Come On Now Mainstream Media, Why All The Hype And Hoopla Over The Canada Line?
Subways & metros cost a lot of money to build and operate.
In the past week, the mainstream media have been singing loud hosannas about the success of the Canada Line, how it is surpassing ridership projections and all is happiness. What the MSM failed toAi??Ai??mention is thatAi??Ai??over 80% of the total trips on the RAV/Canada line have come from about 40,000 or so bus riders who have been forced onto the new metro. The bus routes that now force feed the Canada line include the 98-B LineAi??Ai??& 401-2-4 busesAi??Ai??in Richmond; 601-2-3-4-5-6-20 series of buses from South Delta and the 351-2-4 from South Surrey and the former dailyAi??Ai??15 minute service Airporter Bus. The new ridership on the Canada line is mainly $1.00 a day U-Pass holders, older Asians shopping in Richmond and gamblers going to the River Rock Casino to be relieved of their money. What the MSM have completely ignored is that the promisedAi??Ai??200,000 car trips a day taken off the road because of the Canada Line has not materialized because the motorist has not left his/her car in favour of using public transit. In fact, TransLink is threatening to cancel some peak hour bus servicesAi??Ai??because of a lack of predicted ridership.
The Canada Line is the epitome of poor transit planning, political interferenceAi??Ai??and squandering of precious transit dollars on a politically prestigious mega metro project!
The problems with the RAV/Canada line, are conveniently ‘swept under the carpet’ by the mainstream media.
TheAi??Ai??MSM ignore that theAi??Ai??RAV/Canada Line’sAi??Ai??first estimateAi??Ai??was a mereAi??Ai??$1.3 billion and they continue to ignore whyAi??Ai??there was such an unrealisticAi??Ai??low estimate for metro/subway construction?
The main supporters of the Vancouver subway portion of the Canada Line were the City of Vancouver, influential West side Liberals, Vancouver’s NPA civic party, and former City manager and close politicalAi??Ai??cronyAi??Ai??of the premier Ken Dobell,who did not want much cheaper light rail (LRT) operating on an existing ‘rapid transit’ route, the politically contentious Arbutus Corridor. To that end, the estimates for a subway were deliberately low-balled in an attempt to pass public and mediaAi??Ai??scrutiny, giving rise to the anti-LRT rhetoric that Vancouver has become so famous!
The problem is subways are very expensive to build; so expensive in fact that the original SkyTrain ICTS/ALRT light-metro was designed to be elevated to mitigate the high cost of subway construction!
As the costs for the RAV/Canada Line began to spiral out of control, the scope of the project was reduced to try to contain the ever higher cost estimates for the metro. The following economies to reduce costs were emplaced.
- A switch was made from SkyTrain to a cheaper generic, yet incompatible metro system.
- A switch was made from bored tunnel to cheaper (if you do not compensate adjacent businesses) cut-and cover subway construction.
- The stations we so designed to only accommodate three car trains.
- The terminus’s In Richmond and YVR are single stub stations.
- Minor items like omitting escalators, etc.
Despite major downsizing of the Canada Line, according to Susan Heyes (who is one of the few people who have done due diligent cost analysis of the Canada Line for her successful court case against TransLink) now estimates the real cost of the truncated metro in the neighbourhood of $2.8 billion!
Here is what the taxpayer got for his/hers nearly $2.8 billion RAV/Canada Line; a truncated heavy-rail metro which by design has a much lower capacity than if light rail were to have been built on the Arbutus Corridor at about $2 billion cheaper!
Ai??Ai??The cost to upgrade the RAV/Canada Line? About $1 billion to $2 billion!
Where was the massive mediaAi??Ai??investigation and feeding frenzyAi??Ai??which happened with the ill fated FastFerries? Could it be that the political party associated with the Fast Ferry debacle was NDP and not Liberal? Why has the RAV/Canada Line been given a free pass by the mainstream media?
There is absolutely no chance the the Canada line will be extended to Steveston or across the river to South Delta/Surrey and for many the only way to use RAV, is to takeAi??Ai??a bus and buses are very poor in attracting new customers to public transit! For all the boasting by Richmond Mayor, Malcolm Brodie, the Canada line is absolutely useless for Richmond residents to use locally and it willAi??Ai??only act as funnel, taking commuters to YVR (driving would be faster) and Vancouver.
So the next time one hears MSM reporters and commentators sing high praises for the Canada Line, the real story is a hugely expensive, truncated heavy-rail metro line, that has less capacity than a much cheaper light rail line,Ai??Ai??which has not attracted the all important motorist from the car and what new ridershipAi??Ai??the metroAi??Ai??has attracted are concession fare types, taking advantage to shop or gamble in Richmond on the cheap.
TheAi??Ai?? Joseph Goebbels gambit: Repeat a lie often enough and the public will believe it is true!
Nice Tramway – is now open and running – Lessons for the Broadway LRT Gang!
The following link shows the newly opened Nice LRT/tram system and shows how well modern LRT fits into urban centres. The nature of Broadway is going to change with both metro and LRT, the questions that merchants and residents must ask, which mode will enhance livability?
There is much debate about that question, but until TransLink gets the twinkle of metro away from its eyes, any talk of LRT will be both dated and negative.
http://www.totallyriviera.com/nice/content/113
Paris LRT Line T-4 France’s first TramTrain
Just follow the link and one can find the complete history of Frances first TramTrain.
http://connectedcities.eu/showcases/t4.html
High ridership means Canada Line could hit break-even point 3 years early – Another Early August April Fool?
When news is slow and TransLink is in want to fund another metro line, expect good news stories.Ai??Ai?? $150 thousand a year plus TransLink spin-doctor purrs out the RAV/Canada Lines success; golly gee whiz, the Canada Line is carrying over 100,000 passengers a day and it will soon pay for itself in three years.
What is politely forgotten is that the Canada Line already has about 40,000 bus riders a day, forced onto the metro, including those who once used the 15 minute service Airporter bus. The SkyTrain Lobby crow that the Canada Line has infrared passenger counters, but TransLink fails to mention if they are used for the ridership calculation. If such counters were in use, why not post daily ridership numbers? So is TransLink using the old method of inflating vehicle capacity, plus their patented alchemy of financial income to determine ridership?
On it goes, TransLink has yet to state what portion of ones fare on the Canada Line goes to the operating consortium, which operates the P-3Ai??Ai?? portion of the Canada line or if TransLink apportions fares from the Canada line from the buses, SeaBus and the SkyTrain metro system. (For those who don’t know, the Canada line is not SkyTrain, nor is compatible with the proprietary railway.)
Oh by the way, there is absolutely no mention of the 200,000 car trips a day taken off the roads because of the Canada Line, which makes one wonder if that claim is just too inconvenient to mention.
Another irksome problem is all those $1.00 a day U-Passes using the transit system and how they fit into the financial scheme of things? How much is the taxpayer subsiding the U-Pass holder on the Canada Line?
According to Susan Heyes, who has done much due diligence research on the RAV/Canada Line (unlike the mainstream media) the cost of RAV is now almost $2.8 billion or aboutAi??Ai?? $1.5 billion more than the original cost of $1.3 billion for the RAV/Canada line metro! Gee whiz, that makes the about $400 million FastFerry fiasco look like chump change and that is probably the real reason for TransLink’s August April Fools.
The Canada Line break even in three years – ha, ha, ha – sorry TransLink, you have pulled the same stunt once too often to fool ‘Zwei’ again, next time, get BC’s Auditor General to do the books, then maybe I would believe you!
- Subways & metros cost a lot of money to build and operate.
High ridership means Canada Line could hit break-even point 3 years early
Weekday ridership on the $2-billion Canada Line has surpassed the 100,000-rider mark for four months in a row A?ai??i??ai??? an average the line wasnA?ai??i??ai???t supposed to reach until 2013, The Province has learned.
Even factoring in lower weekend ridership, the seven-day weekly average on the rapid-transit line has still been building so steadily that itA?ai??i??ai???s almost at 100,000, too.
If the boom continues, it could mean TransLinkA?ai??i??ai???s debt on the project could be paid off years sooner than expected, even though the overall cost grew over the years.
While the Canada Line was announced as coming in ahead of schedule and on budget, that budget changed as the plans for the line changed.
Back in 2004 and 2005, the projectA?ai??i??ai???s costs were pegged at $1.5 to $1.7 billion. By 2006, with inflation and financing costs, the lineA?ai??i??ai???s cost was tabbed at $2.05 billion.
In her investigation of TransLink last year, B.C. comptroller-general Cheryl Wenezenki-Yolland pegged the cost of operating the line at as much as $21 million a year more than fares would cover A?ai??i??ai??? and she said that situation would last until 2025.
A?ai??i??Ai??For example, the cost of operating the Canada Line . . . is expected to exceed the additional system revenue it generates until 2025, with costs exceeding incremental revenues by $14 to $21 million for most years until then,A?ai??i??A? she wrote.
TransLink spokesman Ken Hardie said Thursday that scenario could be getting brighter.
A?ai??i??Ai??When weA?ai??i??ai???ve hit the figures weA?ai??i??ai???ve hit three years early, it simply suggests weA?ai??i??ai???re going to hit the break-even point earlier,A?ai??i??A? Hardie said. A?ai??i??Ai??It would be nice if it was three years, or even more, early.
A?ai??i??Ai??Right now, weA?ai??i??ai???re on target to hit the break-even point in 2022, but if we keep going the way weA?ai??i??ai???re going it could be even sooner than that A?ai??i??ai??? which would be nice.A?ai??i??A?
After a controversial construction period in which businesses struggled to deal with the Canada LineA?ai??i??ai???s open ditch on their doorsteps, the connection between downtown Vancouver, Richmond and Vancouver International Airport opened ahead of schedule, with great fanfare, on Aug. 17 last year.
The line came into its own during the 2010 Winter Olympics. With access to much of downtown Vancouver restricted, local riders were forced on to public transit and people coming in from the airport began to use the taxi-free alternative.
It was during the Games that the line hit a single-day high of more than 280,000 riders, and Hardie says the positive Olympic experience is one of the reasons for increased ridership.
A?ai??i??Ai??It gave a lot of people the chance to try the line,A?ai??i??A? he said.
April was the first complete month in which weekday ridership exceeded 100,000, with an average of 101,676. The figure climbed to 104,682 in May, 106,320 in June and 107,198 in July.
When the lower-ridership weekend days are factored in, the May average was 94,223 rides daily. It increased to 97,969 in June and 99,210 in July.
Hardie also attributed the Canada Line ridership to the fact there are a lot of destinations on the line A?ai??i??ai??? downtown Vancouver, the airport and Richmond Centre.
A?ai??i??Ai??It wasnA?ai??i??ai???t just a matter of commuters flocking one way in the morning and the other way in the afternoon,A?ai??i??A? he said. A?ai??i??Ai??In fact, there would be fairly strong ridership in both directions.A?ai??i??A?
The final factor in increased ridership came whenTransLink successfully integrated its system to allow bus riders to be fed into the rapid-transit line.
A quick Province survey of passengers this week revealed a generally satisfied ridership.
Grace Brunger, 27, was riding a southbound train with her bike, heading for Southlands to go horseback riding.
A?ai??i??Ai??ItA?ai??i??ai???s cheap; itA?ai??i??ai???s fast,A?ai??i??A? said the Coal Harbour resident. A?ai??i??Ai??I can get anywhere.
A?ai??i??Ai??I donA?ai??i??ai???t even have a car,A?ai??i??A? added Brunger, a newcomer to Vancouver. A?ai??i??Ai??Even with my bike, I can always get on right away.A?ai??i??A?
The line was a good investment, she said, A?ai??i??Ai??better than roads.A?ai??i??A?
Still, clouds remain on the Canada Line horizon.
Richmond councillors Ken Johnston, Bill McNulty and Derek Dang issued a press release Thursday calling on TransLink to crack down on fare evaders across the system A?ai??i??ai??? including on the Canada Line.
Recently released figures indicate there were 24,000 fare cheats system-wide in 2009, and 550 on the Canada Line in just its first five months of service.
A?ai??i??Ai??IA?ai??i??ai???ve personally seen people without monthly passes walking directly past ticket purchase machines and hopping on to trains A?ai??i??ai??? with Canada Line A?ai??i??Ai??green jacketA?ai??i??A? staff watching the entire way and doing nothing to stop it,A?ai??i??A? McNulty said.
The councillors want a crackdown at all stations at all peak hours until fare gates are installed. TheyA?ai??i??ai???re expected to arrive in 2013, along with new A?ai??i??Ai??smart cardA?ai??i??A? technology.
The unhappy councillors cited a 2008 PricewaterhouseCoopers report that estimated there were 4.1 million stolen rides annually, with revenue losses ranging from $5.3 million to $9.4 million.
There are more riders now, so itA?ai??i??ai???s likely there are also more cheaters.
An April Fool in August
The following is a ‘spoof’ and/or an April Fool’s joke (the photo’s were uploaded on April 1) that is very well done.
http://www.ipswich-underground.co.uk/
It is also a lesson on how the Internet can be so easily manipulated in giving false stories.
Smart Growth
An interesting new web site and well worth a perusal.
TorontoA?ai??i??ai???s Airport Link in Public Hands After Collapse of PPP Deal – From the Transport Politic
Interesting news as the same players are involved with the RAV/Canada Line. Makes one think what secret sweeteners the province used to masquerade the Canada Line as a P-3?
This must bode ill for the Evergreen Line financing, as the government wants to induce business to invest in a P-3 arrangement to find the final $400 million investment to build the gold-plated metro line.
Oh yes, just $400 million would finance a Vancouver to Coquitlam/Port Moody, Maple Ridge TramTrain service!
TorontoA?ai??i??ai???s Airport Link in Public Hands After Collapse of PPP Deal
In pulling out, engineering firm SNC-Lavalin cites concerns that project wasnA?ai??i??ai???t going to have its operations subsidized.
For investors interested in infrastructure projects these days, there is apparently a lot of low-hanging fruit to pick. This, at least, is the argument made by MontrA?Ai??al-based contractor and engineering firm SNC-Lavalin, which has pulled out of a years-long commitment to operating TorontoA?ai??i??ai???s planned airport connection train because the regional transportation authority refused to subsidize the service.
The construction of a new two-mile corridor between an existing rail track and the airport was to be fully paid for by government investment. The Canadian federal government pushed a public-private partnership (PPP) deal for the projectA?ai??i??ai???s operation in the early 1990s in exchange for a commitment for national funds to back up local money.
According to an SNC-Lavalin spokesman, A?ai??i??Ai??When there are so many other infrastructure projects that are proceeding at this time, the banks are not interested in projects without a fixed income stream.A?ai??i??A? This leaves regional transit agency Metrolinx in charge of the programA?ai??i??ai???s implementation and responsible to pay for operating shortfalls if necessary. Other transportation organizations hoping that assembling a PPP will allow for a transit operation with no public subsidy should put their dreams in check.
For the rest of the story………
More Tram Videos
Thank you for blog reader, David Cockle, for more European tram movies!
Amsterdam.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEBFJd0CJH4
Budapest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLMgwWNbKRk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqeT9Nuka38&feature=channel
Basel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y51rWxDosU&feature=related
Bern
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B2rKdXkZKU&feature=related
Nottingham.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3scXjpvO6M
Croydon Tramlink.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNmZI9rFDys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ3UaZXzRPA&feature=related
Nantes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNbL1xj6D00
Montpellier.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIJ5SJ_K9oE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I47fjmS7DK0&feature=fvw
Bordeaux.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stmLf8qjppg&feature=channel
Freiburg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG4OIOVlmgM
Mulhouse.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfYlHdoppaQ&feature=related
Barcelona.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EsbeM9QnCg&feature=related
Dublin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PqTQDy8tsw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8owxp9k8DSQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAO3i36doo0&feature=related
Prague.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-4k_vfFgVE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwQolOZ7Ed4&feature=related
Leipzig.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh1xE_pvjI8
Melbourne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMOCKiQr5hE&feature=related
Tram Berlin Linie M13 KT4D Warschauer Str. A?ai??i??ai??? Virchow Klinikum 4/7
The next four U-Tube Videos in the series.
What we see is classic European tram operation where the tram operates as:
- A streetcar, operating on-street in mixed traffic.
- Light Rail, operating on various Reserved Rights-of -Ways
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZzfCwjPTvg]
Included in video #4 is a “Gauntlet” style switch.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMez9CTmQ24]
Video #5 shows operation on RRoW and aAi??Ai??”Gauntlet” Ai??Ai??track crossing of a road bridge.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2S4Q-olCCE]
Video #6 shows much lawned rights-of-ways along tree line boulevards.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1IV663LdEw]
Finally video #7 completes our journey on Line M13. Watch for the loop at the end.
Tram Berlin Linie M13 KT4D Warschauer Str. – Virchow Klinikum 1/7
This video from U-Tube shows a classic European tramways, which operates on-street and on reserved rights-of-ways, including simple HOV lane style of RRoW. Please note the simple (traffic light) style signaling at intersections and the various styles of RRoWs.
Streetcar/LRT has the flexibility to operate in almost all urban conditions, affordabley and efficiently, a lesson that the TransLink planning mandarins refuse to accept.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dB8leROUZY4]
And the second ‘tube‘ in the series.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prk_wCVdBBA]
Now the third ‘tube‘ in the series.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZJ_4jtCz08]
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