Wednesday, January 29, 2025

WSDOT HOV Overview

 https://seattletransitblog.com/2025/01/29/wsdot-hov-overview/

Translink is-proposing-changes-to-create-these-10-Vancouver-bus-networks

 https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/translink-is-proposing-changes-to-create-these-10-vancouver-bus-networks-10139107

Any port city & metropolitan region with several narrow bridges must be proactive. Thus, there should have been a plan to build a series of bus & truck bridges.

Unless there is a proper amount of transportation infrastructure funding, it's all a joke. Such is the nature of backwater BC.

https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouver/comments/a1x7rp/ever_wondered_what_rapid_transit_in_vancouver

Fortunately, the backward Vancouver mentality never made it to Melbourne, HK, SF, NO, Philadelphia, Boston & Toronto.  

Surrey city centre and its future downtown skyline

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/surrey-city-centre-future-skyline-downtown

Having been forced to live in Cloverdale as a teenager, I would never want to live in Surrey again. However, whenever Surrey can become the biggest city in BC, then Langley & Delta will all become part of a nice urban area of well over a million people south of the Fraser River. 

However, without the necessary urban infrastructure, it will just become another half-assed BC endeavor.

Even if most of the farmland can remain protected, huge farm conglomerates could eventually buy up all of the smaller farms from families that could use the extra cash. Then the farm & food conglomerates can have more leverage to do what they want with the land. Thus, the ALR should have had a provision to help keep the farms as a family business. 

Urban densification can easily evolve around the farmland. The Metropolitan Vancouver Region is surrounded by mountains, forests, farmland & water. But that didn't stop Montreal & Seattle from becoming proper big urban areas.


the north-shore-sewage-plant-as-new-contractor is-confirmed

 https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/highlights/photos-metro-vancouver-offers-look-inside-north-shore-sewage-plant-as-new-contractor-confirmed-10153164

Excrete financial resources so that there isn't enough money for longer trains and bus bridges. 

The HUB tower at 30 Bay Street

 https://dailyhive.com/toronto/30-bay-street-toronto-hub

https://urbantoronto.ca/database/projects/hub.15059

https://www.blogto.com/real-estate-toronto/2025/01/30-bay-street-toronto-hub/

https://rshp.com/projects/office/the-hub-30-bay-street/

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

SF, Melbourne and Toronto...

 https://googlemapsmania.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-streetcars-of-san-francisco.html

Streetcars and trams were gotten rid of in Vancouver & Victoria by the mid 1950s. Vancouver will likely be one of the last major cities to bring them back. It's such a backwards mentality to totally block out a key mode of transit.

Its cool how the CTrain runs down the middle of Memorial-Drive. Just like the C_Line and_Interstate_105 in LA go well together. Unfortunatly, backwards Vancouver isn't allowed to function like a proper big city like SF, Melbourne and Toronto...

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Inbound_N_Judah_train_boarding_at_48th_Avenue%2C_September_2019.JPG Almost like a tram-train in Melbourn, but it's in SF.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/S200_CTrain_leaving_City_Hall_Station.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CTrain Calgary

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_Line_(Los_Angeles_Metro)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Line_(Los_Angeles_Metro)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_Line_(Los_Angeles_Metro)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K_Line_(Los_Angeles_Metro)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G:link GC

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inner_West_Light_Rail Sydney

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premetro_(Buenos_Aires)

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

Its always amazing to see what other cities are allowed to do, simply because they aren't in BC.

The Old Streetcar Lines of Greater Vancouver

https://kumtuks.ca/streetcars-and-metro-vancouver/

https://evelazarus.com/bring-back-the-streetcar/

 https://scoutmagazine.ca/how-to-find-the-old-streetcar-scars-of-east-van/

https://www.facebook.com/VancouverCivicRailway/photos

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/history/last-ride-oak-streetcar-vancouver-1937040

https://www.reddit.com/r/TransitDiagrams/comments/11ie2tt/oc_city_of_vancouvers_longproposed_streetcar/#lightbox

https://stephenrees.blog/2012/04/11/is-it-time-to-bring-back-the-streetcar-to-vancouver/

https://digitize.library.ubc.ca/digitizers-blog/streetcars-before-buses-british-columbia-electric-railway/

https://thetyee.ca/News/2010/10/01/Streetcars/

https://council.vancouver.ca/990323/tt1.htm

https://evelazarus.com/the-train-that-ran-down-hastings-street/

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Old_streetcars_at_the_Corner_of_Hastings_and_Main,_Vancouver.jpg

the streetcar history of north vancouver

 https://monova.ca/the-story-of-streetcar-153/

https://www.nsnews.com/local-news/refurbished-111-year-old-streetcar-rolls-through-north-van-one-last-time-3102590

https://www.nsnews.com/sponsored/this-metro-vancouver-municipality-has-been-named-canadas-most-livable-city-10076961

Robson Street plaza construction digs up historic streetcar tracks

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bute-robson-plaza-historic-streetcar-tracks-construction

https://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/robson-line-streetcar-at-english-bay

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robson_Street#History

https://westendvancouver.wordpress.com/historical-background/streetcars/

https://montecristomagazine.com/community/vancouvers-forgotten-streetcars

https://scoutmagazine.ca/how-to-find-the-old-streetcar-scars-of-east-van/

https://kumtuks.ca/streetcars-and-metro-vancouver/

https://www.facebook.com/VancouverCivicRailway/photos

https://digitize.library.ubc.ca/digitizers-blog/streetcars-before-buses-british-columbia-electric-railway/

translink-canada-public-transit-fund-baseline-funding

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/translink-canada-public-transit-fund-baseline-funding

Sunday, January 26, 2025

A new MAX Tunnel for Portland, someday?

 https://seattletransitblog.com/2025/01/26/sunday-movie-max-tunnel/

A fatal five-car collision on the very narrow Pattullo Bridge

https://globalnews.ca/video/10978653/police-investigating-after-fatal-five-car-collision-on-pattullo-bridge/

The 1930s Pattullo-Bridge just wasn't designed for what should be a major Pacific seaport region.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/woman-dead-following-five-car-crash-on-pattullo-bridge-in-surrey-bc/

Unlike Sydney, Australia & SF, California in the 1930s, NW always had a provincial backwater mentality. NW should have acquired the Coquitlams in order to attempt to be a big city, but that would go against its BC backwater agenda. Surrey in the 1930s was never envisioned to be that much of anything. No one ever thought that almost a century ago, that Surrey could eventually become the most populated city in backward BC.  

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/pattullo-bridge-closure-1.7442030

Unfortunatly, with so much of the infrastructure in BC, it wasn't designed for future expansion or capacity upgrades.

https://vancouversun.com/news/fatal-five-vehicle-crash-pattullo-bridge

https://www.pattullobridgereplacement.ca The new bridge only has a few basic improvements, but still will initially only provide 2 lanes each way. It should have opened with 3 lanes each way & with a provision for an equally wide lower deck. Such a lower deck could have allowed for a bus & HOV lane each way, plus a truck lane each way. Also, enough clearance for 2 LRT tracks.

https://www.pattullobridgereplacement.ca/about/projectoverview When the old bridge opened, it only had 1 narrow sidewalk & only enough space for 2 narrow lanes each way. There was no concept to have a couple of bus & a couple of truck lanes. There was a lost opportunity to have a lower deck for 2 streetcar tracks & 2 interurban or tram-train tracks. BC just doesn't have that much of a visionary perspective of things. 

leasehold and freehold properties in Metro Vancouver

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/leasehold-freehold-metro-vancouver

Friday, January 24, 2025

The Mission Bridge in BC

The Mission_Bridge should have been twinned by now. However, some people freak out with the concept of two 4 lane parallel bridges in BC. That would allow for 3 general lanes each way, plus a bus - HOV lane each way. There should also be an LRT line between Abbotsford+and+Mission on its own mostly grade separated right of way. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_Bridge#Highway_bridge_construction_and_opening

A bus & HOV lane each way, plus a truck lane each way, as well as 2 general lanes each would improve on shipping & commuting needs. A new parallel bridge could also accommodate ample bike & footpaths.

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/01/24/mission-crash-closes-bridge-abbotsford/

This segment is already wide enough to accomodate 8 lanes. However, this highway connector has yet to be completed, let alone a new bridge.

https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Mission-BC-Canada/Abbotsford

https://www.bctransit.com/hope/schedules-and-maps/route-overview/?route=31

https://www.abbotsford.ca/city-services/transportation-roads/trucks-and-commercial-goods

Vancouver's Stanley Park Drive bus route proposal

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/translink-stanley-park-drive-bus-route-proposal

There should also be a downtown bus loop. 

skytrain-broadway-subway-bus-route-changes-translink

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/skytrain-broadway-subway-bus-route-changes-translink

8 new Express Bus routes proposed by TransLink

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/translink-new-express-bus-routes-vancouver-burnaby-proposal

Proposed new Vancouver floating hotel includes onboard public restaurants and bars

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-floating-hotel-sunborn-concept

There will be some people that will try to ban this, because they always want Vancouver to be a watered-down, boring backwater of a city. 

Clark and Knight Street Corridor

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

https://council.vancouver.ca/20050329/tt5App1.pdf

The Knight+Street+Corridor mostly has the potential to provide 3 lanes each way. However, the middle of the Knight_Street_Bridge and the Clark Drive diversion only has 2 lanes each way. However, by 12th Avenue, Clark Drive would be 6_lanes_wide up to Hastings Street.


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Knight+Street

Some 3 Lane Bridges

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angus_L._Macdonald_Bridge ,  https://www.google.com/maps/place/Angus+L.+Macdonald+Bridge/@44.6643611,-63.5847599,265m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x4b4513bbd026ebc5:0xcd90670d5a4a675b!2sHalifax+Regional+Municipality,+NS!3b1!8m2!3d44.8857087!4d-63.1005273!16zL20vMDM2azBz!3m5!1s0x4b5a2160af03fd89:0x8025000ffacdc8de!8m2!3d44.6645517!4d-63.5839728!16s%2Fg%2F11ck63t_40?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDEyMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lions_Gate_Bridge , https://www.google.com/maps/place/Lions+Gate+Bridge/@49.315061,-123.1446245,1133m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x548673f143a94fb3:0xbb9196ea9b81f38b!2sVancouver,+BC!3b1!8m2!3d49.2827291!4d-123.1207375!16zL20vMDgwaDI!3m5!1s0x548671e4314afbf5:0x3e51e1a4f59d56fa!8m2!3d49.315048!4d-123.1390072!16zL20vMDJkZ25i?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDEyMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnson_Street_Bridge , https://www.google.com/maps/place/Johnson+Street+Bridge/@48.4281926,-123.373651,380m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x548f738bddb06171:0x38e8f3741ebb48ed!2sVictoria,+BC!3b1!8m2!3d48.4284207!4d-123.3656444!16zL20vMDd5cHQ!3m5!1s0x548f749c9ec2d143:0x5a83be27f477e403!8m2!3d48.4282598!4d-123.3721465!16zL20vMDQzMThs!5m1!1e2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDEyMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tillicum+Road+Bridge/@48.4463719,-123.4008168,180a,35y,351.73h/data=!3m1!1e3!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x548f738bddb06171:0x38e8f3741ebb48ed!2sVictoria,+BC!3b1!8m2!3d48.4284207!4d-123.3656444!16zL20vMDd5cHQ!3m5!1s0x548f73b94ac67827:0xc7f648a7711f586a!8m2!3d48.4463121!4d-123.4003844!16s%2Fg%2F11j5ctz48j!5m1!1e2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDEyMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Craigflower+Bridge/@48.4520413,-123.4235769,136m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x548f738bddb06171:0x38e8f3741ebb48ed!2sVictoria,+BC!3b1!8m2!3d48.4284207!4d-123.3656444!16zL20vMDd5cHQ!3m5!1s0x548f730060a46173:0x5c1c345fde7c9487!8m2!3d48.4521111!4d-123.4232241!16s%2Fg%2F11wnw6dr7m!5m1!1e2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDEyMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=the+3+lane+bridge

View cone changes enable 26-storey West End social housing tower

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/1111-broughton-street-vancouver-social-housing-tower

There has been a muntigerational fear and cultivation to use the local mountains_of_British_Columbia as an excuse to keep Vancouver thwarted & backwards. Yet, most of BC is a mountainous wilderness. Indeed, there are only a handful of cities or urban areas in BC to flourish and thrive. Greater Vancouver & Greater Victoria, Kelowna & Kamloops, Prince George & maybe Prince Rupert.  

https://www.hellobc.com/travel-ideas/mountains , https://peakvisor.com/adm/british-columbia.html

Montreal & Toronto are specks when compared to the wilderness ladndmasses of Quebec & Ontario. NYC & Chicago have hardy overtaken NY State & Illinois. Greater Seattle takes up a small part of Washington State. Calgary & Edmonton are small areas within the Albertan landmass.  

Yet somehow, if Greater Vancouver was allowed to become a proper metropolis, it would overwhelm BC. An area where Switzerland can fit into 23 times. Yet, BC has yet to reach the population of 1 Ch. Canada is nowhere close to containing 1% of the worlds population.

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

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

Thursday, January 23, 2025

Canada should have more big cities to improve Canadian housing affordability and more urban choices

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/canada-needs-more-big-cities-population-housing-growth

https://storeys.com/more-big-cities-housing-crisis-canada/

Why doesn’t Australia simply build more cities?

 https://www.reddit.com/r/AskAnAustralian/comments/17rn4r5/why_doesnt_australia_simply_build_more_cities/

A lot of the secondary cities in each state could become big in their own right.

https://theconversation.com/how-our-regions-can-help-make-australias-growing-cities-more-sustainable-240330

Texas has a lot more people than Australia, yet it's a much smaller area & still has plenty of room.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-11/cities-population-density-congestion-urban-environment/100183522

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1353829222001605

https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-06/future-cities-paper-web.pdf

https://scenariojournal.com/article/made-in-australia

Of course one expects Melbourne and Sydney to have all the big stuff. However, from a Canadian perspective, it's amazing to see that Australia has a 12 lane crossing in Brisbane & a 10 lane crossing in Perth. Such wide bridges just don't exist in Halifax, NS & Victoria, BC.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Leo_Hielscher_Bridges 12 lanes.

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

There is a lot more potential to have express bus lanes & HOV lanes on 10-12 lane bridges than some narrow Vancouver, BC bridge with only 4 lanes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrows_Bridge_(Perth)#Railway_bridge:_2005 Seattle & Montreal would end up having their own version of a wide bridge with a train component as well. Of course, stubborn & backwards Greater Vancouver would be one of the last urban areas to ever allow such  similar bridges.

It doesn't look like anyone from Canada was ever able to convince Australians to give up on bridge duplication & opt to just cram everything into 4 lanes or an inept 3+lane+bridge for two-way traffic.

Winter Storm Enzo Buries the Sunshine State With Historical and Record-Breaking Snowfall

 https://www.thetravel.com/its-snowing-in-florida-winter-storm-enzo-buries-the-sunshine-state-with-historical-and-record-breaking-snowfall/

Fortunately, Queensland, the other Sunshine+State doesn't seem to have this occasional problem. 

https://www.wftv.com/news/local/winter-weather-hits-florida-snowfall-panhandle-cold-temperatures-ahead/LWNQZFAJVJHANILT4XKXY3BSXA/

https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/regional/florida/florida-snow-map-snowfall-totals/67-4991fbb5-f9e3-4978-9cd4-a6f5a4d7b7e2

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Nearly 1 in 3 British Columbians think the province would be better off as its own country

 https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/01/22/bc-sovereign-country-research-co-poll/

B.C. Premier David Eby addresses Metro Vancouver mayors’ salaries

 https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/01/22/metro-vancouver-mayors-salaries-transparency-eby/

A Proposal for Metro Vancouver's tallest tower in Metrotown features a public observation deck attraction

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/mcarthy-plaza-tower-metrotown-5000-kingsway-burnaby-observation-deck

https://storeys.com/mccarthy-plaza-kingsway-metrotown-burnaby/

https://www.burnabynow.com/local-news/gigantic-72-storey-tower-proposed-for-burnabys-metrotown-10061260

https://vancouvermarket.ca/2022/12/07/high-density-mixed-use-redevelopment-proposed-for-5000-kingsway/

How Florida just out snowed some of Canada's biggest snow making cities?

 https://www.theweathernetwork.com/en/news/weather/forecasts/how-did-florida-just-out-snow-some-of-canadas-biggest-snow-making-cities

Several people temporarily leaving cold Canada to live in cold Florida for the winter, WTH?

https://www.mtfxgroup.com/post/a-canadian-snowbird-s-guide-to-florida/

https://www.zoocasa.com/blog/moving-canada-florida/

https://www.snowbirdadvisor.ca/guide-floridas-east-coast-canadian-snowbirds

https://www.sonomad.com/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-spending-a-first-winter-in-florida-for-canadian-snowbirds

https://www.fox13news.com/weather/florida-eh-why-snowbirds-in-canada-love-heading-south

Many people might have been better-off visiting Queensland, the other Sunshine+State

Southern BCs dry January hangs on as precipitation deficit grows

 https://www.theweathernetwork.com/en/news/weather/forecasts/southern-bcs-dry-january-hangs-on-as-precipitation-deficit-grows-vancouver

https://www.theweathernetwork.com/en/news/weather/forecasts/these-british-columbia-cities-are-in-line-for-one-of-their-driest-ever-januarys


TTC suspends service along stretch of Line 1 amid bitterly cold weather

 https://www.cp24.com/local/toronto/2025/01/22/ttc-suspends-service-along-stretch-of-line-1-amid-bitterly-cold-weather/

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/subway-service-sheppard-west-lawrence-west-1.7437982

https://www.cp24.com/local/toronto/2025/01/22/extreme-cold-warning-remains-in-effect-for-toronto-but-more-seasonable-temperatures-will-return-this-week/

https://www.ttc.ca/service-advisories/subway-service#e=0


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

Waterfront Road in Vancouver

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/waterfront-road-emergency-closure-vancouver

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/waterfront-road-vancouver-public-access-closure

Being a port city & region, there should have been a port road along the south side of the inlet, several decades ago.

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/checkpoint-being-added-to-vancouvers-main-street-and-waterfront-road-intersection-8565353

TTC Subway emergency rail repair

 https://www.blogto.com/city/2025/01/ttc-outage-emergency-rail-repair/

If every major subway & metro train line had 4 tracks, it would be so much easier to do maintenance & repairs. Even a triple track line would allow more flexibility.

https://www.cp24.com/local/toronto/2025/01/22/ttc-suspends-service-along-stretch-of-line-1-amid-bitterly-cold-weather/


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

Monday, January 20, 2025

A 250-room floating hotel could be coming to Vancouver

https://globalnews.ca/news/10968601/250-room-floating-hotel-vancouver/

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-convention-centre-floating-hotel-sunborn

An ‘arctic intrusion’ that has brought temperatures will feel as cold as -26C to the GTA

 https://www.cp24.com/local/toronto/2025/01/20/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-arctic-intrusion-that-has-brought-temperatures-that-will-as-cold-as-26-to-the-gta/

Fortunately, no one from backwards Vancouver or backwater BC was ever able to thwart or stunt the progress of Montreal & especially Toronto from becoming real mighty cities. Calgary & Edmonton have also benefited by not being under anything like the backwater BC mentality. 

Unfortunatly, most of Canada gets crappy cold winter weather & before things got ridiculously expensive in BC, people would increasingly move to Victoria & Vancouver to escape the harsh winters.

Greater Victoria hasn't been allowed to become a mighty city like Sydney, Australia or Montreal. Thus, it remains as a quintessential provincial backwater. Watered-down Vancouver hasn't been allowed to become a major city like Seattle. Indeed, Greater Vancouver's urban planning agenda has done almost everything possible to make sure that nothing on the scale of the GTA, the SF Bay Area or Melbourne, Australia exists in backwater BC. All one has to do is look at how small & inept most of the infrastructure is.


Vancouver’s Sen̓áḵw project

 https://senakw.com/design , https://www.nchkay.com/projects/sena%E1%B8%B5w/

https://readsitenews.com/timeline-shows-history-of-vancouvers-sen%cc%93a%e1%b8%b5w-project/

https://www.urbanyvr.com/sen%cc%93a%e1%b8%b5w-service-agreement-vancouver/

https://viewpointvancouver.ca/2022/08/08/servicing-agreement-for-squamish-nations-senawk-development-now-public/

A square on a Station Square tower in Burnaby, BC

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/red-square-metro-vancouver-building-burnaby

https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/complex/1224

https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?p=9743001

https://www.biv.com/news/real-estate/burnabys-kingsway-corridor-grows-up-8234808

https://stationsquare.ca/

Despite being smaller in population & area, Burnaby is starting to think on a grander scale than Vancouver, in some ways. Unlike Vancouver, Burnaby never went to the absurd extent of creating so much red tape & B$. Indeed, Vancouver has imposed several restrictions throughout the decades, that it has become trapped within its own Gordian_Knot, where as Burnaby is able to cut right through it. 

https://www.urbanyvr.com/bosa-brentwood-west/

https://www.burnabynow.com/local-news/colossal-80-storey-73-storey-towers-approved-in-burnaby-with-1400-condos-9561791

https://www.burnabynow.com/local-news/burnaby-mall-redevelopment-plans-for-1440-new-homes-two-highrise-towers-9983656

https://www.urbanyvr.com/amazing-brentwood-and-lougheed-update/

https://www.burnabynow.com/local-news/document-reveals-how-much-developer-paid-to-demovicted-burnaby-renters-9541695

https://www.burnabynow.com/local-news/burnaby-needs-stronger-renter-protections-in-wake-of-new-bc-housing-laws-councillor-8684377

Sunday, January 19, 2025

Extreme cold stretches across Toronto...

 https://toronto.citynews.ca/2025/01/19/extreme-cold-stretches-across-toronto-and-ontario-until-wednesday/

https://www.budgetyourtrip.com/compare/chicago-vs-toronto-4887398-6167865

https://weatherspark.com/compare/y/19863~14091/Comparison-of-the-Average-Weather-in-Toronto-and-Chicago


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

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

Chicago vs. Toronto

 https://versus.com/en/chicago-vs-toronto

https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=Canada&city1=Toronto&country2=United+States&city2=Chicago%2C+IL

https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/ry7m6r/im_always_bewildered_by_the_similarity_between/

http://www.chicagosistercities.com/sister-cities/toronto-canada/

https://www.reddit.com/r/skyscrapers/comments/1f2jxtz/what_great_lake_cluster_is_more_dense_toronto_or Unlike Asia, the USA & Australia, Canada has no building with at least 100 floors, so far. 

https://www.reddit.com/r/skyscrapers/comments/1bqx5iw/future_toronto_vs_current_chicago/#lightbox

Chi https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2Ftoronto-vs-chicago-which-skyline-is-better-v0-xi8pxcn1dlqc1.jpg%3Fwidth%3D2400%26format%3Dpjpg%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3Dccad64d575ca5f3085ad10dc8178f9c98a8c73fc

https://chicago.suntimes.com/crossroads/2020/6/12/21278779/toronto-skyscrapers-global-cities-chicago-city-crossroads-ed-zotti

https://dilemma-x.net/2013/03/07/torontos-population-overtakes-chicago



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

Vancouver city council to hear recommendations for funding Cambie Street Bridge upgrade

 https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/01/18/vancouver-city-council-cambie-street-bridge-funding/

The Cambie-Street-Bridge should have been designed with very wide sidewalks so that a bike path & a walkway were on each side. Then, no lanes would have been removed, as was the case with the Burrard Street Bridge. Unfortunatly, there wasn't any concept to have wide sidewalks on the 1950s Granville Street Bridge, so now 2 lanes are removed, just like on the Burrard Bridge.


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Cambie+Street+Bridge

Friday, January 17, 2025

Metrotown's Tallest Proposed Tower: The 72-Storey McCarthy Plaza

 https://storeys.com/mccarthy-plaza-kingsway-metrotown-burnaby/

Should Canada’s snowbirds boycott travelling to the U.S.?

 https://www.hilltimes.com/story/2025/01/17/forget-trumps-dreams-for-canada-what-about-our-snowbirds-dreams-in-florida/447531/

https://florida-first.com/why-florida-is-and-isnt-the-sunshine-state/

Florida and Queensland both consider themselves as being a Sunshine+State.

https://fortlauderdalemagazine.com/australias-sunshine-state/


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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida#Transportation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida#Cities_and_towns

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida#Intercity_rail


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensland#Cities

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensland#Infrastructure


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

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

tsawwassen-town-centre-mall-redevelopment-delta

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/tsawwassen-town-centre-mall-redevelopment-delta

The new towers at South Granville Station

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/the-stories-at-south-granville-station-vancouver-nicola-wealth-management

https://www.urbanyvr.com/south-granville-subway-station/

https://thestoriessouthgranville.com/

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/1477-west-broadway-skytrain-south-granville-station-tower-approved

https://storeys.com/gracorp-broadway-south-granville-tower/

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/1470-west-broadway-vancouver-skytrain-south-granville-station-entrance

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/broadway-plan-vancouver-taller-towers

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-building-urban-growth-organic-broadway-plan

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/broadway-plan-redevelopment-tenant-evictions-impact

The Tehachapi Loop, one of California's railroad wonders

https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/california-train-loop-wonders-railroad-world-20033899.php

Ottawa now has a brand new public transit train to its airport

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/ottawa-airport-yow-line-4-airport-link-train-downtown

Even before Montreal.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airport_station_(Ottawa)

https://www.octranspo.com/en/our-services/stations-2/airport-01

https://www.yow.ca/about-yow/media-room/news/city-of-ottawa-o-train-starts-at-yow

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6615560

https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/dudas-rail-link-ottawa-airport

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/climb-aboard-ottawa-s-new-and-improved-trillium-line-1.3587749

Noyo River Bridge

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

 https://www.sfgate.com/northcoast/article/fort-bragg-push-suicide-barriers-noyo-bridge-20036591.php

Bridges should have higher railings so that it's much more difficult to jump off.

https://mendovoice.com/2025/01/dental-records-positively-i-d-missing-teen-found-dead-under-bridge/

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Noyo+River+Bridge/@39.4275062,-123.8072656,335m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x80804aa864339263:0xba9b357617555e25!8m2!3d39.4274642!4d-123.8068709!16s%2Fg%2F11g8vpqfwm!5m1!1e2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDExNC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Urban Infrastructure

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_infrastructure#Transportation

https://www.instagram.com/p/CdTZn_UrHyd/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=c57bb90d-d0e1-49c2-8815-55ab204a9046&img_index=1


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

Surrey King George Boulevard Langley-Haney-Place-BRT-routes

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/translink-surrey-king-george-boulevard-langley-haney-place-brt-route-station-maps

Hopefully, the backward Vancouver city planners won't try to influence any lane removals on the 6 lane Golden_Ears_Bridge. As long as the GE Bridge is allowed to retain its 6 lanes, it can have 2 effective BRT lanes, along with 4 general lanes. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Ears_Bridge , https://images.drivebc.ca/bchighwaycam/pub/html/www/827.html

The Metro_Vancouver_Regional_District should have pushed for express bus lanes & the eventual BRT decades ago. However, there is such a fear of adding more lanes, even in the form of BRT & HOV lanes. Ideally, it's also good to have truck lanes since Greater Vancouver is a seaport. 

https://www.infrastructurebc.com/projects/operational-complete/golden-ears-bridge/

https://www.heidelbergmaterials.com/en/reference-projects/golden-ears-bridge

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

Thursday, January 16, 2025

why-canadas-housing-crisis-is-not-just-a-supply-and-demand-problem

 https://macleans.ca/economy/why-canadas-housing-crisis-is-not-just-a-supply-and-demand-problem/


The Tehachapi Loop, one of California's railroad wonders https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/california-train-loop-wonders-railroad-world-20033899.php

Surrey’s building boom

 https://www.biv.com/news/real-estate/surreys-2024-building-boom-spurred-by-rush-to-dodge-new-metro-vancouver-taxes-10082339

Whether it's in the 2030s or in the 2040s, Surrey will become the largest city in BC. Therefore, it should eventually have at least one one of the tallest office towers in BC & one of the tallest residential towers in BC as well. Surrey went from having one of the most narrow bridges in BC to having the widest bridge in BC. 

Unfortunatly, the Expo_Line_(SkyTrain) in_Surrey_and_Langley won't have the longest train stations, because the first 2 lines can only handle 5 car trains at the stations. However, with selective_door_operation, there could eventually be 7 car trains. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expo_Line_(SkyTrain)#Capacity_upgrades Getting stations to go from handling 5 car trains to 7 car trains, would be a great achievement. Ultimately, there should eventually be 9 car trains, just like on the Montreal_Metro

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrey,_British_Columbia#Geography

https://www.westerninvestor.com/british-columbia/metro-vancouver-calls-for-developers-to-pay-even-more-6905593?utm_source=business%20in%20vancouver&utm_campaign=business%20in%20vancouver%3A%20outbound&utm_medium=referral

Langley Memorial Hospital, BC

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

BC has taken a multigenerational slow growth perspective. The down side of this approach is not keeping up with various kinds of infrastructure. Having enough medical staff & facilities is essential for a growing BC.

 https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/doctors-of-bc-calling-for-review-after-langley-er-physicians-death/

https://www.langleyadvancetimes.com/editorials-opinion/our-view-plan-for-future-of-langley-hospitals-now-2551342

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraser_Health#Regional_hospitals

https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021HLTH0070-000681

As of 2025, Langley has a population of around 150K & the City of Langley has around 33K. Thus, its an area with 183K & growing. 

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/19677-19653-19665-willowbrook-drive-langley-township-skytrain-towers

History of South Vancouver

 https://vancouverstreetstories.com/histor-of-south-vancouver/

https://hscr.com/south-vancouver-neighbourhood-guide/

https://sunsetonfraser.com/brief-history-of-fraser-street/

https://www.vancouverheritagefoundation.org/discover-heritage/heritage-in-schools/#event-14464

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver_South_(federal_electoral_district)

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

https://www.flickr.com/photos/vancouver-archives/5613988306/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/vancouver-archives/5613988284/in/photostream/


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Knight+Street+Bridge

Building demolition closing major downtown Vancouver roads next week

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-building-demolition-dunsmuir-jan-2015

150 Robson Street

https://www.urbanyvr.com/hotel-and-condo-catholic-charities-yaletown/

https://www.shapeyourcity.ca/118-150-robson-st

https://www.heritagesitefinder.ca/location/150-robson-st-vancouver-bc

 https://www.google.com/maps/place/116+Robson+St,+Vancouver,+BC+V6B+0E8/@49.2775808,-123.1147721,95m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x548673f143a94fb3:0xbb9196ea9b81f38b!2sVancouver,+BC!3b1!8m2!3d49.2827291!4d-123.1207375!16zL20vMDgwaDI!3m5!1s0x54867197e2f9abf5:0xc6ad39fe297bafc5!8m2!3d49.2775117!4d-123.1147002!16s%2Fg%2F11y3dwt2b6!5m1!1e2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDExMC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Is Rio de Janeiro more beautiful than Cape Town?

 https://www.getaway.co.za/destinations/world/is-rio-de-janeiro-more-beautiful-than-cape-town

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

https://www.reddit.com/r/OldPhotosInRealLife/comments/11we8ql/rio_de_janeiro_brazil_1930_and_now

https://www.reddit.com/r/papertowns/comments/1azsb5w/rio_de_janeiro_brazil_copacabana_between_1893_and/#lightbox /

https://www.reddit.com/r/papertowns/comments/1azsb5w/rio_de_janeiro_brazil_copacabana_between_1893_and/

https://www.mywanderlust.pl/not-so-great-rio

https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Cape-Town/Rio-de-Janeiro

https://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/partnerships/insight/4-similarities-between-rio-and-cape-town


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Rio+de+Janeiro

Is Cape Town the world’s best city in 2025, so far?

 https://www.timeout.com/news/its-official-time-out-has-crowned-the-worlds-best-city-in-2025-011525

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

"Portside is a 139-metre-tall (456 ft) building in Cape TownSouth Africa. Completed in 2014, it is the city's tallest building[3] and, at the time of completion, was Cape Town's first significant skyscraper developed in the central business district (CBD) in 15 years." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portside_Tower 32 floors.

https://www.timeout.com/cape-town

https://versus.com/en/cape-town-vs-rio-de-janeiro

https://www.numbeo.com/crime/compare_cities.jsp?country1=South+Africa&city1=Cape+Town&country2=Brazil&city2=Rio+de+Janeiro

https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Cape-Town/Rio-de-Janeiro

Rio+de+Janeiro is a much larger city than CT and just as scenic.

https://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/partnerships/insight/4-similarities-between-rio-and-cape-town


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Cape+Town

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Cambie Street

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

https://www.instagram.com/p/CdTZn_UrHyd/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=c57bb90d-d0e1-49c2-8815-55ab204a9046&img_index=1

Cambie Street Bridge is in need of major seismic upgrades

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/cambie-street-bridge-vancouver-seismic-upgrade-plan

https://www.flickr.com/photos/vancouver-archives/5613443337/in/photostream There could have been 5 bridges crossing F Creek, but the backwater BC mentality kicked in. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CdTZn_UrHyd/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=c57bb90d-d0e1-49c2-8815-55ab204a9046&img_index=1

https://www.flickr.com/photos/vancouver-archives/5613432237/in/photostream/

So while Vancouver gave up on building that many bridges, Portland really built a fine series of bridges.


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Cambie+Street+Bridge

Skybridge and The North Arm Bridge

Officially, there isn't suppose to be a backwards BC agenda. However, the Skybridge between NW & Surrey and the North_Arm_Bridge between Vancouver & Richmond, were designed too narrow. Unfortunatly, both of these SkyTrain+bridges weren't designed to have 2 bus lanes, or even emergency lanes. Key people knew that the SkyTrain wasn't going to be running 24hrs a day. Thus, there would have to be late-night busses when the trains shut down for the night. The 4 lane Pattullo+Bridge and the 4 lane Oak+Street+Bridge don't have enough space for 2 bus lanes, not even 1. Therefore, if there is any traffic disruption on such narrow bridges, a bus will be blocked.


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

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=The+North+Arm+Bridge

The BC carbon tax and the lack of proper big city infrastructure

The British_Columbia_carbon_tax doesn't seem to have greatly improved the transportation infrastructure for Vancouver, as it's the largest city and urban area in BC. It's very strange that the Greater Vancouver Metropolitan Region is still so far behind with its infrastructure, when compared to several other urban areas around the world. 

https://www.taxpayer.com/newsroom/b.c.-carbon-tax-not-reducing-emissions-as-promised

The first 2 Skytrain lines only have stations that are barely half the length of a Montreal Metro train. Indeed, the Montreal Metro & the Toronto Subway built most of their stations to be 152.5m or 500 ft long, not the 80m & 50m joke that is Skytrain. All of the Skytrain lines should have been designed to eventually accomodate 8-10 car trains. Despite Vancouver & backward BC not taking a big city planning approach, there is a potential remedy, in the form of Selective_door_operation technology. This would allow for the potential of 7 car trains with only the middle 5 cars accessing the short station platforms. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia_carbon_tax#Effects

The Canada embarrassment Line was only designed to ultimately just have 2.5 car trains, not 5 & certainly not 8-10 car trains. The first significant challenge would be to adapt the extremely short stations to accommodate 3 car trains. Then again with Selective_door_operation, the middle 3 cars of a 5 car train could access the station. 

https://institute.smartprosperity.ca/content/just-facts-please-true-story-how-bc-s-carbon-tax-working

Most bridges in BC are so narrow that it's almost impossible to have a proper regional express bus network.

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/climate-change/clean-economy/carbon-tax

It's as if somehow not enough funds went towards The+Pattullo+Bridge+replacement. Despite having some good bike lanes & sidewalks on both sides of the bridge, when it opens it will be too narrow to accomodate 2 bus & HOV lanes. Thus, cars, trucks & busses will all have to squeeze into just 2 lanes each way. There didn't even seem to be any proper communication & planning to ensure that there would be 2 emergency lanes. So good luck in trying to get ambulances across what is supposed to be a major regional crossing. There is no provision for a lower deck, which could allow for rapid rail transit & extra truck & bus lanes. Thus, this new PB bridge is one of the best examples of the symbolic resistance in BC to build proper infrastructure that can accommodate future demand.

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/sales-taxes/motor-fuel-carbon-tax

The 3 lane Lions+Gate+Bridge just might be the best example of congestive planning in modern human civilization. At leas the Benjamin_Franklin_Bridge in Philadelphia has 7 lanes & 2 train tracks. The Sydney_Harbour_Bridge has 8 lanes & 2 train tracks. Homer_M._Hadley_Memorial_Bridge in Seattle is part of an 8 lane crossing with 2 LRT tracks. The 10 lane Narrows_Bridge_(Perth) also has 2 train tracks. The San_Francisco-Oakland_Bay_Bridge has 10 lanes with 10 car BART trains running under the SF Bay.

https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-carbon-tax-drama/

https://www.pembina.org/pub/bc-carbon-tax

https://cleanenergycanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Carbon-Tax-Fact-Sheet.pdf

Half of the new five-lane Steveston interchange on Highway 99 opens to traffic

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/new-steveston-interchange-highway-99-richmond-partial-opening

https://www.highway99tunnel.ca/project-overview/

https://www.highway99tunnel.ca/current-work/

https://www.highway99tunnel.ca/project-overview-frt/

https://www.rocktoroad.com/monumental-project/

https://www.delta-optimist.com/local-news/new-fraser-river-tunnel-will-have-a-new-name-when-it-opens-8512194

https://richmondsentinel.ca/article-detail/28157/history-of-the-massey-tunnel It's sad & pathetic that when the old tunnel was designed & then opened, there was no provision to have 3 lanes each way. Thus, despite being a seaport region, cars & trucks had to be funneled into just 2 lanes each way. It would have been too forward thinking to have the tunnel augmented by a couple of parallel bridges in the area.

Now once again, there still won't be another bridge or 2 in the area. A North and a South Boundary+Road+Bridge could provide a vital link over the inlet and over the river. Then a Nelson Road Bridge to Delta and the Deltaport. 

The Vancouver Arbutus Greenway and future Rail Corridor

 https://participedia.net/case/vancouvers-arbutus-greenway-rails-to-trails-derailed

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/arbutus-greenway-public-street-vancouver

Honolulu vs. Cape Town and Rio de Janeiro

https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=United+States&city1=Honolulu%2C+HI&country2=Brazil&city2=Rio+de+Janeiro

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Hawaiian_Center At a height of 429 feet (131 m) with 30 floors, is the tallest office tower in the state. However, several other Hawaiian buildings have more floors, but aren't taller in height, except for The_Central_Ala_Moana tower.  

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

Honolulu vs Barcelona vs Rio de Janeiro... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36Y_bun9STk

https://www.city-data.com/forum/world/1833866-rio-de-janeiro-vs-miami-vs-2.html

Cape+Town is much bigger than Honolulu and Rio+de+Janeiro is more vast than either of them.


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

Queensland vs. BC

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensland#Transport

Though it might be hard to believe, World_Expo_88 in Brisbane was much more of a catalyst than Expo_86 was in Vancouver. That's because unlike Brisbane, Vancouver imposed & doubled down on various restrictions.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Expo_88#History

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expo_86#Legacy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia#Transportation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensland#Cities

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia#Cities

After the Expo 88, Brisbane would go onto allowing significantly taller buildings, wider roads and especially longer trains than what Vancouver seems to be stuck with. Of course Queensland would have larger port infrastructure than backwards BC as well.

Perhaps Australia is able to get things done on a bigger & better scale than Canada, because of the warmer year-round weather. 

https://countryeconomy.com/countries/compare/australia/canada

https://www.fraserinstitute.org/commentary/heres-why-australians-make-more-money-canadians Fortunatly, Canada hasn't been able to convince Australia, NZ, UK, USA & France to remove blue from their national flag. Japan is surrounded by water & Switzerland has lakes & rivers, but even a speck of blue isn't allowed on the national flag.

https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/bulletin/2009/jun/pdf/bu-0609-4.pdf

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11f0027m/11f0027m2003018-eng.pdf


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

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

holdom overpass

 https://www.burnaby.ca/our-city/projects/holdom-overpass

https://www.portvancouver.com/project/burnaby-rail-corridor-improvements-project

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/holdom-avenue-overpass-burnaby-cn-railway-construction-design

https://www.burnabynow.com/local-news/200m-holdom-overpass-to-start-construction-in-burnaby-this-year-9194772

https://www.burnabynow.com/local-news/burnaby-votes-to-expropriate-half-acre-of-land-for-holdom-overpass-9502782

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Concord Pacific sets sights on more Metrotown redevelopment

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/concord-metrotown-phase-two-mall-redevelopment-construction-progress

Wow, a 47 story office tower in the BC part of Canada. Toronto's first office building over 55 stories was the TD tower in 1967. The 52 story B of A opened in SF in 1969. Seattle's first 50 story office tower was in 1969. Calgary's first office building over 50 stories was in 1984.

https://www.burnabynow.com/local-news/burnaby-approves-5-new-metrotown-towers-up-to-60-storeys-with-2000-homes-7760907

https://www.biv.com/news/real-estate/fourteen-storey-non-market-rental-tower-47-storey-8251174

Costco in Vancouver

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/costco-history-metro-vancouver-first-warehouse

It's amazing that Vancouver eventually allowed a Costco within its city limits. Probably it was because of its proximity to a Skytrain station.

A 72-storey tower proposed in Metrotown could be one of Metro Vancouver's tallest

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/burnaby-metrotown-72-storey-tower

Buildings over 70 floors in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Seattle & Toronto aren't earth-shattering like it is in backwater BC.

Plaza of Nations redevelopment to undergo redesign for greater height and density

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/plaza-of-nations-redevelopment-vancouver-redesign-view-cones

Los Angeles wildfire size compared with Canada's four largest urban regions

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/los-angeles-wildfire-size-compared-vancouver

https://vancouver.ca/news-calendar/weather.aspx

https://www.teamblind.com/post/Why-do-most-people-say-Vancouver-has-good-climate-while-Seattle-has-bad-climate-pEJESE8r

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-seattle-quality-of-life

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/seattle-vancouver-cyclists-biking-party

LA & SD are so much further south that the cold & crappy rainy weather just isn't an issue. Some places are too hot or dry while other placeless are too cold & damp.

Family wealth is a crucial reality for homeownership in BC

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/young-bc-residents-homeownership

Monday, January 13, 2025

Federal Court rejects environmentalists' bid to halt B.C. port expansion

Roberts Bank Terminal 2 project in Delta was opposed by groups who said expansion would harm orca, salmon https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/federal-court-roberts-bank-terminal-2-1.7430431

https://thenarwhal.ca/roberts-bank-terminal-2-explainer/


https://www.againstportexpansion.org/terminal-2-expansion

https://www.againstportexpansion.org/alternatives

Court upholds approval of B.C. port expansion

https://www.delta-optimist.com/highlights/court-upholds-approval-of-bc-port-expansion-despite-risks-to-whales-10069295 It remains to be seen if slow moving B.C. & Canada will eventually allow the Port_of_Vancouver to be on the same grand scale of what Brisbane and Singapore have allowed.

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

Whether, its Delta, Surrey, Richmond, NW, Burnaby, it's all part of the Greater Vancouver_Port_facilities.

 https://www.burnabynow.com/highlights/court-upholds-approval-of-bc-port-expansion-despite-risks-to-whales-10069295

If the expansion went sideways, but not further west into Georgia Straight, the area is still limited. However, if the expansion were to go a little further west into Georgia Straight, then their might be more of an argument against it.

The Port_of_Brisbane wouldn't be as big & mighty if it was bound by anything similar to the way how Canada builds its seaports.

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

https://www.portbris.com.au , https://www.portbris.com.au/major-projects/fpe , https://www.portbris.com.au/major-projects/dedicated-rail-connectivity , https://www.portbris.com.au/portbris-2060

https://www.portsaustralia.com.au/members/port-of-brisbane

https://www.qic.com/Investment-Capabilities/Infrastructure/Global-Portfolio/Port-of-Brisbane


The Port_of_Singapore is so far away from the way of how Canada builds its ports.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_of_Singapore#Since_2022

https://www.mpa.gov.sg/port-marine-ops/operations/port-infrastructure/terminals


Brisbane and Singapore are on the same ocean as the BC part of Canada. Unfortunatly, Canada doesn't seem to want to have the same port scale & presence as those 2 Pacific ports. Being from backwards Vancouver, it's hard to fathom what Brisbane and Singapore have been able to do. Then again, they don't have to contend with the backwater BC mentality and its imposed restrictions.

Since Asia is the most populated part of the planet and BC is on the edge of the Pacific Rim, there should be plans to eventually have a BC port on the scale of the Port_of_Rotterdam. Or, the Port_of_Los_Angeles and the Port_of_Long_Beach, but with better coordinated efficiency.

https://www.burnabynow.com/economy-law-politics/david-eby-bc-prepared-for-economic-defence-against-american-threats-10060694 Canada needs to expand its trading with more countries. 

Despite its overall area, Canada is far from housing even 1% of the world's population. Australia even has less people, but somehow they don't seem to have their own version of KEEP CANADA SMALL. 


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=B.C.

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Brisbane & Queensland