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

[Trainguy]

Originally Posted by Kisai

The fact that Dianne Watts is running for leadership of the BC Liberals, and Global has nothing but good things to say about her makes me think that if she wins, Surrey ends up with 150km of rubbish at-grade LRT-streetcars.

The reality is that we know this is a bad project, Translink knows it's a bad project, the Province knows it a bad project, and the Province and the Federal Government just do not care, because they are just handing out money regardless of the business case. It's the city's problem once it's built, but other jurisdictions don't go out and select a new technology for every line because that makes training and maintenance costs that much higher.

As an analogy, it's like Southwest Airlines and Westjet who save money operating their airlines by standardizing on just ONE aircraft model. Where as all the other airlines just buy whatever fits their request for bids, and as a result cost more to maintain.

Past a certain point you just wash your hands of it when the idiots in charge want their vanity project come hell or high water.

Well, they are still 20% short of funding and a solution hasn't been agreed upon yet. Also, Hep needs to ram through her 105th ave project with huge opposition from residents and the school board. Construction estimates are rising as well. She wants to put shovels in the ground next year... good luck with that.

[M00dy]

Originally Posted by Trainguy

Well, they are still 20% short of funding and a solution hasn't been agreed upon yet. Also, Hep needs to ram through her 105th ave project with huge opposition from residents and the school board. Construction estimates are rising as well. She wants to put shovels in the ground next year... good luck with that.

I'll say it again - remember in the run-up to the LAST municipal election when she said that it would be done by the next one?

[flipper316]

Originally Posted by M00dy

I'll say it again - remember in the run-up to the LAST municipal election when she said that it would be done by the next one?

She's so delusional. Why doesn't she and the city concentrate on issues that will actually benefit residents like protecting more green space instead of obliterating every scrap of little forests Surrey has left.

[Express691]

https://www.translink.ca/-/media/Documen...t/20170928_open_board_meeting_report.pdf

According to this file, the 96 B-line will be part of a 3-door boarding pilot program, scheduled to behin in Q4 2017.

[CanSpice]

Originally Posted by Express691

https://www.translink.ca/-/media/Documen...t/20170928_open_board_meeting_report.pdf

According to this file, the 96 B-line will be part of a 3-door boarding pilot program, scheduled to behin in Q4 2017.

How can it be a "pilot program" when the 99 B-Line has had this for ages?

[Express691]

Originally Posted by CanSpice

How can it be a "pilot program" when the 99 B-Line has had this for ages?

The file points to the 95 and 96 as pilot projects, and even mentions that the 99 already does it. Idk. Ask whoever wrote the file Though yes, I do agree with you that calling it a pilot ptoject is incorrect.

[cganuelas1995]

Originally Posted by Express691

The file points to the 95 and 96 as pilot projects, and even mentions that the 99 already does it. Idk. Ask whoever wrote the file Though yes, I do agree with you that calling it a pilot ptoject is incorrect.

It's not like it's a huge innovation. I do informal non-front door boarding on buses when someone exits through the back and there's a wheelchair going through the front.

[ilikeredheads]

Originally Posted by cganuelas1995

It's not like it's a huge innovation. I do informal non-front door boarding on buses when someone exits through the back and there's a wheelchair going through the front.

I'm surprised the driver didn't kick you off and tell you to wait after the wheelchair's been set.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Again, it's weird that Surrey needs an LRT when even the B-Line isn't at full capacity yet. 7-8 minutes at peak hour and front-only boarding is more like a high-capacity express bus.

[cganuelas1995]

Originally Posted by ilikeredheads

I'm surprised the driver didn't kick you off and tell you to wait after the wheelchair's been set.

Other people do it too. Once the driver announced "front door" but that was it. I always tap on when I board through the back.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Again, it's weird that Surrey needs an LRT when even the B-Line isn't at full capacity yet. 7-8 minutes at peak hour and front-only boarding is more like a high-capacity express bus.

Hush you and your common sense.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by CanSpice

How can it be a "pilot program" when the 99 B-Line has had this for ages?

They probably intend it as a "pilot" for those particular routes. Calling it a "pilot" lets them back out more gracefully if any issues crop up.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

They probably intend it as a "pilot" for those particular routes. Calling it a "pilot" lets them back out more gracefully if any issues crop up.

i am pretty sure even the 98 B-Line had all door boarding back before Canada-Line opened.

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Again, it's weird that Surrey needs an LRT when even the B-Line isn't at full capacity yet. 7-8 minutes at peak hour and front-only boarding is more like a high-capacity express bus.

Building rapid transit is far too often not about improving transit or adapting to demand. Most modern systems are vanity projects. We always talk about improving transit, but nobody actually tries to. Building unneeded expensive fancy trains doesn't help anything.

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by CanSpice

How can it be a "pilot program" when the 99 B-Line has had this for ages?

All-door boarding should be an automatic feature of any route designated as a B-Line.

[cganuelas1995]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

All-door boarding should be an automatic feature of any route designated as a B-Line.

I think they could also extend that feature and have it for any route when it does a transfer at skytrain stations during peak hours.

[Trainguy]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

Building rapid transit is far too often not about improving transit or adapting to demand. Most modern systems are vanity projects. We always talk about improving transit, but nobody actually tries to. Building unneeded expensive fancy trains doesn't help anything.

All transit projects are wishlists until:

1. all funding is in place

2. contracts have been signed

3. shovels start hitting the dirt

How often have we seen projects announced or speculated only to have them never get built or seriously delayed?

[cornholio]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

All-door boarding should be an automatic feature of any route designated as a B-Line.

All door boarding should be for all buses. Drivers cant stop someone from boarding anyways, it doesn't make a difference. Hence why the honor system is superior when fines, ticket checks and fine collection is adequate. Prague (along with most of Germany) has all door boarding for everything and a honor system and it speeds everything up so much. They have undercover inspectors that randomly check people and give out fairly large fines. Also when you get a fine you can deduct the amount off a yearly transit pass if you buy it right away. Too bad Vancouver went the turnstile route which is pretty old school last century type stuff.

Regardless buses should all be all door boarding. Drivers are not ticket inspectors anyways so there is no point to force front door boarding. Also a second thing that can be improved, increase the spacing between bus stops a tad, their too close together.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by cornholio

All door boarding should be for all buses. Drivers cant stop someone from boarding anyways, it doesn't make a difference.

Somehow, I don't believe you.

Of course, failing something that extreme, a driver can simple refuse to drive until the unwanted "rider" gets off; anecdotally speaking, even a simple "leave" over the intercom should suffice (at least in Vancouver).

Originally Posted by cornholio

Hence why the honor system is superior when fines, ticket checks and fine collection is adequate... Too bad Vancouver went the turnstile route which is pretty old school last century type stuff.

And for ridership data collection, distance-based fares or just requiring a tap-in to prevent the need for fines in the first place? Low-tech, non-digitized paper tickets and a picket line of Transit Police - a common sight as recently as 2013 - isn't just "last century," it's downright North Korean.

Originally Posted by cornholio

Also a second thing that can be improved, increase the spacing between bus stops a tad, their too close together.

The spacing's fine. What we need is more frequency - a 15 minute wait in the Old World means that your bus is late.

[Pinion]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Somehow, I don't believe you.

The driver would be fired and the thief would easily win an assault lawsuit for that in Vancouver.