Saturday, July 12, 2025
Vancouver's forgotten streetcars and interurban trams
Fortunately, Toronto, NO, SF and Melbourne never got rid of all their streetcar and tram lines.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/downtown-vancouver-false-creek-streetcar-route-map
While backwards Vancouver wanted to be among the first cities to get rid of them, Vancouver will likely be one of the last cities to bring them back.
https://viewpointvancouver.ca/2021/04/06/a-bump-in-the-road-kits-points-hidden-streetcar-line/
Atlanta, SD, LA, Edmonton, Calgary, Seattle & Portland brought back some of their trollies in the form of modern LRT or tram-trains.
https://montecristomagazine.com/community/vancouvers-forgotten-streetcars
The sad irony is that Vancouver, Burnaby & NW really could have benefitted from following the Toronto, SF and Melbourne examples.
https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/history/last-ride-oak-streetcar-vancouver-1937040
https://www.facebook.com/groups/128486813979056/posts/1968090176685368
https://maps.nicholsonroad.com/bcer/
https://humantransit.org/2010/02/vancouver-the-almost-perfect-grid.html
There used too be a streetcar route along Robson St., Denman St. & Davie St. A revived version of this could provide a nice downtown transit loop. However, that would go against the backwards mentality of Vancouver. Fortunately, the Vancouver mentality never made it to Atlanta & Dallas.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta_Streetcar#Downtown_Loop_route_funded
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dallas_Streetcar
Unfortunatly, Vancouver & BC are all about congestive planning.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/2026-fifa-world-cup-vancouver-1.7559067
With less than a year to go, its impossible to revive any streetcar lines, because that can take 5-10 years. There isn't even a network of regional bus bridges. Such inept transportation planning means that busses have to squeeze onto bridges that are mostly just 2 lanes each way.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-rising-costs-fifa-2026-world-cup-1.7573669
Despite the first SkyTrain line opening in 1985, it took until 2025 to start having5 car trains. The 2nd & 3rd lines are still only running 2 car trains.
Of course the city is decades behind in keeping up with having enough hotel rooms.
The best beaches in Vancouver, BC
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/best-beaches-vancouver
Summer is so damn short in Vancouver. Only June, July & August are usually the hottest months, because by the 2nd week of September things start to cool down.
https://www.accuweather.com/en/ca/vancouver/v6c/june-weather/53286?year=2025 There were only 5 days in June that got above 25C.
https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/kitsilano-beach.aspx
https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/beaches.aspx
https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/parks-gardens-and-beaches.aspx
https://www.accuweather.com/en/ca/vancouver/v6c/july-weather/53286 Wow, there might actually be one day in July that could reach or exceed 30C.
https://www.accuweather.com/en/ca/vancouver/v6c/august-weather/53286?year=2025 No 30C days in the August forecast.
https://www.accuweather.com/en/ca/vancouver/v6c/september-weather/53286?year=2025 No 25C days are in the September forecast. Then, for the 2nd half of the month it will be tough enough just to reach 20C.
https://www.accuweather.com/en/ca/vancouver/v6c/may-weather/53286?year=2025 Back in May, only one day got above 25C.
Hot weather kept bypassing Vancouver and went up to Alaska & Yukon.
Friday, July 11, 2025
How bike lanes have affected Vancouver's urban infrastructure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvkifuIjq9I The BSB was a 6 lane crossing that even had a provision for a lower deck intended for streetcars. Eventually, 2 lanes were removed & the lower deck was never completed. However, Vancouver was unable to prevent Seattle & Portland from reviving some of their streetcar routes.
The problem isn't bike lanes, it's the lack of interest to build a proper regional network of bus & bike bridges. Thus, if a proper bike bridge was built next to the Burrard+Street+Bridge, then 2 of its 6 lanes could have been for buses or at least HOV lanes. The lower deck could have still been for streetcars or tram-trains going between Vancouver & Richmond. The irony of backwards Vancouver is that it was one of the first cities to get rid of its streetcars & will likely be one of the last to bring them back.
The Fraser River Tunnel Project https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWhHJWKa6CQ Unfortunatly, this will still be a chokepoint or congested crossing.
Of course the new Richmond-Delta+Tunnel wasn't designed to be part of a rail link between the airport and the ferry terminal. There should have been 2 HOV lanes, as well as 2 bus lanes, but that would be a big-city 10 lane crossing. Instead, just an 8 lane tunnel with no train component. Eventually, a train and HOV bridge or tunnel will have to be built next to it.
At least the first SkyTrain line can now have 5 car trains. However, the 2 car joke of a train still exists between Vancouver & Coquitlam, as well as between Vancouver & Richmond. The Montreal Metro can have 9 car trains and BART in SF can have 10 car trains. Such things are possible because they don't have a congestive BC panning mentality.
The Kitsilano Pool Is Nearing Its End. What Comes Next?
https://thetyee.ca/News/2025/07/11/Kitsilano-Pool-Nearing-End
It should be covered & heated so that people can enjoy it throughout the year.
https://www.shapeyourcity.ca/kits-pool-replacement
Thursday, July 10, 2025
SkyTrain enters its Mark V era with 5 car trains
With such a high capital construction cost, its foolish and very short sighted that Vancouver & BC never allowed for enough clearance to eventually have 10 car trains.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/mark-v-skytrain-train-enter-service-design-translink
At least the first 2 SkyTrain lines have stations that can accomodate a 5 car train. Unfortunatly, the joke that is the Canada embassament Line never allowed enough level clearance for 5 car trains, only a 2.5 car train. Combine short trains with mostly narrow bridges and no interest to build a series of bus-bridges and you have a fine example of congestive planning. Of course no one seems to know where the funds that should have gone towards big city infrastructure went.
Downtown Vancouver office space vacancy rate sees notable increase
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/metro-vancouver-downtown-office-market-q2-2025
Unlike Seattle and Calgary, Vancouver never permitted any 50 story office towers. Indeed, no office building in Vancouver is even allowed to have a 40th floor. However, BC still might eventually have a couple of office towers over 40 stories, just not in restrictive Vancouver.
The Milizie Bridge in Italy and the Windan Bridge in W, Australia and The Cushing Bridge in Calgary, Alberta
https://www.lombardiabeniculturali.it/fotografie/schede/IMM-5w050-0000107/
It used to be like a narrow 4 lane Vancouver bridge.
https://milanoneisecoli.blogspot.com/2014/10/lo-scomparso-torrione-fascista-di.html
Eventually, the Ponte+Delle+Milizie was rebuilt to have 2 bus lanes as well as 4 general lanes.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ponte+Delle+Milizie
Something like the 6 lane Windan_Bridge and the double track Goongoongup_Bridge, just aren't allowed in Vancouver. The city should do something similar like the Cushing+Bridge+in+Calgary.
Unfortunatly, the backwards Vancouver approach is to take lanes away, while pretending to be building an efficient regional rapid bus network.
The Arthur+Laing+Bridge, Oak+Street+Bridge and Knight+Street+Bridge only have 2 lanes each way in the middle and there was no provision to have 2 bus lanes. Thus, unless a 2 lane bus-bridge is built next to each of them, the regional express bus network will remain a sad BC joke.
There should also be a 6 lane Boundary+Road+Bridge crossing Burrard_Inlet and another one crossing the Fraser_River.
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Redevelopment of McDonald's restaurant next to Main Street-Science World SkyTrain station approved by Vancouver City Council
The short buildings should have been designed to eventually have a 20-30 story addition.
TransLink buys Fraser River waterfront property for Vancouver bus depot use
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/translink-vancouver-transit-centre-bus-depot-acquisition-expansion
Of course there still seems to be no plan to build a bus and bike bridge next to the Arthur+Laing+Bridge.
Unfortunatly, the embarrassment that is the Canada+Line wasn't designed to eventually have 10 car trains, not even 5. It's stations can only accommodate a ridiculous 2.5 car train, some day. Thus, any bridge to and near the airport should be augmented with a bus and bike bridge. Especially since the C Line isn't open 24 hours. Apparently, it's better to just cram everything into the ridiculously narrow 4 lane bridges.
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
Monday, July 7, 2025
Midweek showers sandwiched by sunny days in Metro Vancouver
Summer is only a 3 quick months in BC, so when crappy rainy fall like weather shows up, it shortens the number of summer days even more. At least half of the year is cold & damp in Vancouver. Yet once again, Vancouver is so far behind. There is the RESO or Underground_City in_Montreal and the Path_in Toronto. While Vancouver doesn't get as cold as Chicago during the winter, or as hot as Dallas and Houston during the summer, there still should have been a proper effort to have a key part of the downtown interconnected with tunnels. There is just something about Vancouver & BC that always opts to take a Half-A$$ED approach to things.
Sunday, July 6, 2025
SkyTrain's Rupert and Renfrew stations
https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/vancouver-neighbourhood-next-broadway-plan-treatment
Most of BC is wilderness and there are only a handful of potential big urban areas in BC.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/rupert-and-renfrew-station-area-plan-vancouver-final
The Greater Vancouver Region has been held back for several decades. Of course affordable housing should be part of the overall growth plan. All of BC still has less people than just the Greater Toronto Area & Canada has yet to have even just 1% of the world's population.
The 3 lane Lions+Gate+Bridge and the 2 car joke that is the Canada+Line are fine BC examples of the reluctance to build proper big city size infrastructure. There should have been at least 2 bus tunnels & 2 HOV tunnels near the LGB. If the C Line couldn't have 10 car trains, the stations should have at least been designed to accomodate 5 car trains, not an eventual 2.5 car joke of a train. There also should have been a train tunnel near the LGB by now, but that's what a proper big city would have done.
Thursday, July 3, 2025
Caps on salaries of Metro Vancouver politicians is ‘long overdue’ critics say
https://globalnews.ca/news/11272811/caps-salaries-metro-vancouver-politicians-long-overdue-critics
Why put more money towards transportation infrastructure when it can go to the politicians? Unfortunatly, the Greater Vancouver region is already so lacking in proper big city size infrastructure. Short, overloaded trains and most bridges are so narrow that its not proper to have an efficient rapid bus network.
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
What Canada Day looked like in Vancouver over 100 years ago
By the 1920s, Montreal, Toronto, Melbourne, Sydney, SF & LA, all knew that they were going to be major cities. Unfortunatly in the 2020s, Vancouver is still stuck with a 3 lane Lion Bridge and a Canada embarrassment Line with only 50m stations. The Montreal Metro has 152.5m stations. Most real cities by now would have at least built a 4 lane bus & HOV tunnel & a commuter train tunnel near the LGB.
Despite being a cost cutting measure, the Canada embasement Line still should have had the provision to eventually have 10 car trains. Unfortunatly, the underbuilt line between Vancouver & Richmond wasn't even designed to have 5 car trains. Indeed, the joke that is the C Line has stations designed to only have 2.5 car trains, someday. The first 2 SkyTrain lines only have 80m stations, which can just barely accomodate a 5 car train.
Monday, June 30, 2025
Sunday, June 29, 2025
How Vancouver Has Become a Speculator’s Playground
https://cityhallwatch.wordpress.com/2025/06/29/entitled-to-flip-spacing-villagomez
Developers usually want to build big, but even small to medium size projects could be allowed to go through, provided that the developer has given more to the community.
https://www.shapeyourcity.ca/1780-e-broadway-rz
If the developer was allowed to go 20-30 stories taller, if they provided a decent amount of affordable rental units on the lower floors, that might satisfy some people.
https://www.shapeyourcity.ca/1780-e-broadway
However, there are alway the people that are simply against tall towers who will never be happy.
Saturday, June 28, 2025
Where to celebrate Canada Day in the lower mainland with fireworks, because Vancouver’s Canada Day fireworks are scrapped for good
https://vancouversbestplaces.com/events-calendar/canada-day-celebrations/canada-day-at-canada-place/
https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/canada-day-2025-events-metro-vancouver
https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/heres-whats-open-and-closed-on-canada-day/
Vancouver’s Canada Day fireworks scrapped for good https://globalnews.ca/news/9721790/vancouver-fireworks-canada-day/
Vancouver has become a give up city.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/canada-day-vancouver-fireworks-2024-cancelled
Fortunately, backwards Vancouver wasn't able to get all the other main cities in Canada to also give up on having their 7-1 fireworks.
Auckland’s City Rail Link Sets Sustainability Benchmark
https://www.railway.supply/en/aucklands-city-rail-link-sets-sustainability-benchmark/
https://www.cityraillink.co.nz/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_Rail_Link
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_Rail_Link#Capacity_forecast_forces_platform_enlargements
https://at.govt.nz/projects-initiatives/city-centre-projects-and-initiatives/city-rail-link
What the major cities will offer for Canada Day
https://toronto.citynews.ca/2025/06/26/canada-day-2025-toronto-ontario-celebrations-fireworks/
Imagine if some people from Vancouver tried to prevent all the major cities in Canada from having a fireworks show. Fortunately, backwards Vancouver doesn't have such influence.
https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/festivals-events/canada-day/nighttime/
https://harbourfrontcentre.com/series/canada-day-celebration-2025/
It might seem like some kind of a brain_infection or mind virus wanted to shutdown the fun of a fireworks presentation across Canada.
Evening program on July 1, 2025: Simple Plan and fireworks https://montreal.ca/en/events/canada-day-pierrefonds-roxboro-30260
It might very well indeed seem like something from a bazaar Sci-Fi production.
https://discoverhalifaxns.com/events/canada-day-halifax-2025-guide/
https://downtownhalifax.ca/CanadaDay
Fortunately, the strange Vancouver mentality or inability to have a July 1st fireworks display is of no interest to the rest of Canada.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg/article/what-to-do-on-canada-day-in-winnipeg-and-beyond/
https://accesswinnipeg.com/2025/06/list-of-2025-canada-day-celebrations-in-winnipeg/
https://canadadaysaskatoon.ca/
https://www.reginacanadaday.ca/?pgid=jx02htlz-7e64822e-5f4c-4a2e-a455-11cfc5a87180
https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/canada-day-events-edmonton
https://www.todocanada.ca/where-to-find-2025-canada-day-fireworks-around-edmonton/
https://www.edmonton.ca/attractions_events/schedule_festivals_events/canada-day
https://www.calgary.ca/council/ward-2/articles/celebrate-canada-day--2025.html
https://calgary.citynews.ca/2025/06/27/calgary-canada-day-events-2025/
"There are no fireworks anymore as Vancouver’s annual July 1st pyrotechnic show has been permanently cancelled." https://vancouversbestplaces.com/events-calendar/canada-day-celebrations/canada-day-at-canada-place/
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/canada-day-fireworks-metro-vancouver-2025
https://604now.com/7-canada-day-events-fireworks-metro-vancouver-2025
https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/news/your-guide-celebrating-canada-day-victoria
Calls to cap salaries of Metro Vancouver board
Calls to cap the salaries of politicians service on Metro Vancouver's board are growing louder, with both municipal and provincial voices weighing in. https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/video/2025/06/28/calls-to-cap-salaries-of-metro-vancouver-board/
The region is already so far behind with its transportation infrastructure. Its as if a large percentage of the money have been going towards some people & not towards bus-bridges & longer trains.
https://globalnews.ca/news/11263660/calls-cap-board-metro-vancouver-member-pay
Vancouver has become so backwards, inept, expensive and bloated, that it no longer is able to have a fireworks show on July 1st. Fortunately, Vancouver was unable to get all the other major cities in Canada to give up & cancel their fireworks shows.
Vancouver used to have a Canada Day fireworks display, but gave up. Vancouver used to have a sea festival, but it got watered down and washed away.
While Vancouver's Sea Festival sank, Seattle's Seafair not only remained a float, but has grown stronger over the years. https://www.seafair.org , https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seafair#Events
Its as if Vancouver is trying to be one of the world's strangest, backwards and inept cities.
Friday, June 27, 2025
Thursday, June 26, 2025
World Cup windfall fades into fantasy as costs keep climbing
B.C. taxpayers are pouring millions into seven FIFA World Cup matches while tourism payoff remains wishful thinking https://www.biv.com/news/commentary/kirk-lapointe-world-cup-windfall-fades-into-fantasy-as-costs-keep-climbing-10870049
Airport rail links
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airport_rail_link
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airport_rail_link#Connection_types
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airport_rail_link#High-speed_rail_and_inter-city_rail
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airport_rail_link#Regional_rail_and_commuter_rail
The Canada+Line is such a sad and pathetic joke. Nevermind planning for a 10 car train linking YVR with the Horseshoe+Bay+ferry+terminal and the Tsawwassen+ferry+terminal to YVR, BC opted for a half-assed little train. Apparently, its logical in backwards BC to not allow for future clearance to at least have a 5 car train connecting YVR with West Vancouver & Delta. It was difficult enough just to have a small 2 car train & eventually a 2.5 car train between Vancouver & Richmond.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SeaTac/Airport_station While Seattle can have a 2 car short train, the SeaTac_Airport_Station was designed to accommodate a proper big city long train.
Unlike in backwards BC, the Seattle_Central_Link Airport Station has 2 tracks. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/SeaTac_light_rail_station_from_airport_parking_garage_%282010%29.jpg Most proper cities around the world plan & build big infrastructure or at least allow for future expansion clearence.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SeaTac/Airport_station#Station_layout
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RER_B#List_of_RER_B_stations
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_Express
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz_(Italian_EMU)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_International_Airport_station
https://www.bart.gov/stations/sfia https://www.bart.gov/guide/airport/sfo
High Density Plans for Vancouver
Well, Vancouver still isn't allowing any residential tower to rival the tallest in Edmonton, Calgary & Seattle. BC is 75% mountainous yet, there are only a handful of potential major urban regions in this backwater wilderness of a province.
Vancouver could get more benefits from developers if there was more incentive to build taller hotels and residential towers, as long as there was a good component of affordable housing.
SkyTrain's Commercial-Broadway Station escalators fully reopen after replacement work
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/skytrain-commercial-broadway-station-escalators-fully-reopen
This is going to be a major transit intersection, whenever the east-west line from Coquitlam to UBC is completed. Especially when the line from downtown Vancouver to Langley is completed. Unfortunatly, only the Expo_Line will have 5 car trains at some point in 2025.
The Millennium_Line will try to only run a 2 car joke of a train for as long as possible. At least there is a potential to eventually have 5 car trains.
Unfortunatly, the joke that is the Canada_Line was deliberately designed to have stations that can only accomodate 2 2.5 car train, not a 5 car train.
Considering that Greater Vancouver mostly has narrow roads & bridges, one would think that the trains would be the longest in Canada, not the shortest.
Montréal–(P.E.) Trudeau International Airport and Mirabel International Airport
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montr%C3%A9al%E2%80%93Trudeau_International_Airport
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montr%C3%A9al%E2%80%93Trudeau_International_Airport#Public_transit
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YUL%E2%80%93A%C3%A9roport-Montr%C3%A9al%E2%80%93Trudeau_station
Montreal-Mirabel_International_Airport For cargo and freight.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montr%C3%A9al%E2%80%93Mirabel_International_Airport#Cargo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montr%C3%A9al%E2%80%93Mirabel_International_Airport#21st_century
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montr%C3%A9al%E2%80%93Mirabel_International_Airport#Demolition_of_terminal_building Its unfortunate that this building wasn't repurposed as a cargo and freight control centre.
Vancouver International Airport expects record passenger volumes this summer
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-international-airport-yvr-passenger-volumes-summer-2025
After 2015, Vancouver was consistently handling more passenger air traffic than Montreal.
"Montreal is Canada’s second-biggest city. But last year, Vancouver Intl. handled 22.3 million passengers – seven million more than Montreal." https://www.internationalairportreview.com/article/33676/phil-fine-vancouver
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_busiest_airports_in_Canada#2023
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_busiest_airports_in_Canada#2022
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_busiest_airports_in_Canada#2021
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver_International_Airport
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver_International_Airport#Rapid_transit_(SkyTrain)
Eby says new Alberta-B.C. pipeline not about to happen
https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/06/26/bc-premier-says-no-project-here-alberta-pipeline/
BC is very reluctant to bend over to accommodate a big, new pipe from Alberta!
https://www.biv.com/news/commentary/rob-shaw-eby-contorts-his-pipeline-messaging-once-again-10854718
Alberta is used to big equipment and machinery.
Alberta exists on a larger infrastructure scale than what is allowed in backwater BC.
https://www.bc-er.ca/what-we-regulate/oil-gas/pipelines/
Underground trains & stations in Edmonton, like in Seattle, are longer than what little backwards Vancouver planned for. The roads & bridges are wider in Calgary & Edmonton than what Vancouver allows. The buildings are allowed to be taller in Calgary, Edmonton & especially, Seattle.
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
3 Vancouver Island beaches declared unfit for swimming
https://victoriabuzz.com/2025/06/3-vancouver-island-beaches-declared-unfit-for-swimming-this-month
This crappy situation has been going on for several years in BC. Why would backwards BC let some beaches go to shit?
Hopefully, BC will never send a delegation to Australia, NZ, Hawaii, California, Texas & Florida to show them how its done. Fortunately, all those places understand how important it is for the tourism industry to not lower their standards.
Even the beach resorts in Mexico understand that it's not a good idea to let it go to shit. Perhaps there is just a growing give up mentality in backwater BC.
https://cityhallwatch.wordpress.com/2020/08/09/no-swimming-at-sunset-beach/
https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/swimming-advisories-issued-for-three-vancouver-beaches/
https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/courier-archive/news/west-end-beaches-unfit-for-swimming-2958828
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Understanding the elusiveness of smart cities
https://spacing.ca/toronto/2025/06/23/understanding-the-elusiveness-of-smart-cities/
While an AI run city might seem efficient on the surface, there could be a layer of totalitarianism just underneath.
Training people to bark, grunt or roll over in order to not exceed their weekly carbon credit allotment is excrement!
https://www.propellerbooks.com/posts/2014/6/4/government-is-a-computer-alphaville
An AI run technocratic city could easily turn the place into a prison.
https://arcfinity.tumblr.com/post/85900501084/weve-been-having-urban-nightmares
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/gallery/2014/jan/29/future-cities-in-film
15-minute SkyTrain service in Surrey this summer due to track replacement work
For a line that first opened in 1985, it took until 2025 to try to start running 5 car trains of the latest generation of rolling stock. Considering that Greater Vancouver has a narrower road network than Montreal, the SkyTrain stations should have been designed to accomodate 10 car trains.
While the Alstom_Mark_V vehicles look nice & modern, a 5 car train is a half-length reminder of how much nicer & better a 10 car train would look.
Just because the SkyTrain is considered to be a Light Rail Vehicle, there still should have been a provision to eventually have the stations to be as long as the longest ones on the Montreal Metro. The Montreal Metro has 500 foot or 152.5m long stations, which can accomodate a 9 car train. Unfortunatly, the first 2 SkyTrain lines only have 80m stations, which are just barely over half the length of the longest STM stations. https://www.stm.info/en/info/networks/metro
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Societe_de_transport_de_Montreal#Connections_to_other_transit_services
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Metro#Rolling_stock
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MR-63#Design While a 3 car joke of a train was possible, a 6 & especially a 9 car train is able to efficiently move more people around.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MR-73
3 cars per trainset, operating as 6- or 9-car trains
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MR-73#Construction_and_entry_into_service
Apparently, in order to reduce construction costs, the first 2 SkyTrain lines have stations that are only 250 feet. Half the length of a 500 foot long Montreal train, but BC usually takes the half-assed option with its small-scale of infrastructure development.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyTrain_(Vancouver)#UTDC_ICTS_Mark_I_fleet "The maximum based on current station platform lengths is a six-car configuration, totalling 76.2 metres (250 ft)."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPM-10 (9 articulated cars per train)
| Train length | 152.43 m (500 ft 11⁄8 in) |
|---|
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPM-10#History Approximately, a 500 foot train divided by 9 cars = 55.55 feet, or just under 17m.
Despite the SkyTrain cars not running on rubber tires, each 55 ft. coach is very close in length to the 55.6 ft Montreal Metro coaches.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innovia_Metro#Vehicle "The second generation Innovia ART 200 cars are 16.7 metres (54 ft 9
1⁄2 in) long each and come in articulated pairs."
Monday, June 23, 2025
Saturday, June 21, 2025
The Pattullo Bridge replacement project
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/pattullo-bridge-new-indigenous-renaming-art
While it's great to have a new name for the new bridge, there should have been a few more bridges between Surrey, NW, Coquitlam & Port Coquitlam.
https://604now.com/pattullo-bridge-new-indigenous-name
Another lost opportunity for backwards BC. This new bridge should have opened with 6 lanes, plus have at least 2 wide shoulders for future capacity. Then there could have been 2 HOV lanes, as well as 4 general lanes. There also should have been a lower deck for something similar to what the Tilikum_Crossing has. https://trimet.org/tilikum
Such a lower deck not only could have provided 2 sidewalks & 2 bike paths, but a provision for 2 streetcar or tram-train tracks and even 2 separated SkyTrain tracks. Instead, all the traffic will be crammed into just 2 lanes each way with no bus & no HOV lanes & especially no breakdown lanes. In the future, the existing 2 track Skybridge between Surrey & NW might not be adequate. People from all over the world should study the BC bottleneck planning mentality & avoid such bad planning at all costs.
It is foolish for the most urban part of BC to not have wide or double deck bridges. Unfortunatly, this new 4 lane bridge wasn't designed to have 2 bus & 2 HOV lanes & no provision for at least 2 train tracks. At least it will have more than 1 sidewalk & 1 more lane than the LGB and even a safety divider.
Despite Surrey eventually becoming the most populous city in backwater BC, no 2 track train bridge like the Tilikum has been allowed to be built in backwards BC. https://trimet.org/tilikum/#about
Friday, June 20, 2025
Thursday, June 19, 2025
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Capilano Mall redevelopment
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/capilano-mall-redevelopment-concept-proposal-north-vancouver-ocp
https://www.realestatenorthshore.com/news/market-minute/capilano-malls-big-makeover/
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/capilano-mall-north-vancouver-redevelopment-concept-quadreal
Sunday, June 15, 2025
The new, smaller Vancouver Aquatic Centre
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-aquatic-centre-redeveloping-city-council-funding-vote
Why have a big city pool when a half-sized, half-assed pool is in sync with the smallminded Vancouver mentality. It's all so fitting for a city going backwards.
Friday, June 13, 2025
Seattle's annual Seafair Kickoff Celebration is back at a brand-new location
https://www.seafair.org https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seafair
Vancouver, BC used to have a Sea Festival, but it got watered down & drained away. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/sea-festival-files-for-bankruptcy-protection-1.545832
Fortunately, the Seattle version is still going strong.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seafair#Events
https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/seafair-return-bigger-events
Danielle Smith pitches B.C. on pipeline project, saying it benefits ‘all Canadians’
https://globalnews.ca/news/11240745/danielle-smith-pitches-bc-pipeline-project/
BC has been very reluctant to bend over to receive a big pipe from Alberta.
https://globalnews.ca/news/11231011/eby-pipeline-proposals-alberta-bc/
https://financialpost.com/commodities/energy/private-company-oil-pipeline-tidewater-smith
A New grocery store slated to be on West Broadway in Vancouver
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/sobeys-toys-r-us-1154-west-brodway-vancouver-new-grocery-store
Given the planned population density increase, there needs to be more stores & other services.
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Vancouver never properly planned for High Density Mass Transit like Toronto and Montreal did
1950s Toronto and 1960s Montreal were able to have 152.5m or 500 foot long TTC subway and STM metro stations. The 1970s underground Edmonton LRT stations were built to be 120m-130m long, because unlike backwards Vancouver, Edmonton planned for significant future capacity, just like Seattle would also do. Unfortunatly, backwards Vancouver only has 80m stations for the first 2 Skytrain stations. The 3rd line or the Canada (embasement) Line, only has 50m short stations. Vancouver has had generations of watered down infrastructure. Who knows where so much of the money went, because it sure didn't go towards proper big city trains & express bus bridges.
Vancouver short on hotel rooms, silent on safety costs for 2026 World Cup
https://corporatemeetingsnetwork.ca/2025/05/01/tackling-vancouvers-hotel-shortage-crisis/
https://www.staymagazine.ca/articles/vancouvers-make-or-break-moment-for-future-events-and-tourism
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-hotel-shortage-2026-world-cup-1.7117696
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/metro-vancouver-hotel-supply-shortage-demand
Why Vancouver City Council Approved The Commercial-Broadway Safeway Project
https://storeys.com/vancouver-approves-commercial-broadway-safeway-redevelopment/
The big dispute is not having a reasonable amount of below market level housing. Of course if the towers were at least 20-30 stories taller, provided that there were several affordable units included, then the developer would have more incentive for affordable units.
https://storeys.com/broadway-commercial-safeway-may-2024/
It's stupid to only have luxury high rises or even comfortable yuppie high-end housing, when there is a lot of demand for real affordable housing. Thus, if a high-rise developer could be allowed to build higher as long as a reasonable amount of affordable housing was included in the lower floors, it could work.
However, despite being a major transportation intersection, many people are uncomfortable of Oakridge size building, especially Brentwood size towers.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
501-595 West Georgia Street in Vancouver
https://henriquezpartners.com/projects/501-595-w-georgia_388-abbott
For several decades, Vancouver was only allowed to have tall buildings that were impressive by Victoria-Kelowna-Kamloops-Prince+George standards.
https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?cityID=1&status=15 V
https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?stateID=1&status=15 BC
https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?countryID=1&status=15 Can
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Sunday, June 8, 2025
Metro Vancouver releases salary information for 2024. Vancouver Councillors received additional salary for serving on Metro Boards and Committees
https://cityhallwatch.wordpress.com/2025/06/08/metro-vancouver-releases-politician-salaries-in-2024/
Why have a proper big city scale of transportation infrastructure, when so much $ can go to the managers instead? Greater Vancouver has become so inept in functioning like a proper big urban area. The region is decades behind from where several cities are at.
Saturday, June 7, 2025
Friday, June 6, 2025
More Overnight lane closures planned for Pattullo Bridge
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/pattullo-bridge-overnight-closures-june
Perhaps the Pattullo+Bridge isn't the worst bridge in Canada, but it is one of the worst bridges in North America.
Thursday, June 5, 2025
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Vancouver to offer up land in bid to move SROs from Granville Entertainment District
https://globalnews.ca/news/11213829/granville-sros An Entertainment District shouldn't be an excrete district.
Originally, it's like it was considered to be a good idea to have an open toilet and drug-den around there. Then after after several years, perhaps enough people have started to realize that one drug-den and open toilet in Vancouver is enough. Perhaps the Main & Hastings area will also eventually be cleaned up. So many people need help with getting away from the substance abuse trap & pattern and helped to find safe, adequate housing.
https://globalnews.ca/news/11211786/club-owners-howard-johnson-compensation/
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/vancouver-city-council-approves-20-043051703.html
Critics question Surrey mayor’s plan for 10,000-seat area
A new arena in Surrey might not be an urgent concern today. However, whenever Surrey exceeds a million residents the arena project might be more appropriate. In the meantime, the best potential site should be set aside for when that time arrives.
Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel Expansion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mveblgvwRg
HRBT Expansion Project Corridor Concept https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4rNYsSJxhM
Sydney Metro
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Metro Perhaps its because of the warmer climate, but this Sydney Metro train will be longer than any metro or subway rain in Canada.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Metro#Capacity "...6-car trains running on 4-minute headways. After the addition of the Stage 2 extension to Bankstown, the stations' platforms will be configured to allow for future use of 8-car trains and the signalling system designed to allow for 2-minute headways..."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Metro#Rolling_stock
| Train length | 121.5 m (398 ft 715⁄32 in) |
|---|---|
| Car length | 20.25 m (66 ft 51⁄4 in) |
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Metro_Metropolis_Stock#Design_and_construction Eventually, an 8 car train could be 532 feet long. That's longer than a 500 foot or 152.5m 9 car Montreal Metro train. So far, the max on the Toronto subway are 6 car trains.
If you are from NSW & visit the BC part of Canada, you won't believe how short the train between the airport & Downtown_Vancouver is. Its a 2 car joke of a train & is a fine example of inept transportation infrastructure planning in backwards BC.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Airport#Rail
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Sydney_International_Airport#Rail
Some tunnels in Australia and Canada...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tunnels_in_Australia
Despite having a smaller population than Canada, Australia seems to have more urban highway tunnels than Canada has.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/highway-401-tunnel-study-1.7523029#
HOV lanes & express bus tunnels would help to relieve the surface route.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/401-tunnel-cost-1.7464404
A truck lane system could also speed up shipping & efficiency.
https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/ford-carney-highway-401-tunnel
https://toronto.citynews.ca/2024/09/25/ontario-highway-401-doug-ford-tunnel-proposal/