VANCOUVER | Public Transport

[Plumber73]

Originally Posted by ssiguy2

I finally made my first ride on the Canada Line..........my observations:
Not only are the stations incredibly small but weren't very wide either. The stations had no down escalators. The stations were fairly decent, certainly not eye-popping but pleasant. One thing that struck me the most is the ride itself. I have never been on a Metro that is as smooth and quiet as this one, it was a very pleasant surprise.

The technology for laying and joining the rails has gone up a notch or two over the last century. The tolerances, when they welded the Canada Line rails together, were very tight from what I hear. You can also thank the vehicles themselves for the smooth ride, since they have some sort of air cushioning going on.

[trainrover]

By any chance, has the transit operator finally taken to washing its busses regularly during the Olympiques, because with all the precip the lower mainland gets and what with my own recollection from years back, their vehicules -- unlike Montreal, which washes its own fleets after mucky days -- were scummy for weeks at a time, making it mighty difficult to for me as a passenger to observe where us riders were?

If so, what's the likelihood of that region continuing its regular washes of its fleets?

[deasine]

Our buses have been quite clean for quite some time now. They did have cleaning issues before, especially after snow, but it's not a wash everyday. I think the new colour scheme hides away a lot of the dirt though.

Inside, they are bright, clean, and comfortable, especially those with the new vinyl material on the seats.

[Eurotram]

Deasine,Olympic Games are over (so as the test "olympic" tramline).So could you tell something about passenger's oppinions about Flexity Outlook trams and about the possibility of introducing tram/light rail (of course with such a vehicles) service in Vancouver?

EDIT: Or maybe it's not the end of operation of the tramline ?At least, Paralympic Games are not over yet

[deasine]

Originally Posted by Eurotram

Deasine,Olympic Games are over (so as the test "olympic" tramline).So could you tell something about passenger's oppinions about Flexity Outlook trams and about the possibility of introducing tram/light rail (of course with such a vehicles) service in Vancouver?

EDIT: Or maybe it's not the end of operation of the tramline ?At least, Paralympic Games are not over yet

The last day of service for the streetcar "trail" project is on March 21st. Unfortunately, there hasn't been an announcement to build/expand the streetcar project towards Waterfront Stn via Gastown, Chinatown, Main Street-Science World Stn, and the actual Olympic Village (not the station).

People love the Brussels trams. It's a little narrow, but most of them know, through explanation of Bombardier and City of Vancouver workers, that these streetcars are narrow because Brussel streets are narrow. In Vancouver, I'm sure a standard LRT vehicle width would be used instead. Many Vancouverites haven't experienced a surface rail train, since Vancouver doesn't have LRT or Trams, so it was a pleasant surprise for many. General consensus: everyone loves it and wants it to stay.

[Eurotram]

Originally Posted by deasine

The last day of service for the streetcar "trail" project is on March 21st. Unfortunately, there hasn't been an announcement to build/expand the streetcar project towards Waterfront Stn via Gastown, Chinatown, Main Street-Science World Stn, and the actual Olympic Village (not the station).

People love the Brussels trams. It's a little narrow, but most of them know, through explanation of Bombardier and City of Vancouver workers, that these streetcars are narrow because Brussel streets are narrow. In Vancouver, I'm sure a standard LRT vehicle width would be used instead. Many Vancouverites haven't experienced a surface rail train, since Vancouver doesn't have LRT or Trams, so it was a pleasant surprise for many. General consensus: everyone loves it and wants it to stay.

Yes,trams in Brussels are really narrow; you should see the older types,they look for the first sight (instead of - IMHO - Brussel's Flexity Outlook) for reeeaaallllyyyy narrow Maybe Bombardier should lend you some Flexity Classic trams (for example,Flexity Classic for Bremen - NGT8-1 - is 2,65m wide;meanwhile,there are no Flexity Outlook wider than 2,4m),then Vancouverite's would REALLY love them But we'll have to wait for results of this nearly 2 month's service (of course if this impression and love for trams are as strong as you say ).

[deasine]

Originally Posted by Eurotram

Yes,trams in Brussels are really narrow; you should see the older types,they look for the first sight (instead of - IMHO - Brussel's Flexity Outlook) for reeeaaallllyyyy narrow Maybe Bombardier should lend you some Flexity Classic trams (for example,Flexity Classic for Bremen - NGT8-1 - is 2,65m wide;meanwhile,there are no Flexity Outlook wider than 2,4m),then Vancouverite's would REALLY love them But we'll have to wait for results of this nearly 2 month's service (of course if this impression and love for trams are as strong as you say ).

I think everyone wants it, and even the local transit authority and government love the line, but really, the issue comes down to funding.

1. TransLink is a regional body and there are far more other priorities for TransLink. It's not really "fair" to improve transportation for an area which already has excellent access whereas other areas (South of Fraser suburbs) have horrible transportation.
2. TransLink is cash strapped right now and can barely maintain existing transit operations.
3. City of Vancouver has always envisioned the streetcar and has started the pilot project, but lacks enough funding to make the entire project possible.
4. TransLink has a monopoly in Vancouver's transportation system.

What might possibly work is that the City of Vancouver, somehow, is able to fund and operate the streetcar line with a number of other organizations (i.e. P3 Project - Provincial and Federal Gov't, and streetcar supplier Bombardier, Alstom, etc.) and strike a deal with TransLink (which they will do) to run the streetcar network. Hopefully, it all goes well and we'll have an announcement before the end of the trial project.

[lightrail]

Originally Posted by deasine

I think everyone wants it, and even the local transit authority and government love the line, but really, the issue comes down to funding.

1. TransLink is a regional body and there are far more other priorities for TransLink. It's not really "fair" to improve transportation for an area which already has excellent access whereas other areas (South of Fraser suburbs) have horrible transportation.
2. TransLink is cash strapped right now and can barely maintain existing transit operations.
3. City of Vancouver has always envisioned the streetcar and has started the pilot project, but lacks enough funding to make the entire project possible.
4. TransLink has a monopoly in Vancouver's transportation system.

What might possibly work is that the City of Vancouver, somehow, is able to fund and operate the streetcar line with a number of other organizations (i.e. P3 Project - Provincial and Federal Gov't, and streetcar supplier Bombardier, Alstom, etc.) and strike a deal with TransLink (which they will do) to run the streetcar network. Hopefully, it all goes well and we'll have an announcement before the end of the trial project.

No reason why not. West Vancouver runs it own bus network (the Blue Bus) under a similar arrangement.

[deasine]

Montreal's Mayor enjoyed his experience during the 2010 games and hopes to take a few ideas from Vancouver back to Montreal.

Trolley buses, bike racks among ideas to import from Vancouver

Matias Marchal, a reporter with Metro in Montreal, visited Vancouver during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and went back home with five ideas he figured his city could "import" from ours. Trolley buses and bike racks on buses added up to one of those ideas.

In case you're wondering, the other four ideas are InSite, harbour ferries such as AquaBus or False Creek Ferries, hybrid-engine taxis and Vancouver's environmentally sensitive approach to downtown planning. The English translation is by TransLink's PIO, Drew Snider.

(TransLink, 2010)

See PDF: http://www.translink.ca/~/media/Docu...Vancouver.ashx

[trainrover]

Originally Posted by deasine

but it's not a wash everyday

crummy

[deasine]

Broadway Rapid Transit Corridor Study

Backgrounder:
TransLink, City of Vancouver (CoV), and the Province has been toying with rapid transit on Broadway for decades now. Originally, it was supposed to have constructed by now, but other priorities came about, like the Canada Line for the Olympic Winter Games. In January of last year, the Province announced the UBC Line, bringing rapid transit to UBC via Broadway Corridor. Options are being studied. The corridor right now carries well over 100 000 passengers by bus. Central Broadway is second only to the downtown corridor, on the opposite side of False Creek, when it comes to attracting passengers by transit. UBC is also the regions busiest places, attracting many students and staff members via transit.

Intro Video:


Options being studied (all from TransLink):

[MrNogatco]

The public transportation system in Metro Vancouver is woefully inadequate for an urban region with a population of over two million people.

It is considered by many to be a system primarily for the young, the old, and the poor. The buses are nicknamed "loser cruisers" and many people would rather drive a dilapidated vehicle they can barely afford before using the transit network.

The mickey mouse SkyTrain system is expensive, overburdened and cobbled together without much thought given to cohesion, convenience and efficiency.

It will probably take ten more years of "studies" and "assessments" before the much needed underground subway line is built along Broadway to UBC.

Then we have the light-rail fetishists who want to build tram lines everywhere (including down Broadway to UBC!). Trams are basically trolley-buses on tracks and while they may have their uses...along the Arbutus corridor, from Main Street to Granville Island etc., they are not a one stop solution for this region's transportation problems.

Throw in a corrupt and unaccountable organization (TransLink), high fares (in relation to services offered), all around poor planning, and you have public transit Vancouver style.

If Vancouver wants to be taken seriously as a "world class" city planning and building an efficient, comprehensive public transportation network that people aren't embarrassed to use would be a good start.

Here's a tip: To get people out of their cars you have to make using public transit more convenient than driving, the frustrating mess we have today is not going to cut it.

[deasine]

Tell that to TransLink and the LRT activists who believe building light rail on Broadway can bring LRT to the Fraser Valley.

[MrNogatco]

That's who my little rant was aimed at, but those guys have their heads buried firmly in the sand.

[deasine]

I would be surprised if they had heads.

[MrNogatco]

lol

True enough...

[urbanfan89]

Part of me is tempted to just hand over Translink to China Railway Construction Corps, but I know this won't be possible.

[deasine]

In case many of you don't know already, but there have been many people weighing this debate.

Jarrett Walker, a well known transport planning consultant:
http://www.humantransit.org/2010/04/...man+Transit%29
http://www.humantransit.org/2010/04/...man+Transit%29

Note that well known to Vancouver urbanist Price Tags also referenced Jarrett Walker's Mind The Gap blog post.

The Transport Politic, another well known blog.
http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2...roadway-route/

Then, on the flipside of the debate, a short blurb from the Livable Region's blog, with a comment debate between Patrick Condon (UBC's Landscape Architecture Professor), who wrote the Portland Comparative analysis and proposed streetcars all over Vancouver instead of the RRT for Broadway arguing over "livability" and "density" and "accessibility," points that I think are definitely valid but doesn't solve anything for the Broadway corridor

http://www.livableregion.ca/blog/blo...p=single#c2159

[ssiguy2]

In normal circumstances I would not advocate SkyTrain but it's pretty much a must do to aleviate a needless transfer at Comericial/Broadway. The system must be made to be as seamless as possible.
I do not however agree with a UBC extention. It only needs to go to Alma and after that a BLine. After alma the ride is free flowing, the there is available area along 10th for higher density housing and there are far higher priorities namely Hastings. The Hastings corridor along that part of Broadway is far far busier and more congested. Commercial to Alma but after that Hastings must be top priority with no exception. UBC can wait.

[deasine]

Originally Posted by ssiguy2

I do not however agree with a UBC extention. It only needs to go to Alma and after that a BLine. After alma the ride is free flowing, the there is available area along 10th for higher density housing and there are far higher priorities namely Hastings. The Hastings corridor along that part of Broadway is far far busier and more congested. Commercial to Alma but after that Hastings must be top priority with no exception. UBC can wait.

Not so sure if I agree with the fact that "Hastings" should be the top priority after some sort of Broadway Rapid Transit. While Hastings is busy and has a great potential for ridership, the Millennium Line follows a parallel corridor route, and at least that portion of Hastings is well served by local forms of transit. There could be debate on whether the South of Fraser deserves more priority next.