Transit Fantasies

[cganuelas1995]

I had an idea for some bus route changes. Having the 15 continue beyond Marine Drive station to Bridgeport, Aberdeen, Lansdowne, and Brighouse (maybe calling it the 415). Extending the nightbus network to communities that aren't touched by it (maybe have community shuttle buses run on those routes). Turning high density (routes that have a lot of surface area/coverage/people living within x metres of a bus stop) routes into night community shuttles, reducing dependency on taxis when people get off at suburban nightbus termini.

[cganuelas1995]

A major transit fantasy of mine involves a Tim Hortons at every station that's open for the operating hours of said station.

[fredinno]

Originally Posted by cganuelas1995

A major transit fantasy of mine involves a Tim Hortons at every station that's open for the operating hours of said station.

I don't see it unless it's a Tim Hortons Vending machine.

[Reecemartin]

[Deleted]

[logan5]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Excerpts from an Appendix from the CoV's "Beyond the B-Line" 1999 report which states the reasoning why a wye was not built at Broadway & Commercial as part of the Millennium Line.
i.e. because the Phase II extension to Central Broadway would be built within 10 years!

Another option would be to have a Y branch in the False Creek Flats just west of VCC Station. Build 2.5 km's of new track running north along Main St, then turn west along the waterfront to tie into the tracks at Waterfront Station. This allows the option of running Millennium Line trains directly to the DT Vancouver stations. You would also have 2 new stations at Main and Hastings and at the new St. Pauls. You would also alleviate over crowding at all DT Expo Line stations.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by logan5

Another option would be to have a Y branch in the False Creek Flats just west of VCC Station. Build 2.5 km's of new track running north along Main St, then turn west along the waterfront to tie into the tracks at Waterfront Station. This allows the option of running Millennium Line trains directly to the DT Vancouver stations. You would also have 2 new stations at Main and Hastings and at the new St. Pauls. You would also alleviate over crowding at all DT Expo Line stations.

At the expense of increasing headways along the Millennium extension to three minutes. Creative, but not worth it IMO.

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by logan5

Another option would be to have a Y branch in the False Creek Flats just west of VCC Station. Build 2.5 km's of new track running north along Main St, then turn west along the waterfront to tie into the tracks at Waterfront Station. This allows the option of running Millennium Line trains directly to the DT Vancouver stations. You would also have 2 new stations at Main and Hastings and at the new St. Pauls. You would also alleviate over crowding at all DT Expo Line stations.

My fantasy would be to put the Y branch to the West of Arbutus Station, then you could run 1/2 of trains to UBC, and the others under Kits, to the West End, and into the CBD. You could loop it around to join with the existing tracks, or put in a new Platform at Waterfront.

That way you still get 100% of trains on the Millennium line running through the very busy Broadway Corridor. It might take a little longer to get into downtown, but you wouldn't need to transfer. And if you work west of Burrard, it would probably be faster.

The other benefit is that it connects the West Side with a Rapid Transit solution into downtown. And it acts like downtown circulator subway through the West End. It also creates a hub at Arbutus where it could link up with several major bus routes and a future downtown streetcar on the Arbutus ROW.

[cganuelas1995]

Originally Posted by BCPhil

My fantasy would be to put the Y branch to the West of Arbutus Station, then you could run 1/2 of trains to UBC, and the others under Kits, to the West End, and into the CBD. You could loop it around to join with the existing tracks, or put in a new Platform at Waterfront.

That way you still get 100% of trains on the Millennium line running through the very busy Broadway Corridor. It might take a little longer to get into downtown, but you wouldn't need to transfer. And if you work west of Burrard, it would probably be faster.

The other benefit is that it connects the West Side with a Rapid Transit solution into downtown. And it acts like downtown circulator subway through the West End. It also creates a hub at Arbutus where it could link up with several major bus routes and a future downtown streetcar on the Arbutus ROW.

I think they should keep the 5/6 routes instead of making it a subway.

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by cganuelas1995

I think they should keep the 5/6 routes instead of making it a subway.

No need to get rid of the bus. There is still a 15 running above the Canada Line on Cambie. Subways and bus routes usually work together, not compete with each other. I would actually say as a pure fantasy, I would have a subway to connect the areas together, and replace the 5/6 with a streetcar (and remove parking from the streets). One would serve trips between neighbourhoods, one would serve local trips.

A subway cutting through the West End from Kits wouldn't be able to serve the entire West End directly. But you if you are going from the CBD to Davie in the West End, the trip can take 20 minutes on the 5/6. It could be a direct 4 minute subway ride. How long does it take to get to Broadway and Arbutus from the CBD, almost half an hour? I could be in New West or Bridgeport in the same amount of time on the Skytrain.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by BCPhil

My fantasy would be to put the Y branch to the West of Arbutus Station, then you could run 1/2 of trains to UBC, and the others under Kits, to the West End, and into the CBD. You could loop it around to join with the existing tracks, or put in a new Platform at Waterfront.

That way you still get 100% of trains on the Millennium line running through the very busy Broadway Corridor. It might take a little longer to get into downtown, but you wouldn't need to transfer. And if you work west of Burrard, it would probably be faster.

The other benefit is that it connects the West Side with a Rapid Transit solution into downtown. And it acts like downtown circulator subway through the West End. It also creates a hub at Arbutus where it could link up with several major bus routes and a future downtown streetcar on the Arbutus ROW.

Originally Posted by BCPhil

A subway cutting through the West End from Kits wouldn't be able to serve the entire West End directly. But you if you are going from the CBD to Davie in the West End, the trip can take 20 minutes on the 5/6. It could be a direct 4 minute subway ride. How long does it take to get to Broadway and Arbutus from the CBD, almost half an hour? I could be in New West or Bridgeport in the same amount of time on the Skytrain.

I've thought of that too - seems like a plan.
The deletion of a Nelson Station from the Canada Line left a big chunk of Downtown South (and nearby West End) out of the Canada Line catchment area.

[cganuelas1995]

Originally Posted by officedweller

I've thought of that too - seems like a plan.
The deletion of a Nelson Station from the Canada Line left a big chunk of Downtown South (and nearby West End) out of the Canada Line catchment area.

Nelson station would've likely taken the pressure off Vancouver City Centre.

[fredinno]

Originally Posted by BCPhil

My fantasy would be to put the Y branch to the West of Arbutus Station, then you could run 1/2 of trains to UBC, and the others under Kits, to the West End, and into the CBD. You could loop it around to join with the existing tracks, or put in a new Platform at Waterfront.

That way you still get 100% of trains on the Millennium line running through the very busy Broadway Corridor. It might take a little longer to get into downtown, but you wouldn't need to transfer. And if you work west of Burrard, it would probably be faster.

The other benefit is that it connects the West Side with a Rapid Transit solution into downtown. And it acts like downtown circulator subway through the West End. It also creates a hub at Arbutus where it could link up with several major bus routes and a future downtown streetcar on the Arbutus ROW.

Originally Posted by BCPhil

No need to get rid of the bus. There is still a 15 running above the Canada Line on Cambie. Subways and bus routes usually work together, not compete with each other. I would actually say as a pure fantasy, I would have a subway to connect the areas together, and replace the 5/6 with a streetcar (and remove parking from the streets). One would serve trips between neighbourhoods, one would serve local trips.

A subway cutting through the West End from Kits wouldn't be able to serve the entire West End directly. But you if you are going from the CBD to Davie in the West End, the trip can take 20 minutes on the 5/6. It could be a direct 4 minute subway ride. How long does it take to get to Broadway and Arbutus from the CBD, almost half an hour? I could be in New West or Bridgeport in the same amount of time on the Skytrain.

As if Kitsilano would want a Skytrain NIMBY is a serious issue here.

A more limited form of this would be a Skytrain Subway down Alberni to service the west End. LRT is probably most useful as a tourist joyride along the waterfront, and maybe part of Stanley Park.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by fredinno

As if Kitsilano would want a Skytrain NIMBY is a serious issue here.

No, we would love a SkyTrain. Maybe you're thinking of Point Grey or Kerrisdale?

Regardless, a spur reduces UBC headways to three minutes - which is what we have now - and more or less defeats a purpose of having rapid transit going that way.

[Vin]

Kitsilano should go even higher density if it were to deserve a skytrain. The only economical reason why we want skytrain to go through the Broadway corridor is because West Broadway between Main and Burrard deserves it due to its density, but that can also be improved 10-fold. The university is also deserving of it during regular school sessions, but then again there would be very low use in the summer months. The rest of Kitsilano can be served by buses, especially if it wants to maintain its low-density character.

[204]

Originally Posted by officedweller

I've thought of that too - seems like a plan.
The deletion of a Nelson Station from the Canada Line left a big chunk of Downtown South (and nearby West End) out of the Canada Line catchment area.

Did it ever! So strange. Working at Howe and Nelson means one has the option of walking almost a kilometre to either to City Centre station or Yaletown station...

[Vin]

Originally Posted by cganuelas1995

Nelson station would've likely taken the pressure off Vancouver City Centre.

I love the sound of having a Nelson Station between Yaletown and City Centre. Would it be possible to have the entrance at that vacant parking space southeast of Comfort Inn at Seymour Street? A huge shopping podium and skyscraper above the station can be constructed at that spot. That would also be a good station to have to serve passengers going to the upcoming Casino entertainment hub, as well as help revitalize the decaying section of Granville street.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by Vin

Kitsilano should go even higher density if it were to deserve a skytrain. The only economical reason why we want skytrain to go through the Broadway corridor is because West Broadway between Main and Burrard deserves it due to its density, but that can also be improved 10-fold.

Clearly, you have never ridden the 99. Every bus is packed east of Macdonald at peak hour.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by cganuelas1995

Nelson station would've likely taken the pressure off Vancouver City Centre.

Yeah, two stations, instead of one.

Originally, the plan was for a Dunsmuir Station (linked to Granville Station for transfers) and a Nelson Station.

Later, the two stations were combined into a Robson Station.

Then, the Robson Station was moved to West Georgia to facilitate transfers to/from West Vancouver buses.

[fredinno]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Clearly, you have never ridden the 99. Every bus is packed east of Macdonald at peak hour.

Wouldn't Broadway reduce its usage?

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

No, we would love a SkyTrain. Maybe you're thinking of Point Grey or Kerrisdale?

Regardless, a spur reduces UBC headways to three minutes - which is what we have now - and more or less defeats a purpose of having rapid transit going that way.

Considering they were against the new bike path through Kitslano front yards, I would be surprised they would be OK with cut-and-cover Skytrain. Just a thought.

Maybe bored Skytrain.

[Bdawe]

Originally Posted by fredinno

Wouldn't Broadway reduce its usage?



Considering they were against the new bike path through Kitslano front yards, I would be surprised they would be OK with cut-and-cover Skytrain. Just a thought.

Maybe bored Skytrain.

"kits residents" is a bunch of creme-de-la-cremers from Point Grey Road, rather than a body that represents opinion in Kitsilano