwaite, who welcomed her to the job on Twitter.

“Congratulations on your appointment. Looking forward to working on #transit issues in #northvan+ #northshore,” Thornthwaite posted.

http://www.nsnews.com/news/new-north-vancouver-mla-to-oversee-translink-1.21273963

[LeftCoaster]

Our new Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure lives on Quadra Island?

How in the world does that make any sense?

[Alex Mackinnon]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Our new Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure lives on Quadra Island?

How in the world does that make any sense?

Time to start looking at making island hopping bridge routes via Quadra Island, the Sunshine Coast and Campbell River then.

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by Alex Mackinnon

Time to start looking at making island hopping bridge routes via Quadra Island, the Sunshine Coast and Campbell River then.

Anything to make our beautiful coast more accessible to visit and I'm down.

[Metro-One]

Already sent my e-mail insisting on the importance of grade separation for rail.

Encourage you all to do the same.

[WBC]

Originally Posted by Alex Mackinnon

Time to start looking at making island hopping bridge routes via Quadra Island, the Sunshine Coast and Campbell River then.

Bridge?!? Nah...Time to dust off those fast ferries...

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by WBC

Bridge?!? Nah...Time to dust off those fast ferries...

those are in Egypt now. but i bet a new and improved Fast Cat plan is in the works already. the first program did create union maritime jobs in BC; so it did what the NDP wanted.

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

those are in Egypt now. but i bet a new and improved Fast Cat plan is in the works already. the first program did create union maritime jobs in BC; so it did what the NDP wanted.

anyone know what it cost bc taxpayers to have clark's ndp build the not-quite-FastCats, and then gordo's liberals to dump them?

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by jsbertram

anyone know what it cost bc taxpayers to have clark's ndp build them and then gordo's liberals to dump them?

cost ~$450 million to build. we got about ~$19 million when we sold them. they were ~3yrs behind schedule for delivery and only 2 of the 3 went into service for about ~4 months.

[ryanmaccdn]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

cost ~$450 million to build. we got about ~$19 million when we sold them. they were ~3yrs behind schedule for delivery and only 2 of the 3 went into service for about ~4 months.

I sorta miss riding on them. They were futuristic and quick. To bad they didn't work out.

The noise of the car deck air seals coming online were awesome and they had these large PID's/LCD's everywhere showing time until destination info, ect. Also the 2 level air lobby was a nice change compared to the crap they are making now.

[Metro-One]

Instead of talking about the fast cats I hope others on here have also taken this early opportunity to e-mail the new minister about the failings of the current Surrey LRT plan and their support of grade separation.

[Waders]

Skytrain refurbishment project on track

[GeeCee]

What are they going to do with OMC2 after they finish refurbishing the Mk Is?