Common sense Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2009/10/16/TearDownViaducts/ Photos of the potential roads/land now usable here: http://www.paulhillsdon.com/blog/2009/01/2...n-the-viaducts/ it does bring up the point of whether gentrification of Strathcona/Chinatown will occur faster. The viaduct was a way of separating the rich from the poor, sometimes for good reason, and sometimes for the worst of reasons. Tearing the viaduct down and building a Woodwards (or 5, as the author suggested) might cause land values to skyrocket (hey...new housing right on the doorsteps of downtown) and cause a domino effect on the neighboring lands. As well, it's not like the viaduct is causing any neighborhoods to be separated today; that already happened way back in the late 60s with the highway proposal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronthecivil Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 We don't need both a Georgia and Dunsmuir Viaduct. Get rid of the Dunsmuir, since it doesn't take northbound traffic across downtown without changing streets, and Georgia Street is two-way in DT anyways. Ya, that. I don't mind reducing traffic capacity into downtown. If they did that, and just make the Lion's gate two lanes out, and make the Burrard Bridge two in and three out, well, it would make getting out a lot easier than getting in. I can't help but think that could only improve traffic within downtown. While they are monkeying with it they could put in a ped overpass from the stadium station to second level of GM place. That would take away a lot of ped conflicts there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inane Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 it does bring up the point of whether gentrification of Strathcona/Chinatown will occur faster. The viaduct was a way of separating the rich from the poor, sometimes for good reason, and sometimes for the worst of reasons. Tearing the viaduct down and building a Woodwards (or 5, as the author suggested) might cause land values to skyrocket (hey...new housing right on the doorsteps of downtown) and cause a domino effect on the neighboring lands. As well, it's not like the viaduct is causing any neighborhoods to be separated today; that already happened way back in the late 60s with the highway proposal. I think it would occur faster, although it's already well under way. They are just now planning for NEFC, I think incorporating the removal the viaduct in the plan is a good thing, or at least have that as an option. Here are the boards from the NEFC open houses--they recommend stuff under the viaduct, but not the removal. http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/nefc...rdscombined.pdf There certainly is good precedent to do it, but I don't know if we should wait for an earth quake.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronthecivil Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 I think it would occur faster, although it's already well under way. They are just now planning for NEFC, I think incorporating the removal the viaduct in the plan is a good thing, or at least have that as an option. Here are the boards from the NEFC open houses--they recommend stuff under the viaduct, but not the removal. http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/nefc...rdscombined.pdf There certainly is good precedent to do it, but I don't know if we should wait for an earth quake.... Odds are we would know if they were in danger of falling down during a quake. You could use that excuse to take down every bridge or building more than a couople decades old. Your links for the replacement still don't work. And besides, it's all pointless until you see the results of a traffic study. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitronuts Posted October 16, 2009 Author Share Posted October 16, 2009 well, if the viaducts do fall at where they wedge between GM Place we'll get a new arena! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inane Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 Odds are we would know if they were in danger of falling down during a quake. You could use that excuse to take down every bridge or building more than a couople decades old. Your links for the replacement still don't work. And besides, it's all pointless until you see the results of a traffic study. I was joking about the earthquake... The link still works fine for me.... just google it. it's just a drawing showing what the grid would look like, nothing fancy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronthecivil Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 I was joking about the earthquake... The link still works fine for me.... just google it. it's just a drawing showing what the grid would look like, nothing fancy. Most of the link works, just not the diagrams showing the road network. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trek Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 well, if the viaducts do fall at where they wedge between GM Place we'll get a new arena! Costco won't like that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buggernut Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 Good news for BMF and Nitro. Got this in my e-mail. Celebrate new service with this limited-time offer - 25% off all travel to and from Vancouver, B.C.! In celebration of the new Amtrak Cascades second train service to Vancouver, B.C. Amtrak is offering 25% off already low Coach fares when you travel to and from Vancouver, BC. Take the first-ever direct train service between Portland and Vancouver, BC, or hop on the second daily train between Seattle and Vancouver, BC. Book by December 31, 2009 and travel by January 31, 2010 and you'll save on your Canadian getaway. Sample one-way fares to and from Vancouver, BC are as low as: Portland, OR: $34.50 Tacoma, WA: $26.00 Seattle, WA: $26.00 Everett, WA: $17.00 Bellingham, WA: $9.50 BOOK NOW For fares and schedules, visit Amtrak.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitronuts Posted October 17, 2009 Author Share Posted October 17, 2009 (edited) ^ that's a bargain. Removing the viaducts is quite an interesting idea, and I've always been intrigued by the thought of it. It's quite true that it acts as an artificial barrier between the westside of Downtown and the DTES. Getting rid of it could possibly expedite the rejuvenation of the DTES and would certainly make the entire False Creek area much more lively and walkable. However, where are you going to put all that traffic? They are going to have to take a really good look at reconfiguring the road network. Non-commercial/truck traffic and working class commuters into downtown need to be considered. The urban fabric of the area has also been built around the viaduct (GM Place viaduct accessibility, Spectrum condo towers). And as is, much of the space under the viaduct is already a skate park or is slated to be an expanded skate park. It would be a huge shame to lose one of the region's most well used skate facilities, which no doubt gets skaters away from skating/damaging public property like benches. Personally, I would compromise at developing as much land as we can between the viaducts. For instance, there's a huge lot just across the street east of GM Place wedged between the viaducts. It's ripe for a major mixed-use development. There are also ways to make the viaduct aesthetically pleasing. Edited October 17, 2009 by nitronuts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jd22_ Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 I've always wondered why nobody has done anything with the lot east of GM place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitronuts Posted October 17, 2009 Author Share Posted October 17, 2009 The Canada Line reached a record ridership level last Friday with 98,000 passengers! I'm guessing it was the long weekend... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Common sense Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 The Canada Line reached a record ridership level last Friday with 98,000 passengers! I'm guessing it was the long weekend... I don't know if it's good or bad that it can hit 100k this early on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitronuts Posted October 17, 2009 Author Share Posted October 17, 2009 Good that Translink will break even soon, bad that we'll have to pay a lot more in the near future to substantially increase capacity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuckyHermit Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 I don't know if it's good or bad that it can hit 100k this early on. Hopefully that means TransLink has fulfilled their ridership obligations and can restore the 491/496/488/490/492 routes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitronuts Posted October 17, 2009 Author Share Posted October 17, 2009 ^ probably won't happen, but i could see them reinstating a rush hour 98 B-Line on Granville within the next 5 years. Translink's payments to InTransitBC increase exponentially as the years pass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Common sense Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 Hopefully that means TransLink has fulfilled their ridership obligations and can restore the 491/496/488/490/492 routes... Ha. I wish. Even I'm losing hope in the reinstatement of the 400s. Besides, where are they gonna go? Airport Stn's as deserted as jobing.com Arena during a Coyotes game. ^ probably won't happen, but i could see them reinstating a rush hour 98 B-Line on Granville within the next 5 years. Translink's payments to InTransitBC increase exponentially as the years pass. Ha. I wish. Most they will do is add on more trains (if they can and have the $$). After taht, expect to see a Vancouver Train Pusher video on youtube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trek Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 ^ probably won't happen, but i could see them reinstating a rush hour 98 B-Line on Granville within the next 5 years. Translink's payments to InTransitBC increase exponentially as the years pass. They haven't even started to remove the 98 B-Line signage along Granville. I live in the area and all of the stops still have the route maps on them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuckyHermit Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 They haven't even started to remove the 98 B-Line signage along Granville. I live in the area and all of the stops still have the route maps on them Eerie. It reminds me of how the Sabres left the Aud intact until its demolition... The sign outside the arena still advertised the Sabres moving into Marine Midland Arena (now HSBC Arena) and they left all the signs, seats, scoreboard, etc. intact inside the arena. If you didn't know any better, you would've wondered if the Sabres still played there. The place is gone now, so no more confusion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitronuts Posted October 18, 2009 Author Share Posted October 18, 2009 They should definitely remove the 98 b-line signs soon, but there's no reason for them to get rid of a perfectly functional (albeit cr@ppy) bus shetler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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