The Great Canadian Transit Thread

[milomilo]

In a shocking turn of events, Parks Canada has said no to something:

Parks Canada rejects proposed gondola from Banff townsite to Mount Norquay


Mixed feelings from me. I don't really like giving private companies free reign to monopolise public transportation, but PC need to make up their mind what their role is? Do they want more people to visit the parks, or at least handle the increasing numbers more sustainably? If so, more infrastructure is needed and you can't just stamp your feet and say no to all development. If they don't want any development, then it is time to evict the town of Banff, the biggest NIMBY hypocrites on the planet.

[milomilo]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

The
(Source below)

Learn more with the initial economic/tech feasibility report:
http://sirepub.edmonton.ca/sirepub/agdocs.aspx?doctype=agenda&itemid=74004

Cool. On the face of it, I see no issues with this, Edmonton has nothing to lose, as far as I can tell.

[giallo]

The Canada Line will expand its service by 35% in March. Given the crowding issues during peak hours, this can't come soon enough.

• Video Link

[Nouvellecosse]

Should have been done at least 5 years ago. The big advantage is with an automated line is that you have greater flexibility in service frequency so it's weird that they haven't used it.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Forthcoming with the Council report... but not public for a few more days.

This images are public, but a little out of date...more to come


https://i.cbc.ca/1.4579865.1527878148!/f...inal_1180/gondola-edmonton-rendering.jpg

Rossdale Station concept:

https://shawglobalnews.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/gondola-inc-pic.jpg?quality=70&strip=all&w=720

That's a pretty cool project!

[ClaytonA]

Per the Mayor's Council's agenda, Translink's Surrey-Langley Skytrain (SLS) has procurement starting July 2020. It's another Design-Build-Finance.

Construction start 2022 on the 7km and 4 station extension to the Expo Line.

Surrey is stumping up $45M for the cancelled LRT project.

With land use plans, like along Broadway, Surrey is targeting a 50% increase in residential population and a 40% increase in employment in station areas by 2050. The background is an estimated 60% increase in population city-wide. Fleetwood is projected to have Surrey City Centre (King George) like density (not necessarily form like high-rises). i.e. more than quadruple existing. Most of the employment is around King George/140 St. Senior level government SLS funding is tied to municipal (Surrey) policy for densification. It's implied that future phase station areas (further east) are included now too.

How is this enforceable? What happens once it's built with new provincial and/or municipal governments after elections? Will provincial funding for destinations such as recreation centres be reliant on location in station areas? Affordable housing? Simon Fraser investment? Sounds like big reductions in required parking in the land use zoning.

Interestingly in terms of development demand, this density is much, much less than that expected along the Millenium Line at Broadway-Burnaby-Coquitlam. Current "development interest" is six storey apartment/condo buildings. Probably mid-rise wood frame. Will that interest change?

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by ClaytonA

Per the Mayor's Council's agenda, Translink's Surrey-Langley Skytrain (SLS) has procurement starting July 2020. It's another Design-Build-Finance.

Construction start 2022 on the 7km and 4 station extension to the Expo Line.

Surrey is stumping up $45M for the cancelled LRT project.

With land use plans, like along Broadway, Surrey is targeting a 50% increase in residential population and a 40% increase in employment in station areas by 2050. The background is an estimated 60% increase in population city-wide. Fleetwood is projected to have Surrey City Centre (King George) like density (not necessarily form like high-rises). i.e. more than quadruple existing. Most of the employment is around King George/140 St. Senior level government SLS funding is tied to municipal (Surrey) policy for densification. It's implied that future phase station areas (further east) are included now too.

How is this enforceable? What happens once it's built with new provincial and/or municipal governments after elections? Will provincial funding for destinations such as recreation centres be reliant on location in station areas? Affordable housing? Simon Fraser investment? Sounds like big reductions in required parking in the land use zoning.

Interestingly in terms of development demand, this density is much, much less than that expected along the Millenium Line at Broadway-Burnaby-Coquitlam. Current "development interest" is six storey apartment/condo buildings. Probably mid-rise wood frame. Will that interest change?

What are the new stations?

[LilZebra]

Transit fixer Andy Byford, most recently with the NYC MTA and prior to the TTC, quit this week over irrecoverable;ab;e differences with Gov. Andrew Cuomo.


• Video Link

[ClaytonA]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

What are the new stations?

https://surreylangleyskytrain.ca/route

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by LilZebra

Transit fixer Andy Byford, most recently with the NYC MTA and prior to the TTC, quit this week over irrecoverable;ab;e differences with Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The relationship between the State Capitol and the MTA sounds a lot like Queen's Park and the TTC (or any GTA transit service).

[b31den]

Originally Posted by milomilo

In a shocking turn of events, Parks Canada has said no to something:

Parks Canada rejects proposed gondola from Banff townsite to Mount Norquay


Mixed feelings from me. I don't really like giving private companies free reign to monopolise public transportation, but PC need to make up their mind what their role is? Do they want more people to visit the parks, or at least handle the increasing numbers more sustainably? If so, more infrastructure is needed and you can't just stamp your feet and say no to all development. If they don't want any development, then it is time to evict the town of Banff, the biggest NIMBY hypocrites on the planet.

It sounds like a major reason for denying the project was the negative impact it would have on public access. If the public road is closed people would be forced to pay to use the gondola. That road is also heavily used for recreational purposes. Its one of the few roads in Canada that has so many hairpin switchbacks and is an attraction for those who like to suffer physically.

[urbandreamer]

It's kind of nice now that the GRT bus drivers are on strike: for those of us that live near King Street it's much quieter. I used to take the 7 bus to work so feel the pain of those without cars. The LRT is much busier but nowhere peak Toronto volumes. Maybe your average midday Dundas West or Roncevalles passenger loads.

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by urbandreamer

It's kind of nice now that the GRT bus drivers are on strike: for those of us that live near King Street it's much quieter. I used to take the 7 bus to work so feel the pain of those without cars.

I drove my friend to work in Communitech 3 days in a row last week. Meanwhile I work at Accelerator Centre...

[Coldrsx]

The first cable is up!


https://twitter.com/yegvalleyLRT/status/1221904538858184704
@yegvalleyLRT

[milomilo]

Originally Posted by b31den

It sounds like a major reason for denying the project was the negative impact it would have on public access. If the public road is closed people would be forced to pay to use the gondola. That road is also heavily used for recreational purposes. Its one of the few roads in Canada that has so many hairpin switchbacks and is an attraction for those who like to suffer physically.

That was a stated reason (and I agree with Parks on that). But I'm under no illusion that they would have made a different decision had the road closure not been proposed. Otherwise they wouldn't have given the reply "we say no and you will never have a chance ever again". It's typical Parks obstructionism - they vaguely state a set of goals they have, but any attempts to meet those goals are refused.

[urbandreamer]

I was riding the ion lrt today and it was surprisingly empty. Where are all those GRT bus riders hiding? (Or maybe it proves how useless the LRT is at getting people around KW.)

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by urbandreamer

I was riding the ion lrt today and it was surprisingly empty. Where are all those GRT bus riders hiding? (Or maybe it proves how useless the LRT is at getting people around KW.)

Which section? The part around University District sees decent ridership.

Could it be that without feeder GRT routes, people are less inclined to use transit?

I don't think coronavirus is scaring people yet.

[urbandreamer]

I saw a bunch of people wearing masks today. (Last summer I got really sick and wore a mask around Toronto--interesting experience ha and I still have over 100 medical and a dozen N95 masks left.) I was riding between Uptown and Downtown--Valumart Station as I call it to Methhead Station (Frederick.) Plenty of seats available between 11am and 3pm.

[ssiguy]

How much faster is the ION to the bus it replaced along the general route?

[urbandreamer]

It's slower because you have to walk to the station (6 minutes), wait 9 minutes between trains then cut back. It's poorly planned because it misses the densest parts of Waterloo and Kitchener: Northdale/King/Columbia area and downtown King Street. Sure it's fine if you live by Allen Station mini condo corridor (me thankfully) but still catching the GO train to Toronto sucks because you have to walk along the suburban throughway that is Victoria Street between King and Ahrens. The last time I attempted to go to Fairview Park mall a cyclist crashed into a train causing a delay--ended up taking a shuttle bus. The 7 bus now runs at 15 minute frequency while previously it ran every 8 minutes. Even so the bus is much busier than the train because it stops and goes where the people live!