Modern streetcars debut in Vancouver

It’s been a long wait. Sixty-five years in fact, since Vancouver last experienced the thrill of seeing brand-new streetcars travel our streets. The wait ended today, and I wouldn’t have missed it.

By TheTransitFan, re:place magazine

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No campfires, just lots of great ideas at TransportCamp

TheTransitFan takes us through the goings-on at the TransportCamp: A Sustainable Transportation Unconference that took place last Friday, October 30th, 2009 at BCIT.

By TheTransitFan, re:place magazine

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Canada Line brings the city closer together

Well it’s been a little over a month since downtown Vancouver was reconnected with Richmond by a rail line. For the first time in 50 years, since the demise of the Vancouver-to-Steveston ‘Sockeye Special’, one can board a train downtown and within 25 minutes be in the centre of Richmond. TransitFan is so happy that he’s a bit overwhelmed. Read more

Seattle’s new Central Link light rail system a long time coming

While awaiting the imminent public opening of the Canada Line next Monday,  TransitFan decided to check out the history behind a major new addition to Seattle’s transit system: the Central Link light rail system. Read more

Burrard Bridge lane reallocation first salvo in a long battle

TransitFan has been pondering the question of why the Burrard Bridge lane-reallocation trial has been drawing so much heated debate over the last few weeks. Motorists in particular have been venting a great deal of anger and frustration in the press. As someone who doesn’t drive, I found it difficult to understand why the loss of a single lane on the Burrard Bridge has meant so much, especially when the underutilized eight-lane Granville St. Bridge is only two short blocks away. Is it such big an inconvenience to spend an extra few minutes in one’s car each day? Or are there larger issues at play here? Read more

Becoming an expert transit rider

True expertise in riding a transit system takes time, patience, and lots of careful observation. It is not achieved overnight. Read more

Conclusion - Downtown Historic Railway kickstarts the Vancouver rail renaissance

As an epilogue to the Downtown Historic Railway story, TransitFan asked Dale Laird, Vice-President of the Transit Museum Society (TRAMS), about potential extensions to the heritage streetcar system. Read more

In support of country lanes

Article and photos by Michael Klassen

Last November at one of our final Vancouver City Planning Commission (VCPC) meetings, I presented a polemic to my fellow commissioners, as well as two key members of City staff responsible for the appearance of Vancouver streets. They were Sandy James, Senior City Planner in charge of Greenways Projects, and Rhys Williams, the Manager of Streets Design. Having representatives from the Planning and Engineering departments to me felt like a real coup. What a privilege it was to be in the presence of people from City Hall responsible for critical decisions in Vancouver’s public realm. Read more

Downtown Historic Railway kickstarts the Vancouver rail renaissance (Part 6)

Dale Laird’s dream of a historic railway in Vancouver became a reality through the contributions of four different groups: Seattle residents Byron Cole and Dick Thrash, who owned Car #1207 and wanted it to be used by the public; BC Transit, who acquired the restored interurban car but weren’t using it; the City of Vancouver, who wanted a streetcar demonstration project; and the Transit Museum Society (TRAMS), who had the members with the expertise to operate it.
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Downtown Historic Railway kickstarts the Vancouver rail renaissance (Part 5)

The Downtown Historic Railway has been an incredible success over the past ten years. Riders love riding in the historic interurban cars. And so do all the volunteers who run the DHR. Read more

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