https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/948-howe-street-vancouver-nano-hotel-pod
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Asnières railway bridge, Paris
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pont_ferroviaire_d%27Asni%C3%A8res "With its ten tracks, this railway bridge is one of the widest in Europe."
Pont Ferroviaire d'Argenteuil, Paris
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pont_ferroviaire_d%27Argenteuil "It consists of two parallel structures, each carrying two railway tracks."
Vancouver-convention-centre-floating-hotel-approved
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-bc-floating-hotel-approved-9.7164665
https://globalnews.ca/news/11802600/floating-hotel-vancouver-harbour-approved/
https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/vancouver-council-approves-250-room-floating-hotel/
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Monday, April 13, 2026
The New St. Paul's Hospital at False Creek Flats
https://www.thenewstpauls.ca/en
https://vancouversun.com/feature/vancouver-st-pauls-hospital-of-future
New St. Paul's Hospital to open in early 2027 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIfWMPQdjMw
https://helpstpauls.com/stories/topped-out-new-st-pauls-hospital-marks-major-milestone/
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/new-st-pauls-hospital-false-creek-flats-vancouver-city-council
https://helpstpauls.com/why-give/new-st-pauls-hospital/
https://connectla.ca/press-release-new-st-pauls/
https://bcbusiness.ca/real-estate/whats-next-for-the-new-old-st-pauls-hospital/
https://www.constructioncanada.net/bc-approves-1-9b-hospital-building-plan/
https://building.ca/rfq-issued-for-vancouvers-new-st-pauls-hospital/
https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/new-st-pauls.aspx
The future of the old St. Paul's Hospital site
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/st-pauls-hospital-concord-pacific
https://heritagevancouver.org/top10-watch-list/2015/2-stpauls-hospital-burrard-building/
https://www.heritagesitefinder.ca/location/1081-burrard-st-vancouver-bc/
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/1157-burrard-street-vancouver-tower-approved-community-garden
https://www.urbanyvr.com/davie-street-tower-grows-another-four-storeys-to-47-storeys Not 67, only 47 floors.
https://cityhallwatch.wordpress.com/2022/08/08/1157-burrard-dp-2022-00461/
Guy's Hospital, London
At 148.65 metres (487.7 ft) high, Guy's Tower (now called the Tower Wing) regained its tallest hospital building in the world status in 2014. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy%27s_Hospital#Facilities
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Guy%27s+Hospital%2C+London
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Shard+Tower+in+London
Vancouver General Hospitals 10-Phase Campus Redevelopment Plan
The new Vancouver General Hospital campus would include over 3.2 million sq. ft of modernized healthcare space across buildings up to 24 storeys. https://storeys.com/vancouver-general-hospital-redevelopment-application
The main VGH campus should eventually be on the scale of something like the Texas_Medical_Center. However, BC has been under a backwater mentality since its inception. Thus, its still difficult for proper big city planning to be established.
https://cityhallwatch.wordpress.com/2025/10/07/ubcx-no-brainer-council-motion-is-a-brain-test/
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Guy%27s+Hospital%2C+London
Vancouvers Plan For New "Civic District" City Hall Campus
https://storeys.com/vancouver-city-hall-civic-district-redevelopment/
At least the early concept of-a-new-civic-district-around-the-Vancouver-City-Hall looks closer to a proper big city size development.
https://www.shapeyourcity.ca/city-hall-campus
https://cityhallwatch.wordpress.com/2025/10/31/megaproject-rapture-ubcx-ottawa-letter-johnston/
City of Vancouver moves to rezone 2,348 properties for rental housing and hotels
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-c-2a-rental-housing-hotels-zoning
https://storeys.com/vancouver-hotel-development-policy-changes/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-hotel-shortage-2026-world-cup-1.7117696
https://storeys.com/metro-vancouver-regional-district-housing/
New Zealand
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellington
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand#Economy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand#Infrastructure
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_of_New_Zealand
While the North_Island is more populated, the South_Island is the largest one.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_of_New_Zealand#Listed_by_size
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Island_nationalism#21st_century
Quebec
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_sovereignty_movement
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec#Economy Canada should have become a commonwealth of independent states similar to Australia. However, since Canada is right next to the US of America, some thought that it might be too confusing. Alberta as well as Quebec, should become fully recognized states within Canada.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_and_territories_of_Australia
Alberta
The Alberta Secession Movement https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LiCuWV2D9g
Alberta within Canada should have become something like a commonwealth independent state similar to Australia. However, since Canada is right next to the USA, some thought that it might be too confusing, back in the day. As each provincial district wants to become more like an independent state within Canada, that should become possible.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_and_territories_of_Australia#States
Saturday, April 11, 2026
124-148 East 6th Avenue hotel tower proposal would demovict apartment building under Broadway Plan
Decades ago, Vancouver should have considered something like a Company_town approach, but for temporary housing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Company_town#Model_company_towns
Thus, when a developer buys a residential property for redevelopment, the current residents need temporary accommodations elsewhere. Then, either when the new development is open, a special section is reserved for the displaced residents. Or, if the developer is allowed to build a larger project, they are obliged to provide decent housing compensation at another location.
So, if there were something like a pool of temporary company_town like housing provided by the city, the people would always have somewhere to live until the redevelopment is complete.
Perhaps the renoviction approach was favored so as to add to the homeless numbers.
https://www.tomorrow-building.com/richest-european-countries-more-social-housing/
https://www.iut.nu/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Social-Housing-in-Europe.pdf
It should be in the best interest of the city to try to retain and maintain people that exist on various levels of income.
Friday, April 10, 2026
Value for Money – Vancouver-Style
https://cityhallwatch.wordpress.com/2026/04/09/ucs-93-value-for-money-vancouver-style/
This Vancouver ME$$ is the result of generations of inept urban planning.
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Shard Tower in London
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shard , https://www.the-shard.com/viewing-gallery
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shard#Similar_structures
https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/news/guys-tower-regains-title-worlds-tallest-hospital-building "the Tower is now 148.65 metres high including the artwork." (488 Feet)
https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/guys-tower/9666
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy%27s_Hospital#Facilities
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Guy%27s_Hospital_tower_-_geograph.org.uk_-_221742.jpg
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Guy%27s+Hospital%2C+London
The Top of the Transamerica Tower in SF
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transamerica_Pyramid
Some San Francisco Neighborhoods you should avoid in 2026 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzWJA2v6EYk
TransLink's R2 RapidBus to be extended from North Shore to Metrotown this September
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/r2-marine-willingdon-rapidbus-metrotown-bus-route-translink
http://www.transitdb.ca/route/R2
A Boundary+Road Bridge over the inlet could have had a couple of Rapid Bus lanes and relieved some of the traffic on the inadequate Iron+Bridge. Had The+Iron+Bridge been originally designed to have 2 wide shoulders and 2 wide emergency lanes, then it could have been gradually adapted to accommodate 4 general lanes each way and 1 Rapid Bus lane each way. Instead, busses, trucks, cars and motorcycles are all squeezed into 3 lanes each way.
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=R2+RapidBus
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Boundary+Road+Corridor
TransLink to expand bus service on 42 routes across Metro Vancouver this spring
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/translink-metro-vancouver-bus-route-changes-spring-2026
While more frequent bus service is great, unless there is a proper regional bus+and+bike+bridge network, the transit system will still be lacking in its efficiency.
The Almost Empty California City
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzByVHZw8bQ
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/california-city-unbuilt-suburb
https://www.homes.com/local-guide/california-city-ca/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrRvsSlZFbs
https://laist.com/shows/california-city
https://data.census.gov/profile/California_City_city,_California?g=160XX00US0609780
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
B.C. orders West Vancouver to implement plan to build more homes and meet its target
https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2026/04/07/b-c-orders-west-vancouver-build-more-homes/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/land-covenants-1.5442686
https://globalnews.ca/news/7182842/vancouver-councillor-racism-bc-real-estate/
https://vancouversun.com/news/staff-blogs/a-short-history-of-racism-in-b-c-and-globally
https://thelaurier.ca/discriminatory-covenants , https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qlgyR3x73iQ
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Residential_segregation_in_Greater_Vancouver
https://forbiddenvancouver.ca/kkk-history-vancouver/
https://equity.ubc.ca/news-and-stories/debunk-myths-about-the-history-of-black-people-in-b-c
Despite the worlds population consisting mostly of nonwhite people and in spite of generations of multicultural immigration in Canada, BC is still slow to build big for the larger overlapping community.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Vancouver#Minority_representation
The Lions+Gate+Bridge is a 3 lane joke of a bridge that should have been relieved with a 7-8 lane tunnel decades ago.
The YVR-Canada+Line is a joke of a line with only 2 car trains, not 5-6.
Monday, April 6, 2026
Sunday, April 5, 2026
Road transport in Brisbane
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_transport_in_Brisbane
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridges_over_the_Brisbane_River#Major_bridges
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clem_Jones_Tunnel 4 lanes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Story_Bridge 6 lanes
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Story+Bridge A nice 10 lane crossing.
In comparison, the 3 lane Lions+Gate+Bridge still hasn't had a parallel relief tunnel. If a 7-8 lane tunnel is ever built, then the LGB could be for express or rapid busses.
World Expo 88 in Brisbane
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Expo_88 This city was able to do so much after their expo, because they didn't have the same restrictions imposed upon them like what Vancouver has.
https://www.bie-paris.org/site/en/1988-brisbane
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brisbane#Tourism_and_recreation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brisbane#Transport
It would be disastrous if Brisbane took the Vancouver approach to things.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Busways_in_Brisbane
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_Schonell_Bridge Unfortunatly, such a nice bus and bike doesn't exist in backwards Vancouver. The whole region could greatly benefit from a proper bus and bike network. Most of the bridges in Greater Vancouver are so narrow, there isn't enough room for separate bus lanes. Most of the sidewalks and bike lanes are also too narrow.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Translink_(Queensland)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridges_over_the_Brisbane_River#Major_bridges
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Brisbane#Tallest_buildings
Transportation infrastructure after Expo 86
https://buzzer.translink.ca/2021/04/35-years-of-expo-86-re-learning-lessons-on-transportation/
In the decades after Expo 86, Vancouver and the metropolitan area are still lacking a proper level of regional transportation infrastructure. So many classic BC bottleneck-chokepoints remain uncorrected.
40 years after Expo 86
https://bcanuntoldhistory.knowledge.ca/1980/expo-86
Unlike Brisbane, Vancouver doubled down on its various restrictions. Ideally, any tall building in Vancouver had to be shorter than what Brisbane allows. The bridges kepet narrow and unduplicated than what Brisbane allows. The trains are to be shorter than what Brisbane and most cities allow.
It was almost as if since Vancouver couldn't build a wall around the city to keep people out, a strong level of symbolism was imposed instead. This urban symbolism was all about keeping things small & backwards whenever possible.
Burnaby, Coquitlam and Surrey have all started the process to allow for taller buildings than what Vancouver permits. That's because they are bound by the same restrictions that Vancouver imposes.
Vancouverites have some of the longest commutes in Canada
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-longest-commute-canada
With most of the regional bridges being too narrow, there isn't enough space for proper express bus+lanes or BRT lanes. Plus, the first 2 Skytrain lines only have the potential to accommodate 5 car trains. The Canada (Embarrassment) Line wasn't designed to eventually have 5 car trains, only 2.5 car trains. Narrow bridges and short trains are all part of the symbolic reluctance towards having proper big city size infrastructure.
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=bus+and+bike+bridge
Saturday, April 4, 2026
Forest Hills station (LIRR)
The best kept secret in NYC real estate is under 20 minutes from Midtown Manhattan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXqsb-alGEg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_Hills_station_(LIRR)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Line_(Long_Island_Rail_Road)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Island_Rail_Road#Passenger_lines_and_services
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica_station#Station_layout
Friday, April 3, 2026
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Major upgrades to busy Queensborough Bridge will close lanes until 2027
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/queensborough-bridge-upgrades-lane-closures-new-westminster-richmond
When the Queensborough_Bridge opened in 1960, there wasn't any serious consideration for future capacity. The QB should have had 2 wide shoulders and 2 wide emergency lanes. Then, by the 1980s 2 bus lanes could have been opened. Then, by around 2000 the QB could have had 3 lanes each way, plus 1 bus lane each way.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensborough_Bridge Unfortunatly in 2026, the QB remains as a 4 lane funnel. Just 2 lanes each way as its another classic BC bottleneck-chokepoint, by design. There is enough space east of the bridge for a new northbound bridge to be built.
New_Westminster has always been a small city, because it never absorbed what would become the Tri-Cities. Thus, a narrow QB fits in with such a little provincial backwater. However, as part of the BC Lower_Mainland its part of a region with over 3 million people. This puts NW in the position of being a regional hub city.
https://604now.com/queensborough-bridge-upgrades-richmond-new-westminster-2026-2027/
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/queensborough-bridge-upgrades-new-westminster-richmond
https://www.patrickjohnstone.ca/2013/07/alas-queensborough-bridge-works.html
http://archives.newwestcity.ca/permalink/24422 , http://archives.newwestcity.ca/permalink/99415/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensborough,_New_Westminster , https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/rte/122554-QB.PDF
Bike+bridges aren't a problem in many Australian cities and around the world. However, as usual, its more difficult to get such things done in backwards BC.
https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Q2Q_Bridge_Brochure_2015_02_02.pdf
https://www.patrickjohnstone.ca/2013/07/connecting-qb-to-quay.html There should have been a proper bike and foot bridge between Queensborough and downtown NW, decades ago.
https://www.newwestcity.ca/planning-building-and-development/projects-on-the-go/articles/3475.php
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Queensborough+Bridge
The Pattullo Bridge replacement, so far
https://www.pattullobridgereplacement.ca/construction/bridge-opening/
There are still months of finishing touches.
https://www.pattullobridgereplacement.ca/construction/current-works/
Over the course of the year, many more people will start to realize that despite there being adequate bike lanes, there are no bus lanes, no wide shoulders and especially no emergency lanes. Its currently still too narrow for all of that.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SurreyBC/comments/1omufv6/the_new_pattullo_bridge_will_gradually_open_to/
In fact, the bridge was deliberately designed to be so narrow that there is only enough future deck space for either 2 bus lanes or 2 emergency lanes, but not both. For now, its just another 4 lane BC funnel.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/New+Westminster,+BC
No lower deck for a potential truck connection between Surrey and Front Street and especially, no lower deck for a future LRT crossing.
It seems that whenever its possible, a 4 lane BC bottleneck-chokepoint is all that's necessary.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SurreyBC/comments/1rb4nmd/bus_connect_surrey_and_coquitlam/
It really would be a good idea to eventually have a couple of bus lanes on that bridge, especially since the Skytrain doesn't run 24 hours a day.
Its still amazing how the SkyBridge (1990) was never built with 2 bus lanes, 2 bike lanes and 2 sidewalks. Such is the narrowminded planning methodology that is backwards BC.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyBridge_(TransLink)#Details
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Pattullo+Bridge+replacement
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Queensborough+Bridge
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
List of crossings of the Fraser River on the South Arm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_crossings_of_the_Fraser_River#South_Arm
The Alex_Fraser_Bridge should have opened with 8 lanes with enough width to eventually have 10 lanes. Plus, 2 wide bike lanes and 2 footpaths. A wide emergency lane or wide shoulder that could have eventually become 2 bus lanes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Fraser_Bridge So, instead of an ultimate design of 10 lanes with 2 emergency lanes and a provision for a lower deck, everything was squeezed into only 2 lanes each way. There wasn't even enough planning logic to have a wide shoulder or wide emergency lane on each side in the first phase of construction. It was an instant classic 4 lane BC bottleneck-chokepoint.
Fortunately, there was at least a provision for it to eventually accommodate 6 lanes and ultimately, a 7th lane was squeezed in. Its still a far cry from being 12 lanes wide or having a lower deck.
The British_Columbia_Highway_91 should have been properly been built as an effective bypass to the joke that is the 4 lane George_Massey_Tunnel chokepoint. The H-91 and the Alex_Fraser_Bridge should have had 4 lanes each way, plus a bus lane each way. Especially, since there is no train along that corridor and there still isn't enough government interest to have a train next to the George_Massey_Tunnel-Replacement. While the new tunnel will have a bus lane each way, there is no provision for a train tunnel or bridge. This isn't just another case of BC planning shortsightedness, its indicative of the BC Mind Virus.
The BCMV isn't supposed to be real, but something like it always seems to show up whenever there is a chance to build some proper big city size infrastructure.
George Massey Tunnel Replacement
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Massey_Tunnel#Replacement 3 lanes each way and a bus lane each way.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/george-massey-tunnel-new-replacement-potential-cost-increase
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/massey-tunnel-design-team-chosen-1.7273022#
https://www.highway99tunnel.ca Of course the new tunnel is missing the crucial train section.
While a 10 lane bridge would have allowed a provision for a train to eventually run between Richmond and Delta, such a train would go against the congestive planning mentality that is BC.
Of course a train tunnel or bridge will have to eventually link Richmond and Delta, someday. Despite an opportunity to improve regional rail transportation, the BC government just doesn't see it as important enough of a project yet.
Monday, March 30, 2026
The Chicago ‘L’ train is an icon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hdGK2Y_bqc
The $444 Million Reconstruction of Chicago’s State & Lake Station https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNVwnpRgDIs
The Massive Transit Fix Chicago Desperately Needs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrCsytmZK4U
Its Not Just About Bus and Bike Bridges
Bike bridges might not be able to totally solve the transportation mess that is Vancouver. However, its quite odd how Vancouver Cycling_Infrastructure is missing a crucial bit of transportation infrastructure. Indeed, many cities will build least 1 proper bike bridge. The Vancouver approach is to take traffic lanes away from existing bridges, or not even bother to build a bike bridge next to a congested bridge.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_crossings_of_the_Fraser_River#North_Arm There should have been several bus and bike bridges in just this section alone.
https://bicyclenetwork.com.au/newsroom/2024/08/08/striking-perth-bridge-crosses-key-construction-milestone Unfortunatly, such a nice bike bridge in Perth isn't allowed in backwards Vancouver.
https://www.mainroads.wa.gov.au/projects-initiatives/all-projects/metropolitan/causeway-path/
https://www.wsp.com/en-ca/projects/perths-boorloo-bridge If you are visiting Perth from Vancouver, you might cry when you realize what WA can do, simply because its not influenced or limited by the backwards BC mentality or mind virus.
https://www.destinationperth.com.au/listing/boorloo-bridge/3706 Unlike in backwards Vancouver, many cities build bike bridges so that they don't have to remove traffic lanes.
https://dissingweitling.com/en/project/swan-river-causeway-bridge
https://www.buildingfortomorrow.wa.gov.au/projects/boorloo-bridge Unfortunatly, properly building-for-tomorrow is much more difficult in backwards BC than it is in WA.
A bike+bridge in the right spot can make a huge difference. A bus+and+bike+bridge can be a huge improvement, especially in the case of Vancouver and the Greater Vancouver Region.
The Arthur_Laing_Bridge, Oak_Street_Bridge, Knight_Street_Bridge and the Queensborough_Bridge all could be improved simply by building a bus+and+bike+bridge next to them. These bridges are simply too narrow to accommodate 2 bus lanes, 2 wide bike lanes and 2 wide footpaths.
The narrow North_Arm_Bridge for the very short Canada Line trains, is another lost opportunity. There should have been 2 express bus lanes, since the little train doesn't run 24 hours. There should have been 2 wide bike lanes as well as 2 sidewalks.
Perhaps it was designed to be in the tradition of the narrow SkyBridge between NW and Surrey. Unfortunately, the SkyBridge wasn't designed to help the old Pattullo Bridge by accommodating 2 bus lanes, 2 bike lanes and 2 sidewalks.
While the Pattullo_Bridge_replacement opened with 2 nice bike lanes and 2 footpaths, there was a deliberate decision not to open it with 2 bus lanes and 2 HOV lanes. Especially, no wide emergency lanes or wide shoulders. Its another instant classic BC bottleneck-chokepoint.
Somehow the Metro_Vancouver_Regional_District still hasn't realized that a regional network of bus and bike bridges can really help the region's mostly narrow bridges. Plus, proper big city long trains.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expo_Line_(SkyTrain) Only started to run some 5 car trains in 2025.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Line Still usually only 2 car train with the option to run 4 and the potential to eventually run 5 car trains.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyTrain_(Vancouver)#Canada_Line Despite a building cost cutting measure, this joke of a train and its short stations still could have been designed with enough level clearance to allow for 5 car trains eventually. Unfortunately, this line was designed to ultimately just have 2.5 car, 50m trains. Since 2009, this line is still only running 2 car trains.
Multigenerational congestion planning is all by design in backwards BC.
Is Adelaide Is Becoming Australia’s Most Advanced City?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34Wol0Q3zDg
Still seems pretty small and quaint today. Nowhere close to the scale of Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, but a good rival to Winnipeg.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelaide#Economy Its already set to have many more tall buildings than cold Winnipeg.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelaide#Transport Busses, trams, subways and commuter trains, all can help to provide people with more options than just driving.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tramways_in_Adelaide#Mid-century_decline_and_closure
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tramways_in_Adelaide#Renewal_and_expansion
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tramways_revival_in_Adelaide#Developments_since_the_2018_election
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railways_in_Adelaide#Lines Wow, perhaps backwards Vancouver might have as many lines, someday.
London just got a new bikes-only bridge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVIr4faD2ag Sometimes its just better to repurpose an old road bridge to be for bikes.
Sunday, March 29, 2026
New 189-suite Hilton hotel opens in Surrey City Centre
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/homewood-suites-hilton-surrey-health-technology-district
What should have been at least a 65 story tower, or at least 50, is just another 25 story BC stump building.
https://engage.surrey.ca/city-centre-plan
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/city-centre-4-office-tower-surrey-lark-group
https://www.citycentredistrict.com/
https://storeys.com/surrey-centre-block-office-tower While Vancouver still won't permit any office tower to have a 50 floor, Surrey had a chance to have the first 50 story office tower in BC. Now, it might only be 45 stories.
Seattle's 'Crosslake Connection' draws steady crowds on second day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jabSGw2M4tA
Seattle's New Light Rail On a FLOATING BRIDGE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmh5uVguIlM
Seattle's Sound Transit just expanded their Link Light Rail system by running the 2 Line across a floating bridge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmh5uVguIlM&t=2s
Seattle has a good extensive regional train system and its getting bigger and better.
Some years after Montreal and so many years after Perth, but still better than backwards Vancouver.
Perth Narrows_Bridge
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrows_Bridge_(Perth)#Railway_bridge:_2005
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:6_car_train_on_narrows.JPG
Unfortunately, all of these nice train and wide highway bridges aren't allowed in narrowminded Vancouver. A congestive transportation approach was implemented decades ago.
How Copenhagen built the metro of the future
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTnu5yUHDps
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copenhagen_Metro#Service
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copenhagen_Metro#Stations "The deep-level stations are built as rectangular, open boxes 60 metres (197 ft) long, 20 metres (66 ft) wide and 20 metres (66 ft) deep."
A ride on Copenhagen's M4 metro line https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1i8G5FhPFY
Copenhagen's Metro system blazed a trail in metro automation, and still stands as one of the best in the world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sx4BPbOASg
RAPID Regional Transit in the Sea to Sky: Connecting Vancouver to Squamish, Whistler, and Pemberton
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OE_W5Vj6OeQ With Greater Vancouver having so many narrow bridges, there must be a regional network of bus and bike bridges, otherwise it all just remains a sad joke.
How bike lanes has affected Vancouver's urban infrastructure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvkifuIjq9I Many cities don't have to remove traffic lanes, because they build proper bike bridges.
Bike Lanes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oez4TTpIQWg With Vancouver being so obsessed with removing lanes from bridges, it becomes much more difficult to have bus lanes on the narrow bridges.
A bike bridge should be built next to the Burrard, Granville and Cambie bridges. Then there would be enough room for each of them to accommodate 2 bus lanes. Things are so mixed up in backwards Vancouver.
YVR-Canada Line and REM Train
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1ouk0VifwM&t=42s Even if the YVR-Canada Line had to initially be built as a symbolically small city train, urban transportation infrastructure can be designed in ways that can double or even triple capacity to meet future demand. Unfortunately, its very difficult to build anything in BC with significant future capacity in mind.
Ultimately, the YVR-Canada Line should have had level station clearances to eventually be able to accommodate 10 car trains. Unfortunately, in typical backwards BC planning the stations weren't even designed with enough level clearance to accommodate 5 car trains. The joke that is the Canada Line only has a level station clearance of 50m to eventually accommodate just a 2.5 car train.
Most other cities actually build long stations to accommodate long trains right in the first place. Or, at least allow for enough level clearance so that the stations can eventually be doubled or tripled in length.
The YVR-Canada Line should have started with the Vancouver & Richmond segment, then the Vancouver and Horseshoe+Bay+ferry+terminal segment. Then finally, the YVR to Delta and the Tsawwassen+ferry+terminal.
The SkyTrain Stations in Greater Vancouver https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Qg78Bmf1fk
Unfortunately, proper big city transportation planning is very difficult to achieve in backwards BC. So much is watered down in Vancouver.
Montreal’s Biggest REM Expansion Yet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G1oeIAfxDU&t=106s
The Montreal REM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9O6RzsXIqQ
While the REM was designed to help the Metro, it should have the capability to be gradually expanded. Eventually, REM trains should be lengthened from 4 car trains to 6 and even 8 car trains.
In contrast, every Skytrain line should have been designed with enough level future station clearance to eventually accommodate a train as long as a 152.5 (500 ft.) long Montreal Metro train. The first 2 Skytrain lines have 80m stations and the joke that is the Canada Line only has 50m stations.
While the first 2 lines can accommodate 5 car trains, the C Line wasn't designed to accommodate 5 car trains. Just 2.5 car trains, someday.
Despite there being such a symbolic push for Vancouver to keep having short trains, narrow bridges and stumpy buildings, things are gradually changing in backwards BC. The Vancouver or BC Mind Virus should have been challenged decades ago, but too many loud people wanted to perpetuate the, KEEP THINGS SMALL AND INDEQUATE agenda.
Given how most of the bridges in Greater Vancouver are so narrow, there isn't enough room for proper bus and HOV lanes, or even wide emergency lanes. One would think that at least the trains & stations would have been designed to eventually be doubled or tripled in length. But that would go against the mutigenerational congestive planning agenda. That's why there still is only a 3 lane LGB when there should have been at least a parallel bus, HOV and train tunnel. The Pattullo+Bridge replacement didn't open with 2 bus and 2 HOV lanes, not even wide shoulders or emergency lanes. NW really likes the congestive planning approach. Of course the new tunnel between Richmond and Delta won't have an additional provision for a train tube. This will also help to perpetuate the congestive transportation mandate.
Fortunately, Selective_door_operation technology can eventually allow more sensible transportation planners to enable longer trains.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_door_operation#International_variations , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdH5d1ZthmM
This means that a 5 car Skytrain (85m) could eventually become a 7 car train, despite the 80m stations.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyTrain_(Vancouver)_rolling_stock#Alstom_Mark_V Thus, an 80m train can become a 117m train.
A two car and 2.5 car (50m) train on the multibillion dollar Canada Line is so absurd and inept! With some slight station modifications, there could be a potential to eventually accommodate three, 20m cars at such short platforms. Then, once 3 car trains could become possible, its just a matter of having an extra 20m car at both ends of each train. A 5 car train of 100m is so much better than a 50m joke of a train.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyTrain_(Vancouver)#Alstom_Mark_V_fleet
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=SkyTrain-Canada+Line
Saturday, March 28, 2026
Is Surrey's Bus Network BROKEN?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC62zzCbzsY Longer vehicles and more frequent bus service is key to mobility.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQdrpK1B1Ac&t=310s Longer trains running at less than 2 minute intervals would greatly help to efficiently move more people around.
The Early Spring in Cold Canada
https://weather.gc.ca/data/wxoimages/wocanmap0_e.jpg
In late March, most of urban Canada is still freezing overnight.
Friday, March 27, 2026
A Penthouse at Vancouver House (Tower)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8dyiJhh_h8
Usually, what's tall by Vancouver standards is small by proper BIG city standards.
Farmland and Food security in B.C.
Most of BC is a vast mountainous wilderness, but good farmland is becoming more scarce and should be protected as much as possible.
Thursday, March 26, 2026
K Line (Los Angeles Metro)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K_Line_(Los_Angeles_Metro)
https://la.urbanize.city/post/metro-seeks-state-funds-extend-green-line-platforms
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K_Line_(Los_Angeles_Metro)#Rolling_stock
| Car length | 89 ft (27.13 m) |
|---|---|
| Width | 8 ft 83⁄4 in (2.66 m) |
| Height | 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m) |
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinki_Sharyo_P3010
.jpg/960px-LA_Metro_Rail_Expo_Line_Kinki_Sharyo_P3010_17th_St_Santa_Monica_College_Station_(48943282587).jpg)
https://www.metro.net/projects/kline-northern-extension Just like in SD, Seattle, Calgary and Edmonton, their LRT trains are longer than the ones on the first 2 Skytrain lines. Especially, the embarrassing Canada Line.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-03-24/this-rail-line-would-get-you-to-grove-beverly-center-cedars-sinai-is-it-l-a-s-missing-link In backwards BC its like it takes 2 or 3 people to turn a lightbulb than someone in Quebec. An 80m Skytrain on the first 2 lines would have to be about twice as frequent as a 152.5m Montreal Metro train to match capacity. The ridicules 50m maximum allowance for Canada Line trains would have to run 3 times as frequently as a Montreal Metro train.
https://la.streetsblog.org/2026/03/18/metro-committee-again-sides-with-nimbys-postpones-key-north-k-line-rail-decision Unfortunatly, the Vancouver Mind Virus is all about holding back the scale of the city. Thus, anytime that a bridge or street can be narrower, a building kept shorter and especially a train kept short, is all part of the imposed symbolism of refusing to build on a BIG city scale.
Sunny L.A. has been thinking, planning and building like a BIG city for over a century. In contrast, rainy Vancouver has been refusing to think on a big city scale throughout its history. For several decades, all White city counsels kept imposing various restrictions to keep Vancouver on a small scale.
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
CTV News tours Toronto's and Canada's tallest building
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhIgf9wkIsQ , https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=106497
Greater Tokyo has as many people as Canada. https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?cityID=12&status=15
Ontario only has a few big cities. Other than the GTA, Ottawa is the only other part of Ontario with over a million people. https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?stateID=7&status=15
Monday, March 23, 2026
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Friday, March 20, 2026
Hudson yards Manhattan
The $25 Billion Gamble That Transformed New York's Skyline https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TulM9slrWEM
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Vancouver ranked as Canada’s most congested city in 2025 and was among the top 50 most congested cities worldwide.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-residents-drive-frequently-canadians
Of course as gas prices rise, along with food and general living costs, more people will not bother to have a car or truck. However, the region still needs a series of bus bridges, because most of the existing bridges are too narrow to accommodate proper express bus lanes.
The lack of regional rapid bus bridges, short trains and short stations, all helps Greater Vancouver to perpetually be stuck in its shortsighted planning nightmare of congestion.
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Monday, March 16, 2026
Sunday, March 15, 2026
The Marine Building in Vancouver
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfZ96A-iCqo
The Marine+Building should have been twice its height, or at least 1.5 times its height.
https://www.bcmag.ca/visiting-the-marine-building-in-vancouver/
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-marine-building-vancouver-british-columbia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_Building
https://forbiddenvancouver.ca/the-marine-building Of course the building had to be half size, because anything big and tall in Vancouver is forbidden!
It wasn't even allowed to be as tall as the former Northern+Life Tower in Seattle.
Northern Life - Seattle Tower
https://www.historylink.org/File/9633
https://pauldorpat.com/2013/02/16/seattle-now-then-the-northern-life-aka-seattle-tower/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_Tower
https://www.facebook.com/groups/379569529068459/posts/2551976038494453/
https://www.reddit.com/r/skyscrapers/comments/vzsy3p/the_northern_life_building_seattle_350_ft106_m/
Saturday, March 14, 2026
Friday, March 13, 2026
Queen Elizabeth Park
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/queen-elizabeth-park-vancouver-attractions-zipline-canopy
An observation tower that's well above the trees sure would be nice, but some people want the trees to block out the views of the city.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/queen-elizabeth-park-zipline-tree-canopy-walk-vancouver
The no fun city types always come out of the woodwork to spread the VMV.
The Dunsmuir Tunnel in Downtown Vancouver, SkyTrain service to be reduced on weekends until June
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/downtown-vancouver-skytrain-service-delays-weekends Had the old railway tunnel been originally designed to be double tracked, it could have been converted into a double level, 4 track LRT tunnel, instead of a 2 track LRT tunnel.
Ideally, if a subway or metro line doesn't have 4 tracks, 3 would be the next best thing. Then, 2 tracks could always remain operational while the 3rd is being repaired. For the most part, Skytrain is just a double track system. Unfortunately, the YVR-Canada Line is even single tracked at the end of the line in YVR and in downtown Richmond.
The Canada Line should have been the 1st phase of an eventual south extension to Delta and the BC ferry terminal. Plus, a north extension from Waterfront_station_in Vancouver to Lonsdale_Quay and the ferry terminal. This would be a vital link between Canada_Line and the two regional ferry terminals. Unfortunately, Vancouver and BC are about maintaining congestion and transportation inefficiency.
Perhaps someday, if Vancouver is ever allowed to function like a proper big city, the Dunsmuir_Tunnel could be extended under Stanley Park and the 1st Narrows to Park Royal and to the ferry terminal. However, what's more likely to happen is that after the Dunsmuir_Tunnel reaches Waterfront_station, the line will continue east.
https://evelazarus.com/the-dunsmuir-tunnel
https://buzzer.translink.ca/2022/04/new-tunnel-technology-will-transform-your-skytrain-trip/
https://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/construction-progress-photo-of-cpr-dunsmuir-tunnel-10
https://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/construction-progress-photo-of-cpr-dunsmuir-tunnel-9
Inside Seattle’s $6 Billion Bridge Rebuild
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EwKnXtfsxg
The $5.7 BILLION Struggle To Build Seattle’s Giant New Bridge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qbk691UFw3w
Thursday, March 12, 2026
The 50 best cities in the world?
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-best-city-world-timeout
Fortunately, Australia doesn't have half a year of cold, crappy weather. Even the North Island of NZ can avoid the crappy Canadian weather. Unfortunately, if one wants to avoid the harsh Canadian winter, the best locations are in Greater Vancouver and Greater Victoria, or SW BC in general.
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Vancouver City Council green lights funding to keep Car Free Days afloat
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-car-free-days-funding-city-council
The no+fun+city aspect of the Vancouver Mind Virus (VMV) isn't suppose to be real, but it occasionally keeps manifesting. Fortunately, these street festivals still have a chance in Vancouver. Just like some truncated summer fireworks still might be possible.
What's really fortunate is that the VMV hasn't spread to Montreal & Toronto, Calgary & Edmonton, or Winnipeg, QC & Halifax. Especially to any of the major cities in Australia & NZ.
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Montreal vs. New York City
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hqfb2qXsTKw
A big city versus a HUGE, expensive city.
Surrey should have more night-bus routes.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Translink/comments/1rop925/thoughts_on_yvr_movenments_idea_of_making_surrey
Alberta has two cities with over a million people each, those being Calgary and Edmonton.
Vancouver has never had 1 million residents, but the Metro_Vancouver_Regional_District has well over 3 million people.
Victoria,_British_Columbia has yet to reach 100K, but the Capital_Regional_District is getting close to half a million.
Surrey has almost 3 quarters of a million people and is expected to be the first city in BC to eventually have a million residents.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrey,_British_Columbia#Current_transportation_network
Surrey like Burnaby, will eventually have some of the tallest buildings in BC, that's because they aren't under the extreme height restrictions that Vancouver has.
https://www.surrey.ca/about-surrey
https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?cityID=2&status=15 Surrey
https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?stateID=1&status=15 BC
https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?countryID=1&status=15 Canada
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