Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[BirchTrain]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Good (or bad) news -looks like the RapidBus concept is dead. More specifically, axed and repainted as plain ol' B-Line buses.

Good that it was taken off. B-Line is what makes Metro Vancouver’s express bus system unique.

I think it would look way cooler if they were painted orange for the orange lines on maps.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by BirchTrain

Good that it was taken off. B-Line is what makes Metro Vancouver’s express bus system unique.

I think it would look way cooler if they were painted orange for the orange lines on maps.

That's a good idea, actually - doesn't even have to be the whole bus, just a thick stripe along the top, and maybe where the yellow stripe goes. Not too tacky, and it differentiates the B-Lines from the express buses or the two-car regulars.

[Firebrand]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

That's a good idea, actually - doesn't even have to be the whole bus, just a thick stripe along the top, and maybe where the yellow stripe goes. Not too tacky, and it differentiates the B-Lines from the express buses or the two-car regulars.

The only problem is that the buses running from Winnipeg already have that green livery, so the time they arrive here, they have to repaint them to Sweep-R.

[SpongeG]

any collectors? new card to collect

TransLink honours veterans with commemorative Compass Cards

Tri-City News
NOVEMBER 4, 2018

TransLink is releasing limited edition commemorative Compass Cards to mark the 100th Remembrance Day this week.

The cards, which say "Lest we forget" and feature poppies on the front, will be available at 25 SkyTrain Station across the system. Transit-users are asked to look for Remembrance Day symbols on vending machines and customer information can also be contacted at 604-953-3333 so riders can find out where cards are still available.



https://www.tricitynews.com/news/transli...42?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[WarrenC12]

Wow very nice. I don't collect these things but I might pick this one up.

[nname]

Real time next train countdown will be available at all SkyTrain stations by the end of 2019:
http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/skytrain-expo-millennium-platform-electronic-signs

Another thing I've noticed is that they have the blue "E" mixed with yellow "M" at one of the entrance at Lougheed. Is that something new? I remember I only saw the "M" before.

[fredinno]

Originally Posted by nname

Real time next train countdown will be available at all SkyTrain stations by the end of 2019:
http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/skytrain-expo-millennium-platform-electronic-signs

Another thing I've noticed is that they have the blue "E" mixed with yellow "M" at one of the entrance at Lougheed. Is that something new? I remember I only saw the "M" before.

They probably changed it due to the new Expo Terminus being in Production Way.

[Metro-One]

Finally! That will add a nice finish to the system.

[SpongeG]

When it comes to transit funding, all roads lead to disagreement

By Mario Canseco | November 8, 2018

In the first days of November, the political attention of the province has shifted away from municipal politics. Provincial representatives are worried about the outcome of the referendum on electoral reform, and the federal Liberal Party is celebrating the third anniversary of its comeback victory, as well as the 12-month countdown for the next countrywide ballot.

Over the past few years, housing has consistently topped the charts as the most important issue facing municipalities in the Metro Vancouver region. Transportation – in all of its forms – was usually ranked in second place, unless you happen to live in Surrey, where public safety has always been a more paramount concern. But just what to do in order to deal with transportation is still a matter of debate.

It may seem like ages ago, but it was just in the summer of 2015 when most voters in Metro Vancouver rejected the idea of an additional school tax to pay for improvements to transit and transportation. At the start of the plebiscite campaign, victory seemed assured for the “Yes” side, which boasted the support of unions, corporations and most municipal governments. When all ballots were cast and counted, 62 per cent of voters in the mail-in ballot said “No” to the proposed tax amendment.

Relying on a sales tax for transit funds, which has worked well in municipalities such as Los Angeles and Denver, was not the way most residents of Metro Vancouver wanted to go. Three years later, whether you drive, take public transit, bike or walk, you are still without the infrastructure and safety features that appeared within grasp and were included in the information packages that accompanied your mail-in ballot in 2015.

Late last month, Research Co. asked Metro Vancouverites about specific ways in which transit projects could be funded in Metro Vancouver over the next few years. The answers outline a population that is reticent about anything that entails paying more, and decidedly wary of specific concepts.

Not one out of six different ideas to come up with funds to pay for transit managed to get the support of half of residents. The most popular one was tolling bridges, a practice abandoned by the current New Democratic Party (BC NDP) provincial government.

...

https://biv.com/article/2018/11/when-it-...ayZnrwp2RmoJAxMdOLQrqhOCWzubLcJxfqyA8VtQ

[Migrant_Coconut]

Breaking news: taxpayers want to be given stuff but don't want to pay for it.

[BirchTrain]

http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/skytrain-...3FEfkO4cd0xVoCFG5wu8bF1H9srusdWYCoE-NTNo

YES!!!

[MIPS]

Gonna miss those red signs. They put a lot of thought into how it has the same extruded blue sign panelling like all the signage used to have.

[CanSpice]

The public agenda for the November 15 meeting is up, and it includes a proposed 2019 work plan, which includes going after federal dollars for Phase Three of the 10-Year Vision, which includes the Burnaby Mountain Gondola!

[Aroundtheworld]

Originally Posted by CanSpice

The public agenda for the November 15 meeting is up, and it includes a proposed 2019 work plan, which includes going after federal dollars for Phase Three of the 10-Year Vision, which includes the Burnaby Mountain Gondola!

An interesting tidbit: apparently an additional $185 M in federal funding may be available for transit in the region assuming the municipalities and the province can come up with matching funds (60% of the total or $277.5 M). This would be a combined additional investment of $462.5 M.

What could an additional $462.5 M purchase?

[misher]

Originally Posted by Aroundtheworld

An interesting tidbit: apparently an additional $185 M in federal funding may be available for transit in the region assuming the municipalities and the province can come up with matching funds (60% of the total or $277.5 M). This would be a combined additional investment of $462.5 M.

What could an additional $462.5 M purchase?

Could we channel it into the bridge/tunnel project to Delta?

Or maybe the high speed rail to Seattle.

[Colin4567]

Originally Posted by Aroundtheworld

An interesting tidbit: apparently an additional $185 M in federal funding may be available for transit in the region assuming the municipalities and the province can come up with matching funds (60% of the total or $277.5 M). This would be a combined additional investment of $462.5 M.

What could an additional $462.5 M purchase?

G O N D O L A

Or more bus rapid transit upgrades for B lines

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by MIPS

Gonna miss those red signs. They put a lot of thought into how it has the same extruded blue sign panelling like all the signage used to have.

I wonder if you could always ask for one when they are replacing them?

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Aroundtheworld

An interesting tidbit: apparently an additional $185 M in federal funding may be available for transit in the region assuming the municipalities and the province can come up with matching funds (60% of the total or $277.5 M). This would be a combined additional investment of $462.5 M.

What could an additional $462.5 M purchase?

I believe that was the recently quoted price of a full streetcar system in Vancouver.

[Mac Write]

Originally Posted by CanSpice

The public agenda for the November 15 meeting is up, and it includes a proposed 2019 work plan, which includes going after federal dollars for Phase Three of the 10-Year Vision, which includes the Burnaby Mountain Gondola!

ScreamedYES!!!!! We are most likely getting the Gondola. Now when will construction start and when will it open?

[SpongeG]

SkyTrain switch threatens to derail Surrey transit link

SBOT fears council’s light-rail reversal will mean long transit development delay

By Nelson Bennett | November 9, 2018


An artist’s rendering of the SkyTrain system Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum wants for his city and Langley | SkyTrain for Surrey

The fastest-growing cities in the Lower Mainland – Surrey and Langley – desperately need some form of rapid transit.

But will the City of Surrey’s insistence on a more expensive system than what was approved mean Surrey will get bumped down the priority list in favour of other regional transit projects, like the Broadway extension to the Millennium Line?

That’s one of the fears raised last week when newly elected Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum made good on a campaign promise to pull out of a light-rail transit (LRT) plan for Surrey and insist on a more expensive SkyTrain system.

...

https://biv.com/article/2018/11/skytrain...YCwUDfIVa-dYDCaH_GvyViR1IEaNyNais4WgLtCE