Quote:
Originally Posted by Kisai
The nice thing about using the existing Skytrain cars (extending the Expo line) is that it adds zero costs that aren't already taken care of. It's just extending the guideway, building the stations and some computer upgrades.
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Building LRT actually adds costs.
Just think about it.
If the LRT is somewhat successful, and increases transit ridership, that means that a lot of people are going to get dumped at Skytrain for their transfer to New West and beyond. Then those new riders are going to need new Skytrain cars to keep up with demand (as it is already at capacity).
So not only do we need to buy new LRT trains for the LRT, we need to double down and buy new Skytrain trains for the Expo line.
So instead of extending the Expo line and buying cheap buses to shuttle passengers to it, we will need to buy expensive LRT vehicles and more Skytrain vehicles AND more buses (buses to shuttle people to the LRT that then shuttles people to Skytrain).
Translink should just ask for $400 million from the federal government to extend the Expo line as far as it can in Surrey with $400 million. If they stuck to just elevated guideway, I'm thinking they could get to at least 164th Street (a little over 6km of track and much of the roadway in the area has been built with space for a guideway on the North Shoulder). And the elevated guideway went up so fast on North Road, that I'm betting they could be done an extension in 2 years. LRT would be at least a 3 or 4 year project, at least.
Even gong just that far would make a huge difference. From the times I've been on the 502 around rush hour, most ridership happens today between King George and 160th anyway. The bus leaves 100% full and is down to under 1/4 ridership by then (as that is about a half hour ride in traffic today).
Even if it only went as far as 88Ave/156St it would make a huge impact on ridership. That stretch has got to be one of the most congested and slowest (from King George to 156 St) stretches of road in Surrey. It takes at least 30 minutes for a bus to do that stretch. If Skytrain just hopped over the worst part of the trip for every rider, bus ridership from Langley and Clayton would significantly increase. But because the surface level trip takes so long, noone wants to do it and bus ridership from there is shockingly low.