SkiFreak Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 There is supposed to be a major transit announcement on Monday, costing in the billions of dollars with projects being done over the next decade. Some projects mentioned on Global BC included: - Construction of the LRT Evergreen Line - Expansion of the Skytrain Millenium Line to UBC - Expansion of the Skytrain Expo Line out to the Fraser Valley - Projects for Victoria and Kelowna as well as other parts of the province. This is all in addition to the Pacific Gateway project which is currently going on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aronious Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 Is there an article or any indication of this you can post? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkiFreak Posted January 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 From CBC: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/...nouncement.html Premier promises big boost for transportation in B.C.Last Updated: Monday, January 14, 2008 | 12:15 PM ET CBC News Premier Gordon Campbell and Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon plan to introduce a major transportation initiative Monday morning in Vancouver. No details have been released, but in a written statement, the premier's office said the announcement will benefit all British Columbians. There is widespead speculation the announcement will include some major new public transportation system because of the B.C. Liberal government's promise to address global warming by cutting greenhouse gas emissions. During the throne speech in February, the premier promised to put plans in place to cut B.C.'s emissions levels by one-third by 2020, and it's widely believed that will require a significant increase in the use of public transportation. Possible projects already being considered by the Transportation Ministry include: A rapid-transit line, which would be known as the Evergreen Line, that would connect Port Moody and Coquitlam to the Millennium Skytrain Line, The extension of the Millennium Skytrain Line up Broadway in Vancouver to the University of British Columbia. The extension of the Expo Skytrain Line to the Fraser Valley, The expansion of bus service, particularly to outlying suburbs and rural communities. The announcement is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. PT. The press conference is currently going on right now, so I'll post more later in the day when it shows up on online. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkiFreak Posted January 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 From Global BC: http://www.canada.com/globaltv/bc/story.ht...570&k=47746 $14 billion for B.C. transitCampbell unveils transit vision for Metro Vancouver and across B.C. Vancouver Sun VANCOUVER - Premier Gordon Campbell has announced a $14 billion new transit plan for B.C. The plan will double the number of buses throughout the province by 2020, and will bring two new rapid transit lines -- the Evergreen Line, a line to the University of British Columbia — as well as upgrades to the existing Expo Line. The Evergreen line is expected to cost about $1.4 billion and could be finished as early as 2012. The UBC line will cost about $2.8 billion, and will be finished around 2020, Campbell said. On the Expo line, Campbell said his government is proposing significant upgrades to the Expo Line so it can accommodate more capacity. “These are significant investments,” Campbell said on Monday morning. Campbell said his plan also calls for $1.2 billion for a high capacity high speed bus service along routes in Kelowna, Victoria and Metro Vancouver. "This plan will provide fast, reliable, green transit that acts as a catalyst to change the nature and form of all our communities - urban, suburban and rural," Campbell said in a news release. In that same news release, Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon said the new plan will bring significant benefits to people across the province. "The transit plan sets out innovative, integrated, customized solutions for individual communities to keep people and goods moving efficiently in B.C. as part of our broader transportation strategy," said Falcon. "Increased transit will allow people more choice, and often time savings. For example, during peak periods, transit riders travelling between Coquitlam Centre and Vancouver International Airport can save more than an hour every day compared to drivers." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faster Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 Why don't they just found what the have so it doesn't cost 5 dollars for a one-way trip. Vancouver has the most expensive public transportation in North America. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr.x Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 ^ you have to consider that $5 is a one-way trip that could get you as far as 45 kms. That said, the fare zone payment system won't matter much longer with the introduction of fare gates and the smart card/distance-traveled fare payment system. Investing for the Future – a $14 Billion Action Plan The Government of British Columbia is investing in innovative transit options for the benefit of all British Columbians now and into the future. By 2020, the plan calls for the provincial government and its federal and local government partners to commit $14 billion to significantly expand transit in communities across the province and to double transit ridership. Successful implementation of the Provincial Transit Plan requires the cooperation and commitment of our partners. Of the $11.1 billion in new funding, the Province is committing up to $4.75 billion and is calling on the federal government for $3.1 billion, TransLink for $2.75 billion and local governments for $500 million along with supportive land use decisions. For Metro Vancouver, the transit market share is about 12 per cent during weekdays. The Provincial Transit Plan will result in increasing transit market share by five per cent to a total of 17 per cent by 2020. By 2030, transit market share is expected to increase by an additional five per cent as people get out of their cars and onto the expanded transit network. In the Victoria Regional Transit System, the present transit market share is about seven per cent. The Provincial Transit Plan is aimed at increasing transit market share by 2.5 per cent by 2020, bringing the total market share to 9.5 per cent. By 2030, market share is expected to grow by an additional 2.5 per cent to 12 per cent in the region. SECURITY: - Installing electronic gates and closed-circuit cameras at rapid transit stations - Launching a smart-card system for rapid transit and buses that users can reload at vending machines or on the Internet - Taking action against people who do not pay fares with on-the-spot fines and other measures - Increasing security personnel in and around rapid transit stations SKYTRAIN EXPANSION: - $2 billion to construct the new, 19 kilometre Canada Line from downtown Vancouver to Vancouver International Airport in Richmond by end of 2009 - $1.4 billion to build the 11 kilometre Evergreen Line by 2014, connecting Coquitlam Centre to the Lougheed Town Centre Station - $2.8 billion to build a new, 12 kilometre line from Broadway Station to University of British Columbia by 2020 - $3.1 billion to double capacity on the existing Expo Line, including major improvements to stations starting in 2009 and a 6 kilometre extension in Surrey by 2020. Improvements will include lengthening platforms to handle 6 car trains, additional storage track, upgrades to the control system, vehicle storage depots, maintenance facilities and adjacent transit exchanges. - $1 billion for additional SkyTrain cars RAPID BUS: The Provincial Transit Plan calls for $1.2 billion to be invested in RapidBus BC by 2020. RapidBus BC will be available along nine lines in British Columbia: - From Westbank to the University of British Columbia Okanagan in the central Okanagan - From Douglas Street in downtown Victoria to Langford on the West Shore - Highway 1, connecting Lougheed Station to exchanges in Surrey and Langley across the Port Mann Bridge - Hastings Street from downtown Vancouver to Simon Fraser University - 41st Avenue from the Canada Line to the University of British Columbia - Highway 99 from White Rock to the Canada Line in Richmond - King George Highway from Surrey Centre south to White Rock - Fraser Highway, connecting Langley to the Expo Line in Surrey - Highway 7 from the Evergreen Line in Coquitlam across the new Golden Ears Bridge As the core of the transit system in communities like Kelowna, Victoria and Metro Vancouver, RapidBus BC offers: - Frequent, reliable service at regularly spaced intervals - Express service with few or no stops between main stations - Priority movement in traffic through dedicated lanes, in some cases bypassing congested intersections - Pre-paid fare collection to minimize boarding delays - Integrated fare systems, allowing free or discounted transfers between routes and transit modes - Easy-to-understand route and schedule information - Modern, efficient, high capacity vehicles, which are easy to board, quiet, clean and comfortable to ride - Contemporary, conveniently located bus stations with nearby amenities - Seamless integration with other transit options and coordination with cycling and walking infrastructure - Separate lanes on all or some parts of routes - Use of High Occupancy Vehicle lanes - Signal priority and queue jumping provisions - Effective security measures EXPANDED BUS FLEET The Provincial Transit Plan will significantly increase the provincial bus fleet to improve service in many communities around the province. By investing $1.6 billion in 1,500 new, clean energy buses and related maintenance infrastructure, and increasing the hours of service, transit riders will have access to more buses, more often. The new buses will be selected to meet the specific needs of communities in cost-effective, energy efficient ways. Clean technologies include: ■ Hydrogen ■ Hybrid ■ Electric ■ Natural Gas ■ Low emissions diesel In addition to conventional buses, the new fleet will be made up of a variety of bus types customized to meet the needs of individual communities and users. Options include: ■ Community shuttles – smaller, quieter vehicles that minimize impacts on neighbourhoods ■ Custom transit – specialized vans and minibuses for dial-a-ride, door-to-door handyDART service, and taxi programs to serve mobility challenged transit users and others who cannot access conventional transit ■ Para-transit – mini-buses, taxis and vans offering flexible routes and schedules ■ Articulated and double-decker buses – high capacity buses to serve passengers on routes where demand is heavy ■ Conventional buses – the mainstay of the fleet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkiFreak Posted January 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Where do they want to extend the Expo Line in Surrey to? The article says they want to extend it by 6 km but where would that end at? I think a branch line down the King George Highway to Newton would be a good idea, then extending it to Cloverdale and Langley. Guildford could use Skytrain access as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr.x Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Where do they want to extend the Expo Line in Surrey to? The article says they want to extend it by 6 km but where would that end at? I think a branch line down the King George Highway to Newton would be a good idea, then extending it to Cloverdale and Langley. Guildford could use Skytrain access as well. They want to extend it to Guildford, and then down Fraser Highway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pooette Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 faster: Translink ain't expensive, if you don't get caught... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pooette Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 and, even seriously... not exorbitantly expensive. http://www.translink.bc.ca/About_TransLink...ews01080801.asp sanfransisco's cable car (i know... tourist attraction) is 5 bucks and it goes like 9 km. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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