SkyTrain Station Renovations

[Waders]

And local residents are still mourning the loss of the pedestrian overpass to the skytrain station.
Here is a complain to the local newspaper just two weeks ago.

LETTERS: Metrotown station ‘improvements’ failed

Dear Editor:

Michael Jackson’s nose job comes quickly to mind for the kind of “improvement” made to the Metrotown SkyTrain station. A most objectionable change for the putative better is the taking out of the above-ground, covered walkway traversing the station and the mall. No frequent transit user in the Metrotown mall area I have asked about that change did not miss the walkway.
Without the safety and shelter provided by the walkway, transit users and pedestrians, from their whatever-to-make-it-work-for-me (that is, rational) vantage point, resort to making runs across the chaotic, callous traffic of Central Boulevard, to changing traffic lights, to arriving buses and SkyTrains, to shelters from the rain and to infinite other good personal reasons.

The “improvement” design clearly has taken people out of safety and shelter to the dangerous, inconvenient conditions of the open street. Those who have had a part in the decision to remove the above-ground covered walkway are but amateurs at best.

With Michael’s “improved” nostrils, at least nobody has to reply on them to make everyday life safe, convenient and sense-making.

Eugene Ip, Burnaby

Source: Burnabynow

[Dave2]

Meanwhile Nanaimo Station has no up escalator eastbound and Edmonds has no escalators at all. And this guy is complaining about Metrotown with its eight escalators and three street-to-platform elevators? I'd rather have those than that old narrow overpass.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Dave2

Meanwhile Nanaimo Station has no up escalator eastbound and Edmonds has no escalators at all. And this guy is complaining about Metrotown with its eight escalators and three street-to-platform elevators? I'd rather have those than that old narrow overpass.

Those aren't the only stations missing up escalators: ... Nanaimo, 29th Avenue, Royal Oak, Edmonds, 22nd Street and Columbia

Also that person's complaint is about how the overhead pedestrian walkway that was really useful hasn't been replaced. Crossing at street level has been a clusterfuck and the fact that we have no idea on if / when the promised new walkway will open is frustrating as hell. Having to take the stairs or an elevator isn't so bad in comparison (although yes, I will agree that it is annoying).

[Dave2]

Perhaps the street crossing will improve now that the crowds heading to the mall will be divided between the central and east station house exits.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Dave2

Perhaps the street crossing will improve now that the crowds heading to the mall will be divided between the central and east station house exits.

There have been people crossing at both crosswalks - and it's still been a clusterfuck. Drivers hate it because what was once relatively free flowing is now stop and go all day long. Pedestrians hate it because it's the same for them. Even bus drivers wouldn't be fans of it - until they changed the lights to give dedicated turns for buses there were crossing guards so buses could get into / out of the bus loop.

All this vs a dedicated overhead walkway...

[Firebrand]

Originally Posted by Sheba

There have been people crossing at both crosswalks - and it's still been a clusterfuck. Drivers hate it because what was once relatively free flowing is now stop and go all day long. Pedestrians hate it because it's the same for them. Even bus drivers wouldn't be fans of it - until they changed the lights to give dedicated turns for buses there were crossing guards so buses could get into / out of the bus loop.

All this vs a dedicated overhead walkway...

You can blame the City of Burnaby for all of this clusterfuck.

[officedweller]

Strange, though, because both Brentwood and Lougheed will have overhead walkways to those malls.

Metrotown Station is tall enough to have been a mezzanine station like Brentwood, but I guess the large median between Central Blvd and Beresford has the City wanting it to be more pedestrian friendly.

Brentwood has no choice but to have overhead walkways.
Lougheed's proposed overhead walkway will also solve the problem of climbing the hill to the mall.

[David]

Maybe the mall will be gone sooner than we think, to be replaced by the city blocks as identified in the Metrotown area plan that was just adopted? Not as important to funnel pedestrians across Central Blvd if there isn't a mall over there anymore.

[ilikeredheads]

fwiw, both the mall and Translink wanted the overpass, but they can't do anything about it because the overpass is considered city property, and the city has been stalling to approve any replacement. The city has this misguided belief that people crossing at street level is more "pedestrian friendly" and "improves walkability", despite the fact that an overpass will be the most convenient and safe option for everyone.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by ilikeredheads

fwiw, both the mall and Translink wanted the overpass, but they can't do anything about it because the overpass is considered city property, and the city has been stalling to approve any replacement. The city has this misguided belief that people crossing at street level is more "pedestrian friendly" and "improves walkability", despite the fact that an overpass will be the most convenient and safe option for everyone.

[Waders]

Originally Posted by Sheba

Even bus drivers wouldn't be fans of it - until they changed the lights to give dedicated turns for buses there were crossing guards so buses could get into / out of the bus loop.

All this vs a dedicated overhead walkway...

Even when the 'turn' traffic light is green, some pedestrians still try to cross the street. So now bus drivers routinely sound the horn to warn people to stop.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Waders

Even when the 'turn' traffic light is green, some pedestrians still try to cross the street. So now bus drivers routinely sound the horn to warn people to stop.

...and they likely still have crossing guards inside the bus loop. So many people were crossing at the Skytrain elevator entrance and then walking across the bus loop to get into the mall that it's been difficult for buses driving in the bus loop.

[Millennium2002]

Originally Posted by Sheba

...and they likely still have crossing guards inside the bus loop. So many people were crossing at the Skytrain elevator entrance and then walking across the bus loop to get into the mall that it's been difficult for buses driving in the bus loop.

With all the traffic problems of late, something that I thought was a missed opportunity was a separate vehicle entrance or exit to the bus loop on its opposite end... I suppose they thought it'd be too costly to regrade the whole place to make it fit.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Millennium2002

With all the traffic problems of late, something that I thought was a missed opportunity was a separate vehicle entrance or exit to the bus loop on its opposite end... I suppose they thought it'd be too costly to regrade the whole place to make it fit.

You mean right next to the mall underground parking entrance? That would bring a whole new set of problems...

[flipper316]

Originally Posted by ilikeredheads

fwiw, both the mall and Translink wanted the overpass, but they can't do anything about it because the overpass is considered city property, and the city has been stalling to approve any replacement. The city has this misguided belief that people crossing at street level is more "pedestrian friendly" and "improves walkability", despite the fact that an overpass will be the most convenient and safe option for everyone.

Hey they think like Hepner and her LRT fetish.

[Reecemartin]

[Deleted]

[MIPS]

Originally Posted by flipper316

Hey they think like Hepner and her LRT fetish.

.....You're paying for my therapy.

[Reecemartin]

[Deleted]

[madog222]

^
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[Shift]

Still scheduled for opening in Summer 2018?

Can't believe this project has taken 3 years.