Freeways, funding, and a flawed 1962 rail plan for Vancouver
July 14, 2010
This week we look at another transit plan for Vancouver in the context of the freeway debates of the 1960s. Created by the British Columbia Research Council for the Department of Highways, Rail-Rapid Transit for Metropolitan Vancouver examined the feasibility of including a rail-rapid transit system as part of its plan for a freeway and bus rapid transit system.
By John Calimente, re:place Magazine
Transit flies high post-Olympics
May 27, 2010
Well I spoke too soon! At the end of my last column I said “…life has returned to ‘normal’ in the region…” after the Winter Olympics. Well the ‘normal’ in Vancouver may have shifted ever so slightly. Transit use was up 19.3% in March! Now how does Vancouver hold onto those riders?
By John Calimente, re:place Magazine
Vancouver’s 1975 downtown transit plan
April 7, 2010
Transit service map circa 1975.
In 1975, the Bureau of Transit Services prepared a transit service plan for downtown Vancouver. Now that 35 years have passed, it’s time to look at what actually got built.
By John Calimente, re:place magazine
Vancouver Becomes a Transit City for 17 Days
March 31, 2010
It was a cool experiment, and perhaps North America’s largest traffic trial ever. Take one auto-oriented-but-making-progress city and for 17 days remold it into a transit city. Happily, it worked beyond anyone’s expectations. Now it’s time to take what we’ve learned to improve Vancouver’s transportation system.
By John Calimente, re:place Magazine
Operating the Olympic Line
March 18, 2010
Vancouver’s Olympic Line streetcar drivers may have had years of experience driving heritage streetcars and city buses, but a modern streetcar is a different piece of equipment. TransitFan talks with Bombardier’s Russ Hoas, chief instructor of the Olympic Line, about getting the drivers trained and ready.
By John Calimente re:place Magazine
Modern streetcars debut in Vancouver
December 8, 2009
The unloading of the new Bombardier Flexity streetcar arriving from Brussels. Photo by TheTransitFan
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
No campfires, just lots of great ideas at TransportCamp
November 4, 2009
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
Canada Line brings the city closer together
September 24, 2009
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
August 11, 2009
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
July 23, 2009
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
