6of1_halfdozenofother Posted November 16, 2023 Share Posted November 16, 2023 (edited) Figured the site could use one of these threads. Article in today's GlobalBC news website: Quote TransLink unveils first 3 planned new Bus Rapid Transit routes By Simon Little Global News Posted November 16, 2023 1:40 pm Updated November 16, 2023 1:49 pm TransLink has announced the routes for three new Bus Rapid Transit lines in Metro Vancouver. TransLink TransLink has announced a trio of new routes that will anchor the planned next phase of its rapid transit expansion in the Lower Mainland. The proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes will use higher-capacity buses that use traffic signal priority and off-board fare collection to further speed up travel. 2:08City of Surrey wants bus rapid transit “Bus Rapid Transit is the best possible bus service, rapid transit with traffic separated bus lanes, high frequencies and rail-like stations for boarding,” TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn said, calling the plan a transit “game-changer.” Each of the three routes announced Thursday will link communities to existing or planned SkyTrain lines. They include: King George Boulevard from Surrey Centre to White Rock Langley Centre to Haney Place (Maple Ridge) Metrotown (Burnaby) to North Shore (West Vancouver) The King George Boulevard route will connect the Surrey Central SkyTrain station to Guildford, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Bear Creek Park, Newton Centre, South Surrey Park & Ride and Semiahmoo Centre. The Langley-Haney Place route will connect Langley Centre and the Haney Place Exchange in Maple Ridge via 200th Street, the Golden Ears Bridge and Lougheed Highway. The Metrotown-North Shore route will connect a variety of key locations including Park Royal, Capilano Mall, Lower Lonsdale, Lower Lynn, Burnaby Heights, Brentwood, BCIT and Metrotown. Quinn said with the new routes announced, TransLink will immediately begin planning work to flesh out the proposals. Specific alignment, designs, costs and timelines associated with the routes have yet to be determined. TransLink is bullish on the BRT model, in part because of its low capital cost compared with SkyTrain or light rail, and the fact routes can be built in as little as two to four years. The regional transportation and transit agency hopes to roll out nine such routes in the next decade as a part of its Access for Everyone plan — which currently remains unfunded. "The three new corridors being announced today have been selected to maximize people’s access to rapid transit based on ridership potential, future housing and population growth projections as well as strong support from mayors to bring these properties to their communities,” TransLink Mayors’ Council chair Brad West said. According to TransLink, bus ridership on its system has rebounded faster than any city in North America, and in some areas has eclipsed pre-pandemic levels by startling numbers. 5:30B.C. government looks to add housing density around transit hubs TransLink statistics show bus ridership in Surrey and Langley is at 120 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, while some routes like the #310 from Surrey to Ladner have seen ridership more than double. West said the proposed BRT lines will also help the region meet its requirements under new transit-oriented development legislation unveiled this month by the provincial government. Along with BRT, the 10-year Access for Everyone plan envisions doubling bus service in the region, the extension of the under-construction Broadway subway line to the University of British Columbia, the construction of a gondola to Simon Fraser University, 450 kilometres of new traffic-separated bike lanes and studying possible SkyTrain extensions to Newton in Surrey and Port Coquitlam. 0:35TransLink is asking public for input on proposed Burnaby Mountain gondola The TransLink Mayors’ Council has yet to secure funding commitments from the provincial or federal governments for their share of the plan’s estimated $21-billion price tag. In fact, as recently as last month, TransLink warned that a structural deficit from fare shortfalls, falling gas tax revenue and inflation could result in a $4.7-billion funding gap in the next decade, which — if unresolved — could result in service cuts of up to 60 per cent. https://globalnews.ca/news/10096627/translink-bus-rapid-transit/ I notice these "BRT"s are primarily north/south, with east/west being primarily handled by Skytrain. It's still woefully inadequate and solves very little of the real transportation issues of the area, but I guess it's a start. Edited November 16, 2023 by 6of1_halfdozenofother 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck You Posted November 16, 2023 Share Posted November 16, 2023 Don't drink and drive..Take transit. That's all. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moosehead Posted November 16, 2023 Share Posted November 16, 2023 Still wondering why Transit took so long during covid to require masks for riders.... Are transit buses/trains some kind of covid free zone.... ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Korea Posted November 16, 2023 Share Posted November 16, 2023 WOW North-South transit options in the Lower Mainland?? No way!! God has truly answered our prayers. Now if he can just smite those non-believing heathens in the God thread... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Déjà Vu Posted November 16, 2023 Share Posted November 16, 2023 i dont see were or when this will be done? or started Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6of1_halfdozenofother Posted November 16, 2023 Author Share Posted November 16, 2023 2 minutes ago, Déjà Vu said: i dont see were or when this will be done? or started At this stage, they're proposals. Already, I think Richmond has opted out of it (there was a CBC artcile about that mid-Oct). I'm guessing framework/details won't be available yet for a couple of months, possibly a half a year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoop Hogg Posted November 17, 2023 Share Posted November 17, 2023 Is there an update on the rapid transit bus route to Scott road? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpshooter Posted November 17, 2023 Share Posted November 17, 2023 7 hours ago, Snoop Hogg said: Is there an update on the rapid transit bus route to Scott road? The road is still under construction I think. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6of1_halfdozenofother Posted November 17, 2023 Author Share Posted November 17, 2023 A piece from the CBC about the proposed BRT: Quote Dedicated bus lanes, 'train-like' stations and frequent service coming to 3 priority TransLink routes No timeline, completion date given for Burnaby-North Shore, Langley-Maple Ridge, Surrey-White Rock routes CBC News · Posted: Nov 16, 2023 5:04 PM PST | Last Updated: November 16 TransLink's mayors' council announces the three routes identified as priorities for bus rapid transit (BRT) corridors. (Justin McElroy/CBC) TransLink's mayors' council has announced three priority bus rapid transit corridors (BRT) that will feature dedicated bus lanes, "train-like" stations and frequent service. The King George Boulevard corridor will run between Surrey Centre and White Rock. A corridor between Langley Centre to Haney Place in Maple Ridge will cross the Golden Ears Bridge. A route connecting Burnaby to the North Shore will run between Metrotown and Park Royal, crossing the Iron Workers Memorial-Second Narrows Bridge. The next steps will be planning around design and costs of the three routes, said TransLink. No timeline or expected date of completion was given. The three corridors were selected based on ridership potential, increasing access to jobs, future housing and development growth projections, feasibility of implementing new infrastructure, and early support from local governments to implement the changes. Six other routes have been identified for consideration in the future. According to TransLink, features of the BRT include: All-day, frequent service with limited stops. Near-continuous dedicated bus lanes with signal priority at major intersections. High-capacity vehicles with all-door boarding. Stations that are weather-protected, well lit, accessible with next-bus digital displays, maps and enhanced security. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/priority-bus-rapid-transit-corridors-translink-bc-1.7030865 Curious to know if one of the "[six] other routes" is the one Richmond opted out of, and what the routes (proposed or identified for future consideration) entail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoop Hogg Posted November 18, 2023 Share Posted November 18, 2023 Just missed the rapid transit bus between guildford and Newton, so I waited for the next one. 45 minutes later it still hadn’t come. I thought rapid transit buses ran every several minutes. Apparently not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6of1_halfdozenofother Posted November 24, 2023 Author Share Posted November 24, 2023 And in goes the ask: Quote TransLink Mayors’ Council unveils funding wish list for transit improvements FILE - A SkyTrain station sign in Metro Vancouver. (Allan Chek, CityNews Image) By Hana Mae Nassar and Negin Nia Posted November 23, 2023 6:59 am. Last Updated November 23, 2023 12:42 pm. Local politicians are hoping the federal government plays Santa. The TransLink Mayors’ Council detailed its wish list Thursday for federal funding to help pay for a litany of transit improvements across Metro Vancouver. The funding requests include supporting the building of new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) projects, giving $375 million for an expanded bus fleet, $1.4 million for additional bus depot capacity, $70 million for active transportation and road safety projects, as well as $120 million for the Golden Ears Way BRT readiness project. “Transit-oriented development is a key component of the province’s and region’s plan to respond to the housing affordability crisis, but without federal financial support and a sustainable funding model to help deliver additional transit into the future, we won’t be successful,” said Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West, chair of the Mayors’ Council. He adds that this funding is important as Metro Vancouver’s transit services are “essentially frozen at 2019 levels even as the region’s population has grown by almost 200,000 between 2019 and 2023.” The announcement came a week after TransLink unveiled plans for three new BRT routes in Metro Vancouver. The “priority corridors” will be King George Boulevard from Surrey Centre to White Rock, Langley Centre to Haney Place, and Metrotown to the North Shore. The timeline, however, isn’t as quick as some might hope. TransLink says potential services on these routes could roll out in 2027. The ask from the council also came before work on the multi-billion dollar Surrey Langley SkyTrain is set to begin in 2024. The province previously said it expected to start awarding contracts in the first few months of the year. Earlier this month, the Mayors’ Council pushed for an injection of cash for local transit projects after the B.C. government announced it had tabled legislation to densify housing near transit hubs. “The fact is, you can’t have transit-oriented development without transit, and TransLink’s current system is unable to keep up with growing public demand for services across this region,” said West. “With transit in Metro Vancouver currently frozen at 2019 levels, we need to see both the provincial and federal governments commit funding to dramatically expand public transit service. This legislation represents one of the most significant changes to land use and zoning policy that we’ve ever seen in this province, but it won’t succeed unless our three levels of government work together to deliver better transit in this region.” https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2023/11/23/metro-vancouver-transit-funding-list/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpshooter Posted November 24, 2023 Share Posted November 24, 2023 2 hours ago, 6of1_halfdozenofother said: And in goes the ask: https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2023/11/23/metro-vancouver-transit-funding-list/ It’s a must. Ridership is nearly crush loaded on most routes. Too many cars on the road. Traffic is an absolute nightmare on most days and weekends. Vancouver and Surrey are the areas that need most attention to new Transit monies. It’s a gong-show out there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6of1_halfdozenofother Posted November 24, 2023 Author Share Posted November 24, 2023 Ferries count as public transit (sort of), so here goes: Quote BC Ferries begins process of replacing aging fleet with new hybrid vessels By Darrian Matassa-Fung Global News Posted November 24, 2023 8:40 am Updated November 24, 2023 9:03 am A BC Ferries official said the corporation has issued a “Request for Expressions of Interest” to shipbuilders to acquire seven new “hybrid” vessels. BC Ferries has begun the process of replacing six retiring ships in its fleet. A BC Ferries official said the corporation has issued a “Request for Expressions of Interest” to shipbuilders to acquire seven new “hybrid” vessels. The new vessels would replace the C-class vessels, such as the Queen of New Westminster and Queen of Coquitlam, which service major routes between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. Hybrid vessels will have the ability to run on either diesel or electric power, while C-class solely relies on diesel. “The project is expected to go to our board of directors for approval in the summer of 2024,” a BC Ferries spokesperson said in an email. “Following board approval, we will submit an application to the BC Ferries Commissioner for approval.” The bidding process to build the new ships will be open to qualified local, national and international companies. The corporation said it will not be releasing the budget for these new vessels at this time. The first new hybrid vessel is expected to hit B.C. waters and be operational by 2029. In mid-October, BC Ferries had two of its key vessels out of service. The Coastal Renaissance has been out of commission since mid-August due to problems with the engine that aren’t expected to be resolved until December. The Spirit of Vancouver Island was in dry dock as crews repaired a cracked ballast tank. https://globalnews.ca/news/10113158/bc-ferries-replacing-aging-fleet-hybrid-vessels/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gurn Posted November 24, 2023 Share Posted November 24, 2023 35 minutes ago, 6of1_halfdozenofother said: Ferries count as public transit (sort of), so here goes: https://globalnews.ca/news/10113158/bc-ferries-replacing-aging-fleet-hybrid-vessels/ The small "Island" class ships are dual power -diesel or electric. They made a bit of a thing about the 'electric' part- then put these ships at terminals where B.C. Hydro told them it would be about a decade, before the proper amount of power could be provided to those terminals. Blubber Bay/Texada Island- the power supply is so bad I'd have to reset the ship's breaker/shore power supply 10-15 time per graveyard, due to brown/black outs. Quite the fuss ensued when I told them "You know Fleet Regs. say I'm supposed to call back the chief Engineer to do this right?-So maybe someone higher up than me can write and sign a waiver for me?" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6of1_halfdozenofother Posted December 12, 2023 Author Share Posted December 12, 2023 Quote 4 new hybrid-electric Island Class vessels approved for BC Ferries fleet By Simon Little Global News Posted December 11, 2023 6:32 pm BC Ferries' two new Island Class vessels are seen secured to the partially submersible transport vessel Sun Rise on Jan. 18, 2020. BC Ferries BC Ferries has been given the green light to acquire four more hybrid-electric Island Class ferries. In a media release Monday, the ferry corporation said the BC Ferries Commissioner had approved a capital expenditure to procure the vessels, which will serve the Nanaimo-Gabriola Island and Campbell River-Quadra Island routes by 2027. The acquisition will allow Island Class vessels already serving those routes to be re-deployed to serve Salt Spring, Quadra, Cortez, Denman and Hornby islands, boosting capacity, the company said. 2:45Major BC Ferries vessel out of service through the holidays There are currently six Island Class vessels in the BC Ferries fleet. The company said adding four more will help it reduce the variety of vessels it operates, making maintenance, training and operations easier. The ferries can carry 47 vehicles and up to 450 passengers and are powered by hybrid diesel-electric engines which BC Ferries says also reduce underwater noise. The company said it has also received approval to add electrical upgrades for shore-based rapid charging at Nanaimo, Gabriola Island, Campbell River and Quadra Island terminals. 0:32BC Ferries begins process of replacing aging fleet with new hybrid vessels The electrification project will receive funding from the provincial government through the monetization of low-carbon fuel credits BC Ferries earns from cutting an estimated 10,000 tons of CO2 equivalent, the company said. Neither BC Ferries nor the BC Ferry Commission have released a cost estimate for the new vessels, which the company said is now going to the procurement process with “negotiations to begin imminently.” BC Ferries ordered its last batch of four Island Class ferries in 2019 from Dutch shipbuilder Damen Shipyards Group at a cost of $200 million. https://globalnews.ca/news/10163758/bc-ferries-hybrid-island-class/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Heffy Posted December 12, 2023 Share Posted December 12, 2023 9 minutes ago, 6of1_halfdozenofother said: https://globalnews.ca/news/10163758/bc-ferries-hybrid-island-class/ Wish we were building them locally. I get the issues with the fast cats, but I'd still prefer to try implementing some of the lessons from that fiasco and create local jobs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpshooter Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 48 hours Transit Supervisors Strike has shutdown Seabus and Bus service. Won’t affect Skytrain though. Plan for similar disruption tomorrow. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoop Hogg Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 I’m very upset. I rely heavily on public transit. I had no way of going to work or to the hospital for my dialysis treatment, which I need to live. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnarcore Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 My favorite part of riding a motorbike in the city is using HOV lanes. Ok that is about the only good part. Moto riding in Vancouver sucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Long Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 42 minutes ago, Gnarcore said: My favorite part of riding a motorbike in the city is using HOV lanes. Ok that is about the only good part. Moto riding in Vancouver sucks. all driving in Vancouver sucks. You don't know what the hell people are going to do, it's just a bunch of low speed stupid. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spur1 Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 4 hours ago, Bob Long said: all driving in Vancouver sucks. You don't know what the hell people are going to do, it's just a bunch of low speed stupid. I call them citiots. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kootenay Gold Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 10 hours ago, Bob Long said: You don't know what the hell people are going to do, it's just a bunch of low speed stupid. They have this class of drivers in Calgary too but they are high speed stupid. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Long Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 7 hours ago, Spur1 said: I call them citiots. Between the entitled cyclists and the army of bad Uber drivers im amazed when I can get through downtown without an incident Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6of1_halfdozenofother Posted January 24 Author Share Posted January 24 Back on track today, but for how much longer before the next picket lines go up? https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/metro-vancouver-bus-strike-service-resumes-1.7093072 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnkNuk Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 5 hours ago, 6of1_halfdozenofother said: Back on track today, but for how much longer before the next picket lines go up? https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/metro-vancouver-bus-strike-service-resumes-1.7093072 From the article: On Wednesday, B.C. Minister of Labour Harry Bains appointed Vince Ready as a special mediator to assist in settling terms of a new collective agreement. and "Ready is a highly regarded mediator in the labour relations community, with a long and distinguished record of settling disputes," said Bains in a statement. No kidding. For nearly as long as I can remember, whenever there's a high profile labour dispute, they always call in Vince Ready. The man is clearly good at what he does. Hopefully he gets this settled without too much delay. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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