Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by CLC

Seattle Link ridership is on downward trend for two straight months, now only 64% of the projected ridership

(from: http://globaltelematics.com/pitf/Linkpassengercount.htm)

Ouch. LINK will probably remain almost completely useless until some of the extensions open. It will probably more than double ridership when the University extension opens. But they really need to build the eastward branch, there must be tens and tens of thousands of people that can't wait to stop driving across the lake and take a train.

[officedweller]

Dumbest thing about Link is that it does not go to Southcenter Mall.
And East Link will not go to Bellevue Square - what's with that?

[SpongeG]

yeah it was a bad idea not to include a mall especially south centre its a pretty big mall with a lot of one off stores for seattle as well could have been a transit hub for the valley there

[jlousa]

I believe someone mentioned that the mall did not want the line. Why I don't know, perhaps someone you remembers the details can chime in.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by jlousa

I believe someone mentioned that the mall did not want the line. Why I don't know, perhaps someone you remembers the details can chime in.

Good grief - if true then that's way more misguided than even the Hornby street merchants...

[jsbertram]

Saw this in the NYTimes this weekend, and was happy to find it online too.

maybe Translink can do something similar in poster format around the system?

[roleypolinde]

I don't know if anyone has noticed or cares but they're doing a lot of work on the trolley lines at Cambie and Broadway, putting in switches that will allow trolleys back onto the Cambie bridge (as they planned for the 17 I suppose) Nice to see the very last bit of work related to the Canada Line finishing off... a year later!

[Gordon]

The #17 route will return to its pre-construction route with the Winter service changes in December.

[squeezied]

It's been so long since the 17 Oak travelled via Cambie Bridge. I forget, what's the reasoning for the 17 Oak returning to Cambie Bridge? Is it faster to go into downtown? An added benefit of a connection to the Canada Line? Relieving Granville Street of busses (10, 16, 17ubc, etc)?

[madmigs]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

Good grief - if true then that's way more misguided than even the Hornby street merchants...

It is true! The Mall didn't want to pay for something(station I'm guessing) to link with the line.

[officedweller]

Yeah, well, in our cases - Brentwood and Lougheed - the malls didn't want to pay either (from what I recall) - but they were still built in close proximity. Southcenter is a town hub - it should have been included. At least it's supposed to hit Northgate.

[Waders]

Tranlink has for the first time go directly to financial market for its inaugural debt issue. This seems to give it more flexibility to borrow money? May be they can use the money to fund the Evergreen Line project?

TransLink scooped up $300-million, $50-million more than originally anticipated of 10-year senior unsecured AA-rated notes...More than 40 investors, two of whom were foreign, participated in the notes ...

Source: http://www.financialpost.com/opinion/col...ts+300M/3737894/story.html#ixzz13iVsJgwb

[mr.x]

Montreal's new metro cars:

• Video Link

High-definition tv screens.


"More than just an efficient mode of transportation, Montreal's new metro cars will be a source of pride for everyone".

Why can't WE over here in the left-coast think like that instead of half-assing everything to the point it's just merely functional?

With the trains, they got the aesthetics right - quite beautiful looking and high quality finishings...but I'm not a huge fan of the seating configuration, and the lack of bars to hold onto in the standing areas.

[LeftCoaster]

Yes if only we had montreal's stellar track record with public infrastructure projects

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by mr.x

Why can't WE over here in the left-coast think like that instead of half-assing everything to the point it's just merely functional?

With the trains, they got the aesthetics right - quite beautiful looking and high quality finishings...but I'm not a huge fan of the seating configuration, and the lack of bars to hold onto in the standing areas.

Heh, probably because they are building that with our tax dollars.

[Waders]

I like the TV screens inside the car. I don't understand why Skytrain doesn't have TV screen installed. This can be another source of revenue showing live advertisement.

[Metro-One]

I think their seating arrangement is far worse than any we have, and they seem to have even less handles / bars to hold onto than we have. I'll keep our rolling stock thank you very much.

[mr.x]

loll, our Marks II's are very nice - I'm referring to the Canada Line.

Nicer designs obviously cost more, but it's worthy every penny considering how long we're going to be using it.

[squeezied]

Fiesty debate going on in Price Tag's blog with Professor Patrick Condon:

http://pricetags.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/readings-seven-rules-by-condon/

[cabotp]

Originally Posted by squeezied

Fiesty debate going on in Price Tag's blog with Professor Patrick Condon:

http://pricetags.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/readings-seven-rules-by-condon/

Ah yes another typical blog of Skytrain versus trams. With good old zwei coming in and spouting off numbers from his ass.