UBCx - Millennium Line Extension Arbutus to UBC | Proposed

[nname]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

the $$$ it would cost to do just 1 station, would probably make that a no-go. it would probably be cheaper to avoid the flying gantry and just build it like how they did UBCx along the railway yard.

The only part that have to be elevated is west of Westwood. But if they build the proposed grade separation of CP track at westwood first or at the same time, they could pretty much build the entire extension at-grade.

Maybe they can build a 3 stations extension to Fremont Village if they ever need a good location for OMC6, especially after the UBCx. Again, entirely at-grade with maybe 2 overpass for CPR yard access.

[Unregistered User]

Where do people predict the TBM launch site is most likely going to be? Seems like there are a few candidates:

1) Jericho lands
Pros: lots of worksite space -- easy access for tunneling operations
Cons: requires a second tunnel boring front going westward to dive under the residential zone with too-narrow streets for cut and cover

2) UBC
Pros: only one eastward tunnel boring front required
Cons: very little worksite space; logistically more challenging and disruptive for years-long tunnel segment deliveries and slurry removal

3) Yew street
Pros: only one westward tunnel boring front required
Cons: very little worksite space; requires a large excavation which cannot be repurposed as a station

4) University golf course
Pros: lots of worksite space; only one eastward tunnel boring front required -- permits natural transition point for cut-and-cover the rest of the way to UBC
Cons: requires a large excavation which will go unused for decades until demand for a Blanca Station

Are there other factors I am overlooking?

[mcj]

Originally Posted by Unregistered User

Where do people predict the TBM launch site is most likely going to be? Seems like there are a few candidates:

1) Jericho lands
Pros: lots of worksite space -- easy access for tunneling operations
Cons: requires a second tunnel boring front going westward to dive under the residential zone with too-narrow streets for cut and cover

2) UBC
Pros: only one eastward tunnel boring front required
Cons: very little worksite space; logistically more challenging and disruptive for years-long tunnel segment deliveries and slurry removal

3) Yew street
Pros: only one westward tunnel boring front required
Cons: very little worksite space; requires a large excavation which cannot be repurposed as a station

4) University golf course
Pros: lots of worksite space; only one eastward tunnel boring front required -- permits natural transition point for cut-and-cover the rest of the way to UBC
Cons: requires a large excavation which will go unused for decades until demand for a Blanca Station

Are there other factors I am overlooking?

Jericho just makes too much sense for it to not be the site. It's pretty much exactly halfway, the development of the Jericho Lands is dependant on a Skytrain station being there, therefore it's a mutually beneficial situation for MST to allow Translink to use the land for construction. Any other location would to too cramped and/or disruptive.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by mcj

Jericho just makes too much sense for it to not be the site. It's pretty much exactly halfway, the development of the Jericho Lands is dependant on a Skytrain station being there, therefore it's a mutually beneficial situation for MST to allow Translink to use the land for construction. Any other location would to too cramped and/or disruptive.

Could even build a temporary barge port, and take a lot of traffic off the roads.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

Could even build a temporary barge port, and take a lot of traffic off the roads.

Maybe to bring in tunnel segments as well.

It's kind of shallow in that area but by Jericho Beach I guess it's probably as deep as False Creek which uses barges to supply the concrete plant. But the likelihood of a politician wanting to build a road down there seems low.

Emily Carr was close by Clark and the Highway so it was probably as well placed as you would want for a tunnel starting point.

[mcj]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

Could even build a temporary barge port, and take a lot of traffic off the roads.

Unless that somehow reduces costs for the project, that just seems like an unnecessarily expensive measure to get rid of a couple dozen trucks each day. And I'm sure the RVYC wouldn't be keen to have an industrial neighbour.

[jollyburger]

It would be like 10,000 dump truck loads for just the tunnel material removal?

There's a dumping pier near the Vancouver Transit Centre off of Granville so it actually might not be any worse distance wise to just use that facility.

[mcj]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

It would be like 10,000 dump truck loads for just the tunnel material removal?

There's a dumping pier near the Vancouver Transit Centre off of Granville so it actually might not be any worse distance wise to just use that facility.

Yeah so a couple dozen each day, perhaps even a few dozen. TBMs don't chew that much material up each day.

That existing dumping pier makes sense and is probably what will be used, a straight shot down Alma/Dunbar to Marine and you're there.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by mcj

Yeah so a couple dozen each day, perhaps even a few dozen. TBMs don't chew that much material up each day.

That existing dumping pier makes sense and is probably what will be used, a straight shot down Alma/Dunbar to Marine and you're there.

I assume you could include the Jericho Lands excavation into the mix. Again, not saying the economics work but I'm sure they would at least consider it.

[Tvisforme]

Could some of the tunnel excavation material be reused to level the Jericho Lands redevelopment as well?

[madog222]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

It would be like 10,000 dump truck loads for just the tunnel material removal?

There's a dumping pier near the Vancouver Transit Centre off of Granville so it actually might not be any worse distance wise to just use that facility.

Somewhere around 5000 truck loads by my math.

Regardless, there are plenty of truck routes in the area, there is no issue getting to south edge of the City.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by madog222

Somewhere around 5000 truck loads by my math.

Regardless, there are plenty of truck routes in the area, there is no issue getting to south edge of the City.

I assume it was close to 5KM (same as current tunnel) excavation. So around 200,000 cubic metres?

The Iona Wastewater plant will use a temporary barge (limited road access, 500 dump trucks a day for concrete mix)

https://metrovancouver.org/services/...arge-berth.pdf

[VancityAvgeek33]

Anyone know if this UBC extension is going to be announced soon along with sfu gondola?

[idunno]

Maybe when the federal $$ start coming in? Funds don't start a flowin' until "after April 1, 2026" https://housing-infrastructure.canad...index-eng.html

[mcj]

Originally Posted by VancityAvgeek33

Anyone know if this UBC extension is going to be announced soon along with sfu gondola?

We're still waiting on both of the business cases to be completed that were supposed to be done already for both projects...

[chowhou]

UBCx seems to be top of mind for Ken Sim for his meeting with the federal government.

Vancouver mayor Ken Sim makes first trip to Ottawa next week
Bail reform, infrastructure funds, subway extension to UBC on his agenda

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim will make his first trip to Ottawa next week since elected in October 2022 and will be joined by city councillors Lisa Dominato and Mike Klassen in meetings with senior government officials.

Sim’s office was still confirming details Thursday of the trio’s itinerary but the mayor told BIV that the focus will be on emphasizing the need for the federal government to address housing, infrastructure, public safety and transit.

“We have a lot of asks, and we do have a new prime minister who's finding his way,” Sim said. “So it's a great opportunity, and we want to make sure that as he's finding his way, that we put in that little extra effort to make sure that Vancouver's voice is heard.”

Sim’s visit will come less than two weeks after a new session of Parliament opened, with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government committed to an ambitious agenda that focuses on improving Canada’s economy and making life more affordable for Canadians.

Sim will get more insight into whether the federal government’s agenda aligns with his administration’s requests during the three days of meetings, which run from June 3-6.

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/e...arney-10731359

[madog222]

At this point, I don’t have much hope either will be funded before the next provincial election. UBCx directly as a provincial project and BMG indirectly as a Translink project made possible by a new funding model.

[jollyburger]

I mean UBCx has Jericho Lands in its favour as well. But then where does it fit against the Purple Line?

I assume the Purple Line is 2-3x more complicated in terms of planning versus UBCx so maybe it goes first?

I don't think anyone has much flexibility to dump cash at huge infrastructure projects right now.

[mcj]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

I mean UBCx has Jericho Lands in its favour as well. But then where does it fit against the Purple Line?

I assume the Purple Line is 2-3x more complicated in terms of planning versus UBCx so maybe it goes first?

I don't think anyone has much flexibility to dump cash at huge infrastructure projects right now.

Not happening, the UBC extension is the only project directly referenced in Minister Farnworth's mandate letter.

Lead work to advance progress on the Broadway extension to UBC, including by
working with the federal government, UBC, the City of Vancouver, First Nations,
and all relevant government agency stakeholders. Work with the Minister of
Housing and Municipal Affairs to advance related government objectives on
housing density and identify opportunities to achieve reduced carbon pollution and
economic development. Delegate key responsibilities as you are able to the
Parliamentary Secretary for Transit to support the extensive coordination and
relationship building required by this file.

It does leave the door pretty wide open on what "lead work to advance progress" actually means, but no way any other line is getting built ahead of UBCx.

Originally Posted by madog222

At this point, I don’t have much hope either will be funded before the next provincial election. UBCx directly as a provincial project and BMG indirectly as a Translink project made possible by a new funding model.

This is probably the case, the Feds aren't going to be overly interested in infrastructure projects that aren't directly tied to military and/or trade. However, Skytrain expansions do directly support manufacturing jobs in Thunder Bay/Kingston so there's at least that angle, but overall the Provincial government is probably looking at taking on a larger slice of the pie with this than they had to for the Broadway extension.

[madog222]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

I assume the Purple Line is 2-3x more complicated in terms of planning versus UBCx so maybe it goes first?

BIRT as Skytrain? Decades away.
BIRT as BRT? Likely in service before UBCx on the current bridge.