Mr. Cow Pegs It. Expo Line Extension Will Cost $3.2 billion

I am continually amazed that an area like the lower mainland of BC, an area that claims to be so high tech, yet can’t get its head around the simplicity of a regional rail line using already available track. Yet, will spend billions and you guys will be spending billions ($2.9-$3.2 Billion by current estimates) [...]

The Best Public Transportation Have Trams. Vancouver Does Not. Why?

Ah yes, if we were to believe TransLink and the Mayor’s Council on Transit, Vancouver’s unprogressive mayor, Vancouver is the envy of the transit world with our SkyTrain rapid transit system. A recent news item listed the top fifteen city transportation systems and twelve of the cities have trams or LRT or both, with some [...]

Quebec city & Montreal Getting LRT, Why Is Vancouver Sticking With The Dated SkyTrain?

Strange world isn’t it. Both Montreal and Quebec city are getting new tram lines, yet Vancouver’s politico’s still want the hugely expensive, yet dated ART Movia Light-metro, which one one else around the world wants? Contrary to what the mayor and councils from Vancouver and Surrey claim, it seems the good mayor of Lachine, Mayor [...]

ION Opens – Canada’s New Light Rail

Kitchener’s new LRT, ION, is now open! Stage 1 ION LRT, 19 km for $865 Million. Stage 2 ION LRT, 18 km for $1.25 Billion. Let’s see, 37 km of LRT $1.895 billion, sounds like a deal with the $3 billion, 5.5 km ART Movia metro Broadway subway or the short $1.65 Expo Line extension [...]

Here We Go Again – TransLink’s Cunning Method of Manipulation

The problem with TransLink is that you can never believe what it says; TransLink never produces a report based on the same set of assumptions.” Former West Vancouver Clr. Victor Durman, Chair of the GVRD (now METRO) Finance Committee. One hates to keep reminding people of TransLink’s lack of honesty, but dishonesty continues as nauseum. [...]

TransLink Doesn’t Want Affordable Transit

TransLink, one of the most dishonest and unaccountable bureaucracies in the province, doesn’t want to reinstate the former interurban service. So powerful is TransLink, so totalitarian in operation, the regional mayors, the Minister of Transportation and the the Premier Horgan are deathly afraid of the bureacracy and cower in the shadows. Such power, so abused! [...]

Trams – The Way Of The Future

As the debate over trams/LRT and or proprietary light metro intensifies, let us look and modern trams in operation around the world. Today, there is over 600 tram/light rail systems in operation or nearing completion, around the world. Only seven of the proprietary ART Movia light-metros have been built in the past 40 years and [...]

Trams Are Green – Subways Are Not!

From the response from the previous post with about lawned rights-of-ways for trams, I offer more glimpses of what modern LRT should look like in Metro Vancouver and in any city considering modern light rail. Think of tram routes as linear parks. Think of Vancouver with many linear parks, providing fast and efficient public transport. [...]

Lawned Rights-of-Ways Revisited

One item that the SkyTrain lobby are loath to show, is lawned rights-of-ways for modern LRT and I wonder why? Even in parched Australia, lawned tram track is being laid. But it is in France, where lawned tram track is de rigueur, making the tram a part of the cityscape and not an eyesore. The [...]

This Is Light Rail.

The new Camberra Australia, light rail line. This is classic light rail. Reserved or dedicated, at-grade rights-of-way and easy pedestrian access across the line is the hallmark of LRT. All the benefits of a metro at a fraction of the cost. So, why does the provincial NDP, the City of Vancouver and the Mayor’s Council [...]