Quote:
Originally Posted by Bdawe
If people really want to make a case for these tunnels then they should try to show how they are more beneficial than they are harmful, rather than simply asserting that they exist elsewhere, bearing in mind that most countries being discussed have various greater mechanisms to limit the inducement of demand that Vancouver lacks.
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Are the benefits not clear already from the very limited examples we've presented? It's not like any of us are trying to push this overpass/underpass thing as a paradigm, in that they should be built essentially everywhere and are solely for the purpose of keeping vehicle traffic moving without going through lights. There are very practical benefits, for pedestrians and transit users alike, that can result from the direct outcomes such as reducing crossing distances, stop-and-go movements for heavy vehicles such as trucks, and reducing the presence of roadway-length traffic jams. We also seem to justify it all the time over railways, so I'm not so sure why it needs to be such a problem when it happens to be over other roadways.
The initial example (Lougheed Highway through Brentwood) could significantly improve the pedestrian friendliness of an area whose growth has been oriented around a major rapid transit station. Apart from the reduced crossing distances, some of the land taken up by the roadway could be converted into park or plaza or repurposed for additional private use.
These investments don't have to induce demand because there are ways to offset it right from the get go. As a trade-off for introducing free-flow, you could reduce movement to a single lane (this would be particularly effective for converting dual left-turn lanes into overpasses/underpassed). If the surrounding road network can accommodate the movements without a negative impact on the community, you could even entirely remove portions of the road at-grade (this could be done for Lougheed from Gilmore-Willingdon).
I can think of quite a few places in this region where it would be feasible to introduce these, many of which would be assisted by convenient approach/exit grades. Some examples could include...
Marine Drive EB to Cambie Street NB
(a single lane flyover to replace the dual left turn lane, simplify the operation of the traffic signal below and significantly cut down on transit delays for buses exiting Marine Drive Station)
King George Blvd SB to Fraser Highway EB
(Same rationale as the last example, plus could help reduce crossing distances if introduced as a right-hand exit ramp)
Grandview Highway @ Boundary Rd
(Reduce congestion, transit delays and crossing distances on Boundary)
Barnet Highway through Coquitlam Centre
(Pretty much all of it from west of Mariner to west of Westwood and for obvious reasons)
Queensborough Bridge NB to 20th St
(This could be a single lane flyover, exiting towards the right and proceeding over the WB Stewardson on-ramp before turning onto 20th. This would simplify signal operations at 6th/20th and speed up exiting transit buses)
WB Marine Dr at Taylor Way (N Van)
(Doing SB Taylor Way to EB Marine would be pointless as long as the Lions Gate remains a bottleneck, but separating the WB movement could bring transit improvements both WB and EB, particularly if one lane of this underpass is dedicated to EB transit movement).
Boundary Rd @ Kingsway
(With the big developments in the area, an underpass could smoothen grades and reduce truck stop-and-go movements through this area, enable safer crossings at Kingsway & Boundary, and set up the area for further TOD)
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It doesn't even have to be focused on cars. You could build this type of separation for busways too.
If Bus Rapid Transit goes through on Surrey's L-Line corridor, one of the things I envision is an
elevated BRT station at King George & 88th. This could be combined with a new raised entryway towards the Surrey Arts Centre and Bear Creek Park, allowing those arriving by transit to access these city amenities without ever having to cross a major roadway or climb a grade.
Another potential example could be a series of
transit-only overpasses on Willingdon over the Highway 1 ramps and Canada Way could help legitimize future BRT along Willingdon, integrating with existing transit lanes to the south and providing top-notch access between Brentwood and BCIT.
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Bang on! You got it! Unfortunately (and this will sound snobby, for which I am reputed) .. this small town "everyone: out of your cars!!" mentality is caused
I am surprised to find out that the road and the gate have been there for so long (at least you guys make it sounds like we are talking about at least a decade).
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