Common sense Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 but a $2.5 billion sky train expansion makes sensen? Compare: the number of people commuting FROM langley vs the number of people commuting TO a place like UBC. Then you'll understand why UBC should be first priority in skytrain expansion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitronuts Posted January 17, 2009 Author Share Posted January 17, 2009 (edited) but a $2.5 billion sky train expansion makes sensen? It makes all the sense when you consider the ridership the expansion will attain. In 2002, the City of Vancouver's study for a Millennium Line SkyTrain extension to Arbutus and then from Arbutus to UBC with rapid bus would bring in 150,000 boardings a day along that 12-km SkyTrain/rapid bus route. Fast forward to 2009. The U-Pass has been introduced, people are saving (whether it be the economy or the previously high gas prices), and there are generally more transit options. Imagine the ridership SkyTrain would bring if it were extended all the way to UBC, rather than stopping at Arbutus. In 2002, ridership projections for half the amount of rail to Arbutus would have brought 150,000....when this is complete (at the very earliest 2014), I would not be surprised if it hit above 200,000. The bus ridership along the Broadway corridor is at 100,000/day with the 99 B-Line being 60,000 of that. It should also be noted that Central Broadway is an extension of Downtown Vancouver/the region's second largest employment centre. In addition, about 40% of the 99 B-Line's ridership starts/ends at UBC....and the university itself is a major employment centre with 50,000 staff and faculty. And the 99 B-Line is already running at its peak capacity with 130 articulated buses dedicated to it with a bus just about every minute during peak hours (or at least an attempt to do so, buses are always late and bunch up). The 99 B-Line is the by far the busiest bus route in the entire region, with the highest ridership levels, and is one of the two bus routes that break even in the region. As for this year, both the Millennium and Expo Lines bring in 250,000 boardings a day and the Canada Line is expected to bring in 100,000 boardings a day within 2-3 years of initial service. How many riders would an LRT/SkyTrain/commuter rail line to Langley attract? Probably just a small fraction of what the UBC extension would bring. Edited January 17, 2009 by nitronuts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trevforever Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 but a $2.5 billion sky train expansion makes sensen? theres a lot of people i know that live in Coq. and would love a skytain in Coq. as they take the Skytrain every day to school Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GonnaWin Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Gotta decide whether Translink places priority on reining in sprawl or improving service in denser areas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violator Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 The c-train in calgary runs all the way to sait it was pretty cool still quicker to drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Columbo Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 The c-train in calgary runs all the way to sait it was pretty cool still quicker to drive. It's not always about what's quicker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_1 Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 (edited) Compare: the number of people commuting FROM langley vs the number of people commuting TO a place like UBC. Then you'll understand why UBC should be first priority in skytrain expansion. I was refering to the Provincial Liberals idea of expanding the Sky train to Langley by 2040. The cost of that could be over $2.5 billion. Compare that to $500 million for a light rail project. Canada Line $2 billion open 2009 UBC expansion $2.8 billion estimated completion - 2020 Evergreen expansion $1.4 billion estimated completion - 2014 FLEETWOOD SKYTRAIN EXPANSION $1+ Billion 2020 Skytrain upgrading 2.1 Billion estimated completion 2020 Just should be seriously looked before spending tonnes of money on connecting langley with skytrain. Edited January 18, 2009 by tom_1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitronuts Posted January 18, 2009 Author Share Posted January 18, 2009 I was refering to the Provincial Liberals idea of expanding the Sky train to Langley by 2040. The cost of that could be over $2.5 billion. Compare that to $500 million for a light rail project. Canada Line $2 billion open 2009 UBC expansion $2.8 billion estimated completion - 2020 Evergreen expansion $1.4 billion estimated completion - 2014 FLEETWOOD SKYTRAIN EXPANSION $1+ Billion 2020 Skytrain upgrading 2.1 Billion estimated completion 2020 Just should be seriously looked before spending tonnes of money on connecting langley with skytrain. Well actually, the provincial plan is for SkyTrain by 2030...not 2040. And the real decision won't be made for decades to come so I'm not so sure why you're all hyped about it....unless the project is fast-tracked over the next few years because of the economic situation. What's for certain is the 6-km extension of the Expo Line further into Surrey. And it wouldn't cost $1-billion considering it's only 6-kms and elevated, more like $600-700 million. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitronuts Posted January 18, 2009 Author Share Posted January 18, 2009 Just like on the Hong Kong MTR. :D SkyTrain looking at playing music at stations Frank Luba, The Province Published: Sunday, January 18, 2009 TransLink is going to try to hit the right note with commuters by playing music in SkyTrain stations. Spokesman Ken Hardie said the idea of playing music at stations came up in TransLink's online Buzzer blog. Hardie said that what was discussed was 'if we're waiting for a train, it might be nice to have a little music.' The online TransLink Listens survey group was polled during the Christmas season and more than 60 per cent of those that responded backed the plan. Later this year, the transportation authority will have a small pilot program at some stations. "It's going to be all Barry Manilow, all the time," joked Hardie. Actually, respondents preferred classical music, followed by traditional Christian seasonal music and soft rock. Other preferred music included rhythm and blues, blues and jazz. Costs would be minimal because there are already speakers for announcements in stations, but a fee would have to be paid to play music regularly system-wide. Music would never take precedence over transit service, according to Hardie. The only reason for music would be as a "value-added" service for customers, he said. Classical music has been used in the past by some retailers to get rid of loiterers, who don't appear to be big on Beethoven and the like. TransLink currently has television monitors in selected stations that display announcements, weather and advertisements, but there is no sound with the displays. fluba@theprovince.com Officer wounded, suspect Tasered in SkyTrain fight Mary Frances Hill, Vancouver Sun Published: Saturday, January 17, 2009 A transit police officer was in hospital with severe head wounds and injuries to his knees and hands Friday following a confrontation with a fare evader who was Tasered into submission. The man, who was carrying a knife, was Tasered twice by police, said transit police spokesman Tom Seaman. About 12:30 p.m. Friday, Seaman said, officers escorted a man in his mid-30s out of a SkyTrain car and onto the platform at Braid Station in New Westminster. When the officers asked the man to show his fare, he ignored them and fled, Seaman said. One of the officers tried to stop the man, and a confrontation between an officer and the man ensued. When the man began to run down an up-escalator, "the physical altercation quickly escalated," according to the police report. During the confrontation, an officer fell down the escalator, hitting his head and knees on the sharp edges of the metal steps. Other officers twice Tasered the man, bringing him under control. At that time, a steak knife fell out of the man's pocket, Seaman said. He defended the use of the Taser. "People don't often run or leave the scene over a SkyTrain ticket. There's usually some other issue," he said. "We have a lawful duty to stop and detain them if they're not going to obey our orders." Transit police have used Tasers to restrain people about a dozen times in the last two years, he added. "[The use of a Taser] is a discretional call with any officer. In a situation like that, we can't let a person walk away from us." Seaman said the man was known to transit police. About two weeks ago, he said, the same man had ignored transit police who asked him for his fare at Lougheed Station. An altercation also ensued that time and a knife was revealed. He was arrested and released on a promise to appear in court. After Friday's arrest, the suspect was taken into custody, and was expected to be charged with obstruction of a police officer, assault of a police officer, and resisting arrest. mfhill@vancouversun.com On a side note, the third new SeaBus due to arrive this year will feature the same charcoal/yellow/blue livery the recently delivered SkyTrain Mark II cars have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuckyHermit Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 I like the idea of playing music at stations... It can also bring in extra revenue if they sell 30-second commercial spots between songs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Columbo Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 I like the idea of playing music at stations... It can also bring in extra revenue if they sell 30-second commercial spots between songs. That's actually a very good idea, to be honest. It's no secret that Translink is desperate for revenue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buggernut Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 I like the idea of playing music at stations... It can also bring in extra revenue if they sell 30-second commercial spots between songs. Bring back the buskers. They have more character than prerecorded music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quack Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Say no to classical music Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuckyHermit Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Say no to classical music As long as we don't say yes to rap instead. Buskers are great for the ticket vending machine area, but recorded music would be better for the platforms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buggernut Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Say no to classical music Anything that repels loitering teenagers is a good thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quack Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Nah, easy listening like whatever's on 103.5 FM would be non offensive and ok for everyone I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Common sense Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Music on Skytrain... I don't know how many people listen to their mp3 players on transit, but I like some "new" music occasionally for a change... If it's minimal cost, I'm all for improving the ambiance of our transit systems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buggernut Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Officer wounded, suspect Tasered in SkyTrain fight Mary Frances Hill, Vancouver Sun Published: Saturday, January 17, 2009 A transit police officer was in hospital with severe head wounds and injuries to his knees and hands Friday following a confrontation with a fare evader who was Tasered into submission. The man, who was carrying a knife, was Tasered twice by police, said transit police spokesman Tom Seaman. About 12:30 p.m. Friday, Seaman said, officers escorted a man in his mid-30s out of a SkyTrain car and onto the platform at Braid Station in New Westminster. When the officers asked the man to show his fare, he ignored them and fled, Seaman said. One of the officers tried to stop the man, and a confrontation between an officer and the man ensued. When the man began to run down an up-escalator, "the physical altercation quickly escalated," according to the police report. During the confrontation, an officer fell down the escalator, hitting his head and knees on the sharp edges of the metal steps. Other officers twice Tasered the man, bringing him under control. At that time, a steak knife fell out of the man's pocket, Seaman said. He defended the use of the Taser. "People don't often run or leave the scene over a SkyTrain ticket. There's usually some other issue," he said. "We have a lawful duty to stop and detain them if they're not going to obey our orders." Transit police have used Tasers to restrain people about a dozen times in the last two years, he added. "[The use of a Taser] is a discretional call with any officer. In a situation like that, we can't let a person walk away from us." Seaman said the man was known to transit police. About two weeks ago, he said, the same man had ignored transit police who asked him for his fare at Lougheed Station. An altercation also ensued that time and a knife was revealed. He was arrested and released on a promise to appear in court. After Friday's arrest, the suspect was taken into custody, and was expected to be charged with obstruction of a police officer, assault of a police officer, and resisting arrest. mfhill@vancouversun.com Too bad he wasn't Dziekanski'd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quack Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 ^ Haha. Hilarious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuckyHermit Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Music on Skytrain... I don't know how many people listen to their mp3 players on transit, but I like some "new" music occasionally for a change... If it's minimal cost, I'm all for improving the ambiance of our transit systems. Newest music from Miley Cyrus? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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