Hwy 99 Fraser River Tunnel (George Massey Replacement) | Proposed

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Another wise maneuver would be promising immediate action on the SFU gondola and moving up the North Shore Burnaby Skytrain link in the pecking order for Skytrain expansion.

I wouldn't hold my breath. The liberal government was not exactly friendly to transit - I believe that's one of the reasons they were turfed by the voters. The whole transit referendum fiasco smacked of kicking the can to the side of the proverbial road.

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

I wouldn't hold my breath. The liberal government was not exactly friendly to transit - I believe that's one of the reasons they were turfed by the voters. The whole transit referendum fiasco smacked of kicking the can to the side of the proverbial road.

You never know, people can learn from past mistakes.

On the flip side the NDP haven’t been as proactive regarding transit expansion as I had hoped. Yeah, the two main projects that had already been in the works for year before their election have moved forward (although the Expo Line far slower than I had anticipated) they have been quite lack luster in getting anything else moving or introducing any new major projects (say a concrete expansion for commuter rail in the Fraser Valley, or a project to reintroduce commuter rail on the Island, or LRT in Victoria or even any potential rail in the Okanagan…)

Seeing how fast REM has moved in Montreal they have had more than enough years to introduce something new and bold.

Ironically they have actually reduced a mass transit project that was associated with the GMB, a true median rapid bus with in situ stations and direct grade separated ramps reduced to at grade ramps and a shoulder lane that cuts across all merge points…

[s211]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Removing the tolls was a stupid idea.

100% agree.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

I would actually welcome that.

Removing the tolls was a stupid idea.

I agree, but I doubt they will.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

On the flip side the NDP haven’t been as proactive regarding transit expansion as I had hoped. Yeah, the two main projects that had already been in the works for year before their election have moved forward...

They moved under the NDP, that's the big difference. The Liberals roadblocked those projects through the pretext of their referendum.

[twoNeurons]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

On the flip side the NDP haven’t been as proactive regarding transit expansion as I had hoped. Yeah, the two main projects that had already been in the works for year before their election have moved forward (although the Expo Line far slower than I had anticipated) they have been quite lack luster in getting anything else moving or introducing any new major projects (say a concrete expansion for commuter rail in the Fraser Valley, or a project to reintroduce commuter rail on the Island, or LRT in Victoria or even any potential rail in the Okanagan…)

True. It's been all pandemic pandemic pandemic...

Seeing how fast REM has moved in Montreal they have had more than enough years to introduce something new and bold.

To be fair, that's along an existing rail corridor... but yeah impressive stuff coming out of Montreal.

[Sheba]

Fraser River Tunnel

What is this engagement about?

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is proposing to replace the existing George Massey Tunnel with a new, eight-lane immersed tube tunnel. Early Engagement is the first phase in the Environmental Assessment process and provides an opportunity for Indigenous groups, the public, and stakeholders to learn more about the proposed project and provide comments.

How to participate:

Attend an in-person open house, participate in a virtual information session, review the initial project description, or share your comments directly to the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office (EAO).

Feedback will be accepted until 4pm (PT) on June 9, 2022.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by Sheba

Fraser River Tunnel

starting from scratch, at the time the original plan would have opened.

yup, good use of resources for sure. gotta love the NDP politics.

[s211]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

starting from scratch, at the time the original plan would have opened.

yup, good use of resources for sure. gotta love the NDP politics.

I look forward to riding my bike in the new tunnel, said nobody (with a brain) ever.

[idunno]

I am! Provided they build some actual bike infrastructure connecting the S side to Tsawwassen ;0

[Marshal]

Originally Posted by s211

I look forward to riding my bike in the new tunnel, said nobody (with a brain) ever.

But I do look forward to that - I will ride through it ONCE. It's kind of like the so-called bike lane along the SFPR. I tried that nightmare ONCE too.

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by s211

I look forward to riding my bike in the new tunnel, said nobody (with a brain) ever.

When is the last time you tried to ride a bike between Richmond and Delta? If you never have, than there is no need to comment because the tunnel is not designed for you.

It is incredible how many people use anecdotes to downplay the necessity of good infrastructure.

[Repthe250]

Originally Posted by FarmerHaight

When is the last time you tried to ride a bike between Richmond and Delta? If you never have, than there is no need to comment because the tunnel is not designed for you.

It is incredible how many people use anecdotes to downplay the necessity of good infrastructure.

Good infrastructure? This is going to be an under built structure connecting two cities with major ports: YVR and Deltaport, as well as the border to the city of Vancouver. A bike lane doesn’t make this good infrastructure. No one is riding their bike to the airport, Deltaport or the USA and vice versa

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by FarmerHaight

It is incredible how many people use anecdotes to downplay the necessity of good infrastructure.

haha good infrastructure. the bridge was good infrastructure. it had bike space, pedestrian space on both sides. and you know what made it better? it was OPEN.

can you imagine the possible safety issues of a bike/pedestrian tunnel that's 3km long you can see through? i mean talk about safety issues. no sight lines, no help, no way of escape. jeez.

Originally Posted by Repthe250

Good infrastructure? This is going to be an under built structure connecting two cities with major ports: YVR and Deltaport, as well as the border to the city of Vancouver. A bike lane doesn’t make this good infrastructure. No one is riding their bike to the airport, Deltaport or the USA and vice versa

even if they were, the bridge was much better than the tunnel. see above.

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by s211

I look forward to riding my bike in the new tunnel, said nobody (with a brain) ever.

Now, now. There is a whole handful of people that will be commuting daily from Delta to Vancouver on bike. Rain or shine. #wortheverypenny

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by Repthe250

No one is riding their bike to the airport, Deltaport or the USA and vice versa

I wouldn't say no one. There are plenty of people that do bike packing trips to the island and back via the Tsawwassen ferry. And in the crossing's decades long lifespan, can you really not imagine a world where there is more development in Ladner and Richmond and someone might ride their bike from Ladner to south Richmond for work, or vice versa? Or a teenager might ride their bike to school or a friend's house across the river?

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

can you imagine the possible safety issues of a bike/pedestrian tunnel that's 3km long you can see through? i mean talk about safety issues. no sight lines, no help, no way of escape. jeez.

I won't argue whether the bridge was a better solution. But a pedestrian and bike pathway absolutely should be part of the crossing, whether that is a bridge or tunnel.

As for the safety issues, you can make the exact same points with a traffic tunnel

Originally Posted by Klazu

Now, now. There is a whole handful of people that will be commuting daily from Delta to Vancouver on bike. Rain or shine. #wortheverypenny

There are plenty of other trips that can be made via this crossing. If there was no demand, there wouldn't be a shuttle.

And yes, I know an engineer who lives in Delta and occasionally makes the long bike trip to his work in Vancouver (he works for a bike manufacturer). So just because you don't know anyone who would bike that route, or would refuse to ever get out of your car that you love to take pictures of and post on this forum, doesn't mean the cycling and pedestrian facilities will see no use.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by Repthe250

Good infrastructure? This is going to be an under built structure connecting two cities with major ports: YVR and Deltaport, as well as the border to the city of Vancouver. A bike lane doesn’t make this good infrastructure. No one is riding their bike to the airport, Deltaport or the USA and vice versa

I find it interesting that people on this form complain ad nauseum about highways not being built to some arbitrary standard, and yet failing to realize that in this day and age these kinds of infrastructure projects are expected to provide for pedestrian and cyclist use.

When you design this into the project at the outset the costs are not that high. For example, since the new tunnel will require an emergency egress route, it seems obvious to me that this be designed to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists. It really should be a no brainer.

[cganuelas1995]

Nobody is biking between Ladner/Tsawwassen/Deltaport/USA and Richmond/Airport/Vancouver because there is no way to cross the South Arm without taking the bus.

[Cypherus]

Originally Posted by Sheba

Fraser River Tunnel

Yikes. Just starting the engagement session for Environmental Impact Assessment. So much wasted time, money, and red tape for an essential project with national interest. How many impact assessments, environmental reviews, consultations with third parties, committees, contract reviews, and time wasting outreach sessions are needed? Are they going to set up a pizza committee too?

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Cypherus

Are they going to set up a pizza committee too?

That would be too contentious - all the yay vs nays about pineapple on pizza ... nothing would get done and people would starve to death!