Millennium Line - Broadway Extension: Planning & Pre-Construction

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by cganuelas1995

It would be dumber than invading Russia in the winter...

Off-topic, but you don't want to invade Russia in the spring, either - all the snow melts and your army ends up sinking in mud. Don't invade in autumn either, because the rains will do the same thing. Basically just stay the hell away from Russia.

[cganuelas1995]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Off-topic, but you don't want to invade Russia in the spring, either - all the snow melts and your army ends up sinking in mud. Don't invade in autumn either, because the rains will do the same thing. Basically just stay the hell away from Russia.

Also, invading Russia will cause them to nuke you. That's why countries that have nukes haven't been invaded.

[casper]

Originally Posted by cganuelas1995

Also, invading Russia will cause them to nuke you. That's why countries that have nukes haven't been invaded.

That means before we contemplate doing anything like that we need to have all of our metro systems underground. (That is the reason why Moscow metro is underground). It can be used as a bomb shelter during such events. Another justification for getting on with it and build an underground skytrain extension along Broadway.

Surrey is expendable under such conditions its system can be a surface street car.

[Migrant_Coconut]

All joking aside, fear of a nuclear strike is exactly why Pyongyang has subway stations 100m deep. Moscow is also rumoured to have a secret "Metro-2" system exclusively for the Kremlin and other government/military sties.

Originally Posted by casper

That means before we contemplate doing anything like that we need to have all of our metro systems underground. (That is the reason why Moscow metro is underground). It can be used as a bomb shelter during such events. Another justification for getting on with it and build an underground skytrain extension along Broadway.

Surrey is expendable under such conditions its system can be a surface street car.

Ah, but remember the fact that we're in Canada - there's nothing worth bombing here!

[cganuelas1995]

Originally Posted by casper

That means before we contemplate doing anything like that we need to have all of our metro systems underground. (That is the reason why Moscow metro is underground). It can be used as a bomb shelter during such events. Another justification for getting on with it and build an underground skytrain extension along Broadway.

Surrey is expendable under such conditions its system can be a surface street car.

#nukesurrey

[Reecemartin]

[Deleted]

[whatnext]

As exciting as the announcement is, it is so disappointing to see it end at Arbutus. Just stupid, what specifically is there? It is just going to push the bus line-ups further west. It should at least have gone to Alma where it would be within walking distance of whatever gets developed on the Jericho Lands.

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by whatnext

As exciting as the announcement is, it is so disappointing to see it end at Arbutus. Just stupid, what specifically is there? It is just going to push the bus line-ups further west. It should at least have gone to Alma where it would be within walking distance of whatever gets developed on the Jericho Lands.

I really think they should have the first phase go just one more station West to Macdonald St. as it would catch that last bit of density along the Broadway corridor in that area of Kits. before UBC. There's a number of rental developments under construction in that area right now.

I believe Translink would like UBC to at least partially pay for the extension through the endowment lands which is why the phased approach as they have no intention to at this point.

As for Arbutus that's where the last of the commercial density ends along the Broadway corridor. Arbutus to Macdonald is a dead zone for both residential and commercial density but it picks back up once you get to Macdonald with new buildings going up to 5 floors I believe to Alma.

[dpogue]

Originally Posted by whatnext

As exciting as the announcement is, it is so disappointing to see it end at Arbutus. Just stupid, what specifically is there? It is just going to push the bus line-ups further west. It should at least have gone to Alma where it would be within walking distance of whatever gets developed on the Jericho Lands.

From Arbutus to UBC is double the distance, and close to 50% of the traffic along the 99B-line bus exits between Main Street and Arbutus.

More importantly, the scope of the project and pre-construction work and funding analysis has all been done as far as Arbutus. Changing the scope to go all the way to UBC at this point would result in further delays and another conversation about how to fund it.

[SFUVancouver]

Belately weighing in on the Phase 2 funding announcement...

I am relieved that the funding impasse has been alleviated and frustrated that after all the delays and fighting it came down to fares, property taxes, and DCC/Ls to fund it. Why couldn't we just get there 19 years ago and just fund Translink with existing tools? I know, I know, Translink was created with a concomitant promose of new funding tools, but holy hell, it's taken a long time to throw in the towel on that.

The good:

-Very pleased that there is a way forward now to fund the local share of the Millennium Line Broadway Extension.

When the RFI->RFQ->RFP stages are drafted, I damn well hope that it is written into the terms of reference that the line must be designed for a westward continuation past Arbutus and that the design solution must be able to ensure that service on the rest of the line is uninterrupted while the UBC phase is built.

-Very happy, too, that substantial bus service enhancement is part of the package, including close to a million additional service hours and additional B-Lines.

-Happy that the funding is being spread to development cost charges. I would be pleased to see this expand to a statutory TIF district around existing stations and, particularly, those planned for future.

The bad:

-I am disappointed that the Surrey LRT is going to be built at this time. I would have much rather preferred that the right of way and stations were built and operated with B-Line buses for the next 10-15 years. This would have provided within 1 minute of the same travel time as the LRT plan, attract just about the same number of riders, and cost far, far less. The right of way is the thing and a well designed BRT system - which still should have been part of this funding package - would have included reservations for all catanery, transformer, and associated electrical infrastructure along the line to drastically simplify the upgrade to rail in the future. It should have also bought the land for the LRT storage and maintenence yard that could be used as a bus barn in the intervening years.

Furthermore, it is the *planning* for rapid transit that fires the starting gun on redevelopment and the pace of change is such that a BRT system could very easily take up the additional ridership as the corridors are re-planned, re-zoned, and developed.

As I see it, an upgrade to LRT should have been Phase 3, along with the Millennium Line UBC extension and the Expo Line extension to Langley along Fraser Highway.

[Hot Rod]

^ your thoughts make total sense to me, particularly since they are stopping short on the MLine extension. Appears to me that the $ spent on the Light Rail now crowd could do the MLine correctly all the way (with UBC picking up some $$ too) while BRT is implemented in Surrey and everything else you said that good urban planners should be doing.

Rather - in order to get the MLine extended at all we have to be held hostage to politics SoF since the way this is set up we need their 'vote' of confidence to even consider such an otherwise necessary metro expansion.

I'd rather take Translink out of it completely and do a true Regional Transit district that is NOT made up of local mayors but instead appointed by the Providence. If we had that then MLine would already be subway out to UBC years ago, RAV line would have been a proper subway and not stopped at Richmond City Center but continued at least into Richmond city if not Steveston, and today we'd be talking about Expo Line extensions and North Shore metro rail options; instead were 30-40 years behind and have to placate the little suburbs to even get a necessary backbone to the region's transit on the drawing board. ....

At least we have 'progress' on this.

[cganuelas1995]

Originally Posted by Hot Rod

^ your thoughts make total sense to me, particularly since they are stopping short on the MLine extension. Appears to me that the $ spent on the Light Rail now crowd could do the MLine correctly all the way (with UBC picking up some $$ too) while BRT is implemented in Surrey and everything else you said that good urban planners should be doing.

Rather - in order to get the MLine extended at all we have to be held hostage to politics SoF since the way this is set up we need their 'vote' of confidence to even consider such an otherwise necessary metro expansion.

I'd rather take Translink out of it completely and do a true Regional Transit district that is NOT made up of local mayors but instead appointed by the Providence. If we had that then MLine would already be subway out to UBC years ago, RAV line would have been a proper subway and not stopped at Richmond City Center but continued at least into Richmond city if not Steveston, and today we'd be talking about Expo Line extensions and North Shore metro rail options; instead were 30-40 years behind and have to placate the little suburbs to even get a necessary backbone to the region's transit on the drawing board. ....

At least we have 'progress' on this.

So something like a GOTransit for BC?

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by retro_orange

I really think they should have the first phase go just one more station West to Macdonald St. as it would catch that last bit of density along the Broadway corridor in that area of Kits. before UBC. There's a number of rental developments under construction in that area right now.

I believe Translink would like UBC to at least partially pay for the extension through the endowment lands which is why the phased approach as they have no intention to at this point.

As for Arbutus that's where the last of the commercial density ends along the Broadway corridor. Arbutus to Macdonald is a dead zone for both residential and commercial density but it picks back up once you get to Macdonald with new buildings going up to 5 floors I believe to Alma.

I dunno. Sure, there's more low/midrises coming up, but I really don't think it's going to justify the extra $200M to get to them. The Macdonald stop is pretty deserted as-is.

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

I dunno. Sure, there's more low/midrises coming up, but I really don't think it's going to justify the extra $200M to get to them. The Macdonald stop is pretty deserted as-is.

I use the Macdonald 99 stop twice a day during the week, it is crazy busy.

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by dpogue

From Arbutus to UBC is double the distance, and close to 50% of the traffic along the 99B-line bus exits between Main Street and Arbutus.

More importantly, the scope of the project and pre-construction work and funding analysis has all been done as far as Arbutus. Changing the scope to go all the way to UBC at this point would result in further delays and another conversation about how to fund it.

if close to 50% of the users exit between main and arbutus, it follows that more than half these users will still have to transfer to a b-line or a local bus to continue their trip to points west (including UBC). a non-improvement to what is happening already

the planning for the last phase should be started soon, so when the money is available, its ready to go - not a few years later

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by jsbertram

if close to 50% of the users exit between main and arbutus, it follows that more than half these users will still have to transfer to a b-line or a local bus to continue their trip to points west (including UBC). a non-improvement to what is happening already

I believe by “close” the actual numbers were just above 50% exit at Arbutus or before.

As for the remaining just under 50% service will still be far superior because the most congested / slowest portion of the 99 B-Line will be removed. The shorter distance and half the load will also greatly reduce wear and tear on the buses.

[cabotp]

While it would be nice if the Millenium line extension to go all the way to UBC. I can accept the fact that is is only going to Arbutus for now. It will be a big improvement over what we have now.

[dleung]

UBC deserves a subway infinitely more than York U, which now has TWO stations! And certainly more than wee lil Humber College, which will get a light rail station.

[libtard]

Originally Posted by dleung

UBC deserves a subway infinitely more than York U, which now has TWO stations! And certainly more than wee lil Humber College, which will get a light rail station.

Yes all the broke students need to be whisked right to the front door of school paid for by the tax payers

[NewfBC]

Originally Posted by libtard

Yes all the broke students need to be whisked right to the front door of school paid for by the tax payers

What an ignorant comment. There are almost 15000 Faculty and Staff at UBC as well.

Ron.