Millennium Line - Evergreen Extension | Completed - Page 51

red-paladin · #**1001** Posted **Jan 18, 2009, 5:56 AM**

As great as it would be to have another platform at Columbia. I think it's impossible, not just too expensive. I was at that station today, and approaching from the west I noticed how remarkable it was that a highrise is already built partly over the current tunnel. If the tunnel was going to be widened on the north side to include another platform, and if the the northern switch was located to the west of columbia station and the track was extended though the tunnel, then way too much of the residential tower would be overhanging the tunnel without major major engineering problems.

racc · #**1002** Posted **Jan 18, 2009, 6:24 AM**

This is what the report says:

Building a third track at Columbia in the “back” of the Columbia inbound platform will allow the Lougheed shuttle to avoid sharing the track with the Expo main line trains. A crossover for the shuttle would be needed outside Columbia station, likely in the vicinity of the unbuilt Woodlands Station (approximately 950 metres from Columbia).

http://www.translink.bc.ca/files/procurements/Q8-0123_-_11_RTM_SkyTrain_Evergreen_Rev3.pdf

mr.x · #**1003** Posted **Jan 18, 2009, 6:26 AM**

^ speaking of which, considering the ridership levels of Columbia and the state of that station it is really in need of a major makeover.

deasine · #**1004** Posted **Jan 18, 2009, 6:41 AM**

I read that report and I couldn't figure out what "back" means... back of what...

Edit: staring at google maps for a while... they could possibly have the westbound track (to Sapperton) extended Eastwards and then form a shorter platform connecting with the Expo Westbound Surrey Platform. But that's just weird and annoying... I hate how Columbia is placed in such an odd spot.

DKaz · #**1005** Posted **Jan 18, 2009, 5:35 PM**

They could build the station at Blackwood St and build an underground walkway to Columbia.

Is the shuttle only going through if the Expo Line platforms are getting extended?

flight_from_kamakura · #**1006** Posted **Jan 18, 2009, 5:40 PM**

in the proposed configuration, it would be nice to see some sort of express train sort of thing, though i doubt that'll ever happen. as for the virtual elimination of the millenium line, i'm with ravman: it's a plot against the ndp!

officedweller · #**1007** Posted **Jan 19, 2009, 8:28 PM**

Here's the pic posted by nname earlier in the thread showing his proposed location for switches that could access a new Columbia platform to the north (under Clarkson Street) (as opposed to that report which proposed a switch where the future Woodlands Station would be built - preventing the construction of a station there). This would also keep both tracks in the tunnel active and shorten the "single track" segment of the route.

djmk · #**1008** Posted **Jan 27, 2009, 11:33 PM**

i do not know if any of you have looked at the new budget..... but it looks good for the evergreen line. below is a quote from the G&M

"Nearly $12-billion federal dollars will be made available for “shovel-ready” public works projects across Canada that can be commenced quickly, but there's a catch. Provinces and municipalities will have to contribute nearly $9-billion more in order to get the roads, bridges and sewer upgrade work started.

Cost-shared projects the Tories are eying include: revitalizing Union Station in Toronto, the Evergreen transit line in Vancouver, road upgrades in Quebec City and the Summerside wind energy project on Prince Edward Island."

more news to come

jlousa · #**1009** Posted **Jan 27, 2009, 11:39 PM**

It was one of the worst kept secrets around, even I had heard about the funding for the evergreen line in November.

djmk · #**1010** Posted **Jan 27, 2009, 11:46 PM**

was it a worst kept secret? i do not think anything has been signed quite yet.

12/9 million split federal/provincial is interesting. i'm not too sure how many projects are out there are "shovel ready" that has the green light both provincially and federally (and i guess municipally).

however, i am skeptical that BC will get any money at all. Other provinces (ie the voting powerhouses of Ontario and Quebec) is in more dire straights than us.

mr.x · #**1011** Posted **Jan 27, 2009, 11:49 PM**

Shipbuilding and transit spending for B.C.

BILL CURRY

Globe and Mail Update

January 27, 2009 at 5:01 PM EST

OTTAWA — New Coast Guard ships will be built in British Columbia and Vancouver's Evergreen Transit Line wins an extension as the federal budget outlined Canada's plan to spend its way out of the economic recession.

In addition to billions for skills training and infrastructure projects nation-wide, the Conservatives' 2009 federal budget includes several specific measures aimed directly at British Columbians.

In his budget speech Tuesday, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty promised that public transportation in Vancouver will be benefit as a result of the federal stimulus package.

“In British Columbia, funds will flow for the Evergreen Transit Line and for a more modern railway station in Vancouver – key projects as the city prepares to host the Olympic Winter Games,” said Mr. Flaherty in his House of Commons budget speech.

On shipbuilding, the budget promises $175-million for new Coast Guard vessels and repairs to the existing fleet. Ottawa indicates that when the contracts are awarded, work will be conducted in Canada and, where possible, by shipyards located within the regions of the vessels' home ports.

The Coast Guard is in line for 80 new small craft and 30 new environmental response barges. There will also be five new lifeboats home-ported in Prince Rupert, Campbell River, Dartmouth, Quebec City and Burlington, Ont.
Two Coast Guard ships ported in Victoria, B.C. – the CCGS Bartlett and the CCGS Tanu – will receive “vessel life extensions.”

For small craft harbours, the budget pledges $1.9-million for repairs at the Stevenson Harbour and $300,000 for wharf repairs at Ladysmith Harbour.

Border infrastructure that would lead to Pacific Highway improvements is included, as well as added Canada Border Services Agency infrastructure in northern B.C.

Meanwhile, B.C.'s Fort Nelson Airport is listed in the budget as a possible beneficiary of an $81-million fund for cleaning up contaminated sites.

The province's mountain pine beetle woes are also mentioned as an example for spending that will flow from a $1-billion nation-wide “community adjustment fund.” The budget provides few details on the fund, which “will help mitigate the short-term impacts of restructuring communities.”

Metro-One · #**1012** Posted **Jan 27, 2009, 11:56 PM**

Go evergreen Go!

LeftCoaster · #**1013** Posted **Jan 28, 2009, 12:10 AM**

Quote:

"and for a more modern railway station in Vancouver"

Could this be the Waterfront transit Hub? I didn't think this was anywhere near shovel ready? Maybe it is a previously unannounced plan to refurbish Pacific Central?

flight_from_kamakura · #**1014** Posted **Jan 28, 2009, 12:13 AM**

Quote:

“In British Columbia, funds will flow for the Evergreen Transit Line and for a more modern railway station in Vancouver – key projects as the city prepares to host the Olympic Winter Games,”

wait, "a more modern railway station"? what does that mean? is this waterfront station? or does this have something to do with the yards?

DKaz · #**1015** Posted **Jan 28, 2009, 12:16 AM**

*dances* That's awesome. Go Harpo. lol.

officedweller · #**1016** Posted **Jan 28, 2009, 12:17 AM**

Or funding for the upgrade of Main Street SkyTrain station?

Metro-One · #**1017** Posted **Jan 28, 2009, 12:31 AM**

Not really a Go Harper situation, if they did not fund this project it would have been local political suicide. So this is more of a they had whether they wanted to or not. (seeing how long this project has been on the books and how close we are currently and how much publicity, talk and speculation has been given to it). As for the modern station i think they are referring to the station at Pacific Central. Building an entirely new heavy rail station at Waterfront to me seems like it would be a project in the hundred of millions. Also where would all the greyhound buses go? Would add a lot of unnecessary bus traffic downtown.

DKaz · #**1018** Posted **Jan 28, 2009, 12:34 AM**

Well, I'm not really a fan of Harper but I promised I'd vote for him next time if the Evergreen and/or Interurban went ahead because of him.

Metro-One · #**1019** Posted **Jan 28, 2009, 12:37 AM**

but it is not really Harper doing it, it is the circumstances, any government in power now would have done the same or more, and i am betting the liberals would have developed a much larger better spending plan.

LeftCoaster · #**1020** Posted **Jan 28, 2009, 12:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Not really a Go Harper situation, if they did not fund this project it would have been local political suicide. So this is more of a they had whether they wanted to or not. (seeing how long this project has been on the books and how close we are currently and how much publicity, talk and speculation has been given to it). As for the modern station i think they are referring to the station at Pacific Central. Building an entirely new heavy rail station at Waterfront to me seems like it would be a project in the hundred of millions. Also where would all the greyhound buses go? Would add a lot of unnecessary bus traffic downtown.

Well they didn't necessary say heavy rail station, they said railway station, and knowing the govt that could easily mean skytrain/WCE station at Waterfront.