Some Facts To Counter The Myths About Higher Density

   Reconnecting America http://reconnectingamerica.org/ Development & Redevelopment, Economic Development And TOD, Research, Smart Growth & Sprawl, Transit Supportive Density, urban, Urban Form http://reconnectingamerica.org/news-center/half-mile-circles/2012/some-facts-to-counter-the-myths-about-higher-density/ A 2005 report “Some Facts To Counter The Myths About Higher Density,” authored by the Urban Land Institute along with the National Multi Housing Council, Sierra Club and the American Institute of Architects, [...]

4 light rail lines expected to be running by 2020

Metrolinx favours provincial body taking control of projects posted: Apr 24, 2012 1:23 PM ET http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2012/04/24/toronto-light-rail659.html Four new light-rail lines could be up and running in Toronto by 2020, as a modified version of the Transit City plan that Mayor Rob Ford has vigourously campaigned against comes to fruition. The provincial agency, Metrolinx, revealed the [...]

Eric Chris on Bi-Articulated Buses For The 99-B

A bi-articulated bus or double-articulated bus is a higher-capacity type of articulated bus. It is an extension of a conventional or single-articulated bus, in that it has three passenger compartment sections instead of two. This also involves the addition of an extra axle and a second articulation joint. Due to the extended length, bi-articulated buses [...]

A Canuck expat in Geneva on the virtues of light rail

from Now Toronto http://www.nowtoronto.com/news/story.cfm?content=186287 In the flap over Toronto’s transit future, we have to recognize that few have had any kind of exposure to light rail. For most of us, subways are our only experience of public transportation that works well and doesn’t get bogged down in traffic. I can see why there’d be a [...]

TransLink eliminates planning VP – The Sacrificial Lamb

It seems that transit planning is/was not a TransLink forte, in fact the move to remove the VP of Planning certainly indicates that the Premier’s office is in full control of Metro Vancouver transportation planning and no encumbrances from the TransLink bureaucracy is needed. TransLink’s VP of planning has been determined to be the sacrificial lamb with [...]

Montpellier opens new lines – A lesson unlearned for TransLink!

What is very interesting about this news item from the Light Rail Transit Associations web site ( www.lrta.org ) is that the cost for Montpellier’s two new light rail/tram lines 3 & 4 (28.2 km) is about CAD $688.8 million or about $24.45 million/km. to build! The cost of Montpellier’s two new tram lines are less [...]

The Canada Line is on the fritz again

Well it seems the $2.5 billion Canada Line gadgetbahnen is on the fritz again, so much for the myth that driverless transit are more dependable than light rail. The problem is a signalling problem and the sort of problem that bedevils automatic metros around the world, it is also a problem that doesn’t greatly effect light [...]

The Vancouver Sun, As Usual, Gets It Wrong On TransLink

Today’s editorial in the Vancouver Sun, regarding TransLink, gets it wrong, but this comes as no surprise, the Vancouver Sun had got it wrong about transit ever for the past 32 years and it’s so hard to each an old dog new tricks. The problem with TransLink is simple and can be summed up in [...]

Bad run for TransLink as disasters pile up

More unhappy news for TransLink………. Bad run for TransLink as disasters pile up By Michael Smyth, The ProvinceApril 13, 2012 http://www.theprovince.com/story_print.html?id=6452292&sponsor= I doubt the folks at TransLink are worried about the ominous date on the calendar today. Metro Vancouver’s transit authority has had such a lousy run of late that Friday the 13th could hardly [...]

Yes, TransLink does Need An Overhaul!

Common sense at last. Ever since Gordon Campbell and Kevin Falcon and had a hissy fit over the then TransLink Board (made up of local mayors) rejecting the Canada Line metro due to cost concerns, and gutted public oversight for the ponderous bureaucracy and instead creating the so called Board of Experts, TransLink has been, to be [...]