The Great Canadian Transit Thread

[nname]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Yeah... I'm not really sure why they didn't use TBMs at least for the commercial area of Granville... they used them to get under False Creek so why not just go an extra couple kilometers and save everyone the torment, then cut and cover the rest. Hopefully because Broadway is basically one long commercial strip, they will seriously consider boring machines.

I think a previous plan call for a tunnel uphill under 10th instead of Broadway, so the construction would be less destructive, less utility relocation is required, and easier station access as the underground station would be at the same level as Broadway.

The commercial area of Granville WAS constructed using bored tunnel except for the two blocks near Waterfront Station, which were constructed using cut-and-cover for the track switch and the removal of TBM. However, the construction of Vancouver City Centre and Yaletown station require a 1-block full closure of the street due to deeper station and larger station box requirement for bored tunnel.

The commercial area on Cambie street was constructed using cut-and-cover. Although I do not believe a bored tunnel construction would be any less disruptive. As with the downtown segment, it would probably require full street closure at both ends of the commercial area.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

The small difference in price is often less than the value of the potential disruption to the economy in dense busy areas.

The problem is that the disruption affects business owners, not the transit developer.

Transit authorities often do something similar with service levels when they account for differences in ridership but not the differences in the quality/value of service. What I mean is that they'll often go for a cheaper but poorer quality option because they have captive riders. The cost to the riders (e.g. 10 mins per day for 100,000 people for 40 years) might greatly exceed the capital savings but the transit authority doesn't adequately take that into consideration. When people say that BRT is the "best" option for busy corridors they are often only looking at riders vs. capital/operating costs, without considering quality of service or spin-off effects on development.

Some of the HRM transit reports are even worse than this. Once you overlook 4 or 5 of these things in your study you're probably most of the reason for building a new transit line.

[logan5]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

Cut and cover really isn't all that much cheaper than boring nowadays anyway, with the improved TBM technology. The small difference in price is often less than the value of the potential disruption to the economy in dense busy areas.

Remembering back to the Susan Heyes/Canada Line law-suit, there was supposedly a $500 million savings by going cut and cover vs tbm along Cambie St. Maybe those cut and cover cost savings are something that were unique to Cambie St., I don't know.

[nname]

Originally Posted by logan5

Remembering back to the Susan Heyes/Canada Line law-suit, there was supposedly a $500 million savings by going cut and cover vs tbm along Cambie St. Maybe those cut and cover cost savings are something that were unique to Cambie St., I don't know.

Faster construction schedule, less TBM needed (1 vs 2-3), shallower stations, allowed for blasting, etc.

[Chadillaccc]

I think probably because of the bedrock in the Queen Elizabeth Park area.

[Chadillaccc]

Substantial demolition at Chinook LRT in Calgary has begun. The new station will be complete and open by August. This is the busiest station outside of the downtown core and the reconstruction of the station will double its capacity to be able to handle something like 30 000 people per day? Something like that.

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Fullscale demo at chinook LRT.

[Chadillaccc]

Sunalta Station:


100_2516 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2517 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2518 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2522 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2515 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2514 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2513 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2512 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2510 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2509 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr



Shaganappi Point Station:


100_2506 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2484 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr



Westbrook Station:


100_2537 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2535 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2533 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2531 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2526 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2479 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2476 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2475 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2474 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2471 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr


Westbrook TOD:


100_2470 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2539 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2541 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2542 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr



45th Street Station:


100_2501 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2483 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2543 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr



Sirroco Station:


100_2500 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2544 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2546 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr



69th Street Station:


100_2497 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2498 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2492 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2490 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2489 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2486 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2485 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

[Chadillaccc]

100_2504 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

100_2505 by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

[ZeDgE]

Nice pics! One day soon I will take a ride on the new leg.

[SFUVancouver]

Thanks for the photo tour of the WLRT. It looks good. I'll make sure to check it out the next time I'm in Calgary.

[whiteford]

wlrt looks hawt. cant wait to ride it as well.

[SteelTown]

Today Hamilton council has approved the latest LRT plan. With the Council's approval and a completed EA Hamilton City staff will present it to Metrolinx for capital funding, asking for $800 million. The ball is in Metrolinx's hands now.

The LRT report....
http://www.hamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/76D3.../0/Feb25EDRMS_n414203_v1_5_1_PW13014.pdf

[SteelTown]

Also Hamilton council is set to approve a bike share program, 40 stations and 350 bikes.

Bike share coming to Hamilton?
(Hamilton Spectator, Molly Hayes, Feb 24 2013)

Hamilton is one step closer to joining 200 cities around the world with a bike share program.

On Monday at a special meeting focusing on transit issues, the general issues committee will decide whether to move ahead with the project and begin the process of finding a third-party supplier.

“I can’t see any downside really but we’ll see how the debate goes,” said downtown councillor Jason Farr.

A bike share plan for Hamilton has been in the works since 2009. The city received verbal approval from Metrolinx last year for up to $1.6 million, as part of “Quick Wins” money allotted to Hamilton for transit vehicles and infrastructure.

Bike share systems – such as Bixi Bikes in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal – give residents and tourists the option between a 24-hour pass or annual membership, allowing them to grab a bike from one of several docking stations across the city, and then drop it off at another station at the end of their trip.

According to the report, Hamilton would get up to 40 stations and 350 bikes to start, with stations along Main and King bordered by McMaster University and John Street, the harbourfront and Aberdeen Avenue.

[Chadillaccc]

Wow! Incredible news! That's farther ahead than both Winnipeg and QC are with their LRT futures. Hopefully by the time the Waterloo Region LRT is done, Hamilton's will be UC

[Andrewjm3D]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Today Hamilton council has approved the latest LRT plan. With the Council's approval and a completed EA Hamilton City staff will present it to Metrolinx for capital funding, asking for $800 million. The ball is in Metrolinx's hands now.

The LRT report....
http://www.hamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/76D3.../0/Feb25EDRMS_n414203_v1_5_1_PW13014.pdf

I hope it happens. Hamilton is on the cusp a great things I believe.

[Chadillaccc]

Absolutely

How cool is it that by 2020/definitely by 2025, 4 metropolitan areas in Ontario alone will have RT.

Hell, even BC and Quebec could each have 2 metros with RT by then!

[SteelTown]

Won't have to wait that long....

Metrolinx is expected to announce its next round of funding in May or June.

http://m.thespec.com/article/893440--city-banking-on-province-for-full-lrt-funding

[Chadillaccc]

Even better Woooot!

[SteelTown]

Excellent news already....

Metrolinx spokesperson Malon Edwards clarified that it is Metrolinx's intention to fund the capital costs for rapid transit in Hamilton.

“One of Metrolinx’s priorities for the 'next wave' of projects is rapid transit in Hamilton,” Edwards told CBC Hamilton in an email. “The 'next wave' of projects requires a funding source, which is part of the focus of the big conversation in which we are currently engaging GTHA residents.

“It is our intention that funding for the Hamilton project, like other projects across the GTHA, would be provided through Metrolinx’s upcoming investment strategy, which we will be delivering to municipalities and the province by June 1.”

When asked if that meant Metrolinx intends to fund 100 per cent of the capital costs of Hamilton’s rapid transit plan, Edwards said yes.

http://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/story/2013/02/25/hamilton-council-public-transit.html

[Coldrsx]

Edmonton


(http://www.edmonton.ca/lrt_boarding_graph_430x280.JPG)