Expo Line - Surrey Langley Extension: Planning & Pre-Construction

[GlassCity]

Just cause Surrey's trying to get a really stupid transit line doesn't mean we need to start breaking up TransLink. Our region's inter-connectivity is our greatest strength. This can be addressed in other means.

[cganuelas1995]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

Just cause Surrey's trying to get a really stupid transit line doesn't mean we need to start breaking up TransLink. Our region's inter-connectivity is our greatest strength. This can be addressed in other means.

Yeah by telling them to go fund themselves.

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by cganuelas1995

Yeah by telling them to go fund themselves.

And by extension forcing anyone trying to get to our second biggest municipality to go through the pleasure that is transferring between transit agencies.

[cganuelas1995]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

And by extension forcing anyone trying to get to our second biggest municipality to go through the pleasure that is transferring between transit agencies.

I personally want to watch that thing fail.

[logicbomb]

What else can you do when a municipal government is unwilling to work with the regional transportation agency?

Plus:

"Yeah, we're going to allow development in the hinterlands complete with sprawled detached homes and wide roads so we can attract residents!"

"We have inadequate bus service that does not meet the needs of our residents! Translink only provides hourly service in Clayton Heights! Please support LRT."

[GlassCity]

There's nothing that says we have to cater to Surrey's whining. Overall Surrey being in TransLink jurisdiction is an enormous positive. Just because it feels entitled to better transit than it deserves doesn't mean we need to kick it out. Richmond wanted LRT too, and so did Coquitlam. I am optimistic that this too shall pass.

Since I do agree that the NDP could easily cave to Surrey's LRT demands, I'm hoping for delays in the process until the next Surrey municipal election in November 2018. Here's to hoping there's a candidate that runs on a pro-SkyTrain platform.

[cganuelas1995]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

There's nothing that says we have to cater to Surrey's whining. Overall Surrey being in TransLink jurisdiction is an enormous positive. Just because it feels entitled to better transit than it deserves doesn't mean we need to kick it out. Richmond wanted LRT too, and so did Coquitlam. I am optimistic that this too shall pass.

Since I do agree that the NDP could easily cave to Surrey's LRT demands, I'm hoping for delays in the process until the next Surrey municipal election in November 2018. Here's to hoping there's a candidate that runs on a pro-SkyTrain platform.

I hope the first step in this is that they upgrade the 96 stops to basically be stations, just without the tracks and overheads, and that procurement of the funds for the rail infrastructure fails and they have to settle with BRT.

[Trainguy]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

There's nothing that says we have to cater to Surrey's whining. Overall Surrey being in TransLink jurisdiction is an enormous positive. Just because it feels entitled to better transit than it deserves doesn't mean we need to kick it out. Richmond wanted LRT too, and so did Coquitlam. I am optimistic that this too shall pass.

Since I do agree that the NDP could easily cave to Surrey's LRT demands, I'm hoping for delays in the process until the next Surrey municipal election in November 2018. Here's to hoping there's a candidate that runs on a pro-SkyTrain platform.

The Mayor's council is dysfunctional. Each municipality wants their own pet project without a vision of what is best for the whole region. Case in point is the Canada Line. They rejected it, Liberals built it anyway. Metro Van needs a professional transportation planning committee that serves the whole region. LRT down Fraser Hwy just makes the case for this. This idea is too easy for the geniuses in Metro Van so the status quo continues.

[Bdawe]

Originally Posted by Trainguy

The Mayor's council is dysfunctional. Each municipality wants their own pet project without a vision of what is best for the whole region. Case in point is the Canada Line. They rejected it, Liberals built it anyway. Metro Van needs a professional transportation planning committee that serves the whole region. LRT down Fraser Hwy just makes the case for this. This idea is too easy for the geniuses in Metro Van so the status quo continues.

How does the Canada Line episode show what you claim it shows in any way?

The region had agreed that the Evergreen Line was the next priority. They collectively stuck to this agreement until Victoria forced them to accept their own priority. It wasn't about some municipality's own pet project - they had an agreed sequence of investments that higher government disagreed with.

[Trainguy]

Originally Posted by Bdawe

How does the Canada Line episode show what you claim it shows in any way?

The region had agreed that the Evergreen Line was the next priority. They collectively stuck to this agreement until Victoria forced them to accept their own priority. It wasn't about some municipality's own pet project - they had an agreed sequence of investments that higher government disagreed with.

It totally makes my case that the Mayor's council is a collection of incompetent buffoons. Get some professionals running the show instead.

[Geof]

Originally Posted by Trainguy

It totally makes my case that the Mayor's council is a collection of incompetent buffoons.

The Canada Line decision was 13 years ago. You think it makes a case that an entirely different group of mayors are incompetent buffoons? Never mind that your argument is only weakened when all you point to is one debatable event from yesteryear.

[ilikeredheads]

Canada Line was rejected twice before it was finally approved (narrowly, I might add) because we had mayors constantly bickering about how it doesn't benefit them.

Fastforward today, despite the streetcar being no more than a pet vanity project, there isn't any opposition from the mayors. You know why? because if this thing gets through, now every municipality will have an excuse to whine for their own pet project. It's not a can of worms you want to open.

[cganuelas1995]

Originally Posted by ilikeredheads

Canada Line was rejected twice before it was finally approved (narrowly, I might add) because we had mayors bickering about how it doesn't benefit them.

Fastforward today, despite the streetcar being no more than a pet vanity project, there isn't any opposition from the mayors. You know why? because if this thing gets through, now every municipality will have an excuse to whine for their own pet project. It's not a can of worms you want to open.

I think the Mayors council should have the decision making power reduced and handed over people in the affected municipalities. Big projects should be put to a vote and the Mayors council should listen to them.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by cganuelas1995

I think the Mayors council should have the decision making power reduced and handed over people in the affected municipalities. Big projects should be put to a vote and the Mayors council should listen to them.

And then everybody will vote No like the tax referendum and we'll never get anything. Leave transit with the province and keep electing a government that's smart enough to side with the experts over the mayors or public.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by cganuelas1995

I think the Mayors council should have the decision making power reduced and handed over people in the affected municipalities. Big projects should be put to a vote and the Mayors council should listen to them.

We already vote to put these people in a position to make big decisions. Why should we vote again on individual projects?

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

And then everybody will vote No like the tax referendum and we'll never get anything. Leave transit with the province and keep electing a government that's smart enough to side with the experts over the mayors or public.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

these things should be taken out of politicians hands and given to engineers and planners to decide where the next line should go. planners and engineers come up with location, routing, lengths, technology taking into consideration current usage, technology integration, projected populations and current populations. they should come up with a 10 year plan to replace the mayors 10 year plan. that way instead of pandering to the mayors and building crap, it is actual the best for the region. but that will never happen; oh well, such is life.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

these things should be taken out of politicians hands and given to engineers and planners to decide where the next line should go. planners and engineers come up with location, routing, lengths, technology taking into consideration current usage, technology integration, projected populations and current populations. they should come up with a 10 year plan to replace the mayors 10 year plan. that way instead of pandering to the mayors and building crap, it is actual the best for the region. but that will never happen; oh well, such is life.

But then what are the future mayors going to use to look good or to get elected?

[Metro-One]

Again, if we allowed the mayors to dictate out last two major transit projects both would have been as at grade LRT.

Luckily professionals and the province prevented such a disaster twice.

We are simply lucky this time around that the current Vancouver council has selected the correct technology for their project, sadly Surrey has fallen for the current fad approach...

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

But then what are the future mayors going to use to look good or to get elected?

maybe they can use their intelligence and brains!!! just kidding, they don't have that. i guess they are out of luck.

[cganuelas1995]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

But then what are the future mayors going to use to look good or to get elected?

They'll probably pander to the youth for their votes and take a shitload of selfies and try to act like they're "with it" by using really shitty memes.