British Columbia Infastructure

[deasine]

Topic setup that news do not necessarly fall into specific infastructure improvements.

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Digital cams coming to SkyTrain

West Coast Express will also benefit from new federal funding

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Font: * * * * William Boei, Vancouver Sun

Published: Wednesday, November 15, 2006

To listen to story, click the VoicePrint link

New federal funding to beef up security against terror attacks will help pay for digital surveillance cameras on SkyTrain and West Coast Express trains and improved lighting at high-risk locations, TransLink said Tuesday.

The federal government doled out $37 million to Canada's six largest metropolitan areas, including $9.9 million for Greater Vancouver, to harden what could be soft, inviting targets for terrorist attacks -- public transit systems.

Toronto got more than $10 million and Calgary, Edmonton, the National Capital Region and Montreal smaller amounts.

Security experts think Canada is not likely to be a prime target for international terrorist networks, but the bombings of transit systems in London, Madrid and Mumbai and other attacks in Muslim countries in recent years have convinced authorities to toughen up security.

"Security of our public transit systems worldwide is of concern," said TransLink chairman and Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie. "We saw that with the incidents in Europe."

TransLink said two-thirds of its $9.9 million will go to better lighting systems like one already built into the newly renovated Granville SkyTrain station, and the digital camera network.

The lighting will cost $4.5 million and the digital cameras $1.5 million.

TransLink also wants to put cameras on buses, but the funding announced Tuesday covered only rail transit systems.

Brodie said TransLink will try to get federal funding for bus surveillance cameras as well.

"We think the safety of the transit operators and the public is very important," he said. "Having the video cameras on the bus is a very good thing and we're hoping to have a pilot project in the not-too-distant future."

Another $1.6 million will go to improve facilities identified in a risk assessment study.

"This could include fencing around high-risk or sensitive areas or new systems to limit and manage access to such areas," TransLink said in background documents.

The grants are part of an $80-million "Transit-Secure" program to be paid for from $1.4-billion budgeted for national security in this year's federal budget.

"Canada is not immune to the threat of terrorism," said federal Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Minister Lawrence Cannon. "We must remain vigilant and continue to work with our partners in government and industry to address transit security issues."

Transit systems present "unique security challenges" because they move high volumes of passengers with wide-open public access, the minister's department said.

The Transit-Secure program is cost-shared, with the federal government contributing three-quarters of the budget for most proposed measures and local transportation authorities the rest.

The federal money will also pay for a public awareness program to encourage transit users "to identify and report suspicious behaviour and objects or other situations where intervention from transit staff can assist a fellow passenger," according to the background documents.

"We're very pleased with the funding," Brodie said. "I think it shows that TransLink and the federal government have the same priorities on safety and security on our transit systems."

Digital cams coming to SkyTrain

West Coast Express will also benefit from new federal funding

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Font: * * * * William Boei, Vancouver Sun

Published: Wednesday, November 15, 2006

bboei@png.canwest.com

- - -

SAFETY MONEY

How TransLink plans to spend the $9.9 million to bolster security:

- A risk assessment study, $223,000.

- Developing a security management plan, $279,000.

- Digital closed-circuit TV systems on SkyTrain and West Coast Express, $1.5 million.

- Training staff to identify threats and respond, $27,900.

- Public awareness programs, $186,000.

- Training exercises, $82,500.

- Fencing and other physical security enhancements, $1.6 million.

- New lighting systems at stations, $4.5 million.

- An Internet-based virtual emergency operations centre, $232,500.

- An emergency voice-alarm communications system to alert passengers, $516,150.

- A radio-controlled public address and platform display system, $730,000.

© The Vancouver Sun 2006

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/we...7ce5aca&p=2

[deasine]

Bombardier wins Vancouver SkyTrain contract

To supply rail vehicles for $113 million

CREDIT: CanWest

Bombardier wins $113M contract to supply rail vehicles for Vancouver SkyTrain

MONTREAL -- Bombardier Transportation (TSX:BBD. has won a $113-million contract to supply 34 rapid-transit vehicles for Vancouver’s SkyTrain rail transport system.

The deal for advanced ART MKII vehicles includes options for an additional 38 vehicles, which could bring the total value to about $218 million, the Montreal-base company said Thursday.

SkyTrain already operates 60 ART MKII vehicles and 150 ART MKI vehicles.

The Expo Line, the first phase of the SkyTrain rapid transit system, opened in 1986 for the Expo 86 World’s Fair in Vancouver. Construction of the latest phase, the SkyTrain Millennium Line, expanded the system in 2001.

Together, the two lines make up the longest driverless light rapid transit system in the world, covering 49.5 kilometres and 33 stations.

Manufacturing and final assembly of the vehicles will take place at Bombardier Transportation sites in Sahagun, Mexico, and Thunder Bay, Ont. Delivery of the cars is scheduled for the first half of 2009.

The ART MKII cars are also in use on systems at JFK International Airport in New York City and on the Kelana Jaya Line in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ART MKII cars will also be part of rapid-transit projects under construction in Yongin, South Korea, and Beijing, China.

The Bombardier Transportation Group has its global headquarters in Berlin, with a presence in over 60 countries and an installed base of about 97,000 vehicles worldwide.

Parent firm Bombardier Inc. is a global manufacturer of transportation systems, from regional aircraft and business jets to railway equipment.

© Canadian Press 2006

We need more trains before the olympics -> steady growing of region and accomodation for travellers using public transit in Vancouver

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Global Morning News and last night's news hour final reported on a crash on the Coquihalla Connector (Highway 5) which closed parts of the route. The crash involved trucks transporting new New Flyer buses from Winnipeg. The provincial government is studying if the crash is due to the lack of snow removal equipment.

New Buses:

[mr.x]

^ i hope we didn't lose any buses in the crash.

[deasine]

No word yet, but when the showed us the report, the angle of the cameras did not show that the buses were damaged. Hopefully we didn't loose any...

[deasine]

November 21, 2006

Golden Ears Bridge Project receives national award for innovation

TransLink's Golden Ears Bridge Project was awarded the Gold Award for Project Financing at the Canadian Council for Public Private Partnerships 2006 National Awards for Innovation and Excellence ceremony held in Toronto on Monday.

The award recognizes the project's innovative approach that will result in six to ten million dollars in savings to taxpayers, compared to a project solely delivered by the public sector. It also recognizes the project's success achieving a fixed-price, date-certain contract and transferring responsibility for construction costs, on-time delivery and operating performance to the private sector.

The Canadian Council National Awards are presented annually to showcase Canadian excellence and innovation that enhance the quality of public services and facilities.

The project will improve the economic competitiveness of Fraser Valley, improve the flow of commercial goods and business traffic and provide community benefits including new travel choices for transit users, cyclists and pedestrians.

It will benefit the entire region by reducing congestion and opening up access to employment, markets, services, facilities and recreational opportunities. Construction of the new bridge and road network will create more than one billion dollars in economic activity and 7000 person years of employment.

The Golden Crossing Group General Partnership, lead by Bilfinger Berger BOT Inc., is made up of local and international leaders in transportation design, construction, finance, asset management, bridge and highway operations, maintenance and rehabilitation.

The Golden Ears Bridge Project is approximately 14 kilometres in length and includes a six-lane toll bridge across the Fraser River, new arterial roads connecting the bridge to the existing road network on both sides of the Fraser River, and municipal road upgrades to improve traffic flow.

Scheduled to open in 2009, the Golden Ears Bridge will provide a vital link between the communities of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, and the communities of Surrey and Langley, reducing travel time across the river by 20-30 minutes.

TransLink is the region's transportation authority, committed to working with communities and all levels of government to build an integrated transportation network that will improve the movement of goods and people through the Greater Vancouver region. TransLink supports the region's growth strategy, air quality and economic development objectives.

[deasine]

SkyTrain operates with just 41 trains, down from usual 55

Maurice Bridge, with a file from Randy Shore

Vancouver Sun

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

SkyTrain operated with just 41 trains Tuesday compared to the usual complement of 55 as snowbound commuters abandoned their vehicles and struggled to work.

The length of many of the trains was increased to give the system the equivalent capacity of 48 trains, but TransLink spokesman Ken Hardie said the cut in the overall number was necessary to ensure all trains in the automated system could be staffed during the bad weather.

"This is exactly what the SkyTrain snow plan calls for," Hardie said. "If we knew it was just going to be for one day, SkyTrain would call in the extra staff and they would have all 55 out there.

"But when you've got something that's going to go on for a few days, you need to have your staff turn over and give them opportunities to go home and sleep."

SkyTrain station attendants still have to discharge their regular duties in addition to riding the trains and helping commuters with any problems created by the unusual weather conditions.

Part of the reason for having them ride the trains is to watch the track for obstructions because the automatic intrusion-alarm system that halts the train if something falls on the tracks has been disabled by the snow.

Trains were running slightly slower than usual Tuesday to give the staff sufficient time to stop if necessary.

"This is the first time in seven years that I've been here that they've had to turn it off in this kind of situation," Hardie said.

"But they recognized that this could happen, and that's why they put the people on the train."

Commuters lined up six deep on the westbound platform at the Broadway SkyTrain station during the Tuesday morning rush, waiting patiently for a train with enough room to take them to the city core.

Trains arrived every three or four minutes, but each time, only a few dozen people disembarked to make way for those waiting to board.

Downstairs, long lineups snaked back across the sidewalk as riders who left the trains waited for buses.

But the mood was generally upbeat in the station, with people waiting patiently while police and TransLink staff regulated the flow of riders onto the platform in order to ensure safety.

Ian Graham, who normally works in the SkyTrain operations-planning office, was manning the public-address system, urging travellers to stay calm and let others get out of the cars before trying to get on.

"I think most people have been fairly patient," he said. "Everybody recognizes the weather conditions are challenging."

Devaleena Pradhan, who came from Royal Oak by SkyTrain, said she had no trouble getting a westbound train.

Pika Holness said his bus ride from 41st and Victoria was three times as long as usual, and "at least three" buses with no room available went by him before he could board.

The West Coast Express was running on time, and buses were operating throughout the regional district, although icy conditions kept them off steep hills in sections of North Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster and Vancouver.

mbridge@png.canwest.com

© The Vancouver Sun 2006

It took me 5 min. from Main Street Science World to Broadway instead of the usual 1-2min. Stadium to 29th Ave. took 15 instead of the usual 9. And if you board from 29th, be prepared to wait for 20 - 30min. for a SkyTrain (no one leaves the full trains on the 29th lol).

B-Line takes forever too... Especially the 98. "98 B-Line: DELAYED" instead of "98 B-Line: 1 Min." Sigh...

[deasine]

SkyTrain:

Today, I was stuck on the SkyTrain for 1 hr. at Joyce Station (doors closed). NOT MOVING FOR AN HOUR. This is due to faliure in the SkyTrain system: 20 SkyTrains (of the 41 running) disconnected. Took 20 min. from Patterson to Joyce... >=/ frustrating. Take buses only!!!!!!!

[mr.x]

'Unfinished' Millennium Line in need of western expansion

By Cheryl Rossi-Staff writer

Vancouver Courier | Dec. 05/2006

Vancouver's three TransLink board members want the Millennium Line extended west.

But when the line will be built is unclear.

"A hundred thousand people a day get on and off transit at Broadway and Commercial. We've made a deal with our citizens, which is you get out of your car and we'll provide you with transit_ We're not doing a good enough job right now," said NPA Coun. Suzanne Anton.

The Millennium Line extends from Waterfront Station downtown and follows the Expo Line to Columbia Station in New Westminster. From there, it loops through Burnaby and ends at Vancouver Community College and Clark Drive.

"We regard it as being an unfinished line," said Anton, who noted fellow TransLink board members NPA Coun. Peter Ladner and Mayor Sam Sullivan agree with her position.

The extended line exists only as a concept, but it's expected to go underground at the western end of Great Northern Way, with a station at Main Street and a connection to the Canada Line at Cambie and Broadway. It would likely remain underground until it ends at Granville and Broadway or Arbutus and Broadway.

Work needs to be done to determine what kind of rapid transit would carry riders to UBC, she said, citing a SkyTrain, light rail, streetcar or rapid bus service as possibilities.

"That has been built into TransLink's planning process and it was supposed to be done in '06," she said. "That didn't happen in '06 so it is now planned-at our insistence, I might add-for '07 so we need to do that piece of planning work."

TransLink will work on its new three-year plan in 2007, with the plan to begin in 2008.

Anton expects planning for the Broadway corridor to take two years. Money would come from TransLink and the provincial and federal governments, so she did not want to guess when residents can expect faster transit across the city.

But before TransLink can focus on the Broadway corridor, it wants to build the Evergreen Line linking Port Moody and Coquitlam to Burnaby's Lougheed Station. The $970 million project is $400 million short and TransLink is seeking more money from the provincial and federal governments and other sources. Despite the significant shortfall, work is slated to commence on the 11-kilometre line in September 2007. The line is expected to be in service by September 2011.

Anton said transportation along the Broadway corridor has been on the city's agenda for six years and sits at the top of its priority list with the downtown streetcar plan.

Anton wants a streetcar running along 41st Avenue included in planning for transit to UBC to improve east-west connections as part of a streetcar grid developed for the city.

TransLink hasn't made any commitments to the proposed plan that could see a $60 million streetcar line connecting Granville Island to Science World.

In October, city council committed up to $300,000 to complete a more detailed design of the streetcar line to Science World.

published on 12/06/2006

[deasine]

Oh no this again... For the time being, they should have double articulated buses before they build this line...

Van Hool Double Articulated Bus

And one obvious thing, especially for the M-Line: LRT WILL NOT HELP, NO DIFFERENCE THAN THE CURRENT B-LINE!!!!! SkyTrain is always the way... I don't see how ppl don't understand that!

I don't think StreetCar on 41 Ave. is good... I prefer BRT. However, streetcar in downtown is good since we have almost all forms of transit there...

[mr.x]

^ those buses are a huge investment to make at more than $2 million each.

I think some of Translink's 40 orders of sixty-foot trolley buses (same size as the B-Line buses) will be put into service on the 99 B-Line.

Of course LRT from Granville/Arbutus to UBC would help.....the capacity of the trains would be at least 300 persons (significantly higher than a B-Line bus), however, it adds on one more transfer for commuters from SkyTrain and it requires extensive reconfiguration of Broadway Street and 10th Avenue.

The 2001 study on the Broadway M-Line extension to UBC is outdated (the information the city councillors are using in the article). Since then, bus ridership along the Broadway corridor has exploded to 100,000 passengers per day (equivalent to the projected Canada Line ridership). When the City and Translink complete the new study in the next few years, I'm sure that they will arrive to a conclusion that SkyTrain is needed all the way to UBC. It's hectic already enough, and I don't even see how rapid bus (as the councillor's mentioned) is even an option when the 98 B-Line is already arriving every few minutes during non-peak hours and every 30 seconds during peak hours. How much can they improve with rapid bus?

Are you kidding me???? Streetcar is perfect for 41st Avenue from Joyce to UBC. The old streetcar used to run along 41st until the 50s arrived and were replaced with buses. Streetcars have much higher capacity than buses, each vehicle at least 200 passengers. It's a proven and very effective technology [in Toronto, San Francisco, Melbourne, etc.] that is superior to the bus.

Before Vancouver got rid of its streetcar infrastructure, it had a streetcar network more extensive than present day Melbourne's streetcar network. Streetcars were on almost every major street in Vancouver, they went out to Richmond, Delta, the Tri-Cities, Burnaby, and even as far as the Fraser Valley.

[deasine]

During rush hour this morning, a switch in the Downtown area broke leaving many stuck on the SkyTrain. Aging system needs more maintainance.

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Whoops, I read it wrong (I thought LRT instead of StreetCar). Btw, are there any nice low floor streetcars on the market?

For the 41st, why add StreetCar's? Why not have an electric articulated buses run from Joyce to UBC (B-Line Style)?

Yeah, I know Vancouver had an excellent StreetCar network. There is a mural on Broadway after Cambie Bridge (going East here...).

Just underneth Granville Bridge on 4th at the Granville Island intersection, you can see the existing bridge had tracks (there's 3 sets).

But like before, I'm against LRT on Broadway - even for the stupid Evergreen Line (oh there's an update, it's going into detailed design). Yeah, RapidBus won't help at all. It's still the same length... so stupid. I like SkyTrain. SkyTrain all the way!

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Possible SkyTrain strike looms: CUPE

Vancouver Sun

Friday, December 08, 2006

SkyTrain could be hit by a strike as early as the end of next week, the Canadian Union of Public Employees said today.

CUPE Local 7000, which represents 516 SkyTrain attendants, control operators, skilled trades, maintenance and clerical staff, said its members voted 90 per cent in favour of strike action.

It would be only the second strike in SkyTrain history. The first one, in 1999, lasted just one day — a Sunday.

SkyTrain service has also been stopped several times when other unions picketed SkyTrain facilities and CUPE members did not cross their lines.

A SkyTrain strike would likely put even more pressure on TransLink’s overcrowded major bus routes and seriously snarl traffic as tens of thousands of commuters who normally ride SkyTrain try to find other ways to get to work.

© Vancouver Sun 2006

Stupid strike!

[mr.x]

During rush hour this morning, a switch in the Downtown area broke leaving many stuck on the SkyTrain. Aging system needs more maintainance.

The one thing that's bad about automation is if one train fails or if anything falls onto the tracks at the stations or if there's any technical/mechanical failure along the tracks, the entire system shuts down....unlike a driver system. Of course, i still prefer automation.

For the 41st, why add StreetCar's? Why not have an electric articulated buses run from Joyce to UBC (B-Line Style)?

The point really is would you rather have a bus or a train? Trains attract more riders, is bigger and faster.

But like before, I'm against LRT on Broadway - even for the stupid Evergreen Line (oh there's an update, it's going into detailed design). Yeah, RapidBus won't help at all. It's still the same length... so stupid. I like SkyTrain. SkyTrain all the way!

I'm against LRT on Broadway as well, or for any part of the UBC extension. But you cannot ignore the fact that LRT would relief some of the congestion, to a certain extent, though minimal. However, for it to be a true rapid transit line it would need two right of way lanes.....i don't see how we could take two lanes from Broadway and 10th.

With Evergreen, LRT is:

1) slow, few traffic signal priorities

2) 1/4th the capacity of SkyTrain

3) requires a transfer at Lougheed

4) infrequent, compared to SkyTrain frequency

5) longer commute compared to SkyTrain

[deasine]

2006 has marked the biggest annual improvements to bus services since TransLink's inception seven years ago. These improvements are a result of public input into seven Area Transit Plans that have been created for the various communities of the Greater Vancouver region.

Check below for bus, Community Shuttle, and NightBus service changes that begin on December 18, plus additional SeaBus sailings effective January 1. Just click on the route number/name to access the new schedule.

Note that for each area, all regular bus routes are listed first, followed by Community Shuttles [C]and then NightBus [N] routes.

Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster

Links provided for each route will display schedules effective December 18th, 2006.

17 Downtown / UBC / Oak

Due to the removal of trolley wires near Cambie Bridge to permit construction of the Canada Line rapid transit project, the 17 will use Granville Bridge to enter/leave downtown. The routing in the downtown area is also changing; the bus will travel north along Seymour to Robson Street, west along Robson and then south on Howe Street. This re-routing is expected to stay in place for about two years.

41 Joyce Station / Crown or UBC

Improved service in weekday rush hours; 10-minute service extended until 9:00 pm weekdays

49 Metrotown Station / Dunbar Loop or UBC

Improved (12-minute) service Sundays and holidays

84 UBC / VCC-Clark Station

Improved (10-minute) service during weekday afternoon rush hours

100 Airport Station / 22nd Street Station

Improved (30-minute) service Sunday/holidays 6:15 - 9:15 am

130 Metrotown Station / Hastings / Phibbs Exchange / Capilano College

Route extended during the daytime and early evenings to/from Phibbs Exchange. During morning and afternoon rush hours, the route will be further extended to Capilano College. Evening trips will operate to/from Hastings at Willingdon or Kootenay Loop.

135 Burrard Station / SFU

Improved (5-minute) service during weekday rush hours

137 Capitol Hill / Hastings

This route is being discontinued and replaced by a new Community Shuttle, the C2 Capitol Hill / Hastings at Gilmore (see C2 below)

354 White Rock Centre / Vancouver

Additional northbound trip weekdays, departing at 7:18 am

410 22nd Street Station / Railway

Improved morning rush-hour service between 22nd Street Station and Richmond Centre; 4:58 pm westbound trip extended to Steveston

488 Burrard Station / Garden City

To allow construction of the Canada Line rapid transit project, the 488 will now use Granville Bridge instead of Cambie Bridge to enter/leave downtown Vancouver. The bus will travel along Broadway between Granville Street and Oak Street instead of between Cambie and Oak

492 Burrard Station / Two Road

To allow construction of the Canada Line rapid transit project, the 492 will now use Granville Bridge instead of Cambie Bridge to enter/leave downtown Vancouver. The bus will travel along Broadway between Granville Street and Oak Street instead of between Cambie and Oak

C1 Hastings at Gilmore / Kootenay Loop

Service begins approximately 30 minutes earlier each morning

C2 Capitol Hill / Hastings at Gilmore

This new Community Shuttle route replaces the 137 route, with neighbourhood-friendly vehicles and improved local access to the nearby Burnaby Heights business community.

C21 Yaletown / Beach / Burrard Station

C23 Main Street Station / Davie

Improved evening service, including extended hours of operation

N9 Coquitlam Station / Downtown

The eastbound N9 will now enter the bus loops at Gilmore, Sperling and Production Way Stations, improving customer safety and convenience.

SeaBus

Beginning January 1, 2007 there will be one additional SeaBus sailing in each direction Saturdays at 6:17 pm (southbound) and 6:35 pm (northbound), as well as one additional late-night sailing in each direction Mon - Sat to provide service to/from the last SkyTrain.

Surrey, White Rock, Langley and Delta

Links provided for each route will display schedules effective December 18th, 2006.

321 Surrey Central Station / Newton Exchange / White Rock Centre / White Rock South

Improved (20-minute) service between Newton Exchange and White Rock Centre, Mon – Fri 6:30 am to 8:30 pm and Saturday 10:00 am to 5:30 pm; improved (10-minute) service between Newton Exchange and Surrey Central Station, Saturday 10:30 am - 5:30 pm. Service between White Rock Centre and 11th Avenue at King George Highway will be reduced (hourly) and will be shared with the new 375 route.

354 White Rock Centre / Vancouver

Additional northbound trip weekdays, departing at 7:18 am

375 White Rock South / Guildford

This new route links White Rock Centre / South Surrey and Guildford / North Surrey, running hourly seven days a week along 152 Street, with an extension to 11th Ave via 16th Ave and King George Highway that replaces the 321 service on this segment during the operating hours of the 375.

502 Surrey Central Station / Langley Centre / Aldergrove / Brookswood

Improved service (every 10 minutes westbound, 12 minutes eastbound) in the weekday morning rush hours; 10-minute service eastbound weekdays 4:00 - 6:00 pm between Surrey Central Station and Langley Centre

640 Scott Road Station / Ladner Exchange

Minor re-routing near tilbury Industrial Park for all "via Industrial" trips (weekday morning and afternoon peak periods) to avoid traffic congestion

C74 Fraser Heights / Guildford / Surrey Central Station

Improved (30-minute) service during middays on weekdays and on weekend/holiday afternoons with an hourly extension to Surrey Central Station

Richmond

Links provided for each route will display schedules effective December 18th, 2006.

100 Airport Station / 22nd Street Station

Improved (30-minute) service Sunday early mornings

405 Cambie / Five Road

Additional weekday northbound trip leaving Riverside at 7:44 pm

410 22nd Street Station / Railway

Improved morning rush-hour service between 22nd Street Station and Richmond Centre; 4:58 pm westbound trip extended to Steveston

424 Airport Station / Airport

All evening service provided by conventional 40-foot buses running every 15 minutes

488 Burrard Station / Garden City

To allow construction of the Canada Line rapid transit project, the 488 will now use Granville Bridge instead of Cambie Bridge to enter/leave downtown Vancouver. The bus will travel along Broadway between Granville Street and Oak Street instead of between Cambie and Oak

492 Burrard Station / Two Road

To allow construction of the Canada Line rapid transit project, the 492 will now use Granville Bridge instead of Cambie Bridge to enter/leave downtown Vancouver. The bus will travel along Broadway between Granville Street and Oak Street instead of between Cambie and Oak

C95 River Road / Alderbridge / Richmond Centre

This new Community Shuttle route, running Monday to Saturday, provides service twice per hour on a loop serving the City Centre south area (as far north as Alderbridge). Every second trip will extend north to River Road, providing hourly service for that segment of the route.

North Shore

Links provided for each route will display schedules effective December 18th, 2006.

SeaBus

Beginning January 1, 2007 there will be one additional SeaBus sailing in each direction Saturdays at 6:17 pm (southbound) and 6:31 pm (northbound), as well as one additional late-night sailing in each direction Mon - Sat to provide service to/from the last SkyTrain.

130 Metrotown Station / Hastings / Phibbs Exchange / Capilano College

Route extended during the daytime and early evenings to/from Phibbs Exchange. During morning and afternoon rush hours, the route will be further extended to Capilano College. Evening trips will operate to/from Hastings at Willingdon or Kootenay Loop.

230 Upper Lonsdale / Lonsdale Quay

One additional trip in each direction Saturday evening and northbound only Mon-Sat late night to connect customers with the additional SeaBus sailings. (Bus changes effective Dec 18; SeaBus changes effective Jan 1)

239 Park Royal / Phibbs Exchange / Capilano College

One additional trip in each direction Saturday evening to connect customers with additional SeaBus sailings; one additional eastbound trip plus a westbound extension to Park Royal, Mon-Sat late night to provide bus service for customers departing the additional late-night SeaBus sailing. (Bus changes effective Dec 18; SeaBus changes effective Jan 1)

Tri-Cities

Links provided for each route will display schedules effective December 18th, 2006.

169 Coquitlam Station / Braid Station

Improved (30-minute) Sunday / holiday service

791 Haney Place / Braid Station

This new limited-stop route provides a more direct link between Maple Ridge / Pitt Meadows and SkyTrain. Some customers travelling to/from Port Coquitlam and Coquitlam will also benefit from this new service. Initially, the 791 will provide service every 30 minutes during weekday rush hours only.

C28 Port Moody Station / Coquitlam Station

Improved (15-minute) service during rush hours

N9 Coquitlam Station / Downtown

The eastbound N9 will now enter the bus loops at Gilmore, Sperling and Production Way Stations, improving customer safety and convenience.

Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows

Links provided for each route will display schedules effective December 18th, 2006.

791 Haney Place / Braid Station

This new limited-stop route provides a more direct link between Maple Ridge / Pitt Meadows and SkyTrain. Some customers travelling to/from Port Coquitlam and Coquitlam will also benefit from this new service. Initially, the 791 will provide service every 30 minutes during weekday rush hours only.

C47 Alouette / Haney Place

Revised schedule times for trips operating to Yennadon Loop to better match Alouette River Campus student travel patterns

Vancity U-Pass

Links provided for each route will display schedules effective December 18th, 2006.

17 Downtown / UBC / Oak

Due to the removal of trolley wires near Cambie Bridge to permit construction of the Canada Line rapid transit project, the 17 will be temporarily rerouted westbound on Broadway to Granville Street and Seymour Street to maintain service to and from downtown. The downtown routing for the 17 is also changing; the bus will travel north along Seymour to Robson Street, west along Robson and then south on Howe Street.

41 Joyce Station / Crown or UBC

Improved service in weekday rush hours; 10-minute service extended until 9:00 pm weekdays

49 Metrotown Station / Dunbar Loop or UBC

Improved (12-minute) service Sundays and holidays

84 UBC / VCC-Clark Station

Improved (10-minute) service during weekday afternoon rush hours

135 Burrard Station / SFU

Improved (5-minute) service during weekday rush hours

A step closer to a better transit system

[deasine]

TransLink has signed a deal with Nova Bus purchasing I think 126 busses from Nova. They have one test drived two days ago:

I think it's a shame they are ordering from Nova. It's so ugly (especially the front) compared to the new New Flyer ones:

But our city or TransLink needs more busses to meet current demand. I hope the buses will go somewhere other than Vancouver. The New Flyer ones should all come here! =P

[mr.x]

The Nova Bus looks ok, it's not that bad. But yea, the New Flyer buses do look better. However, I've heard that Nova Buses interiors are better than New Flyer's. We'll have to wait and see.

[pooette]

BC transit is currently purchasing NOVA buses, and there are 3 in service in Kelowna. Having ridden them, they are decent. the seat layout in the back is much nicer as there is groups of 4 seats facing each other as opposed to all rows facing the front. There is less room right in the back, and the back window is offset to one side. other than that, (and the front design) they are pretty much identical to New Flyer's buses.

[deasine]

I don't know something about it ticks me off. Lol... I think the back window placement is one of them. Oh, in the picture, the dark grey scheme from the windows does not continue to the front as oppose to the New Flyer ones. What else... It looks fatter for some reason. New Flyer's have a slim look. mmm... the front door looks weird. i dunno, something about it makes me not like it. Maybe because TransLink has like all New Flyer's practically.

[mr.x]

I don't know something about it ticks me off. Lol... I think the back window placement is one of them. Oh, in the picture, the dark grey scheme from the windows does not continue to the front as oppose to the New Flyer ones. What else... It looks fatter for some reason. New Flyer's have a slim look. mmm... the front door looks weird. i dunno, something about it makes me not like it. Maybe because TransLink has like all New Flyer's practically.

Actually, the same colour scheme may continue. I think this Nova Bus was a test bus for Translink, first operated last year. Secondly, it looks fatter because Nova is at a more shallow angle in the photo plus the photo is larger.

You're complaining about larger doors??? o_O

[mr.x]

Here are the fact sheets:

Nova Bus: http://www.novabus.com/doc/en/19760-fiches_technique_ang.pdf

New Flyer: http://www.newflyer.com/index/diesel_d30_35_40_60l

[Canuck]

a bus is a bus.

[deasine]

January 04, 2007

TransLink – Outlook for 2007

Greater Vancouver’s road and transit network will continue to expand in 2007 as TransLink completes the third and final year of its 2005 – 2007 Three Year Transportation Plan. TransLink Chair Malcolm Brodie says funding is already in place for the 2007 program, but that the priority later in the New Year will be to determine the projects and the funding necessary to keep the system moving forward in 2008 and beyond.

“By the end of next year, we’ll have delivered almost $2 billion in road and transit improvements, all made possible by the consensus across the region on our transportation priorities and on the funding necessary to pay for them,” Brodie says.

“The same consensus will be needed to move us forward in our next three year plan, but this time our priority will be to build on the groundbreaking financial support we began receiving this year from the federal government’s transfer of gas tax revenue. Our goal is to achieve long term, sustainable funding from senior governments that will take the pressure off of our regional taxpayers and deliver the road and transit improvements to keep pace with our growing population and economy.”

Major Road Network

In 2007, TransLink will add $35 million to a $160 million capital fund that is financing eight major road projects during the current three-year plan. A further $20 million will support local road improvement projects around the region and TransLink will provide municipalities with more money to operate, maintain and rehabilitate major arterial roads through a $30.9 million fund. Another $20.5 million will rehabilitate and upgrade the Knight and Pattullo bridges.

2007 will see construction continue on TransLink’s new Golden Ears Bridge as towers begin to rise over the Fraser River just east of Barnston Island. Another of the eight major road projects, the 204th Street railway overpass in Langley, will be completed and opened for traffic by the fall. TransLink has allocated another $5 million in 2007 for the next phase of the Fraser Highway widening project in Surrey.

Meanwhile, planning will continue for other projects on TransLink’s list, including the Coast Meridian Overpass in Port Coquitlam, the Murray/Clarke Connector in Port Moody and the widening of Main Street in North Vancouver.

TransLink is seeking additional funding partners in order to proceed with the North Fraser Perimeter Road, for which it has allocated $60 million, and to cover costs above the $25 million it has set aside for the Murray/Clarke Connector in Port Moody.

“By next fall, we expect to have concluded the first comprehensive study of freight movement ever conducted in the region,” says Chair Brodie. “The information we gain will help us design and refine our transportation system to keep pace with the huge lift in the volume of international trade through our ports.”

Transit

In 2007, TransLink is forecasting a 4.7 per cent increase in transit ridership over 2006 and is projecting a total of 296.7 million passenger boardings. Over the year, TransLink will add over 200,000 hours of transit service on an annual basis, 80 per cent of it for Coast Mountain Bus Company operations. In total, 373 new buses will be delivered, 89 for service expansion and 284 replacements for older vehicles. Fifty-six new HandyDART mini-buses will arrive in 2007, 16 of them to expand services to the disabled.

While noting that the conventional bus deliveries will bring the total fleet to the 1,400 target set at the beginning of the current three-year plan, Chair Brodie says the system will still struggle to meet the growing demand. “The simple fact is that we need more buses in the region. The federal government certainly recognized this when Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon announced $54 million in funding support for our new bus purchases in September – a good start and something to build on as we develop our next three-year plan.

“In 2007, our target is to work with Victoria and Ottawa to get our funding totally in place for the Evergreen Light Rapid Transit Line to Coquitlam, which is a critical missing piece of our rapid transit network,” Brodie says. In October, the Board approved the purchase of 34 more SkyTrain cars, scheduled for delivery in 2009.

Major Canada Line construction milestones in 2007 will include the completion of the first tunnel under False Creek to Waterfront, the superstructure on the Middle-Arm Fraser River bridge and the cut-and-cover phase of the work on Cambie Street. Station construction will continue on Cambie and work on the guideway will begin along No. 3 Road in Richmond.

TransLink will spend over $528 million in 2007 on transit vehicles and for improvements to transit facilities and systems. Further work will also take place on technologies that can improve transit service efficiency using the existing fleet and road system, including a ‘smart card’ system with the potential to simplify the fare system.

Next fall, TransLink will release the final report on its Bus Technology and Alternative Fuel Program, which will provide the results of extensive testing on seven different bus technologies and fuel systems. The analysis will be used in future bus purchases to ensure that the technologies TransLink chooses will balance the best performance, life cycle costs and benefits to the environment.

Commuting Options

TransLink’s investments in programs that offer alternatives to single-occupant vehicle travel are expected to expand and help alleviate pressure on Greater Vancouver’s road system.

The Jack Bell Rideshare program exceeded growth projections in 2006 and is targeted to have 310 car and vanpools on the road by the end of 2007, a 57 per cent increase in just two years. The Employer Pass Program, which offers a 15 per cent fare discount on annual transit passes purchased on a payroll deduction plan, is expected to hit 15,500 subscribers in 2007, almost 25 per cent more than in 2005.

TransLink is dedicating another $6 million to expand and improve the cycling network in 2007, bringing its total investment in the current three-year plan to $15 million. By the end of the year, 98 per cent of buses will be equipped with bike racks and there will be over 2,500 kilometres of designated cycling routes in the region.

AirCare

Changes to the AirCare vehicle testing program effective January 1st will see a refinement of the testing process that will effectively pinpoint vehicles exceeding their original design standards for emissions.

The testing exemption period for new vehicles is increasing to seven model years, which means that 2001 and newer vehicles will not require an AirCare test in 2007. 1992 to 2000 model years will still be tested every two years, while 1991 and older vehicles will continue to be tested annually. AirCare will take advantage of the onboard diagnostic technology on 1998 and newer vehicles, while the traditional tailpipe testing will continue for 1997 and older models.

Because vehicles that fail their test must undergo repairs before they can be re-registered, the first 12 years of the AirCare program reduced exhaust emissions in Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley by 29 per cent.

Looking ahead

In summing up 2006 and looking ahead to 2007, Chair Brodie says he expects that transportation issues will continue to be front and centre across Greater Vancouver. “TransLink’s goal is to help move goods, services and people efficiently in a region defined by massive growth, beautiful but challenging geography and an overwhelming desire for a sustainable lifestyle. It’s a highly dynamic environment, one that’s charged with major public expectations that we will deliver the maximum benefit from every dollar in fares and taxes and that we can continue to expand road and transit services,” he says.

Brodie adds that the outcome of the provincial review of TransLink’s governance, mandate and funding will be pivotal to its specific direction. “In its first seven years, TransLink has worked through some complex and often difficult issues with the region as we’ve grappled with major decisions on expansion and how to fund it. The review process is an opportunity to resolve some of those issues so that the momentum and success TransLink has built in delivering better road and transit services can be maintained and accelerated for the good of our economy and quality of life,” he says.

“It will be another major year of expansion in 2007, and on behalf of the Board of Directors I’d like to wish all Greater Vancouver residents a Happy Holiday and a safe and prosperous New Year.”

[deasine]

Anyone know about the new installation of two plasma TV's at Metrotown Station?

They are located on the ticket concourse level displaying advertisements and Global BC News (weather, their ads, etc.). I guess we will see more and more of these TV's popping up. I'm going to Metrotown Station tomorrow to take a picture for you ppl to see!

[mr.x]

Anyone know about the new installation of two plasma TV's at Metrotown Station?

They are located on the ticket concourse level displaying advertisements and Global BC News (weather, their ads, etc.). I guess we will see more and more of these TV's popping up. I'm going to Metrotown Station tomorrow to take a picture for you ppl to see!

Didn't hear about that....I await your pictures.

But Translink did say they would install huge 40-inch LCD tv's at the SkyTrain platforms of Waterfront, Granville, Burrard and the downtown SeaBus station. They also said that Burrard would be special - with a 12-foot square matrix of 50-inch LCD screens. This was all planned for May 2006, but has been delayed.

The eventual plan is to have this for ALL SkyTrain stations and tv's for the trains are also under consideration.

[deasine]

Here's the imgs. I took it with my cell (the one in my avatar). I only took 2 from certain angles since I don't want ppl to think I'm weird taking images of a tv in the station lol...

TV's located in Metrotown Station of the ticket concourse level

[mr.x]

^ lol, great to see those tv's behind display cases....i was worried that they may be stolen or worse, vandalized.