Monday, August 24, 2026

BRT in backwards BC

 Of course Greater Vancouver really needs a big city BRT network, but unless a proper series of bus and bike bridges are built, its all just a Half-A$$ED joke.

https://www.pattullobridgereplacement.ca/about/projectoverview Of course the new bridge opened without any express bus lanes, especially no BRT corridor. Yet, Skytrain isn't a 24hr system, but a bus can be.

https://www.railforthevalley.com/latest-news/translinks-hype-and-hoopla-about-brt-is-just-another-wet-squibb 

https://www.railforthevalley.com/tag/brt 


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=BRT

Stockholm, SV

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm#Public_transportation 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm_Metro Unfortunatly, provincial Vancouver isn't allowed to have proper long big city type trains like in Stockholm or the Montreal Metro.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm_Metro#Rolling_stock

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SL_C30 , https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SL_C20 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm#Roads

Reykjavík, Iceland

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reykjav%C3%ADk

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Reykjavik 

The BC part of Canada has more than 10 times the population of Iceland

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_Region_(Iceland) 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reykjav%C3%ADk#Roads Once an urban area is busy enough, there should be a 3rd or 4th lane each way, so that there can be a bus lane or express bus lane each way. Of course, a proper BRT system requires its own right of way. Thus, its usually separated from the general traffic lanes.

Reykjavík has some overpasses and a bridge that are at least 6 lanes wide. 

A key overpass with four lanes each way. This already has enough space for eight lanes.

This already has the space for three lanes each way. Nine lanes with enough space for 10. 

In contrast, the Knight+Street+Bridge between Vancouver and Richmond becomes a classic 2 lane each way BC bottleneck-chokepoint. Unless a parallel bus and bike bridge is built, it will remain as an inefficient crossing. A parallel bridge could have 2 express bus lanes and 2 HOV lanes, plus 2 wide bike lanes and 2 footpaths. Two truck lanes would also be good, since Greater Vancouver is supposed to be a major port region.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keflav%C3%ADk_International_Airport 

There is enough space for this to be a big airport, someday.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Keflav%C3%ADk+International+Airport/@63.9799068,-22.6378612,4682m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x4929fdfce2ab799f:0x27f88d0a15c328cd!8m2!3d63.9814869!4d-22.6281862!16zL20vMDRkMTlz!5m1!1e2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDgxOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

NYC's Subway is Expanding with some New Stations

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0FXQf5ByiI

Saturday, August 22, 2026

The 14 lane George Washington bridge vs...

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH6Q8yWjYpM There are wider sections of freeways in the US, but the double deck GWB has the most lanes. 

Wow, in backwards Vancouver, or almost anywhere in backwater BC, just having 2 lanes each way is tough enough. A consistent 3rd lane each way could be for busses and a 4th lane for HOVs. Given that Greater Vancouver is supposed to be a major port region, several of the bridges should also have a truck lane each way. However, there is only one bridge in backwards BC that has 5 lanes each way. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Mann_Bridge#New_bridge Unfortunatly, it wasn't designed to have a lower deck. Such a lower deck could have had 2 freight train tracks, 2 commuter train tracks and even a provision for 2 BRT lanes. 

Essentially, in any proper big urban area, the bridges should not only provide at least 3 general lanes each way, but a bus and HOV lane each way. That's 5 lanes each way, plus on some crossings that are closer to port activity, there should even be a 6th lane each way. That's the case with the Sir_Leo_Hielscher_Bridges. Unfortunately, unlike Queensland, BC has been very reluctant towards bridge duplication or twinning. 

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/traveller-information/routes-and-driving-conditions/hov-lanes 

https://www.nsnews.com/local-news/bus-hov-lanes-different-2918490

https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouver/comments/1d3fixq/hov_and_bus_lanes_how_to_deter_abuse/ 

While Australia has Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane as its major Pacific Rim gateways, Canada just has provincial Vancouver, Victoria and Prince Rupert as port gateway cities. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Leo_Hielscher_Bridges#Design

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Gateway_Bridge_aerial4.JPG

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Leo_Hielscher_Bridges#Duplication A 12 lane crossing.

The Port_of_Brisbane and the Brisbane_Airport are excellent port facilities in Queensland. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_of_Brisbane#Facilities

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brisbane_Airport#Rail Far away from the inept transportation planning in Greater Vancouver, Brisbane was able to do things correctly.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airport_line,_Brisbane Unfortunatly, backwards BC just can't seem to properly plan big city type infrastructure.

The YVR-Canada_Line is a total embarrassment! 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_Line#Stations Not 150 m, not 100 m, only a 50 m level clarence was allowed for the stations. Even the first 2 Skytrain lines only have 80 m stations, when they should have almost been twice as long. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_Line#Technology Aparently, the inept planning was due to cost saving measures. Thus, instead of designing the stations to be long enough to accommodate 5 car trains, they were only designed to ultimately have 2.5 car trains. Since 2009, the Canada_Line still only has 2 car joke trains. 

The Tilikum_Crossing in Portland vs the North_Arm_Bridge between Vancouver and Richmond. The Tilikum_Crossing accommodates 2 bike lanes, 2 footpaths, 2 MAX-LRT tracks, 2 articulated_bus lanes and even streetcars can cross on it. Such a fine bridge just hasn't been allowed in BC.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/NorthArmBridge.jpg 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Arm_Bridge#Details This bridge should have been wide enough to eventually accommodate 2 bike lanes, 2 footpaths and especially, 2 BRT lanes, the the Skytrain doesn't run on a 24hr schedule. 

Given that most of the bridges in BC are so narrow, there needs to be proper bus, bike & HOV bridges built.

Transportation infrastructure doesn't have to be such a sad joke in backwards BC. 

City of Vancouver outlines three preliminary Kitsilano Outdoor Pool renewal concepts

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/kitsilano-outdoor-pool-vancouver-feasibility-study-renewal-redevelopment-options

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Hullo Ferries surpasses 1.5 million passengers on third anniversary

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/hullo-ferries-nanaimo-vancouver-third-anniversary 

Now, if only provincial, backwater Vancouver could ever have a proper big city size commuter ferry system like what Sydney and SF Bay_Area have...

Monday, August 17, 2026

Should San Diego Cancel the Uptown Streetcar plan?

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0wlKL8AulQ

Car drives into McArthurGlen luxury store in Richmond

 https://www.richmond-news.com/local-news/car-drives-into-mcarthurglen-luxury-store-in-richmond-12675519 

Buildings in BC can be designed in such a way that makes it very difficult to crash into a structure.

The Oakridge–41st Avenue Station

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/oakridge-41st-avenue-station-early-closure-construction-august-2026

 https://www.richmond-news.com/highlights/vancouver-canada-line-station-close-early-august-2026-12675151 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Oakridge-41st+Avenue 

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/canada-line-skytrain For a line of B$ to have opened in 2009 and is still only using 2 car joke trains is a pretty sad example of inept transportation infrastructure planning. 

Even using the argument that it was necessary to have a watered down or scaled back the YVR-Canada+Line to save money, this line of B$ still could have been designed to eventually become a proper big city like train. As long as the 50 m stations were designed with a future level clearance of 130 m to 153 m, the underground stations could have been as long as the Montreal Metro stations, or at least as long as the underground Edmonton LRT stations.

The YVR-Canada Line since 2009

The Canada_Line opened with 2 car trains and is still running just 2 car trains. 

https://thecanadaline.com/station-history No reasonable attempt was made to make sure that the stations could eventually accommodate at least 5 car trains. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_Line#Stations The inadequate 50 m stations can only accommodate a 2.5 car train, not a 5 car train.

https://globalnews.ca/news/5778392/canada-line-10-year-anniversary/

https://buzzer.translink.ca/2024/08/skytrains-canada-line-marks-15th-anniversary/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_Line#Technology 

https://www.atkinsrealis.com/en/projects/the-canada-line 

https://thetyee.ca/News/2025/01/31/Canada-Line-New-Stop-Years-Making/ 

https://www.bb-gi.com/investment/canada-line/ 

https://www.railforthevalley.com/latest-news/zweisystem/should-we-convert-the-canada-line-to-light-rail-2 

Fortunately, the REM trains in Montreal can accommodate 4 car trains, as does the Skyline_(Honolulu)


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=YVR-Canada+Line

Hospital wait times are a rising issue in Surrey

 https://surreynowleader.com/2026/08/17/letter-hospital-wait-times-are-a-rising-issue-in-surrey/

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Chemtrade and North Vancouver

 https://www.nsnews.com/local-news/district-of-north-vancouver-resident-sues-to-overturn-chemtrade-chlorine-vote-12659710 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Chemtrade+Electrochem+Inc.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/chemtrade-district-north-vancouver-bc-take-2-9.7276829 

https://www.askchemtrade.ca/ 

By now, there should have been a North Boundary Road bus & bike bridge. Such a bus & bike bridge could be built in a way that isn't too disruptive to Orcas+Snow+Removal and Chemtrade+Electrochem+Inc., or any other businesses. 

There should have also been a Willingdon Avenue bus & bike bride over the inlet by now. Instead, a 3 lane each way Iron Bridge is supposed to handle not only the TCH traffic, but regional traffic & truck traffic in what is supposed to be a major port region. 

The Iron Bridge is so narrow, because there wasn't any serious consideration to have 2 emergency lanes, 2 wide shoulders and especially no bus or HOV lanes. Of course there should have been a parallel LRT bridge built there several decades ago, as well.


Tuesday, August 11, 2026

A look inside Broadway-City Hall Station's future Canada Line-Millennium Line interchange

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/broadway-city-hall-station-canada-millennium-lines-skytrain-interchange-construction 

It really would have been nice if the YVR-Canada Line was able to run 5 car trains by now. Unfortunately, due to inept transportation planning in the BC part of Canada, the stations were only designed to accommodate 2.5 car trains. 

A 2.5 car train fits right in with a 3 lane Lion Bridge that was never augmented with parallel BRT and LRT train tunnels. 

Backwards Vancouver and backwater BC, are some of the best places in the world to see inept multigenerational transportation infrastructure. 


Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Europe's Biggest Airport Expansion is (Finally) Complete

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx7nUpDec1Q

A glowing glass CTA shell is about to appear over one of Chicago's busiest streets.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrskuMTeUKA

The office stumps of Vancouver, BC

No office tower in Vancouver has eve been permitted to have a 40th floor.

https://skyscraperpage.com/b106925/vancouver/the-stack

https://skyscraperpage.com/b63/vancouver/royal-centre

https://skyscraperpage.com/b5828/vancouver/b5

https://skyscraperpage.com/b66/vancouver/park-place

https://skyscraperpage.com/b64/vancouver/four-bentall-centre

https://skyscraperpage.com/b65/vancouver/the-scotia-tower

https://skyscraperpage.com/b98113/vancouver/the-exchange

https://skyscraperpage.com/b67/vancouver/toronto-dominion-tower-at-pacific-centre

https://skyscraperpage.com/b41476/vancouver/b6

https://skyscraperpage.com/b100729/vancouver/vancouver-centre-2 

https://skyscraperpage.com/b7191/vancouver/200-granville-square

https://skyscraperpage.com/b68/vancouver/three-bentall-centre

https://skyscraperpage.com/b6162/vancouver/320-granville 

https://skyscraperpage.com/b60/vancouver/harbour-centre The office floors don't even get above 28. https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/vancouver/harbour-centre/4144 If the Harbour_Centre office floors had continued right up to the base of the flag-pole, it would be equivalent to 40 stories. However, the revolving_restaurant is more equivalent to 35 floors. With the height to the tip of the antenna as being 177.1 m (581 ft), the flag could be considered to be at the equivalent of 48th floors. But there are no floors in the flag-pole.

Had the flag-pole or antenna not been built, the Harbor Centre would have been slightly shorter than the original height of the tallest Giza_pyramid.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pyramid_of_Giza "Initially standing at 146.6 metres (481 feet), the Great Pyramid was the world's tallest human-made structure for more than 3,700 years." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pyramid_of_Giza#Pyramidion_and_missing_tip

https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?searchID=117075754&page=1 

Only 2 buildings in restrictive Vancouver have been allowed to be taller than the Cairo_Tower and the Space_Needle. Only 1 building in Vancouver has been allowed to be taller than the Calgary_Tower

Vancouver is about implementing short buildings, short trains and narrow bridges. Since the multigenerational power structure can't build a wall around the city to keep people out, the next best thing is to symbolically take a small scale approach to things. Thus, its very difficult for proper BIG city stuff to get built in backwards Vancouver. 

BC is 23 times larger than Switzerland, yet it doesn't even have the population of one CH. 

Despite Canada being the 2nd largest nation in overall area, it has less than half of 1% of the worlds population. Thus, Canada is but a spec of the worlds population. 

Pattullo Bridge Replacement is Riverview or stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzYpjubqCpQ

Broadway Subway in Vancouver

 https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Broadway+Subway

Some massive transportation projects in Metro Vancouver

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emSr9NLwfT4 

Unfortunately, the Broadway+Subway will only open with the potential of 5 car trains, not 10. 

Unfortunately, the YVR-Canada+Line wasn't even designed to have 5 car trains, only a potential of 2.5 car trains, someday. 

Of course the Massey+Tunnel+replacement wasn't designed to have an LRT and a BRT section. Thus, in addition to the basic 3 lanes each way, there will only be an express bus lane.

A separate BRT section would be beneficial since BC doesn't want to run 24hr trains. Thus, when the LRT is shutdown for maintenance, a 24hr BRT line could still be running. Unfortunately, part of the BC Mind Virus is backwards thinking and inept infrastructure planning. Of course there is still no official plan to have LRT from YVR to the Tsawwassen Ferry terminal anytime soon.

Toronto's Skyline

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es-8mBA99JY  


Hidden design at TD Centre, Toronto's Mid-Century Modern masterpiece https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZyrtdigyyw

35-storey hotel and condo tower approved next to Robson Square in Downtown Vancouver

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/807-819-hornby-street-908-948-robson-street-vancouver-reliance-hotel-approved

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

Metro Vancouver's smoky skies

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/metro-vancouver-wildfire-smoke-aug-2026-12625815

 https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/metro-vancouver-weather-forecast-hazy-sunshine-aug-2026-12626692

Historic photos show Stanley Park more than 100 years ago

 https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/historic-photos-show-stanley-park-more-than-100-years-ago-12623887 

https://www.vmcdn.ca/f/files/via/images/historic-images/vancouverarchives/stanley-park-100-years-1920s-entrance.jpg;w=960;h=640;bgcolor=000000 A nice wide public walkway. Unfortunately, due to a lack of a proper big city vision, no 4-6 lane wide right of way was ever established through the park. 

https://stanleyparkvan.com/stanley-park-van-road-stanley-park-causeway.html 

The 3 lane wide option was never followed-up with a lower 3 lane tunnel. So, instead of 3 lanes each way, everything is funneled into just 3 lanes.

https://council.vancouver.ca/000203/pe3.htm Thus, no need to have a bridge designed to be strong enough to have at least two 3 lane decks.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/Lions%27_Gate_Bridge_1938.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=index&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled 

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Lion%27s_Gate_Bridge_and_North_Vancouver.jpg/1280px-Lion%27s_Gate_Bridge_and_North_Vancouver.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=index&utm_content=thumbnail 

In Vancouver and backwards BC in general, its very difficult to build infrastructure for long-range future capacity.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Stanley_Park_Labeled_Aerial_Map.png 

After several generations, Stanley_Park has remained as a provincial gateway to backwater Vancouver.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Park#21st_century 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia_Highway_99#Vancouver 

While no one was able to stop the Horseshoe_Bay_ferry_terminal from being built, too many people still don't want Greater_Vancouver to have a proper big city train and highway link between West_Vancouver and Downtown_Vancouver

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/Vancouver_Metropolitan_Area%2C_2018.jpg/3840px-Vancouver_Metropolitan_Area%2C_2018.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=index&utm_content=thumbnail 

Fortunately, the BCMV never made it to Sydney, NSW and SF, CA. Thus, their CBD or downtown has good rail and highway links.

However, it was almost like part of the Vancouver MV made it to Auckland, NZ.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_Harbour_Bridge#Clip-ons_(1967%E2%80%931969) 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_Harbour_Bridge#Alternate_proposal A parallel bus, bike and train bridge should have been built decades ago. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Harbour_Crossing,_Auckland#2023_Waitemat%C4%81_Harbour_Connections_proposals 

https://www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/waitemata-harbour-connections 

https://infrastructurepipeline.org/project/additional-waitemata-harbour-crossing 

https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2026/05/27/build-this-brilliant-bridge 

https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/04-06-2026/privately-funded-second-auckland-harbour-bridge-unlikely-to-achieve-value-for-money-nzta-report-warns

Major riverfront park expansion opens at the foot of New Westminster's new tallest building

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/new-westminster-pier-park-expansion-fraser-river-waterfront-bosa-development

Saturday, August 1, 2026

How Zürich fixed the commuter train problem

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cvuthXbTDQ 

This is the type of intercity train that could link some BC cities like Victoria with Nanaimo, Vancouver with Abbotsford & Chilliwack. Kelowna, Vernon & Penticton. Kamloops and Prince George. Prince Rupert & Kitimat with PG. Unfortunately, with the slow mindset and backwards approach to things in BC, it might not happen for a very long time.

Friday, July 31, 2026

Metro Vancouver weather at the start of August

 https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/metro-vancouver-weather-thunderstorms-august-2026-12618550

They Built the Seattle Space Needle in 400 Days

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDUS5138a2U 1962

The Calgary Tower

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2JFHsaFG24

Calgary's changing skyline

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZsBc9B3lI4

Why Houston Is Spending $13 Billion To Fix Traffic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNDJ9CEAMYE

Why Houston Makes No Sense https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DdDoJgRGLY&t=255s 

 Why Houston Is Rebuilding Its Airport From Scratch youtube.com/watch?v=xjqzKFJ9fAI&pp=ugUEEgJlbg%3D%3D

Hottest days of Southern California heat wave

 https://ktla.com/weather/southern-california-extreme-heat-high-surf

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/weather-news/la-heat-forecast-weekend-temperatures/3924118/

https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/los-angeles/90012/july-weather/347625 LA had 21 days that were at least 30 C. 

https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/los-angeles/90012/august-weather/347625?year=2026 

https://weather.com/en-CA/us/california/city/los-angeles/tenday

In record heat, a warming world has come to rely on Chinese air-conditioners

 https://www.accuweather.com/en/climate/in-record-heat-a-warming-world-has-come-to-rely-on-china-to-stay-cool/1917424 

As the world warms up, Vancouver and Victoria still only seem to get 40 C temperatures a few days to a week out of each decade. 

https://vancouver.weatherstats.ca/charts/temperature-yearly.html 

https://weatherspark.com/y/476/Average-Weather-in-Vancouver-British-Columbia-Canada-Year-Round 

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2026/06/23/multiple-heat-records-set-monday-across-b-c Its so difficult for Vancouver and Victoria to ever reach 30 C, let alone 35 C and hardly ever 40 C.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/ca/vancouver/v6c/june-weather/53286?year=2026 Vancouver only had 2 days in June that were at least 30 C. 

https://www.accuweather.com/en/ca/victoria/v8w/june-weather/47163?year=2026 Wow, Victoria actually has 3 days in June that were at least 25 C. Of course no 30 C days.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-heat-wave-august-14-2023-1.6935750 In 2023, despite a heatwave in BC, Vancouver and Victoria never reached 40 C.

Thursday, July 30, 2026

PM Carney says B.C. port expansion necessary to boost exports and independence

 https://globalnews.ca/news/12003754/carney-port-of-vancouver-expansion-plans/ 

https://www.portvancouver.com/project/roberts-bank-terminal-2 

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2026/07/30/carney-touts-b-c-port-expansion-plan-to-strengthen-independence-diversify-economy 

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/port-of-vancouver-gateway-strategy-roberts-bank-terminal-2-major-projects-office

https://www.canada.ca/en/one-canadian-economy/news/2026/07/port-of-vancouver-gateway-strategy.html 

https://sustainableworldports.org/project/vancouver-fraser-port-authority-centerm-expansion-project/ 

https://www.portvancouver.com/business-and-projects/projects

Summer in Greater Vancouver

 https://www.delta-optimist.com/highlights/vancouver-weather-edmonton-flooding-july-2026-12612951 

Summer is only 3 months or about 90 days. Take the last week of May and the first week of September and you have a potential of 104 days. Unfortunately, many of those days aren't hot and dry, because a lot of warm and damp days get in the way. 

According to AW, there were only 2 days in July that were at least 30 C. https://www.accuweather.com/en/ca/vancouver/v6c/july-weather/53286 Only 11 days in July got to at least 25 C.

There were only 2 days in June that were at least 30 C. https://www.accuweather.com/en/ca/vancouver/v6c/june-weather/53286?year=2026 There were only 11 June days that were at least 25 C. 

Is It Always Sunny in Philadelphia? Of course not.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It's_Always_Sunny_in_Philadelphia

 Why Philadelphia Is Weirder Than You Think https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgGOQCxOHKw

Concord Pacific tower in Metrotown now weeks away from becoming Metro Vancouver's tallest building

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/concord-metrotown-sky-house-metro-vancouver-tallest-building-construction-progress 

https://skyscraperpage.com/b114729/burnaby/grand-tower-at-sky-park 

https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?cityID=31 

https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?cityID=31&status=15 


https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?stateID=1 

https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?stateID=1&status=15

Delta's landscape will change with Alberta oil pipe

 https://www.delta-optimist.com/local-news/heres-how-deltas-landscape-will-change-with-alberta-oil-12581768

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

A Commercial-Broadway rental housing tower might need to be redesigned for an additional SkyTrain station platform and pedestrian bridge

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/skytrain-commercial-broadway-station-rental-tower-additional-platform-pedestrian-bridge 

It looks like dailyhive.com might be the only local media to effectively inform people about this potential transportation infrastructure blunder. Vancouver has notoriously not properly planned things for future capacity. A proper big city Commercial-Broadway_station is essential, so there should be enough clearance for another platform, when its needed. Thus, any new structure should be designed to allow for extra station space. There is just something inept about infrastructure planning in Vancouver and BC in general.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/YVRBroadwayStn.JPG/1280px-YVRBroadwayStn.JPG Platform 4 and what should be a potential platform 6 just west of it. 

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/Commercial_Broadway_Expo_Line_Platform_5_2025.jpg/1280px-Commercial_Broadway_Expo_Line_Platform_5_2025.jpg Platforms 3 and 5.

Vancouver City Council kills Villages Plan after fierce public backlash

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-villages-plan-rejected-city-council-decision 

Vancouver is a very small city in area. Indeed, Vancouver, Paris, Boston and SF, are all less than 50 square miles in city area. Despite the City of Paris being slightly smaller than the C of V, Paris has 3 times the city population. Apparently, physics is different in backwards Vancouver than it is in Paris. 

Unlike provincial Vancouver, Paris is still allowed to have some wide streets and a better road system overall. Plus, with so many interconnecting train lines, its easier to get around cosmopolitan Paris.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver The city has a land area of 115.18 km2 (44.47 sq mi)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver#Geography 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Elizabeth_Park,_British_Columbia It is located on top of Little Mountain approximately 125 metres (410 ft) above sea level  

https://en-ca.topographic-map.com/map-vzkpm2/Little-Mountain Little Mountain, elevation 125 m (410 ft) 

Of course L.Mt. is shorter than Montmartre , because everything has to be shorter and smaller in provincial Vancouver. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_Vancouver_Regional_District 2,878.93 km2 (1,111.56 sq mi)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower_Mainland 36,303.31 km2 (14,016.79 sq mi)



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris 105.4 km2 (40.7 sq mi)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris#Geography 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montmartre It is 130 m (430 ft) high 

https://www.unjourdeplusaparis.com/en/paris-insolite/plus-haut-point-de-paris it is in Montmartre that the highest point of the capital is located, culminating at 130.53 meters above sea level. That's 428.25 feet, so something in-between 428 and 430 feet above sea level. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Paris 814.2 km2 (314.4 sq mi) 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%8Ele-de-France 12,012 km2 (4,638 sq mi)

Nearly 2.8 million passengers recorded at Vancouver International Airport during FIFA World Cup

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-international-airport-yvr-fifa-world-cup-statistics 

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/translink-fifa-world-cup-fan-festival-express-bus-route-ridership

Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Will the Vancouver weather shift to hotter temperatures and more sunshine in August?

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/metro-vancouver-weather-august-long-weekend-2026-12601648 

According to the AW August forecast, there won't be any 30 C days. https://www.accuweather.com/en/ca/vancouver/v6c/august-weather/53286?year=2026 There might only be 8 days that even get to 25 C.

The Vancouver forecast surer doesn't show any heatwave in August.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/anchorage/99501/august-weather/346835?year=2026 

Perhaps Vancouver will be considered to be hot when compared to Alaska and Yukon, and that's pretty sad.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/ca/whitehorse/y1a/august-weather/51876?year=2026 

You expect summer to be short in Alaska and Yukon, but its so truncated in Vancouver, because of the fall like rainy days that cut it down the sunny days. 

The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE)

 https://www.cnu.org/highways-boulevards/campaign-cities/nyc-BQE 

https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/infrastructure/bqecentral.shtml 


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=BQE

Downtown Calgary

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0neIX0Leys

Monday, July 27, 2026

Planned 30-storey hotel tower next to Marine Drive SkyTrain station in Vancouver

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/8555-cambie-street-vancouver-hotel-tower-breka-bakery-cafe

Western Canada's tallest tower project to move ahead in Downtown Vancouver

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKuZbEE5cco 

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/holborn-vancouver-western-canada-tallest-tower-bay-parkade-redevelopment-approved

Trio of tallest buildings in Vancouver greenlit by city council

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sT_DGhDfKE 

The project should go through as planned. However, the city should have enough leverage to make sure the company to finally follow-through with an earlier agreement to provide low cost housing. 

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/holborn-vancouver-western-canada-tallest-tower-bay-parkade-redevelopment-approved

Record-breaking-Edmonton-faces-another-storm

 https://www.theweathernetwork.com/en/news/weather/forecasts/record-breaking-edmonton-summer-faces-another-storm-threat-canada-rain-lightning 

Its not just Vancouver having crappy fall weather in the summer.

Western Canada's tallest tower, gets green light from Vancouver City Council

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/holborn-vancouver-western-canada-tallest-tower-bay-parkade-redevelopment-approved 

There was a time when Vancouver wasn't allowed to have any building taller than the Great_Pyramid_of_Giza, then Ulm_Minster and then the Philadelphia_City_Hall

The Harbour_Centre had to be less than a 3rd of the CN_Tower

The stations on the first 2 SkyTrain lines are barely 2 thirds of the length of a Montreal_Metro station.

The Canada_Line only has 50 m stations compared to the 152.5 m Montreal_Metro stations. 

For too long, anything that is symbolic of a proper big city was watered down or scaled back in provincial Vancouver. Indeed, Vancouver was supposed to perpetually be a half-sized city, or even a third of what a proper size city should be. The mostly narrow bridges still have no parallel express bus bridge, or BRT bridge built next to them. 

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/holborn-bay-parkade-vancouver-supertall-tower-nav-canada-federal-aviation

If the project actually gets built as envisioned it will be taller than First_Canadian_Place in Toronto, Columbia_Center in Seattle, and a little taller than the Sydney_Tower and the U.S._Bank_Tower_(Los_Angeles). It still won't quite be as tall as Australia_108 in Melbourne or especially the Salesforce_Tower in SF.

Major water tunnel project between Richmond and Delta put off a few years

 https://www.westerninvestor.com/british-columbia/major-water-tunnel-project-between-richmond-and-delta-put-off-a-few-years-12580852 

Just like the new highway tunnel is pushed back to at least 2031. 

There should have been better highway, LRT and freshwater crossings between Richmond and Delta decades ago. Unfortunately, in backwards BC, things take a very long time to get done and not always properly or efficiently.

Saturday, July 25, 2026

Dallas Skyline Will Look COMPLETELY Different by 2035

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3ZhHjtnpUE 

 Dallas’ $8B Gamble: Rebuild the City… or Break It (2027–2029) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJitOoB0KoA

DFW

Why Dallas Is Spending Nearly $1B on this Bridge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gud50kcyJQs  


Austin and San Antonio, the concept of a "Megaregion" already shapes your daily life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmxCw3v9U8I

Detroit's Strange Highway System

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHIka2bRH6E  


 Detroit’s Tiny, Terrible Metro System loop https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZOCVrUxXH4 

This should have been a double track train loop. Then in a way, it could have been the Detroit version of the Chicago loop. However, unlike the actual Loop in Chicago, the Detroit loop wouldn't be connecting to a larger set of train lines. Perhaps Detroit should have just opted for a loop bus route instead. 

Why Montreal’s shortest Metro line exists

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKI4DhIC2DY 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Line_(Montreal_Metro)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDxX0HU3Srg REM 

Unlike the 2009 YVR-Canada Line, which is still only running 2 car joke trains, La REM has 4 car trains. Hardly as long as a 9 car Metro train, but it can run with shorter headways. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Line_(Montreal_Metro)#Proposed_extensions 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Line_(Montreal_Metro)#Rolling_stock 6 car trains

Friday, July 24, 2026

Old Kai Tak Airport in HK

"The airport was designed to handle 24 million passengers per year, but in 1996, Kai Tak handled 29.5 million passengers, plus 1.56 million tonnes of freight..." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kai_Tak_Airport#Overcrowding_in_the_1980s_and_1990s 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kai_Tak_Tunnel  


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=San+Diego+International+Airport

San Diego International Airport is spending $3.8 billion to rebuild Terminal 1

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxzWiH737xM 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego_International_Airport 

Total passengers25,320,556   
Aircraft operations233,275

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego_International_Airport#Runway 


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Old+Kai+Tak+Airport+in+HK

B.C. to speed up current FortisBC Tilbury LNG expansion

https://www.delta-optimist.com/local-news/bc-to-speed-up-current-fortisbc-tilbury-expansion-musqueam-an-equity-partner-12590418  

https://vancouversun.com/news/province-bypasses-utilities-commission-on-key-certificate-for-tilbury-lng-project 

https://www.biv.com/news/resources-agriculture/bc-to-speed-up-current-fortisbc-tilbury-expansion-musqueam-an-equity-partner-12590418

https://globalnews.ca/news/11987912/delta-tilbury-lng-expansion-project-green-light-bc

https://projects.eao.gov.bc.ca/p/5df7f1bfb7434b002164961c/project-details 

https://talkingenergy.ca/project/tilbury-phase-2-lng-expansion-project

https://www.fortisbc.com/lng/liquefied-natural-gas-(lng)-facilities 

https://stand.earth/resources/stoptilbury/

Chicago's Hidden (CTA) Train Line

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGESGf_Hztc&lc=Ugw4x33R8saQC3h6HJB4AaABAg

Security concerns flagged as B.C. port tapped for possible fast track

 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/port-of-vancouver-expansion-security-concerns-9.7278448

TransLink's first European-made next-generation trolley bus to enter service in September

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/translink-solars-trolley-bus-enters-service-september-2026 

Unless there is a regional plan to build proper bus-bridges, the bus system will have too many many bottlenecks and chokepoints on the mostly narrow bridges. 

The 4 lane Cushing+Bridge in Calgary was too narrow and congested for efficient east-west fast buses. So, a parallel bus-bridge was constructed.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17_Avenue_SE_(Calgary)#17_Avenue_Transitway 

Stubborn, backwards Vancouver refuses to follow what Calgary and several other normal cities have done. Fortunately, the Vancouver Mind Virus never reached Calgary. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAX_Purple 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAX_(Calgary)

Concept for Western Canada's tallest tower in Vancouver may need to be shortened to comply with federal aviation requirements

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/holborn-bay-parkade-vancouver-supertall-tower-nav-canada-federal-aviation 


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Bishop_Toronto_City_Airport 

In addition to Toronto having much taller buildings than Vancouver, Boston and LV have buildings taller than the current tallest in Vancouver.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logan_International_Airport 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Reid_International_Airport 


Once again, its like the Vancouver Mind Virus is getting charged up. Whenever a proper big city size project is planned the VMV interferes to stop or at lest water things down. 

You can't have tall buildings in Vancouver, just like you can't have long trains or proper big city bridges. 

Metro Vancouver Regional District to shrink board size by 25%, create new oversight for major projects

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/metro-vancouver-regional-district-board-size-major-project-oversight

Tight security bars public at Metro Vancouver board meeting with CAO absent

 With public access restricted and CAO Jerry Dobrovolny absent, Metro Vancouver's board voted to reduce its size from 41 to 34 directors and distribute a $235-million wastewater plant settlement https://www.biv.com/news/economy-law-politics/tight-security-bars-public-at-metro-vancouver-board-meeting-with-cao-absent-12589967 

A lot of people are PI$$ED-off as to how inept the financial management has gone.

https://globalnews.ca/news/11969430/metro-vancouver-cao-jerry-dobrovolny-could-be-on-way-out/ 

https://www.facebook.com/nwprogress/videos/what-do-you-do-as-chair-of-the-board-when-your-two-most-powerful-members-write-a/1180559684216715/  

A North Shore $HIT-BOX with more than a 3 billion dollar overrun is a fine example.

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Major hotel and condo tower proposed for 1166 West Pender Street

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/1166-west-pender-street-vancouver-hotel-condo-tower-reliance-hines-2026-concept 

Of course Vancouver still isn't allowed to have residential towers as tall as what's in Calgary and Seattle.

https://www.cedistrict.com/projects/marriott-hotel-residences 

https://majorprojects.alberta.ca/details/Stampede-Station-Hotel-Residences/11793 

https://skyscraperpage.com/b168430/calgary/w-calgary 

https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?cityID=3&status=15 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Calgary#Proposed


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telus_Sky 222.3 m (729 ft) vs 201 m in Vancouver.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Calgary#Tallest_buildings


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainier_Square_Tower 850-foot (260 m) vs 201 m in Vancouver.

https://skyscraperpage.com/b103432/seattle/rainier-square-tower 

https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?cityID=27&status=15  


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_Shangri-La 200.86 metres (659 ft) so, almost 201 m is the imposed height limit for Vancouver.

Western Canada's tallest tower, topped off by a world-class observation deck attraction, would give Vancouver a striking new landmark

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/western-canada-tallest-tower-downtown-vancouver-skyline-natural-setting-change 

https://skyscraperpage.com/b165343/vancouver/595-west-georgia-street 

Towers instead of stumps.

https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?countryID=1&status=15 


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Vancouver#Timeline_of_tallest_buildings 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Calgary#Timeline_of_tallest_buildings 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Seattle#Timeline_of_tallest_buildings 


Unfortunately, Vancouver has such an imposed watered down or scaled back approach to the size of things. 

A 3 lane Lions+Gate+Bridge that still has no BRT, truck and LRT tunnel next to it. 

The shortsighted YVR-Canada+Line. Instead of designing longer stations that could accommodate 5 car trains, the 50 m stations can only accommodate 2.5 car trains, some day.

Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Coquitlam’s Upcoming 60,000-Sq.-Ft. Aquatic And Community Centre

 https://604now.com/fraser-mills-community-centre-coquitlam-renderings-2026/ 

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/fraser-mills-community-centre-coquitlam-design While an aquatic centre with a 25-metre, five-lane lap pool seems OK, it should have been designed for double the scale. Of course the rebuilt Vancouver Aquatic Centre will also just have a 25-metre pool, when it should be 50 m.

https://letstalkcoquitlam.ca/FraserMills

https://www.coquitlam.ca/1329/Fraser-Mills-Development 

https://www.beedie.ca/residential/fraser-mills-master-planned-community/

Chicago From Above

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9qvItw6twM  


Chicago’s Tallest Residential Tower https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RIPMLUIfmA

Ranking the Top 50 US Skyscrapers from the Past 50 Years

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsahC79eEog

Built Too Thin?

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwDDihSijzk

Richmond has announced that it is starting to roll out the new residential speed limit that’ll apply citywide.

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/richmond-drivers-speed-limit-30 

While Richmond has a couple of freeways, having slower residential streets makes sense. However, the major streets and roads require faster speeds than a country road, but still slower than a freeway. Richmond has airport road traffic and lots of truck traffic between Vancouver, Delta & NW.