Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by CanSpice

I disagree. Surrey's road network is largely laid out in a grid, with avenues running east-west and streets running north-south. They also laid things out so "major" roads are eight blocks apart, or about 800m apart. TransLink considers "walking distance" to the Frequent Transit Network to be 400 metres, which means if you put an FTN route on every one of Surrey's major roads, you'd get nearly the entire city within walking distance of an FTN route. Couple it with SkyTrain running diagonally down the northern half of Surrey down Fraser Highway and you've got an efficient way of feeding a lot of the population to SkyTrain via the FTN.

Now clearly they're not going to do this (not every major road actually goes all the way through, or not every major road goes through dense enough population districts) but this notion that Surrey isn't laid out in an efficient manner for ANY transit is a fallacy.

I was gonna say the exact same thing. Surrey's arterials are a dense grid. Whether the residential streets within that grid are straight or cul-de-sacs has little impact on transit operations.

I don't get where this idea comes from that Surrey is some ultra-suburban hell scape in general. Compare it to the typical Prairie suburb and there's just no comparison.

[dandor31]

Yes, you can theoretically see the 800m grid that could exist in Surrey, but it currently doesn't exist. And you can't run a comprehensive grid system if streets don't run the whole length of the city. Surrey is thus left with bus routes every 1600m (1mile), in general, that can run the whole length of the city. In Vancouver, there is a major street every 800m that actually runs the full length of the city. It's not really a good comparison of the strong grid every 800m in Vancouver (Granville, Oak, Cambie, Main, Fraser, etc.) to Surrey (104th Ave, 100th, 96th, 92nd, 88th, 84th, etc.) where you can't even run a route the full length on 100th, 92nd and 84th. Thus Surrey is left with a grid closer to 1600m spacing.

I would have to disagree that the arterial network in Surrey is as dense as Vancouver, until those streets run the entire length of the city. Given the road network, I would say Translink is doing a pretty decent job with coverage.

[Meraki]

Originally Posted by Mac Write

Any tricks to stocking the double decker bus? I want to find it so I can ride it for a few hours or so.

https://tcomm.bustrainferry.com/mobile/bus/1008
https://tcomm.bustrainferry.com/mobile/bus/1009

That will list their schedule for the day, and current location.

[Mac Write]

I tried t-comm by model and they weren't listed there, so I assume you new the bus numbers.

Thank you.

[Tvisforme]

Originally Posted by CanSpice

North Shore should be on the list well before a third Burnaby line. Or a line to Delta. Or a line out to PoCo, for that matter.

What's involved in running to Delta? I'm presuming this would be an extension of the Canada Line, but given that the Richmond stretch is single-track (why, council, why?) it would need to be upgraded. Are the support pylons strong enough for a double track or would Translink be starting from scratch?

[Metro-One]

Been over this, but the only options that make sense to Delta from Richmond due to massive expanses of ALR / farmland would be rapid bus or commuter rail. Rapid bus with an expanded 99 / GMT replacement by far makes the most sense, and we had such a plan in place only last year that would have directly connected such buses to Bridgeport Station via dedicated flyovers from the 99...

[Migrant_Coconut]

Earlier discussion on twinning Brighouse here.

As for why it's single-tracked, it was a compromise for the NIMBYs in Richmond City Hall (who wanted a "less disruptive" LRT).

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by nname

I don't think TransLink is doing that bad in term of grid service given the density and road network in the region. Let's see for each route:

North-South:
112th: #312 is running it's entire length
116th: #316 is running most of it's length
120th/Scott: #319 is FTN north of 72nd, less frequent service with another route(s) south, but there is service for most of it's length. Extending #319 south is probably a waste as there are already multiple routes that uses there
124th: Limited service with #329, road disconnected in center
128th: #323 running northern half, peak-only #393 running almost entire length
132th: #324 running almost entire length, with #C75 servicing lower-density area in the south
136th/KGB: #96 and #321 providing FTN for entire length
140th: #325 running almost entire length
144th: #341 and #342 providing service in southern half, road disconnected in north
148th: #341 providing service in northern half, road disconnected in center
152th/Johnson: #375 running almost entire length, #320 providing FTN in north, future FTN corridor
156th/Finlay: #326 servicing north; road not connected in center
160th/Stayte: #335 servicing north; #363 servicing south; road disconnected in center
168th/Coast Meridian: #320 providing service in a short section, but there's almost nothing outside Cloverdale
176th/Pacific: Serviced by E-W routes; there's almost nothing outside Cloverdale
184th: Serviced by E-W routes; there's almost nothing outside Cloverdale
192th: Serviced by E-W routes; there's almost nothing outside Cloverdale
200th: #501 providing service in north; #531 providing service in south, future FTN corridor
208th: #595 providing service in north, road disconnected in center
Anything east of that is just pretty much just farmlands, except for maybe 264th and 272th way east, and there's no service on those two roads.

Basically, there's at least some sort of transit service every 4 blocks in central Surrey, and every 8 blocks (green) there's service that's at least every 15min in peak and run past midnight most days. FTN (or planned) is every 16 blocks (red: 120, 136, 152 ... 200).

East-West:
108th: #335 providing service, road disconnected in center
104th: #96 and #320 providing FTN service, #337 and #501 service almost entire length
100th: No service except for short sections, but road disconnected in center
96th: #312/#314/#316 running in west, #388 and #501 running in east, no service in center. This is one road I see service can really be improved, though TL had been planning to add a route that run the entire length here (see 88th below)
92th: No service, road is very disconnected
88th: #388 is running the western part. TL was planning to move #388 to run it's entire length once the 96th cross-town is implemented. But the ridership just isn't there, with peak-only service running nearly empty for years before downsizing to shuttle. This is a future FTN corridor (if they can get the ridership going)
84th: Road almost doesn't exist
80th: No service, but road disconnected in center
76th: Road almost doesn't exist
72th: #319 providing FTN for a short section, while multiple routes providing service in the western portion; #372 providing service in east, but road disconnected in center. This is another FTN corridor for the entire length, but unless there's a road, no bus can be run...
68th: Road almost doesn't exist
64th: #364 providing service for almost entire length
60th: #320 providing service in east, road disconnect in center
56th/Hwy10: #342 providing service for almost entire length, not sure if it will ever become FTN due to low population, but at least a major corridor
48th: There's nothing there, not even the road
40th: There's almost nothing there
32th: Small section where there is population is serviced by #363, otherwise there's almost nothing there
24th: #531 providing service in east; a route servicing western portion is planned, not sure if it will ever become FTN due to low population, but at least a major corridor
20th: #360 providing service where there is population
16th/N Bluff: #351 providing service in west; there's pretty much nothing in east
12th/Buena Vista: #363 providing service
8th/Marine: #361, #362 providing service in west; there's pretty much nothing in east
0th: Do we really need service there?

Again, there's some sort of service every 4 blocks where there is population, 8 blocks (green) for frequent peak and service running past midnight, and 16 for FTN (red: 104, 88, 72). At least that's the plan. But until the roads are actually connect and there's more ridership to support it's implementation, how much more can we ask for?

For 264th Street and 272nd Street, I’d say that little exists outside of Aldergrove.

I’ve always envisioned the 555 coming down 264th Street to serve Aldergrove though. :p Perhaps with that, 503 can finally provide consistent 2-way service on Fraser Highway between the 2 arterial roads.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

For 264th Street and 272nd Street, I’d say that little exists outside of Aldergrove.

I’ve always envisioned the 555 coming down 264th Street to serve Aldergrove though. :p Perhaps with that, 503 can finally provide consistent 2-way service on Fraser Highway between the 2 arterial roads.

How do you suggest the 555 get from Carvolth to Aldergrove, where "little exists". You're better off coming up with a route for an Aldergrove Community Shuttle and suggesting it to TransLink.

[Waders]

TransLink has launched the Universal Fare Gate Access Program.

[flipper316]

https://globalnews.ca/video/3983634/translink-disabled-fare-gate-solution

9 million? What happened to them building brand new glass gates that were supposedly gonna cost 2.5-5 million? Where are all the naysayers and whiners now that were against compass and faregates?

[MIPS]

My father brought up an interesting point while we watched this story on the 6PM news.

"So he's in the station now...but how does he operate the elevator?"

[cganuelas1995]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-co...s-cancelled-by-police-incident-1.4501161

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by Sheba

How do you suggest the 555 get from Carvolth to Aldergrove, where "little exists". You're better off coming up with a route for an Aldergrove Community Shuttle and suggesting it to TransLink.

Well I said "little exists" outside of Aldergrove but your suggestion's better.
Ps: When I used to live in Richmond, I took buses to everywhere. I thought I would know better but that doesn't seem to be the case.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by MIPS

My father brought up an interesting point while we watched this story on the 6PM news.

"So he's in the station now...but how does he operate the elevator?"

They trust other people to push a button - they don't trust anyone with their Compass Card. Not saying it's right, just that's how it is.

Originally Posted by flipper316

https://globalnews.ca/video/3983634/translink-disabled-fare-gate-solution

9 million? What happened to them building brand new glass gates that were supposedly gonna cost 2.5-5 million? Where are all the naysayers and whiners now that were against compass and faregates?

Coming up with some way to explain how having someone travel with these disabled people would cost more?

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

Well I said "little exists" outside of Aldergrove but your suggestion's better.
Ps: When I used to live in Richmond, I took buses to everywhere. I thought I would know better but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Yes, little exists between Carvolth Exchange and Aldergrove, which is also a tiny suburb on the edge of TransLink's service area. They're not going to add anything more than a Community Shuttle, and even that's not very likely. Still if you can come up with a plausible route (I'd suggest drawing it out on a map) it's worth e-mailing it to TransLink.

[Meraki]

Originally Posted by flipper316

Where are all the naysayers and whiners now that were against compass and faregates?

They were explaining that there isn't a fare evasion problem, and it would cost far more money to install faregates and maintain them.

TransLink was overruled by the BC Liberals and here we are today.

[Express691]

Originally Posted by cganuelas1995

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-co...s-cancelled-by-police-incident-1.4501161

West Coast Express train E4 was involved in a police incident earlier this evening, causing significant delays. Can't say what happened as the details are very vague.

In any case, a small caption should be included (and is VERY helpful) when linking to news events.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by Meraki

They were explaining that there isn't a fare evasion problem, and it would cost far more money to install faregates and maintain them.

TransLink was overruled by the BC Liberals and here we are today.

I was a naysayer, but if the stats collected since the faregates went into operation are to be believed then the fare evasion problem was larger than I (or many other people) imagined.

[Bdawe]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

I was a naysayer, but if the stats collected since the faregates went into operation are to be believed then the fare evasion problem was larger than I (or many other people) imagined.

In what sense?