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nitronuts

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^ both EB and WB... you're right about the lanes though, because 49 is erratic and goes between 2 lanes and 1 lane.

And about where the buses come from... well, I don't know how to answer that because they already operate from Richmond depot...

With the RAV in place, everything's mixed up and messed up. It's inevitable that there will be a massive shift in where buses go.

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Biggest difference is, for the most part of its route, 41st Ave has more than 1 lane. Thus, it can run express buses without it getting snarled in traffic.

49 doesn't have that luxury.

The point of an express bus is so that it only hits main stops, and gets you from A to B faster than other alternates. If the 49-express gets caught in traffic with the other 49s, then what good is it?

I'll agree with you in that 49 is heavily used once you get past Granville (we talking WB or EB here?), but the road infrastructure doesn't allow for an express bus.

As well, where's the resources for that bus coming from? The 98s are all going to Surrey for the 399; there's talk of B-lining the 135 and the 43. On my list of west-east priorities, the 49's pretty damn far back.

135 would have no impact because they are already running articulated buses there. Just saying....

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135 would have no impact because they are already running articulated buses there. Just saying....

But if a bus route was to gain B-line status, its frequency would have to be upped to B-line standards as well. That could mean anywhere from 90seconds per bus to 4 mins/bus.

The 135 is far from that, even in peak hours.

Currently, the 135 is running every 4 mins in AM peak. If it were to gain B-line status, we would need 2 times as many buses servicing that route just to match what route like the 99 and 98 had.

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But if a bus route was to gain B-line status, its frequency would have to be upped to B-line standards as well. That could mean anywhere from 90seconds per bus to 4 mins/bus.

The 135 is far from that, even in peak hours.

Currently, the 135 is running every 4 mins in AM peak. If it were to gain B-line status, we would need 2 times as many buses servicing that route just to match what route like the 99 and 98 had.

I don't think there's anything called a B-line standard. The 98 B-line sucks donkey.

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I don't think there's anything called a B-line standard. The 98 B-line sucks donkey.

Hypothetically, it exists.

90 seconds to 2 mins per bus in AM/PM rush hour, and at the very worst (weekend evening) 15 mins/bus.

Ability to "control"/delay red lights at upcoming intersections if the bus is very close to it.

All-door boarding.

Consistently running articulated buses

That's what I would call a B-line standard. 99 has it. 98 had it. 97's crap, so I wouldn't even call that a B-line. 399 will have it.

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Hypothetically, it exists.

90 seconds to 2 mins per bus in AM/PM rush hour, and at the very worst (weekend evening) 15 mins/bus.

Ability to "control"/delay red lights at upcoming intersections if the bus is very close to it.

All-door boarding.

Consistently running articulated buses

That's what I would call a B-line standard. 99 has it. 98 had it. 97's crap, so I wouldn't even call that a B-line. 399 will have it.

Oops, I meant 97. The Coquitlam one.

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135 was, but Surrey needs it faster. Thus, priority is put on the 399.

49 doesn't need a B-line. They just need more frequent service at specific times. As well, they need to get rid of parking on 49 and open up a 2nd lane.

in fact, that's the problem with 49: only one lane. You can't run a B-line on THAT type of road. Broadway, Granville, and 41 - what do they have in common? Multiple lanes, with dedicated HOV/BOV lanes. THAT'S what we need.

Bang on. Arterial roads aren't supposed to have parking on them ANYWAYS. It's pretty much the definition of an arterial. Translink would save so much money and the buses would move so much faster by the simple investment of signs and paint to make HOV lanes on their busiest routes.

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Bang on. Arterial roads aren't supposed to have parking on them ANYWAYS. It's pretty much the definition of an arterial. Translink would save so much money and the buses would move so much faster by the simple investment of signs and paint to make HOV lanes on their busiest routes.

Speaking of translink and money...

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Financial+review+finds+TransLink+significant+operational+issues/2193635/story.html

VICTORIA - TransLink is plagued by "significant operational issues" and has not done enough to manage its finances, B.C. comptroller-general Cheryl Wenezenki-Yolland wrote in a report released Friday.

"Inaction by TransLink and the Mayors' Council to maintain a balance between expenses and revenues has brought TransLink to a point at which substantial operating deficits in 2010 and beyond will be difficult to avoid," wrote Wenezenki-Yolland.

She said TransLink should have taken "earlier actions" to contain its rising costs.

The report comes just two weeks after regional mayors voted down TransLink's request for $450-million per year to pay for expanded services. Instead, they approved only $130 million, which they said at the time will keep the system on life support.

It also comes one day after TransLink CEO Tom Prendergast announced his resignation.

In her report, Wenezenki-Yolland also looked into B.C. Ferries. She found "operations to be well managed and reasonably effective," though did find executive compensation to be "significantly higher than that paid by several several larger public sector entities."

Wenezenki-Yolland called in her report for a joint Transportation Commission to oversee both TransLink and B.C. Ferries.

"A properly resourced, larger Transportation Commission with a broader mandate would be in a position to provide a stronger, more consistent regulatory approach to these vital transportation systems," she wrote.

The report recommends that the Mayors' Council be converted into a transit authority with 20 per cent of the members appointed by the province.

It suggests the this board should be given responsibility for board appointments, setting board renumeration and overseeing the board while not assuming a management role.

"The Mayors' Council/Authority will need to embrace their responsibility to provide a transit system that not only provides the highest quality of service but remains financially sustainable," the report said.

Meanwhile, the board and executives at B.C. Ferries get paid too much and it’s too easy for officials to earn bonuses, B.C.’s comptroller general says in the report.

The report said president David Hahn’s compensation last year was more than double that at larger public sector bodies. Executive bonuses also were easier to attain than auditors would have expected, the report said.

The board’s compensation is also “excessive,” with a retainer that is three to five times higher than permitted at B.C. Crown corporations, the report said.

The auditors’ concerns were compounded, they said, by the fact that the board decides its own pay scale, and approves executive salary without proper accountability.

Gee whiz, surprise surprise. A board that decides it's own pay scale has excessive compensation and bonuses. Wowzers, what a surprise!

Edited by inane
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Hypothetically, it exists.

90 seconds to 2 mins per bus in AM/PM rush hour, and at the very worst (weekend evening) 15 mins/bus.

Ability to "control"/delay red lights at upcoming intersections if the bus is very close to it.

All-door boarding.

Consistently running articulated buses

That's what I would call a B-line standard. 99 has it. 98 had it. 97's crap, so I wouldn't even call that a B-line. 399 will have it.

I don't get why they call the 97 a B-Line, other than the fact that it's a precursor to a planned rapid transit line. It would more aptly fit the billing if it took the more direct route of Barnet Highway, instead of Guildford Way.

So they're breaking from B-Line numbering convention for the 399 by assigning it a number in the 300's? I say they should give them all a number with a B before it (ie. B1, B2, B3...), like they do for community shuttles with the letter C, and night buses with the letter N.

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Speaking of translink and money...

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Financial+review+finds+TransLink+significant+operational+issues/2193635/story.html

Gee whiz, surprise surprise. A board that decides it's own pay scale has excessive compensation and bonuses. Wowzers, what a surprise!

It should be noted that the private board that doesn't answer to just about anyone and pays itself what it wants seems to be at least doing their job and keeping the ferries finances in order.

Translink it seems has some severe budgeting problems. Why is that?

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I don't get why they call the 97 a B-Line, other than the fact that it's a precursor to a planned rapid transit line. It would more aptly fit the billing if it took the more direct route of Barnet Highway, instead of Guildford Way.

So they're breaking from B-Line numbering convention for the 399 by assigning it a number in the 300's? I say they should give them all a number with a B before it (ie. B1, B2, B3...), like they do for community shuttles with the letter C, and night buses with the letter N.

Is the number such a big deal? If they didn't assign the bus number with something in the 300's it wouldn't match all the other Surrey buses. I am sure it will at least end in "b-line".

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Speaking of translink and money...

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Financial+review+finds+TransLink+significant+operational+issues/2193635/story.html

Gee whiz, surprise surprise. A board that decides it's own pay scale has excessive compensation and bonuses. Wowzers, what a surprise!

Hm... so they basically want to re-privatize translink and BC ferries and create more high paying overseeing jobs. Is it just me or does paying people to make sure your pay is not overly excessive sound stupid to anyone else?

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I don't get why they call the 97 a B-Line, other than the fact that it's a precursor to a planned rapid transit line. It would more aptly fit the billing if it took the more direct route of Barnet Highway, instead of Guildford Way.

Ya, when the 97 first came in I was excited because I thought it would get me from Coquitlam Centre to Lougheed faster, then I found out the route it takes. The 151 and 152 are both faster than the B-line, it's a joke of a bus.

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Is the number such a big deal? If they didn't assign the bus number with something in the 300's it wouldn't match all the other Surrey buses. I am sure it will at least end in "b-line".

In that case, the 97 should have a 1 before it, since it is in the 100's zone.

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Ya, when the 97 first came in I was excited because I thought it would get me from Coquitlam Centre to Lougheed faster, then I found out the route it takes. The 151 and 152 are both faster than the B-line, it's a joke of a bus.

I wish they'd get a bus over the now three-year-old David Avenue bridge. Then I could connect with the 97 at a more preferable location.

Man, I miss the old 147.

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Ya, when the 97 first came in I was excited because I thought it would get me from Coquitlam Centre to Lougheed faster, then I found out the route it takes. The 151 and 152 are both faster than the B-line, it's a joke of a bus.

Or, if you're connecting from SkyTrain, 169 from Braid Station to Coq. Ctr. is much quicker also, mostly because there are practically no stops along Lougheed Highway near Riverview.

I usually took that shortcut.

Edited by BuckyHermit
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Or, if you're connecting from SkyTrain, 169 from Braid Station to Coq. Ctr. is much quicker also, mostly because there are practically no stops along Lougheed Highway near Riverview.

I usually took that shortcut.

And since it goes on the outskirts of Coquitlam, less people too.

Man, THAT should be the express, not some crappy 97.

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