Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion - Page 187

SFUVancouver · #**3721** Posted **Aug 28, 2009, 6:00 AM**

Taken by SFUVancouver, August 27th, 2009.

windscar · #**3722** Posted **Aug 28, 2009, 6:08 AM**

Hopefully the screens are loser proof

, I'd love to see more buses in the next couple years use these on both sides. Where as the sidewalk facing one runs video, and maybe with audio, aids and the street side one has a static image that changes every minute or when the bus reaches it's terminus stop.

BCPhil · #**3723** Posted **Aug 28, 2009, 8:09 AM**

Something about that ad on the bus makes me feel like I should kick a soccer ball at it or body check it. Is it actually animated or is it just a bright "look at me" gimmick?

deasine · #**3724** Posted **Aug 28, 2009, 8:27 AM**

I believe TransLink is complete with the signage changes. Dkaz posted one photo earlier, but here is more. I'm surprised they actually "changed" the overhead signs: I thought TransLink would be inconsistent, as usual, and leave things half complete. Notice the quotes with change... Anyways:

Photography by Deasine - Hosted on Picasa Web Albums - Creative Commons Protected

Photography by Deasine - Hosted on Picasa Web Albums - Creative Commons Protected

Let's stop here. With the first photo, you can see they didn't change one portion of the sign, the one with the elevator as it uses the old Millennium Line elevator icon. Not a big deal, but they should've done the job completely.

My main issue is that if you compare the two photos, Platform 1 & 2 indicates the terminus stations (aside from Columbia) whereas Platform 3 & 4 indicates the cities. Huge inconsistency and could be confusing. To me, it should always be the terminus station.

The third thing is that "Broadway" exit is actually "E. Broadway." You can see in the second picture, the sign behind it even says "E. Broadway." Moving on...

Photography by Deasine - Hosted on Picasa Web Albums - Creative Commons Protected

Photography by Deasine - Hosted on Picasa Web Albums - Creative Commons Protected

The new signs are incredibly glossy, huge reflection which made it really hard to take photos. They are, simply stickers, and they've stuck it over the old signs, as you can see outlines of the icons before. They've also didn't go back and indicate the important signs, like the way out of the station, replacing those with a Platform # sign. I'm not sure how useful is that to a person on the train: why would they want to know what platform they are on? They only thing they didn't replace was the Waterfront/King George signs, which don't necessarily need replacing anyway. The main issue is that when passengers follow those signs, they wouldn't know where to go next since the Platform 3 & 4 signs indicate the cities rather than the stations... Le sigh.

Like really, it doesn't take a professional to do this, it's simply logic. Or then again, maybe I'm just a professional

Of course, with TransLink, not everything is done:

Photography by Deasine - Hosted on Picasa Web Albums - Creative Commons Protected

The good news is that this is the only sign that hasn't been replaced. All signs on Platform 2 are replaced.

Can you guys even see the pictures? I was too lazy to edit the image URL so I hope you guys can see it.

mr.x · #**3725** Posted **Aug 28, 2009, 8:36 AM**

Ugh, they can never get it right...

The actual designs aren't all that bad, though i prefer the older ones they are sticking it over. The use of different colours and font sizes to emphasize what is important, etc. Aside from the outlines of the old signs still showing, they are much better than the Canada Line signage.

lol, we should really get Translink to stop with their new signage installation and hire us to design it. I'm not sure if I'm being serious or not.

deasine · #**3726** Posted **Aug 28, 2009, 9:06 AM**

Quote:

Two SkyTrain stations get one new name

Well, as some have already guessed, Broadway Station and Commercial Drive Station are getting a new name on Monday, September 7.

On the same day as the major bus service changes, Commercial Drive Station and Broadway Station will be merged into one and renamed Commercial-Broadway Station.

The name change is spurred by the launch of the Canada Line.

Since one Canada Line station is located on Broadway, emergency dispatchers have raised concerns about confusion between Broadway/City Hall and Broadway/Commercial station.

A diagram showing the new platform numbering at Commercial-Broadway Station. Click for a larger version.
The platforms at the new Commercial-Broadway Station will be numbered to distinguish the four passenger boarding points, and will be used in our Trip Planner so you can plan journeys:

1 - Former Commercial Drive Station
Trains to VCC-Clark

2 - Former Commercial Drive Station
Trains to Waterfront via Millennium Line stations

3 - Former Broadway Station
Trains to Waterfront

4 - Former Broadway Station
Expo Line trains to King George;
Millennium Line trains to VCC-Clark

Bear in mind that none of this affects any actual train service. If you take the train at these stations, keep going as you normally do — nothing will change but the platform and station names.

Connecting bus services will now just refer to “Commercial-Broadway Station” instead of “Commercial Drive Station” or “Broadway Station.” Automated voice announcements on SkyTrain will also be changed to reflect the new names.

And if you’re not familiar with the platforms, numbered signs will be on each platform and signage will be outside the stations, directing you to the correct platforms in case there’s confusion. Station diagrams will be also available at the station itself and online. Here’s a handy pamphlet that will be on the system soon!

Source: Buzzer Blog, Jhenifer

CBeats · #**3727** Posted **Aug 28, 2009, 9:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by deasine

Can you guys even see the pictures?

I can't on any browser...

deasine · #**3728** Posted **Aug 28, 2009, 9:43 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBeats

I can't on any browser...

Mr. X didn't have any problem... did you?

windscar · #**3729** Posted **Aug 28, 2009, 10:59 AM**

Can't see anything

nname · #**3730** Posted **Aug 28, 2009, 1:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by deasine

My main issue is that if you compare the two photos, Platform 1 & 2 indicates the terminus stations (aside from Columbia) whereas Platform 3 & 4 indicates the cities. Huge inconsistency and could be confusing. To me, it should always be the terminus station.

The problem is that M-Line uses both platforms, so using the terminus would be

Platform 1 & 2: Waterfront/VCC-Clark
Platform 3 & 4: Waterfront/VCC-Clark or King George

Both using cities, then... the M-Line doesn't really go anywhere that Expo Line doesn't go...

Gordon · #**3731** Posted **Aug 28, 2009, 3:40 PM**

Does any one have weekday boarding numbers for Toronto or Montreal, one would expect that they would be somewhat higher than Expo\Millenium ( 270,000\day)?

DKaz · #**3732** Posted **Aug 28, 2009, 4:38 PM**

Toronto - 1,246,000
Montreal - 1,067,000
Vancouver - 360,000 (Estimated for Sept 8, 2009, 270,000 E+M Lines + 90,000 C Line)
Calgary - 297,500
Edmonton - 53,400
Ottawa - 10,000

twoNeurons · #**3733** Posted **Aug 28, 2009, 6:34 PM**

One of the busiest... could mean one of the ten most busiest.

lightrail · #**3734** Posted **Aug 28, 2009, 7:19 PM**

Thought this was interesting from TTC website:

Busiest bus route in Toronto is the 29 Dufferin with 43,600 passenger per day - about the same as the 99 B-line with 44,000 per day

Busiest streetcar line in Toronto is the 504 King with 54,700 riders per day (about the same as Edmonton's LRT line)

Interestingly, if you add the 9 and 99 ridership on Broadway I'm betting it's the busiest corridor in Canada not served by subway or LRT. Toronto tend to have single routes serving their main corridors (with lettered branches). I don't believe Montreal has anything approaching these numbers, other than the Metro.

Also - the Bloor-Danforth subway carries 484,000 passenger per day; Yonge-University-Spadina Subway carries 672,390 per day; Scarborough RT 43,000 per day; and Sheppard subway 46,000 per day

deasine · #**3735** Posted **Aug 28, 2009, 7:37 PM**

Anyone else have problems with the photos?

lightrail · #**3736** Posted **Aug 28, 2009, 7:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by deasine

Anyone else have problems with the photos?

Me too - can't see any of them. Using Firefox.

deasine · #**3737** Posted **Aug 28, 2009, 7:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lightrail

Me too - can't see any of them. Using Firefox.

Fine... I'll change them... tada?

Kwik-E-Mart · #**3738** Posted **Aug 28, 2009, 7:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lightrail

Also - the Bloor-Danforth subway carries 484,000 passenger per day; Yonge-University-Spadina Subway carries 672,390 per day; Scarborough RT 43,000 per day; and Sheppard subway 46,000 per day

Not meaning to diverge away from the topic, the main difference between the ridership on the Yonge-University and Bloor-Danforth lines is the lack of high-density developments along the latter route - other than the Corbusian high rises between Main Street and Warden Stations and the bunch of commercial towers at Islington Station. That's something Vancouver has done right when building both SkyTrain lines. There is no need to explain further when considering developments around Main Street, Joyce-Collingwood, Metrotown, Edmonds, New Westminster, and Surrey Central-King George stations.

deasine · #**3739** Posted **Aug 28, 2009, 7:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by nname

The problem is that M-Line uses both platforms, so using the terminus would be

Platform 1 & 2: Waterfront/VCC-Clark
Platform 3 & 4: Waterfront/VCC-Clark or King George

Both using cities, then... the M-Line doesn't really go anywhere that Expo Line doesn't go...

No...

Platform 1: Columbia (this is what TransLink uses) or Waterfront via Columbia
Platform 2: VCC-Clark
Platform 3: Waterfront
Platform 4: King George (also what TransLink uses, and at the platforms, indicate some trains are heading to VCC-Clark, but passengers are advised to change here for the Millennium Line)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kwik-E-Mart

Not meaning to diverge away from the topic, the main difference between the ridership on the Yonge-University and Bloor-Danforth lines is the lack of high-density developments along the latter route - other than the Corbusian high rises between Main Street and Warden Stations and the bunch of commercial towers at Islington Station. That's something Vancouver has done right when building both SkyTrain lines. There is no need to explain further when considering developments around Main Street, Joyce-Collingwood, Metrotown, Edmonds, New Westminster, and Surrey Central-King George stations.

Having said that, a lot more CAN be done, esp at 29th Avenue, Nanaimo, etc.

twoNeurons · #**3740** Posted **Aug 28, 2009, 7:56 PM**

Interestingly, when you think about it... The M-Line only goes East on the Expo tracks. Coming back, M-Line and Expo line trains are just "Train to Waterfront"

So, saying the M-Line goes to Columbia station (instead of Waterfront) is accurate, in a way. It's just that you don't have to exit the train to continue (on the Expo Line).