Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

"TBM unleashes a Balrog."

Wow, that'll keep the insurers up at night!

[White Pine]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

And we haven't had a strike since 2001, so I'd put that worst-case scenario at the bottom of the list between "Big One hits" and "TBM unleashes a Balrog."

LOL. There are older and fouler things than, um, NIMBYs in the deep places of the world.

[milomilo]

Originally Posted by s211

HAHAHAHAH! Right. Keep telling yourself that.

Watch any city where a public transit union goes on strike, and how all of a sudden much easier it is to commute by vehicle. I distinctly remember this from my own experience years ago in Calgary. Freeing up an entire lane from bus-only transit lanes during rush hour and letting cars use the lanes made a huge improvement for drivers. It was quite the topic of conversation in the office.

But don't let that real world experience sway you. Living in Theoryland must be like a warm, delusional blanket for you.

Bus only lanes, in Calgary? Where? There's like 100m on Centre St in the evening rush. Anywhere else??? I call BS on a transit strike reducing congestion.

But do agree with calling out over reliance on theory. It's true that the max capacity of a bus lane is more than a car lane, but importantly that only matters if the buses are full and the lane is well utilized with frequent buses. If the amount of people using the bus lane is less than 50% of the current car traffic, then putting in those lanes will indeed increase congestion.

[jollyburger]

New SkyTrain cars arriving behind schedule
The first four of 14 new trains coming as part of the first phase of a regional transit plan are coming 60 to 90 days late from Bombardier.

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/new-skytrain-cars-arriving-behind-schedule

[Migrant_Coconut]

Hey, better late than never. Anybody remember which line gets how many?

[nname]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Hey, better late than never. Anybody remember which line gets how many?

First batch of 28 cars, 20 to Expo and 8 to Millennium Line

(new 7x 4-car MkIII trains goes to Expo, and 4x 2-car MkII transferred from Expo to Millennium)

[Mac Write]

Originally Posted by From the article

TransLink has ordered 56 new SkyTrain cars to add service to the Expo and Millennium lines as part of the first phase of the Mayors’ 10-Year Vision for Metro Vancouver Transportation, and 45 new cars to replace aging fleet.

The second phase of the plan will see 108 cars added to provide new service and 50 to replace old cars.

According to the article they seem to imply Translink has put in an order for 45 replacement cars (9x5-car trains) to replace the aging Mark I trains. Any more info on this?

Then in the second phase 108 cars (27 4-car trains and 10 5-car trains (50 cars).

Seems they are flip flopping between 4 and 5 car trains for new orders. very confusing.

[WarrenC12]

I thought the refurbishment of Mark I cars would keep them in service until 2024-26?

Does any of this mean 4 car trains for Millenium?

[MIPS]

Happy 33, SkyTrain.

[Mac Write]

Only 114 of the 150 Mark I's have been refurbished.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Mac Write

Only 114 of the 150 Mark I's have been refurbished.

Right the "newer" ones from 1991-1993 era were not, yet.

[DKaz]

Trip down memory lane, anyone remember the B-Line bee?

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by DKaz

Trip down memory lane, anyone remember the B-Line bee?

i do remember that. a by-gone era.

[jollyburger]

From the meeting minutes:

Sky Train attendants will have an app that includes real-time train tracking.

real-time train location, trip planning, next train and next bus information, alerts, Google Maps, Google Translate and administrative procedures and
policies

Representatives from CMBC and Alexander Dennis have begun pre-production meetings for the order of 32 double-decker buses (27 replacements and 5 expansion). Deliveries are expected to start in Q3 2019.

The CUTRIC Battery-electric Bus Pilot will begin in Q2 2019. Four battery-electric buses have been purchased to pilot the technology on route 100 (22nd Street/Marpole Loop). A proposal for the purchase of six additional battery-electric buses for the same route was recently approved by the Metro Vancouver Finance Committee.

238 replacement buses are currently arriving and will continue until Q2 2019
• 105 expansion buses are arriving Q3 2018 though Q3 2019

Construction continues on the new vessel. The launch and christening ceremony is scheduled for late December 2018 or early January 2019 at the shipyard. Commissioning will occur in January 2019 followed by sea trials in the Netherlands.
• The vessel is expected to arrive in Vancouver in spring 2019. Prior to entering service, the new vessel will complete local sea trials, Transport Canada certifications, and crew training. SeaBus frequency will increase to every 10 minutes in peak periods when the new vessel enters service

Silvertree/Marpole Transit Centre plans for Q4 2023

Increase further wireless carrier coverage to tunnels to enhance customer and employee safety and security while underground; and

TransLink Mobile App Improve our customers’ digital experience by creating a mobile app for essential customer interactions and
information.

https://www.translink.ca/-/media/Documen..._Public_Board_Meeting_Report_Package.pdf

[Tetsuo]

And yet Translink wants to rebrand to generic titles like "RapidBus"

[ilikeredheads]

got a chance to ride the new Novas today. It still has the new car smell. The back-facing seats has been replaced by side facing seats, but the back wheel well has something protruding out that will block where your legs will be.
Couple of things that they need to fix: the compass scanner by the front doors is placed way too low. I'm only 5foot9 and I had to bend down quite it bit to reach it. The two locations for the wheelchair has these thick yellow handles on the side that seem to serve no purpose other than make the aisle much narrower. If the bus is crowded they will make it hard for some people to navigate past, or likely bags will get caught by them.

[Sheba]

TransLink to bring free Wi-Fi to entire transit system, beginning in 2020

TransLink users will be able to sign onto free Wi-Fi while riding the bus, SkyTrain or SeaBus starting in 2020.

The public transit provider announced plans to partner with Shaw Communications on the service, making it the first transit authority in Canada to do so, according to TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond.

"We have half-a-million people ride our system every day, and when we ask them what they'd like to see on transit, Wi-Fi is one of the most frequent requests," said Desmond in a news release.

Free Wi-Fi has already been available at SeaBus terminals and aboard the boat.

Shaw and TransLink plan to run trials throughout 2019 before launching the system-wide service. The roll-out is scheduled to be complete by 2025.

Eventually, the free Wi-Fi service will include HandyDART, West Coast Express and community shuttle buses.

[cganuelas1995]

I got into a discussion on facebook about linking the E and M line at Commercial Broadway and the guy said to just build the link and connect it over a few weeks and that "they do it with highways all the time". How long would it take?

[nname]

Originally Posted by cganuelas1995

I got into a discussion on facebook about linking the E and M line at Commercial Broadway and the guy said to just build the link and connect it over a few weeks and that "they do it with highways all the time". How long would it take?

Hmm... for a new rapid transit link...

2 years to bring it up and discussed
6 years to be included in mayor's plan
10 years to get funding
3 years to design and come up with a business plan
2 years for procurement
4 years for construction and testing

So that's like... 27 years?

Not like it makes much sense anyways

[cganuelas1995]

Originally Posted by nname

Hmm... for a new rapid transit link...

2 years to bring it up and discussed
6 years to be included in mayor's plan
10 years to get funding
3 years to design and come up with a business plan
2 years for procurement
4 years for construction and testing

So that's like... 27 years?

Not like it makes much sense anyways

I'm gonna copypasta the comment thread here.

C is for cretin commenter

C: (on a thread about wifi coming to skytrain) Good idea! Now how about connecting the millennium line to the expo line at commercial or VCC so we don’t have to transfer? Would make transit downtown way more convenient and more desirable.

Me: Yeah let's shut down and demolish a bit of the Expo and Millennium line and have a bus bridge for a few years while we do a massive construction project so some people don't have to get off the train and walk for a bit and maybe have the construction project come to a complete halt during election season and then stop completely while a new government does a technical review and have the construction equipment and supplies sit out there and rust.

Also me: All because some fat and lazy guy doesn't want to walk.

C: It may cost a little bit more. But how about building the extension without affecting the main line then link it over a couple weeks. They do it with highways all the time.

Me: It's skytrain owned and operated by translink. Think about how long it takes to plan and fund and then buying property and getting it approved and negotiating contracts and arranging detours and regulations and red tape. Did I mention the red tape? The red tape needs to be mentioned. Not to mention the red tape. And also unions going on strike and contracts falling through and then construction restrictions at certain times because of noise regulations and restrictions. Did I mention red tape because I should totally mention red tape. Did I mention that something can go wrong and set the project back all the way to the beginning?