Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[fredinno]

I don't think this has been posted before: http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-light-rail-transit-41st-avenue

For the first time ever, City of Vancouver staff are stating that they are envisioning the possibility of street-level light rail transit on 41st Avenue.
But don’t count on it happening anytime soon, of course.
In an email to Daily Hive, the city says that upgrades are being considered for 41st Avenue to retain the space for the potential of running “surface rail” along this arterial street. However, this is “meant to be inclusive of extremely long-term planning.”

Any thoughts?

I think it's best to retain the road space (which isn't that big anyways; 4 lanes through most of the route), and build a cut-and cover subway when demand and money permits it (the Canada Line, and Oakridge would be a problem, though).

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by fredinno

I don't think this has been posted before: http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-light-rail-transit-41st-avenue




Any thoughts?

I think it's best to retain the road space (which isn't that big anyways; 4 lanes through most of the route), and build a cut-and cover subway when demand and money permits it (the Canada Line, and Oakridge would be a problem, though).

Firebrand beat you to it.

Like I said back then, light rail could work if they save the tunnel for an underground segment from at least Kerrisdale through Oakridge, like the Eglinton-Crosstown in Toronto. There's pretty much nothing west of Larch.

[fredinno]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Firebrand beat you to it.

Like I said back then, light rail could work if they save the tunnel for an underground segment from at least Kerrisdale through Oakridge, like the Eglinton-Crosstown in Toronto. There's pretty much nothing west of Larch.

Honestly, I think going to UBC is worth it; it would create a second, alternate route for people on the Canada Line, or the SOF Suburbs, trying to get to UBC without using the (presumably crowded) Broadway Subway.

The B-Line goes on the same route, this would be an upgrade to that thing.

[p_xavier]

Hopefully common sense will prevail in Montréal also. The delegated transportation minister talked about changing the planned LRT for the East Island to SkyTrain (REM). Anyone who participated in SkyTrainForSurrey.org here?

[scryer]

Originally Posted by d_jeffrey

Hopefully common sense will prevail in Montréal also. The delegated transportation minister talked about changing the planned LRT for the East Island to SkyTrain (REM). Anyone who participated in SkyTrainForSurrey.org here?

You need someone to create a good website, an animator/editor to make videos, and most importantly credible sources. Darryl and his team from SkyTrainForSurrey, from my perspective, used the studies produced by Translink against the pro-LRT group. To me, that was the most convincing part of it. And the fight isn't over yet; sure LRT has been scrapped but there is still some flexibility for things to change before the extension starts construction. I'm not holding my breath until the shovel is in the ground.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by d_jeffrey

Hopefully common sense will prevail in Montréal also. The delegated transportation minister talked about changing the planned LRT for the East Island to SkyTrain (REM). Anyone who participated in SkyTrainForSurrey.org here?

I was under the impression that the REM was light rail (albeit off-road and automated, as with the SkyTrain and O-Train).

[Aroundtheworld]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

I was under the impression that the REM was light rail (albeit off-road and automated, as with the SkyTrain and O-Train).

It's a light metro, which is closer to Skytrain than it is to light rail. It will be fully grade-separated and automated. In some circles, Skytrain is defined as light rail.

Terminology can be vague or misleading. Best to just look at the details of the project.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by Aroundtheworld

It's a light metro, which is closer to Skytrain than it is to light rail. It will be fully grade-separated and automated. In some circles, Skytrain is defined as light rail.

Terminology can be vague or misleading. Best to just look at the details of the project.

Well, the only project I can see is for the West Island, and that's REM. The closest it goes to street level is a highway median with no crossings.

[Firebrand]

https://twitter.com/electricyvr/status/1067493007014809600?s=20

[officedweller]

From GRIDS Vancouver.

The fallout from this "battle" is essentially why Broadway & Commercial never developed into a high density hub (i.e. the City sided with the residents, not the Province)


https://twitter.com/GRIDSVancouver

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Firebrand

https://twitter.com/electricyvr/status/1067493007014809600?s=20

Hmm I haven't seen that at Edmonds Station and I'm there almost daily. I asked a 'safety vest guy' the other day what work was being done at the station and that was one of the things he mentioned (I think they're redoing a bunch of the electrical at the same time).

I also learned the reason TransLink is dragging it's feet about replacing the white mesh metal panels with glass is because people regularly damage them and the cost for replacing them adds up really quickly. I suggested adding some public art of a person about to throw a brick and have it facing towards the station - he laughed at that.

[fredinno]

Originally Posted by officedweller

From GRIDS Vancouver.

The fallout from this "battle" is essentially why Broadway & Commercial never developed into a high density hub (i.e. the City sided with the residents, not the Province)


https://twitter.com/GRIDSVancouver

"No one wants to live in concrete jungle with above-ground rail lines all over the place."



I guess we can see who was proven right or wrong by history. They're right, no one wants to live in their concrete jungle. Because no one can.

[Hooknose]

Originally Posted by waves

It's pretty minuscule though. Like at most 1km.

I have to say, this is right.

1km of guideway is not much. Even if everyone decided not to use the heavy equipment, you could almost hand cobble this short stretch.

Or ... you just rush it first and the divert the guideway equipment to Surrey for the big job.

[logicbomb]

Had to go to Waterfront today for a full day meeting.

This morning, I boarded the 335 to Gateway and arrived at 7:15am. I waited as I saw 5 packed skytrains come and go. Finally got a train which was packed all the way until we reached Burrard Stn at which I finally got some breathing room.

Got off at 4:00pm. Get on at Waterfront...surprise...the train was legit packed going to King George (backboarders). Lost my patience after 2 trains and just got on a Production Way bound train.

Seems like this has gotten significantly worse the past 3 years. Thankfully this was a one-off meeting and I don't have to do this every day

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

Had to go to Waterfront today for a full day meeting.

This morning, I boarded the 335 to Gateway and arrived at 7:15am. I waited as I saw 5 packed skytrains come and go. Finally got a train which was packed all the way until we reached Burrard Stn at which I finally got some breathing room.

Got off at 4:00pm. Get on at Waterfront...surprise...the train was legit packed going to King George (backboarders). Lost my patience after 2 trains and just got on a Production Way bound train.

Seems like this has gotten significantly worse the past 3 years. Thankfully this was a one-off meeting and I don't have to do this every day

Oh yes it's gotten much busier on the Expo Line. I take it midday in Burnaby and it's 50 / 50 if I'll get a seat. Thankfully I do short trips so it's not that big of a deal. Go figure I try to avoid riding it during rush hour.

[Sheba]

The Buzzer Blog - Next train information set to arrive on SkyTrain’s Expo and Millennium Lines
Includes renders and stats.

Say ‘goodbye’ to the red LED signs on SkyTrain’s Expo and Millennium Lines, and get ready to say ‘hello’ to coloured signs with real-time transit information! That means you’ll know exactly when your train is coming, upcoming trains and where they’re going.

These new signs will be an upgrade to what customers currently see on the Evergreen Extension and Canada Line, and they will continue to improve over the coming year through additional software upgrades.

Work begins at Lougheed and Edmonds stations this month, with work continuing at remaining Expo and Millennium Line stations (excluding the Evergreen Extension) through 2020.

In total, we’re adding approximately 280 new customer information signs, including these ‘next train’ signs on platforms as well as new SkyTrain status signs outside the station – the first exterior station signs on the system.

It’s all part of the SkyTrain Customer Communications Upgrades project to provide better real-time service information for customers – new information signs, better sounding announcements, and more security measures at 33 SkyTrain stations along the Expo and Millennium Lines.

Aside from the ‘next train’ signs, we’re replacing nearly 1,000 speakers along the original Millennium Line, optimizing existing speakers on the Expo Line, and adding approximately 324 speakers (including station entrance speakers) to improve sound.

We’re also replacing and adding station cameras, including guideway (the track) cameras to improve safety and reduce delays when guideway intrusion alarms are triggered.

As well, the program will install new cameras to provide more visibility to guideways and improve TransLink’s ability to quickly check into the cause of alarms triggered on guideways.

All these improvements will roll out station-by-station until the entire Expo and Millennium Lines are upgraded.

Construction impacts will vary depending on the station, and we thank our customers and neighbours for their patience while we make these significant improvements.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

man, they have a lot of CCTV cameras around the system. i wonder what kind of storage system they have for all that data. and i wonder what quality they'll have.

i wonder when it'll be time to update the 9yr old Canada-Line signs with these fancy ones; or add entrance ones.

[ilikeredheads]

Those new exterior info signs are just big magnets for vandalism. They should be placed in the concourse.

[dpogue]

Originally Posted by Sheba

The Buzzer Blog - Next train information set to arrive on SkyTrain’s Expo and Millennium Lines

*sigh*

I understand that they don't see a compelling reason to upgrade the perfectly functional signs on the Evergreen extension, but I hate the perpetuation of inconsistency across the system.

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

man, they have a lot of CCTV cameras around the system. i wonder what kind of storage system they have for all that data. and i wonder what quality they'll have.

i wonder when it'll be time to update the 9yr old Canada-Line signs with these fancy ones; or add entrance ones.

The Canada Line displays are fine. Replacing them would be a waste of money.