Transit Fantasies

[twoNeurons]

Originally Posted by fredinno

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/north-shore-rapid-transit-study-skytrain
You could just build a new line there instead.
Only issue is that the 60m depth of the station- mitigatable with a lot of escalators and tunneling, though obviously not ideal.

I would, however, note that this could be integrated in a rebuild of the Canada Line once it reaches the 15,000 pphpd limit (which would require the Canada to be shut down anyways if it is done.)

I don't think the Canada Line will be rebuilt. It would be cheaper and more beneficial to build out a parallel North/South Line. And I'm not even sure it needs to go all the way to the downtown peninsula. Once the M-Line is built, we may see a significant shift away from downtown along that corridor. A North/South Line along Knight/Fraser (could even be elevated for a lot of its length) connecting with the M-Line at VCC-Clark (maybe with an infill station on the Expo Line there as well) and then continuing on to the Hastings Line.

Or how about a Victoria Line. The #20 Victoria Bus is 5th busiest bus route after all (I don't know how much is because of the section on Hastings, though)

I know Arbutus seems like an obvious choice, but in respect to TOD, East Vancouver probably has more potential. You could cross the bridge East of Knight Street and continue on to become an East/West Line in Richmond along Bridgeport... or depending on where the traffic is coming from on the Canada Line, turn down Marine and terminate at Marine Gateway.

Looking closer at Marine Drive, it seems surface tram-train/BRT may be feasible. Just get rid of the center turn lanes and the bike lanes.

Then again, that's not an insignificant cut in transportation capacity in the region. Autonomous cars should allow for narrower lanes... so maybe it's more feasible than I initially thought.

Roads aren't only going to be used by autonomous cars. We may see some degree of automation on highways, but autonomous cars will be mixed with other vehicles that use up every bit of width (like buses) for a long time to come.

I mean- you could have a tram-train/BRT network on Lions Gate. Only issue is that closes up Lions Gate, so it's only feasible with a new road crossing of sorts.

Which I'm not sure is a bad idea. The parks board wants to shut Stanley Park down to cars before 2050 anyhow. Reducing traffic through there is also good. One idea I was thinking about is having the center lane a one-way transit-only use. Not sure how long it would take to cross the Lion's Gate but it could work if signalled properly.

Eh, the maps aren't exact, so I wouldn't put too much weight on the maps. I interpreted it more as just a general alignment.
If it goes to West Van, it's going to go all the way to Park Royal. The bus loop (only one in West Van) and the towers being built there are too juicy/important to just ignore. Ambleside is also where the WV designated City Center is, so you could make a good argument to go at least all the way there.

True, but downtown COULD be better served by the Lions Gate bridge and either a tram-line or rapid bus service.

Also, am I the only one who thinks Expo shouldn't really ever loop back onto itself like the Toronto 1 Line on Hastings? It makes logical sense that Expo, as the backbone of the network, parallels Hwy 1A.

I'm mixed on it. But it does have one VERY significant advantage, you increase capacity on the Expo Line in the OFF-Peak direction. Hastings Riders going to Stadium will just stay on the train.

Hastings to Metrotown
Hastings to Commercial Drive

You get to use your off-peak direction more efficiently. I know it makes the Expo line longer, but terminating Expo Trains at Phibbs could potentially solve that as well. Perhaps additional tracks and switches to shunt around problems as the line gets longer.