Time for Vancouver to Tear Down Its Viaducts? - Page 259

s211 · #**5161** Posted **Jan 30, 2018, 12:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsbertram

It seems to me that Vision expects they're going to lose the fall election, so every thing they do until then will be a "scorched earth" policy, making difficult or impossible for the next mayor & council to reverse course or cancel projects.

They need to realise they are lame ducks ever since placing 5th in the last by-election and especially since Robertson announced he's not running for mayor again.

I'd love to present at the council meeting but cannot make it. They honestly have no mandate to proceed with this. Weren't there statistically valid surveys indicating that the majority of Vancouverites did not want the viaducts demolished?

mezzanine · #**5162** Posted **Feb 1, 2018, 3:41 AM**

following the NEFC council meetings on my feeds. Concerns come from affordability/social housing advocates, chinatown and hogan's alley advocates and view cone (!?) concerns. Not getting a lot of opposition for traffic impacts.

In the chance that the plan does not go through tonight, it will not be for car traffic impacts but for the above. I suspect everyone there is under the assumption that the viaducts are going sooner rather than later.

We'll see what happens...

Pinion · #**5163** Posted **Feb 1, 2018, 3:54 AM**

Plus a lot of us who care about traffic are outside of the CoV borders, and therefore completely irrelevant, even if we work there (wish I didn't) and visit often (a lot less often than I used to).

Aroundtheworld · #**5164** Posted **Feb 1, 2018, 4:33 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

I can't help but wonder if the strongest opposition to the removal of the viaducts comes from suburbanites who hate the idea of spending an extra couple of minutes on a long and harrowing commute...

This. Most people I talk to are neutral or somewhat supportive.

s211 · #**5165** Posted **Feb 1, 2018, 5:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aroundtheworld

This. Most people I talk to are neutral or somewhat supportive.

Here we go:

https://insightswest.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Viaducts_Tables.pdf

Page 2 gives us the answers. A clear lean toward NO.

Seriously, Vision is polluted with spite by now. Voting yes is their final middle finger to the region.

And apologies for that vitriol, but Vision makes my blood boil.

whatnext · #**5166** Posted **Feb 1, 2018, 6:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by s211

Here we go:

https://insightswest.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Viaducts_Tables.pdf

Page 2 gives us the answers. A clear lean toward NO.

Seriously, Vision is polluted with spite by now. Voting yes is their final middle finger to the region.

And apologies for that vitriol, but Vision makes my blood boil.

They will no doubt try to push through as much as they can before they get turfed in November.

CanSpice · #**5167** Posted **Feb 1, 2018, 6:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by s211

Here we go:

https://insightswest.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Viaducts_Tables.pdf

Page 2 gives us the answers. A clear lean toward NO.

45% of Vancouverites support the plan to remove them and 36% oppose it. I don't see how that's a clear lean towards no.

whatnext · #**5168** Posted **Feb 1, 2018, 6:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanSpice

45% of Vancouverites support the plan to remove them and 36% oppose it. I don't see how that's a clear lean towards no.

As Pinion mentioned, it affects people in Metro Vancouver, not just the City of Vancouver. If we had amalgamation, we couldn't get just petty little village views pushing through their agenda.

Tetsuo · #**5169** Posted **Feb 1, 2018, 6:56 PM**

Does Translink not have a say in the process? Isn't the Georgia viaduct part of their truck route network

Vin · #**5170** Posted **Feb 1, 2018, 7:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanSpice

45% of Vancouverites support the plan to remove them and 36% oppose it. I don't see how that's a clear lean towards no.

That 45% had been lied to, and I'm sure that they are not really aware that they will be on the hook for at least $400 million, which the City doesn't have.

For instance, on the survey, I see survey topics like "Saving money by removing viaducts rather than seismic upgrades". So I guess 400mil to remove viaducts/build alternative is cheaper than 90mil seismic upgrades. That's a blatant lie.

s211 · #**5171** Posted **Feb 1, 2018, 9:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tetsuo

Does Translink not have a say in the process? Isn't the Georgia viaduct part of their truck route network

The theorist in me wonders of Meggs might be short-circuiting that by now working for the NDP government.

If you can't get what you want working for the City, then go work for the Province instead? I wonder.

theKB · #**5172** Posted **Feb 1, 2018, 9:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by s211

The theorist in me wonders of Meggs might be short-circuiting that by now working for the NDP government.

If you can't get what you want working for the City, then go work for the Province instead? I wonder.

Given the major infrastructure projects put on hold this doesn't bode well for this. Vision and the NDP showing their true connection here.

Changing City · #**5173** Posted **Feb 1, 2018, 10:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by s211

The theorist in me wonders of Meggs might be short-circuiting that by now working for the NDP government.

If you can't get what you want working for the City, then go work for the Province instead? I wonder.

The question of the truck route was covered in the 2015 Report to Council.

"The proposed new Georgia Ramp connecting from Beatty Street to Pacific Boulevard, and the new Pacific Boulevard from Georgia to Main Street will be designed to accommodate full size goods movement trucks, transit buses and coaches and would replace the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts on the City’s truck route network, preserving route connections present today and providing additional connectivity and access options.

Similarly, it is also anticipated that the Georgia Ramp and the new Pacific Boulevard between Georgia Street and Main Street would become a part of Translink’s Major Road Network (MRN), as a replacement of the existing MRN connection on the Georgia Viaduct from Beatty Street to Main Street." [source]

trofirhen · #**5174** Posted **Feb 1, 2018, 10:45 PM**

Lovely as it seems, I think the propsed viaduct removal and extension of Georgia to the parkside would result in super-gridlock. I wonder if trucking companies are aware, or care?

WarrenC12 · #**5175** Posted **Feb 1, 2018, 10:51 PM**

Ahhh yes, impending carmageddon again!

mezzanine · #**5176** Posted **Feb 1, 2018, 10:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanSpice

45% of Vancouverites support the plan to remove them and 36% oppose it. I don't see how that's a clear lean towards no.

Yeah, the margin of error pretty much overlaps the differences between for and against for both metro and CoV. From an online poll at that of less than 600 ppl.

Quote:

Results are based on an online study conducted from October 30 to November 2, 2015, among 547 adult residents of Metro Vancouver. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 4.2 percentage points.

GenWhy? · #**5177** Posted **Feb 1, 2018, 10:59 PM**

Gridlock, otherwise known as rush hour.

Pinion · #**5178** Posted **Feb 1, 2018, 11:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Ahhh yes, impending carmageddon again!

You say this like poor road infrastructure isn't already a giant problem in this city. We have LA level traffic jams with one fifth the population. Carmageddon is happening already, that's why people are so upset.

GenWhy? · #**5179** Posted **Feb 1, 2018, 11:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinion

You say this like poor road infrastructure isn't already a giant problem in this city. We have LA level traffic jams with one fifth the population. Carmageddon is happening already, that's why people are so upset.

In Vancouver?

officedweller · #**5180** Posted **Feb 1, 2018, 11:20 PM**

People from the suburbs don't come downtown unless necessary (i.e for work).
I think we'll see a drop in discretionary travel from the suburbs to downtown, especially as the suburbs mature and offer comparable services / retail as downtown.
There are a lot of disincentives, including traffic, high parking costs and time wasted.