More Transit News – October 15, 2010

From the Victoria Times Colonist http://www.timescolonist.com/technology/Think+rail+only+rail+future+transportation/3649005/story.html  http://www.timescolonist.com/sports/Maclean+Cars+here+stay/3651236/story.html  http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Public+input+sought+last+route/3613881/story.html  http://www.timescolonist.com/travel/rail+line+along+Johnson+Street/3613919/story.html  http://www.timescolonist.com/ahead+interchange/3532824/story.html  Vancouver Courier October 13, 2010 http://www.vancourier.com/technology/case+free+transit+downtown+core/3663446/story.html  Public transit debate can get messy, murky  Vancouver Courier Wednesday, November 04, 2009 Vancouver bus routes dwarf Surrey grid http://www.vancourier.com/life/Public+transit+debate+messy+murky/2900233/story.html The Tyee  Get Rolling on Streetcars, Say Gathered Experts They reduce carbon, promote healthy development, and tourists love them, [...]

The Fruit of the Poisonous Tree – TransLink's Regional Transit Planning

Fruit of the poisonous tree is a legal metaphor in the United States used to describe evidence that is obtained illegally. The logic of the terminology is that if the source of the evidence (the “tree”) is tainted, then anything gained from it (the “fruit”) is as well. TransLink’s planning officials still maintain that modern [...]

World Cities – population, population density, transport including Light Rail/Trams – Round 2

The following is a revised account of city population and the type of transit used; metro or light rail. With Vancouver’s low population density, makes one wonder why the transportation authority and politicians only look at light-metro for transit solutions. World City Rankings – 2 – Asia – view The top 31 No Asian cities, [...]

If One Build Metro On Routes That Do Not Have The Ridership That Would Justify Contruction……

…..Then One Will Have To Pay Large Subsidies To Build And Operate It! Large Subsidies Translates Into Higher Taxes! Of course those high subsidies will have to be borne by the taxpayer, either in gas taxes, car levies, or road pricing (or all three), and or increased property taxes. The current belief by TransLink’s highly [...]

BRT to Chilliwack & SkyTrain to Langley? Just Business as Usual in BC!

The following article by Brian Lewis should forewarn us that the transit decision for the Fraser Valley has been already made. Like all transit studies done in the region in the past 30 years, the decision on transit mode is made beforehand and then a study is commissioned to confirm the decision. This is how transit planning [...]

The 10,000 PPHPD Question – TransLink is Hoisted on its Own Petard

At the recent streetcar symposium in Vancouver, TransLink officials contend that streetcars have very little capacity, almost less than a bus and that light rail can carry only 10,000 persons per hour per direction. This, despite the fact that the Light Rail Transit Association has, since the 1980′s, defined LRT “as a mode that can carry 2,000 [...]

The Streetcar Symposium – TransLink Doesn't Get it!

Zwei attended the streetcar symposium on Wednesday and came out with a great sinking feeling – TransLink just doesn’t get it. The event itself was very well put together, with ample food and drink, but there was little discussion about streetcars, but a lot of back-slapping by the various agencies and bureaucrats attending. The symposium was [...]

The Leewood Projects 'Full Build Option' or "Full Meal Deal". Finally a Transit Plan With Vision!

Click here to download the full 84 page report What is interesting about the Rail for the Valley/Leewood Projects TramTrain or interurban report is the vision shown by the author. Not only does he plan for the ‘politically correct’ (for valley types) Scott Road to Chilliwack TramTrain he also looks to the future with extensions [...]

Mr. Campbell Responds to the Rail For The Valley/Leewood Report With Deciet

Gordon Campbell has a very bad reputation for not telling the truth, in fact he is a habitual teller of very tall tales. The Premier’s statement in the following article, ” But you know the operating costs of the SkyTrain are about 50 per cent a year less than with light rail. And the ridership [...]

A Must Read For Regional Mayors Before They Talk Transit Funding!

Since the spring of 2008, the Light Rail Committee has circulated an E-Mail sent by American transit and transportation expert, Gerald Fox to a Victoria transit group that wants to promote LRT and TramTrain in the Capital Region. Mr. Fox easily shreds TransLink’s business case for the Evergreen Line which should forewarn transit groups and regional politicians in [...]