Does the Provincial government Want TransLink To Fail?

Like a death dirge, the TransLink referendum drags on and on, yet the provincial Premier is steadfast on the question of a funding referendum for TransLink. The regional mayors are more and more making fools of themselves wanting one of many tax proposals to fund the TransLink behemoth, yet abhor a “none of the above” […]

Massey Tunnel Fox Trot

More fallout from the Premier’s announcement about the bridge replacement for the Massey tunnel. Richmond Mayor, Malcolm Brodie, demand for a mini-metro instead of light rail has condemned Richmond of any chance of having “rail” transit extended in his municipality. It has been said that it would be cheaper in building a completely new LRT […]

The 1986 LRTA Study: Bus ai??i?? LRT ai??i?? Metro Comparison

I thought I would again reprint this post from May 20, 2010 as it may clear up some major misconceptions about LRT capacity, especially our friend in Vancouver who are very confused about modern light rail. There is an ongoing debate today that LRTAi??can only carry a limited number of riders and that the magic […]

Friends of Rail For the Valley – Annual General Meeting

Our Society’s Annual General Meeting is coming up: Where:Ai??Legal Grounds Coffee House Ai??33775 Essendene Ave., Abbotsford When: 7:00 PMAi??Wednesday, September 18 All supporters of Rail for the Valley are welcome. There is a yearly $10 membership fee for the Society. Please RSVP info@railforthevalley.com if you plan to come. Thanks, and hope you can make it! […]

A comparison of Canadian Rail Transit Systems

Please note station platform lengths, SkyTrain and the Canada Line’s station platforms, as well as the vehicles are smaller than most, which means TransLink’s claimed high capacity for Metro Vancouver’s rail system maybe more of a fairy tale than reality. Pixie dust planning and operation seems to be TransLink’s forte.  

A Letter To South Fraser Mayors And Councils

A letter sent this week to South Fraser mayors and councils and to the media. One wonders how TransLink and its surrogates will respond? Zwei The following email was sent out to South Fraser mayors and councils, warning of Translink hyperbole in overstating the success of SkyTrain and the Canada Line. This letter contains a […]

The Bateman Strategy: Killing TransLink and the regional vision – NOT!

Gordon Price has entered the TransLink fray and with gusto, blaming Jordan Bate of having the audacity to ask for “none of the above” on the ballot in the upcoming election. Without a “none of the above” on the ballot means the much ballyhooed TransLink referendum would be nothing more than a wet squib, in […]

BRT = Build Rail Transit

Easy and simple to understand, then why doesn’t TransLink get it? Forget about B-Line buses, which only exacerbates TransLink’s financial woes and build with LRT, replacing heavily used bus services with affordable and efficient light rail. Despite of cries of doom and gloom about light rail construction, the new First Hill streetcar line in Seattle […]

Another “Malcolm Letter”, As TransLink Grinds Its Teeth.

The letter in the Surrey Leader says it all………….. Sales tax wonai??i??t resolve transit ills Published: August 28, 2013 The notion that a $0.5-per-cent sales tax increase will solve TransLinkai??i??s financial ills is naive in the extreme; spending more money on unsustainable transit projects will only exacerbate TransLinkai??i??s money woes. TransLink faces many problems, including […]

A John Buker Re-Post From 2009 – Prendergastai??i??s parting words on Rail for the Valley

A re-post from 2009. Tom Prendergast, who was briefly CEO at TransLink, left (or was forced out) after just over a year at the post because of the Skytrain lobby. The SkyTrain Lobby still holds great sway with transit planning in Metro Vancouver, which is very bad news for the taxpayer. Too bad that the […]