Memo To TransLink – The Regional Mayors Did Not Blink – Well At Least For The Moment.

It seems TransLink’s game of chicken has failed at the regional level; well for the time being. The real problem why TransLink is on a financial precipice, is the SkyTrain light-metro system and light-metro systems, especially driverless light-metro systems, cost a lot to build and operate. Like many who work for TransLink, regional mayors have […]

TransLink Is Playing “Financial Chicken” With The Taxpayer.

TransLink is a one trick pony and Bob Paddon, TransLink’sAi??executive vice-president of strategic planning is the ringleader, trundling out the same old tired routine to con the public for more money. One tires of TransLink’s brinkmanship, but throwing more tax money at this ponderous bureaucracy will do nothing to alleviate the problem and the problem […]

Subway Blunders in Europe – Can TransLink Learn From Other’s Mistakes?

More from the LRPPro. Herr K. is a German transit specialist from Germany and gives wonderful insight to the pitfalls of building new subways for the sake of building new subways. The following post shows theAi??problems and counter productiveAi??resultsAi??of building subways and metros, where ordinary trams would do just fine. There are lessons to be […]

New Port Mann Bridge toll for cars is $1.50 – A Pre-election Goody?

In a deliberate attempt to pander for votes in next spring’s election the BC Liberal government has offered a ‘pre full toll special’ for a few months and if you register for a decal, you get a full year at the discounted price – yippee! Zwei is not against tolling, but the new Port Mann […]

Another View on the High Cost of Expensive Grade Separated Infrastructure

The following post comes from the LRPPro Transit blog and the comments from Herr Wolfgang are extremely pertinent to the situation evolving with Metro Vancouver’s light metro network. Simply, no one; not oneAi??politicianAi??or current transit planner has factored in the high cost of maintenance that will be needed in the coming years for SkyTrain’s and […]

Eric Chris’s letter to New Transportation Minister, Mary Pollack

Dear Mary Polak, Langley MLA, Congratulations on being appointed to Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure ai??i?? first order of business ai??i?? a moratorium on any further B-line (rapid bus transit) and SkyTrain expansions along with the sacking of everyone associated with the current SkyTrain and B-Lines not only at the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure […]

Dijon tram network opens six months early

From France, the new Dijon tram (LRT) network has opened 6 months early. If TransLink was really serious in building LRT in Surrey, the city could see its first tram/LRT line up and running in as little as three years. The foot dragging on designing affordable and efficient LRT for Surrey speaks volumes about TransLink […]

U.S. (And Canada) Taxpayers Are Gouged on Mass Transit Costs

With BC Transit quoting silly prices for LRT in Victoria and TransLink doing the same in Vancouver and Surrey, the following article from Bloomberg should be essential reading. As the previous post has shown, modern LRT/streetcar can be built cheaply, if there is the political and bureaucratic will to do so. With thank to Justin […]

As Predicted – TransLink’s Gas Tax is Faltering – Higher Taxes Predicted!

As predicted, gas tax revenue has failed to meet expectations as thousands of lower mainland residents fill up their family chariots east of Aldergrove or in the US, where gas is much cheaper. This was predicted by Zwei some years ago (the wife fills up her belch-fire in Point Roberts) and was roundly criticized by […]

A Blast From the Past – Zwei Was Advocating the Stadler GTW in 2009!

I seems Zwei has had it right all along with the Stadler GTW! Here is a repost from October 2009! The Stadler GTW ai??i?? A new generation of Diesel light rail. Posted by zweisystem on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 The Stadler GTW Diesel light Rail car The Stadler GTW, sold by Stadler Rail, Switzerland, is […]