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  #2521  
Old Posted Dec 22, 2015, 10:25 PM
Pinion Pinion is offline
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omg omg i just asked for a transfer from my north van job officially. This is scary as hell. Almost hoping I can do graveyards or something so I don't spend half the day on the bridge.

LRT, as always, wouldn't be better than buses.

And as far as West Van and North Van council goes, everything is blamed on condos/densification. There's no talk of a third crossing ever.
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  #2522  
Old Posted Dec 23, 2015, 12:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Klazu View Post
We were in another thread recently discussing if a commuter rail could run along the trains tracks on the shore, connecting with Seabus and possibly crossing the Second Narrows railway bridge. It was deemed not feasible due to those tracks being used so heavily by freight trains.
Is it actually all that busy west of Capilano Road, and how much work would it require to increase capacity east of their to Lonsdale? Running over Second Narrows would be expensive and circuitous, but I could sorta see a Lonsdale-Western service being sorta viable.

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Originally Posted by Klazu View Post
I think a LRT might work on North Shore, connecting the areas to Seabus and few other transit points. There should also be some sort of rail up from Lonsdale. The straight avenue just cries to be used for something like that.
Truly it would be a place for Trolley Buses with their formidable hill climbing capability. The old trolley line up lonsdale used to have turnouts and sand embankments for runaway trams
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  #2523  
Old Posted Dec 23, 2015, 2:14 AM
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I live in Vancouver but grew up on the North Shore and my immediate family still lives there. My wife and I seriously looked at moving there when we purchased a new place early this year but traffic was the main reason we decided against it.

I also have little faith that the traffic issues will be resolved any time in the next 20 years. The North Shore is a low growth region in the Lower Mainland and therefore it is extremely unlikely that a strong business case can be made for building a third crossing. I also believe that Vancouver will resist any plans to add new lanes into the city; therefore, limiting the options where new crossings could be built.

There are a few things that I think could help but I'm also not holding my breath for them to happen:
- Discontinue the ferry route between Vancouver Island and Horseshoe Bay (shift the route to Tsawwassen). The North Shore bridges can no-longer handle the influx of cars that hit the bridge every time one of these super-ferries unload. Part of the Horseshoe Bay terminal could be redeveloped to help pay for the cost to upgrade Tsawwassen's terminal and connecting interchanges.
- Toll the sea-to-sky highway and use a portion of the revenue to run train service from the Lonsdale Quay to Whistler.
- Make all transit a 1-zone fare into Vancouver.
- Complete an upgraded low road between the Lions Gate & Second Narrows.
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  #2524  
Old Posted Dec 23, 2015, 3:29 AM
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Originally Posted by Smooth View Post
There are a few things that I think could help but I'm also not holding my breath for them to happen:
- Discontinue the ferry route between Vancouver Island and Horseshoe Bay (shift the route to Tsawwassen). The North Shore bridges can no-longer handle the influx of cars that hit the bridge every time one of these super-ferries unload. Part of the Horseshoe Bay terminal could be redeveloped to help pay for the cost to upgrade Tsawwassen's terminal and connecting interchanges.
- Toll the sea-to-sky highway and use a portion of the revenue to run train service from the Lonsdale Quay to Whistler.
- Make all transit a 1-zone fare into Vancouver.
- Complete an upgraded low road between the Lions Gate & Second Narrows.
Yup, you're right. Your list is wishful thinking at best. Here are my comments based on your list.
-Ferry terminal is there to stay
-Road price the TCH from Squamish to Abbotsford (cents per km) and remove single PMB toll
-SkyTrain from West Vancouver Community Centre/Aquatic Centre/Seniors Centre through to Phibbs Exchange, then veer towards Capilano University
-Add one or two additional SeaBuses
-Add additonal queue jumping lanes for buses running from Phibbs to Kootenay Loop and Gilmore Station
-Single fare metro Vancouver
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  #2525  
Old Posted Dec 23, 2015, 7:47 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Smooth View Post
- Complete an upgraded low road between the Lions Gate & Second Narrows.
They've actually done a baffling job reducing lanes and speed along the inlet. 1st st went from four lanes to two with tons of extra lights, crosswalks and four way stops, Low Level was re-done with inexplicably only two lanes and now has to stay that way for our life time. Main Street can't be widened without buying up a lot of property, some of it with new buildings on it.

And whatever happened to connecting the west end of 1st st to Marine west of Park Royal? I've been waiting for that for half a decade now it seems.
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  #2526  
Old Posted Dec 23, 2015, 7:18 PM
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And whatever happened to connecting the west end of 1st st to Marine west of Park Royal? I've been waiting for that for half a decade now it seems.
That runs through the reserve, so good luck on that happening anytime soon. Have they even completed the Spirit Trail connection between the automall and the marina yet?

Traffic was INSANE again yesterday. Midday accident on Main Street near the 2nd narrows caused a ripple effect that backed Hwy 1 up to 15th again, and ever eastbound feeder route back to Lonsdale. It is Christmas time so traffic is bonkers in the afternoon, but it is a preview for 10 years from now. I live in Vancouver and work on the North Shore and it is pretty horrible trying to get home in the afternoon. My commute will luckily be shortened to about 100 feet in 6 months as both I and my office are moving into the same building (score!), but god help everyone else.

The District and the City of North Van need to put together some sort of committee to properly plan improvements (with MOTI) of the next 10 years. The money isn't there yet, but there still isn't much cooperation between the two municipalities. While a lot of the traffic is trying to get over the Ironworkers, a huge chunk is just trying to move east/west across the city. The Lynn Creek Hwy 1 bridge has to be made a priority along with the on/offramps and flyovers in the Lynnmour area. After that we need to start talking about replacing the Ironworkers AND getting better east/west Transit.

Although I grew up in West Van, and have been working there for the past 6 years, I don't think it is that bad outside of Park Royal/LGB at the afternoon rush. Better transit would help that, but the attitude in West Van would really need to change for that to take off.
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  #2527  
Old Posted Dec 23, 2015, 7:36 PM
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There is of course some hope with the 100 million Highway 1 improvements starting soon, but I am not too hopeful with them not making that stretch 3+3 lanes in the upgrade.
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  #2528  
Old Posted Dec 24, 2015, 9:33 AM
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That runs through the reserve, so good luck on that happening anytime soon. Have they even completed the Spirit Trail connection between the automall and the marina yet?
I've been following the spirit trail thing because my wife regularly books a ridiculously expensive modo car to go down to the auto mall area multiple times a week and she could ride her bike if they ever make it safe. Every six months they delay it for another six months, and now they're saying they're gonna build a trail that will be blocked by boat movement whenever the marina feels like it.

Right now it's Spring 2017, but I'll believe it when I see it.
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  #2529  
Old Posted Dec 31, 2015, 11:07 PM
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Of interest - HOT lanes on I-405 in Seattle (Bellevue) are too popular (even when the toll is $10).

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-...d-way-too-low/
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  #2530  
Old Posted Jan 2, 2016, 5:58 PM
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Global's reporting that TransLink is setting aside $5 million to replace the photo tolling system on the Golden Ears Bridge due to to obsolescence and “end of service life”.
TransLink wasn't willing to comment.

http://globalnews.ca/news/2429970/go...of-5m-upgrade/

Have I missed a memo? What's changed in the last seven years that made taking a photograph of a license plate and billing someone obsolete?
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  #2531  
Old Posted Jan 2, 2016, 6:03 PM
WarrenC12 WarrenC12 is offline
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Five years is a pretty typical hardware refresh cycle, depending on the components.
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  #2532  
Old Posted Jan 2, 2016, 6:14 PM
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Five years is a pretty typical hardware refresh cycle, depending on the components.
Not sure why Global News would report this. It seems they have 'little' understanding how quick hardware becomes obsolete.
6.5 years is a long time. The maintenance cost for old hardware is probably getting very expensive or the replacement part might simply no longer available from the vendor.
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  #2533  
Old Posted Jan 2, 2016, 6:16 PM
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CKNW did so too but everyone realizes they're one of the most anti-TransLink biased among the media here.
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  #2534  
Old Posted Jan 3, 2016, 12:17 AM
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Why wouldn't Translink comment? Just adds fuel to the "not transparent" fire. I'm sure that the decision was soundly made, but it sure doesn't appear as if it was if they don't share their reasoning. Something to the effect of "one camera fails per year, the technology of those cameras cannot be sourced anymore, and replacement cameras are not supported by our interfaces - cost per year to maintain would be $2m/yr for the next 10 years if we were to not replace".
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  #2535  
Old Posted Jan 3, 2016, 5:04 AM
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The CKNW story had a response from Translink

http://www.cknw.com/2016/01/01/translink-budgets-new/

Quote:
In 2016 TransLink will be concluding an assessment of technology assets at the Golden Ears Bridge, and a $5m budget had been set aside to ensure that technology assets are replaced as necessary. Technology assets include video cameras, equipment that detects vehicle size, computer servers and associated equipment used in electronic toll collection.

Such equipment has a typical service life of 5 years. Through good proactive maintenance, most of this equipment will have served close to 7 years by the time it is replaced. Technology asset replacement is a normal part of any technology-dependent project, and TransLink had anticipated this expense and budgeted for it. TransLink will continue to monitor the condition of its technology assets and budget for replacements as necessary to ensure efficient operations.
The original system cost $8.5 million.
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  #2536  
Old Posted Jan 3, 2016, 5:16 AM
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What happened to the days when journalists actually researched stories, even a little, before reporting sensationalized shit?
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  #2537  
Old Posted Jan 3, 2016, 5:20 AM
moosejaw moosejaw is offline
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$5million to replace cameras for electronic toll collection ?
That's $1m/year or under $20k/week?
Call me crazy but wouldn't it be cheaper to pay for toll booth collectors?
Seems to defeat the purpose
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  #2538  
Old Posted Jan 3, 2016, 7:20 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moosejaw View Post
$5million to replace cameras for electronic toll collection ?
That's $1m/year or under $20k/week?
Call me crazy but wouldn't it be cheaper to pay for toll booth collectors?
Seems to defeat the purpose
By my estimates, it would cost $23k/week for the staff alone. Factor in the toll booths, handling of cash, lost time due to slowing down/stopping while paying, and $20k/week is peanuts.

From what it sounds like Translink is saying, this is an allocation that may or may not be spent depending upon the assessment to be completed in 2016.
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  #2539  
Old Posted Jan 3, 2016, 9:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moosejaw View Post
$5million to replace cameras for electronic toll collection ?
That's $1m/year or under $20k/week?
Call me crazy but wouldn't it be cheaper to pay for toll booth collectors?
Seems to defeat the purpose
This is just another example of idiots (at Global and CKNW) looking for a story where there is none. Anyone with a computer would know that a computer's warranty is one year and has a lifecycle of around 7. (And the translink bashers here and elsewhere would point to the floppy disk backup of the seltrac VCC's, and windows CE or Embedded Windows use with the fare gates as examples of obsolescence when it's an ill-informed opinion, not a fact.)

And no, the point of the the automated toll collection is to prevent a bottleneck. It's like comparing the driverless tech, or the attendant-less fare gates versus staffed positions... that still use computers. There is no point to hiring people to do something that a computer can do faster, more efficiently and cost less to staff.

Everyone looks at the capital costs of a project, and not the efficiency gained by keeping technology updated and properly maintained. Creating jobs just to "create jobs" is inefficient and ignores the labor cost and the long term costs like medical and retirement. Many pension plans are unfunded or underfunded because of short-term thinking about creating poor quality unskilled jobs instead of a few higher paying skilled jobs.
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  #2540  
Old Posted Jan 4, 2016, 2:15 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Spork View Post
By my estimates, it would cost $23k/week for the staff alone. Factor in the toll booths, handling of cash, lost time due to slowing down/stopping while paying, and $20k/week is peanuts.

From what it sounds like Translink is saying, this is an allocation that may or may not be spent depending upon the assessment to be completed in 2016.
For the purpose of debating
The cost of toll booths should be in the initial construction costs and handling of cash would be absorded in the labor burden

My argument was the $5 million statistic. It seems to be a stretch
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