nitronuts Posted June 26, 2009 Author Share Posted June 26, 2009 Well that was a brilliant plan, put a toll on the bridge only to throw the money away overseas. Well, in all fairness they had the lowest bid. I don't have a problem with it at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitronuts Posted June 26, 2009 Author Share Posted June 26, 2009 Another idiotic plan by the liberals; Why didn't the money stay in BC? I bet the Canada line will be the same situation; Revenue goes overseas while Translink is left with the expenses. Then we wonder why Translink is in the hole so much every year. Well actually, InTransitBC (Canada Line) is entirely Canadian...being a joint venture between SNC Lavalin (Quebec), Caisse de Depot et Placements de Quebec, and the Investment Management Corporation of BC. As for the Golden Ears, the cost was split between the private sector and Translink. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Columbo Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 Golden Ears Bridge records a busy first week By Rebecca teBrake, Vancouver Sun June 24, 2009 METRO VANCOUVER -- The debut week of the Golden Ears Bridge saw it carrying 17,000 more vehicles per day than projected, but more traffic won’t mean lower tolls. The bridge’s electronic tolling system shows 329,000 vehicles, an average of 47,000 per day, crossed over June 16-22. TransLink had projected the number of daily crossings at 30,000. “All we know for sure is, forecasts are wrong,” said Fred Cummings, TransLink vice-president of major projects. “I think we had a lot of people coming out to drive the bridge to say that they drove the bridge in the first week of operation, but also to see what difference it does make in their travel time.” Crossing the bridge is a free until July 16, when tolls kick in. Cummings said the tolls will likely mean the end of the higher-than-expected numbers. “It’s a good news story for us on the revenue side if traffic numbers stay as high as they do, but typically when you add a toll to a bridge, the numbers go down,” Cummings said. Still, TransLink has already leased 10,000 transponders — electronic devices that identify the vehicle’s owner. It had expected to lease only 5,000 by now. More than 11,000 vehicles have been pre-registered online, making toll collection easier. “That may not be a measure of future demand,” Cummings said. “What it does show is that people want to save money.” Vehicle owners get toll discounts for leasing transponders and for pre-registering. Even with initial indications of heavy use of the new bridge, drivers shouldn’t expect tolls to drop. TransLink needs the revenue to pay for the $1-billion bridge — a debt it hopes to pay off by 2041. Revenues will also support the operation and maintenance of the bridge. The biggest payments will go to the Golden Crossing General Partnership, the body responsible for the building, operation and maintenance of the bridge. It is wholly owned by the German Bilfinger-Berger Project Investments. The steep payment schedule will see TransLink forking over $500,000 per month in the first six months and $1.5 million a month for the next six months. That jumps to $3 million a month the following year and $4 million a month for the three years after that. After five years, TransLink will be paying $4.7 million a month. The payments are linked to anticipated increases in bridge traffic. TransLink predicts that for the next few years, 30,000 to 50,000 vehicles will cross the bridge daily, bringing in revenues of $30 million to $50 million a year. By 2035, it hopes 70,000 to 90,000 vehicles will be crossing every day, bringing in an annual $65 million to $90 million. If these targets aren’t met, the transit authority will still be on the hook for repaying Golden Crossing at the pre-set rates. “If we exceed the forecast, we keep the money,” said TransLink spokesman Ken Hardie. “If we don’t make it, we will subsidize it with our general revenue.” TransLink’s revenues come from transit fares, fuel taxes, property taxes, and parking sales tax. According to Hardie, the transportation authority would be in a position to make those payments if necessary, and had always planned to subsidize the bridge for the first few years. TransLink could also create incentives for drivers crossing the bridge to close a revenue gap. “If traffic doesn’t occur, we’ll have to make adjustments to the tolls to make the bridge more attractive to people,” Cummings said. Adjustments could include off-peak pricing and variable rates. While it’s still early, some TransLink officials were hopeful the high initial numbers bode well. “If we are doing better than we forecast, then that’s great,” Hardie said. “If a lower subsidy is needed and if there’s a profit then that’s great and it goes back into the system and pays for something else.” Meanwhile, the number of crossings at the Albion Ferry, which is set to close July 31, dropped by 46 per cent last week. rtebrake@vancouversun.com © Copyright © The Vancouver Sun So, if I'm reading this right... the only way for Translink to make money on this bridge is to double the vehicle traffic going across it over the next few years. A fantastic goal for a PUBLIC TRANSIT COMPANY. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_1 Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 So, if I'm reading this right... the only way for Translink to make money on this bridge is to double the vehicle traffic going across it over the next few years. A fantastic goal for a PUBLIC TRANSIT COMPANY. lol increase Vehicle traffic on the Port Mann and Golden Ears, so much for the green plan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitronuts Posted June 26, 2009 Author Share Posted June 26, 2009 So, if I'm reading this right... the only way for Translink to make money on this bridge is to double the vehicle traffic going across it over the next few years. A fantastic goal for a PUBLIC TRANSIT COMPANY. ACTUALLY, Translink is pretty unique as it's responsible not only for transit but ALSO ROADS in the region. Why is it like that? Ask the NDP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KoreanHockeyFan Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 Saw the new Skytrains doing a test run on the Canada Line today, looked pretty nice even though it was going pretty slow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitronuts Posted June 26, 2009 Author Share Posted June 26, 2009 ^ well, they do have a slower acceleration than our existing SkyTrain trains given they are standard subway cars with a lot more moving parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denrik Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 Nitro do you know what happened to the train yesterday at Braid station. It might a huge buzzing noise then we were stopped for about 10 minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitronuts Posted June 26, 2009 Author Share Posted June 26, 2009 ^ it was dragging a dead person and they realized it 10 minutes later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeGillis58 Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 ^ it was dragging a dead person and they realized it 10 minutes later. They should consider installing a wall of glass on the platform. It will prevent accidents and suicides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitronuts Posted June 26, 2009 Author Share Posted June 26, 2009 ^ well, there have been something like 50 deaths on SkyTrain? (and thankfully, none involving trains crashing into each other (yet) because of the reliability of LIM and automation technology). And something 6 of those deaths are accidental and the remaining are suicides. I think platform doors would be a nice feature, but because we use two different models of trains (the Mark I and Mark II) we can't have platform doors as the doors would open at different locations on the platform. Translink has plans to use the majority of the Mark I's until 2034. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitronuts Posted June 27, 2009 Author Share Posted June 27, 2009 A reminder that there is an open house for Oakridge-41st Avenue Station from noon to 5 pm tomorrow/Saturday. There will also be festivities, with a main stage at the plaza. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeGillis58 Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 ^ well, there have been something like 50 deaths on SkyTrain? (and thankfully, none involving trains crashing into each other (yet) because of the reliability of LIM and automation technology). And something 6 of those deaths are accidental and the remaining are suicides. I think platform doors would be a nice feature, but because we use two different models of trains (the Mark I and Mark II) we can't have platform doors as the doors would open at different locations on the platform. Translink has plans to use the majority of the Mark I's until 2034. How about we design platform doors that are suitable for both MK I and MK II models of trains? We could create platform doors that can open anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitronuts Posted June 27, 2009 Author Share Posted June 27, 2009 How about we design platform doors that are suitable for both MK I and MK II models of trains? We could create platform doors that can open anywhere. Never been done anywhere, and obviously $$$. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurtzfan Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 If the Canada line opens on Aug. 1st, what about the bus service improvements? same date as well?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denrik Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 ^ it was dragging a dead person and they realized it 10 minutes later. Are you serious? You aren't serious right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitronuts Posted June 27, 2009 Author Share Posted June 27, 2009 Are you serious? You aren't serious right. I was only kidding....but jokes aside, it did happen before. Well actually, I believe the guy was under the train for at least a day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_1 Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 It would cost way too much to construct glass gates on station platforms. If those people don't kill themselves jumping in front of the skytrain they'll find some other stupid way to commit suacide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buggernut Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 Is there going to be a free preview period for the Canada Line? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Common sense Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 If the Canada line opens on Aug. 1st, what about the bus service improvements? same date as well?! Doubt it, since it would cause chaos for the bus drivers working these 4 months. Usually, they get assigned to routes in every 4 months, so the next rotation will be in Sept. Labor day weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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