The Alex Fraser Bridge (1986)

The Alex_Fraser_Bridge was opened as a 4 lane chokepoint, right from the start. No need for any express_bus_lanes or rail rapid transit, as that would conflict with the congestion planning agenda. 

"Upon opening in 1986, only four of the six available lanes were open. Cyclists and pedestrians share two narrow sidewalks one on each side. All six lanes opened in 1987 after traffic demand justified the need." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Fraser_Bridge#Overview

Eventually, the AFB would have 7 lanes, when it should have been designed to have 8-10 lanes. A provision for a lower transit deck would have been nice, but there isn't a vision for an efficient transportation network. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Mann_Bridge#History It opened with only 4 lanes & no emergency lanes. No provision for a lower deck, but a 5th lane was eventually added. So many times, an inept 4 lane BC bridge that is supposed to be a major crossing, is subjected to the congestive planning agenda. 

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/Old_and_new_Port_Mann_bridges.jpg

By the 1980s & especially the 1990s, many people wished that the bridge had a lower bus & train deck.

When the first Port_Mann_Bridge opened in 1964, it was very symbolic of the antigrowth & chokpoint planning agenda of BC. Despite being a BC_Highway_1 bridge in Greater Vancouver, there was no serious consideration for 2 truck & 2 bus-HOV lanes. Just have all the traffic crammed into a 4 lane bottleneck. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Mann_Bridge#Dismantling_of_original_bridge

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Mann_Bridge#New_bridge

Climate protesters march through downtown Vancouver

 https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6516296

They marched over the Cambie_Bridge, which used to have 6 lanes. Unfortunately, the bridge wasn't designed to have wide sidewalks & bike lanes on both sides. 

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/climate-protesters-to-march-through-downtown-vancouver-on-friday-1.7045835

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/climate-protest-shut-down-cambie-bridge

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/huge-climate-protest-will-block-vancouver-traffic-friday-9547117

Broadway Subway Project (SkyTrain) Vancouver

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQdmsUmUt5E

West Vancouver bike lane planters lead to confusion

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/weest-vancouver-bike-lane-planters

Of course with proper planning and coordination this wouldn't be a problem.

province-announces-toronto-lrt-line-completion

 https://dailyhive.com/toronto/province-announces-toronto-lrt-line-completion

North Shore sewage debacle has Metro Vancouver rethinking approach to Iona replacement project

 https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/north-shore-sewage-metro-vancouver-iona-replacement-project

So much financial waste, mismanagement & excrement!

Miami's Signature Bridge

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

It's amazing what can be done when people from Vancouver or just about anywhere from the BC part of Canada can't stop it. 

https://www.i395-miami.com/

https://www.i395-miami.com/the-project/

It doesn't matter if it's the Greater Miami Area or Brisbane, Queensland, these places can think big & build big because they are so far away from the cold, rainy backwater BC mentality. 

https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2024/04/02/i-395-signature-bridge-taking-shape/

https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2023/08/01/massive-signature-bridge-project-builds-to-2027-opening/

Busy traffic weekend expected in North Vancouver for massive festival

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/north-vancouver-music-festival-traffic-impacts-2024

It's so sad and pathetic how the North_Shore_(Greater_Vancouver) has become such a fine example of inept transportation planning.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Shore_(Greater_Vancouver)#Access

The extremely narrow Lions_Gate_Bridge should have had an 8 lane tunnel built near it several decades ago. Then the Lions_Gate_Bridge could have become a nice bike and foot bridge. The inept Lions-Gate-Bridge is so narrow that several houses are wider than it. Even some home garages and swimming pools are wider than it. Thus, the Lions_Gate_Bridge is one of the best examples of congestive planning in backward BC. The bridge should have been designed to eventually become a few meters wider on each side. There also should have been a provision for a lower deck which could have allowed for a rail rapid transit line and rapid bus lanes.

The Ironworkers_Memorial_Second_Narrows_Crossing should have been designed with a provision to be widened a few meters on each side. After its collapse in 1958, the bridge should have been redesigned to have a wider main deck and a lower deck for trains and busses. The top deck should have been designed to have 4 lanes each way, with 2 wide shoulders and 2 wide sidewalks. Unfortunately, despite being the main connection to the Horseshoe_Bay_ferry_terminal, the rebuilt Ironworkers_Memorial_Bridge wasn't designed to have a lower transit deck and no emergency lanes. Thus, it remains as another one of the best examples of congestive planning in Vancouver.

The Canada_Line should have been planned as a long term, high capacity route between Horseshoe_Bay,_West_Vancouver, Vancouver_International_Airport and the Tsawwassen_ferry_terminal. Again, the congestion planning mentality took priority.

How a megathrust earthquake could hit the Pacific Northwest and SW BC

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP-vyAwiXCM 

Why ‘The Big One’ could be worse than we thought https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1qr9qnWR7E

Cascadia: The Earthquake that will Destroy Westcoast America https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR-8PZ_nCvE

Vancouver Lime e-scooter launch leads to some sour reactions

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/lime-e-scooter-vancouver-launch-reaction?

Each neighborhood should have been properly consulted about this.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/metro-vancouver-residents-shocked-e-scooter-rider-george-massey-tunnel Such an inept tunnel with no emergency lanes. 

Eglinton Crosstown LRT crosses huge milestone but 2024 opening looks unlikely

 https://dailyhive.com/toronto/eglinton-crosstown-lrt-huge-milestone-opening

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

Metro Vancouver transit facing 'drastic cuts'

 https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/highlights/metro-vancouver-mayors-council-demands-action-on-transit-funding-brad-west-9533754

After decades of imposing narrow streets, roads, highways & bridges, it's still difficult for the region to have a proper express bus network. Most of the bridges in the region need to have a bus & bike bridge built right next to them. 

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/this-is-not-a-bluff-translink-mayors-council-calls-on-b-c-political-parties-to-share-plans-to-avoid-transit-cuts-1.7041435

The first 2 SkyTrain lines still only have 80m stations & the 3rd line, the C-Line, only has 50m stations. In contrast, the Montreal Metro was designed to have almost 153m long stations. Thus, a 500 foot long station can accommodate a 9 car train. Unfortunately, the first 2 SkyTrain lines can only accommodate the newer 4 car trains with a potential for a 5 car train, someday. The 3rd line or the C-Line, can only accomodate a 2 car joke of a train, but it has the potential to become a 2.5 car joke of a train.

This absurdity of congestive planning must be challenged & stopped in backward BC. Unfortunately, there are some influential people that continually like to maintain the symbolism of short trains and narrow bridges. They don't want the Greater Vancouver Region to become a proper urban area. That mentality apparently justifies the inadequate or underbuilt infrastructure in the region. 

So now with looming transit cuts, the narrow roads & bridges will become even more congested.

https://www.rtands.com/tag/translink

The $2BN Megaproject Under Vancouver https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4YFFtTEUQc

What Greater Vancouver Needs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZavPFZ9H1E

Whether its a bridge or a tunnel, Perth and Seattle have excellent wide crossings which allow for rail rapid transit. Fortunately, the congestive Vancouver mentality never reached into those cities.

https://www.highway99tunnel.ca/tunnel-construction Unfortunatly, BC missed another opportunity to have rapid rail transit through the tunnel.

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2024/09/17/highway-91-spun-out-richmond Even back in the 1980s, BC_Highway_91 should have been designed to be at least 4 lanes each way. 3 general lanes each way with the 4th as a bus & HOV lane. There also should have been 2 wide shoulders or emergency lanes. The Alex_Fraser_Bridge should have been designed to be at least 10 lanes wide. 3 general lanes each way & a bus-HOV lane & a truck lane each way. Plus, 2 emergency lanes & a provision for a lower rail transit deck. Unfortunatly, bottleneck or chokepoint planning won out. Plus, the symbolism for BC is to not properly plan for large, efficient infrastructure. 

How can the Greater Vancouver Region have an efficient express bus & rapid bus network, when the highways & bridges are kept narrow? Why wasn't the SkyTrain designed to eventually have 153m or 500 foot long stations like the Montreal Metro? That would be symbolic of a proper big thinking city wanting to have high capacity transportation corridors. BC is about taking the congestive planning approach instead.

Perth+and+Seattle have been able to do so much more, because they aren't under anything like the imposed Vancouver restrictions and the overall backward BC mentality.

Sound Transit Publishes Final EIS for West Seattle Link Extension

https://www.rtands.com/passenger/sound-transit-publishes-final-eis-for-west-seattle-link-extension/

Seattle is Building a $54BN New Railway https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ct4bwWsP3iE

It would be so chaotic for Seattle+and+Perth if they were under anything similar to the imposed Vancouver restrictions and the backward BC mentality.

North end of Granville Street Bridge

 https://canada.constructconnect.com/joc/news/projects/2024/09/north-end-of-granville-bridge-roadway-reopens

The 1950s Granville+Street+Bridge (GSB) should have at least had a provision for a lower deck.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/granville-bridge-north-end-reopens-vancouver-connector

A lower deck would have been great for extra bus lanes and potential LRT, but this is backwards BC.

https://vancouversun.com/news/traffic-alert-north-end-granville-street-bridge-reopen-monday

Since no bus & bike bridge was even built right next to it, the bridge is being scaled down to 6 lanes, from 8. That might not have been necessary if there was an Oak Street Bridge (OSB) over F. Creek, not just over the Fraser River. An OSB over F. Creek could have been a bus & bike bridge with wide sidewalks as well.

https://vancouver.ca/news-calendar/north-end-granville-bridge-reopens-transit-into-downtown-sep-2024.aspx

The 8 lane GSB becomes a revamped 6 lane bridge with 2 bike lanes & 2 sidewalks.

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/vancouver-granville-street-bridge-construction-detours-closures-timeline

If the bridge eventually has 2 express bus lanes, there will only be 4 general traffic lanes.

https://granvilleisland.com/news/transportation-updates-on-granville-bridge-city-of-vancouver

Unfortunately, the 8 lane Granville_Street_Bridge_(1954) wasn't designed to have a lower level. That wasn't the case with the 12 lane Ship+Canal+Bridge in Seattle. Fortunately, the Vancouver bridge was never connected to a city freeway, where as the Seattle bridge was. Vancouver should have opted for a better major street & bridge arrangement. 

There was never any follow-up to have a new and improved Fraser+Street+Bridge (FSB). A modern FSB could be a nice bus and bike bridge with wide sidewalks & a potential for streetcars. Unfortunatly, backwards Vancouver, BC seems uninterested in building something like the Tilikum+Crossing in Portland.

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Oak+Street+and+Granville+Street

Climate change costs growing for B.C. municipalities

 https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/highlights/climate-change-costs-growing-for-bc-municipalities-9530035

This is very sad & pathetic for the largest urban part of BC. Most of the major bridges in Greater Vancouver should already have had bus & bike bridges built next to them. However, that would go against the bottleneck or chokepoint planning mentality.

The first 2 SkyTrain lines are still only running 4 car trains of the newer coaches. The 3rd line, C Line or Canada Line is still only running 2 car joke of a train. Fortunately, most real cities will at least run 6, but usually 8, 9 or 10 car trains. Again, that would go against the congestive planning approach, which BC has favoured for several generations.

So, one of the big questions is, why isn't a significant portion of climate change funds going into the BC infrastructure? Especially for longer trains and stations and express bus bridges.

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/opinion/geoff-johnson-educators-need-to-begin-planning-for-coming-population-bump-9500192

Schools & hospitals for decades were designed not to easily be expanded. The multigenerational BC agenda is to hold things back for as long as possible. Long trains & wide bridges are symbolic of accommodating growth. Thus, congestive planning is symbolic of not putting enough funds into the infrastructure. Thus, another big question is, where has the money gone through the decades, because the infrastructure is always lagging?

"Duke Point is a major ferry terminal owned and operated by BC Ferries that provides ferry service across the Strait of Georgia to Tsawwassen. The ferry terminal is located at Duke Point in Nanaimo and is the only major terminal in the BC Ferries system without a public transit connection." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_Point_ferry_terminal

Surrey's streets, roads and bike paths

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/surreys-road-extension-criticized-unsafe-cyclists-advocates

There should have been wider sidewalks put in several decades ago. Narrow streets & narrow sidewalks are just part of the narrow-minded approach to planning in backwater BC. Any major road should be at least 2 or 3 lanes each way. In many cases, sidewalks can be widened to accomodate a bike path. A 2 lane country road isn't good for a city, if busses & trucks have to get through.

Metro Vancouver residents shocked by e-scooter rider in George Massey Tunnel

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/metro-vancouver-residents-shocked-e-scooter-rider-george-massey-tunnel Another fine example of inept BC planning. Have a tunnel so narrow, because there aren't any wide emergency lanes. Then eventually it could have been 3 lanes each way. However, there should have been a provision to have another tunnel next to it within a few decades. Unfortunately, that never happened by the 1990s.

At least there should have been a bus, train & bike bridge built next to it decades ago, but that would go against the BC bottleneck mentality.

https://www.highway99tunnel.ca The 8 lane Tunnel_Replacement Project is supposed to be open by 2030. That's only 60-70 years late. Unfortunatly, another parallel tunnel or bridge will eventually have to be built, because there is still a need to eventually have the Tsawwassen_ferry_terminal become connected to the Vancouver_International_Airport, Waterfront_station and the Horseshoe_Bay_ferry_terminal with rapid rail transit.

https://www.highway99tunnel.ca/tunnel-construction/

Construction for Oakridge-41st Ave Station Upgrades Starts Sept. 16th

 https://www.rtands.com/passenger/construction-for-oakridge-41st-ave-station-upgrades-starts-sept-16th/?RTchannel=passenger

The stations still could have started out as a 2-3 car train joke, apparently for cost cutting measures. However, the stations should have been constructed in such a way that they could eventually accomodate 8-10 car trains. Sadly once again, the joke is on short sighted Vancouver for promoting inept transportation planning. Even with budget cuts, at least 3 levels of government should have been able to realize that someday, this line could become a high capacity connector between the Horseshoe_Bay_ferry_terminal, the airport & the Tsawwassen_ferry_terminal.

Unfortunately, that damn symbolism got in the way again. A short & inept train is better for congested Vancouver than an 8-10 car train. This is the result of the multigenerational congestive planning agenda. Building big is symbolic of planning for proper growth, but some backwater mindset folks don't want anything symbolic of a real metropolis in backward BC. 

https://www.rtands.com/tag/translink/

Climate protest promising to impact traffic Friday afternoon in Vancouver

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-climate-protest-march-traffic-impacts

Cambie_Street and the Cambie_Bridge have become a fine example of Vancouverizing a major transportation corridor. That is to scale it back so as to create a bottleneck. Perhaps more-so than any major city, Vancouver and the metropolitan region continually strives to have congestive planning. 

Unfortunately, the Canada_Line stations were only designed to accommodate 2-2.5 car trains, when it should have been 8-10 car trains. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_Line#Stations

Cambie_Street and the bridge should have remained continually at 6 main lanes. That would have made it easier to have a 3rd lane each way as an express bus lane. Especially, since the C-Line was so underbuilt.

The old and new Pattullo Bridge

Unfortunately, the Pattullo_Bridge of 1937 was built without any wide shoulders, or any shoulders at all. There was only one narrow sidewalk & no provision for trams or streetcars. It was all fitting for NW, a provincial backwater since its start.

In contrast, the 1932 Sydney_Harbour_Bridge opened with 6 lanes and 4 sets of train tracks & 2 sidewalks. Very fitting for the state capital of NSW.

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-34593-7_49

https://www.targetproducts.com/pattullo_bridge_2024/

In the 1930s, it was still amazing to have plumbing & especially electricity in Surrey.

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/surrey

https://www.cloverdalereporter.com/entertainment/surrey-now-and-then-2367955

https://www.surrey.ca/about-surrey/history-of-surrey

https://604now.com/history-surrey-bc-city/

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

The old and new Port Mann Bridge

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/unpaid-tolls-port-mann-bridge

How the World Trade Center Was Rebuilt

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

Transforming the Surrey-Delta border

 https://www.delta-optimist.com/local-news/transforming-the-surrey-delta-border-9481893?

Dramatic weather shift expected to kick in overnight for Vancouver

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/weather-shift-vancouver-fall

From a cold winter and crappy spring to a half-assed summer, fall is quickly returning.

The Slum that Japan Doesn't Want You to See

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGqfg6yVQt4

Some new towers in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/east-village-westbank-bc-housing-vancouver-hastings-street-towers

Even if some truly affordable housing could be built, there would still be people against the taller high density towers.

Amazon opens major office atrium as part of its phased growth within The Post building in Vancouver

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/amazon-office-atrium-the-post-vancouver-expansion 

Perhaps if you are from Prince George, Kamloops, Kelowna or Victoria, a double office stump complex might seems impressive. However, for most big cities, a building complex that doesn't even have 25 floors isn't that impressive. 

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=The+Post+building+complex

Wells Fargo Center (Portland, Oregon)

The Wells_Fargo_Center should have been the first 50-55 story building in Portland. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wells_Fargo_Center_(Portland,_Oregon)#Details 

https://marketplace.vts.com/building/wells-fargo-center---portland-portland-or

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Portland,_Oregon

U.S. Bank is leaving the U.S. Bancorp Tower in downtown Portland

 https://www.kpic.com/news/local/us-bank-is-leaving-the-us-bancorp-tower-in-downtown-portland

https://www.koin.com/news/portland/u-s-bank-leaving-big-pink-tower-in-downtown-portland/

The U.S._Bancorp_Tower could have been the first 50-55 story building in Oregon, but it wasn't permitted to have more than 42 floors. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Bancorp_Tower#Design

https://unicoprop.com/properties/us-bancorp-tower , https://usbancorptower.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Portland,_Oregon

Columbia Centre in Vancouver and Columbia Center in Seattle

 https://modtraveler.net/city/vancouver_694/listing/columbia-centre Not even 30 floors in Vancouver, but its impressive when compared to what's in Victoria-Prince+George-Kamloops.

However, the Columbia_Center in Seattle almost has 80 floors.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_Center#Design It would still be an impressive building in NYC, Chicago, Houston, LA & SF. It's still the tallest office tower in Seattle.

It's not just that Vancouver gets more rain than Seattle & especially Calgary, but that almost everything has to be symbolically watered down in Vancouver, when compared to those cities.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/canada-wettest-city

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

Vancouver-concert-hall-theatre-society-study

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-concert-hall-theatre-society-study

It's so difficult to build in Vancouver, due to all the red tape and other B$ constraints.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-art-gallery-construction-cost-increase-redesign

Life on 3rd and Pike, Inside Seattle’s Drug Epidemic

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ijA2dv5Bss

How Vancouver commute times compare to the rest of Canada

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-commute-times-canada

bc-private-sector-jobs-bureaucratic-waste-government

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bc-private-sector-jobs-bureaucratic-waste-government

vancouver-art-gallery-construction-cost-increase

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-art-gallery-construction-cost-increase-redesign

1045-haro-street-vancouver-receivership-sale

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/1045-haro-street-vancouver-receivership-sale

bc-agricultural-land-reserve-alr-protection

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bc-agricultural-land-reserve-alr-protection

The Boundary Road corridor between North Vancouver, Burnaby and Richmond

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/boundary-road-vancouver-burnaby-shared-maintenance-history

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/driving-in-vancouver-the-worst

Boundary+Road should have had a bridge over Burrard_Inlet and over the North_Arm_of_the_Fraser_River by now. A North and South Boundary Road+Bridge could provide a good truck, bus & bike connection between the North Shore, Vancouver & Burnaby. Then between Burnaby & Richmond with a Number 8 Road Bridge. Then a Nelson Road Bridge to Delta and the Deltaport. However, such regional port city infrastructure still seems beyond what the backwater BC mentality can fathom.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/boundary-road-bridge-vancouver-burnaby-richmond An April Fools articale hightligted the absudity of Greater Vancouver ignoring or neglecting The Boundary Road corridor.

Boundary+Road has the potential to be a regional north-south axis for trucks, buses, cars & bikes, that would really enable more people & goods to efficiently get around.

Lynnwood Link extension

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

https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/lynnwood-link-extension

https://seattletransitblog.com/2024/07/20/lynnwood-link-opening-ceremony

https://www.theurbanist.org/2024/04/04/lynnwood-link-light-rail-will-open-august-30

https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/metro/programs-and-projects/lynnwood-link-connections

https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/infrastructure/press-release/55062487/sound-transit-sound-transit-performing-lynnwood-link-extension-pre-revenue-testing

Ottawa to limit low-wage temporary foreign workers in Canada

 https://globalnews.ca/news/10715377/temporary-foreign-workers-limit-canada/

Canada has less people than California and Australia has less people than Texas. 

Kensington (Philadelphia)

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensington,_Philadelphia

https://6abc.com/post/kensington-avenue-shooting-leaves-man-fighting-life/15228913/

https://www.newsnationnow.com/crime/fentanyl/philadelphia-opioid-crisis-kensington/

https://time.com/jeffrey-stockbridge-kensington-philadelphia-photographs/

LA's Most Dangerous Hood

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

SF, the City that Pays You to Do Drugs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypZu61OgITE

The Ironworkers Memorial Bridge will experience lane closures over the following week

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/ironworkers-memorial-bridge-lane-closures

Even from a late 1950s backwards BC perspective, there should have been at least 2 wide emergency lanes. 4 emergency lanes would have been even better, because in addition to 3 general lanes each way, a provision for 2 bus & HOV lanes would have been great. There also should have been a provision for a lower truck & train deck. 

Of course any replacement bridge should not only provide 3 general lanes each way, but also 1 truck & 1 HOV lane each way. Then another section or level for at least 2 train tracks & 2 express bus lanes. Since BC doesn't like to provide 24hr train service, there must be 2 bus lanes always open, especially whenever the rail component is closed for maintenance or some emergency.

Unfortunatly, BC Bottleneck planning waters things down. Vancouver, Victoria & Kelowna like to excel in such congestive planning.

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=The+Ironworkers-Bridge

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/skytrain-brentwood-town-centre-expansion

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/skytrain-brentwood-town-centre-expansion

Construction begins on new expanded Oakridge-41st Avenue SkyTrain station entrance

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/skytrain-oakridge-41st-avenue-station-new-entrance-construction

Surrey-Newton Guildford LRT

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/surrey-skytrain-lrt-metro-vancouver-transit-projects-future

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

https://businessinsurrey.com/policy/lrt/

https://skytrainforsurrey.org/tag/surrey-newton-guildford-light-rail/page/4/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4saz4VSuW3I

https://surreylangleyskytrain.gov.bc.ca/

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

Driving-in-Vancouver-is the-worst

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/driving-in-vancouver-the-worst

Rail strike would halt B.C.'s West Coast Express

 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/rail-strike-would-halt-b-c-s-west-coast-express-translink-1.7301343

Ideally, any commuter rail & intercity lines should have their own tracks so that there is no conflict with the tracks for freight trains.

Broke and broken: Canada’s public transit in critical funding state

 https://globalnews.ca/news/10702607/canada-public-transit-funding-shortfall/

Toronto’s CNE is off to a rough start after record-setting rainfall on opening weekend

 https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/torontos-cne-is-off-to-a-rough-start-after-record-setting-rainfall-on-opening-weekend/article_434d6f46-5f14-11ef-9fc3-1322ab0c4434.html

It's always unfortunate when a Vancouver type rainstorm causes the CNE to be watered down. 

Quebec to limit temporary foreign workers in Montreal with six-month freeze

 https://globalnews.ca/news/10706534/quebec-temporary-foreign-workers-program-freeze/

There are labor shortages, but the push is on to slow things down for a while.

Singapore and Switzerland

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLdDep1t6YY

Why is Switzerland home to so many billionaires? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuEpU_IdvNo

Canada vs. Australia

 https://www.solmigration.com/blog/canada-vs-australia/

Unfortunately, unless you like crappy, cold weather for half of the year, Australia is the better country.

https://financialpost.com/diane-francis/why-australia-doing-so-much-better-than-canada

https://www.canozvisas.com/blog/pros-and-cons-of-living-in-canada-vs-australia/

Two Economies, With One Set of Flaws: The Economies of Australia and Canada https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gu5lPuaZ9Jo

Canada or Spain?

 https://www.blogto.com/travel/2024/08/canadian-move-spain/

https://www.mylifeelsewhere.com/cost-of-living/spain/canada

Well, if you like crappy, cold weather for half of the year, then Canada is where it's at.

https://www.canadacis.org/blog/moving-to-canada-from-spain-pros-and-cons/

The Monorail vs. the Subway

 Why Monorails Are A Bad Idea https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f__nhlHC1g A monorail is OK to go from one end of a line to the other. However, having several branches and junctions can be quite problematic.

 How Los Angeles Rejected the Monorail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piF7adQyXCk 

 How Seattle Rejected the Monorail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVQ-2lcBOjI A long double track monorail line might have worked for Seattle. However, conventional rail is still much more practical.

Why Tokyo's Metro Is Profitable and New York City’s Isn’t https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdJwAUdvlik

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4YFFtTEUQc The Broadway subway in Vancouver, BC.

The Columbia River Crossing project (CRC)

Expanding transit options between Portland and Vancouver, WA. https://wsdot.wa.gov/accountability/ssb5806/docs/6_Project_Development/PublicInvolvement/Transit_FactSheet.pdf

https://bikeportland.org/2022/04/21/interstate-5-expansion-project-proposes-repeat-of-crc-or-slightly-less-wide-version-352609 Just because this is a bridge that will extend partially into Vancouver, WA, it should still be as wide as possible. Narrow bridges are part of the narrow mindset of Vancouver, BC.

https://bikeportland.org/2022/04/22/i-5-project-leaders-pick-light-rail-as-transit-option-for-columbia-crossing-352639 A wider bridge makes it easier for rail rapid transit, bus & HOV lanes, truck lanes & bike lanes. 

https://bikeportland.org/2022/04/14/new-renderings-offer-clearest-picture-yet-of-interstate-bridge-replace-project-design-352112

https://www.interstatebridge.org/updates-folder/river-crossing-visualizations/

Potential railway stoppage could have big West Coast Express impacts

 https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2024/08/19/rail-strike-lockout-west-coast-express-impacts/

Freight Train issue blocks major Langley intersections

 https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2024/08/19/langley-train-traffic-stops/

There should have been several more overpasses in the valley by now. Urban railway crossings that are at grade are such a hindrance to truck & vehicle traffic in general.

https://www.aldergrovestar.com/local-news/fatal-train-crash-shuts-down-langley-thoroughfares-7363504

https://www.abbynews.com/news/train-crash-with-construction-truck-blocking-langley-roads-7117877

Transforming Nanaimo into a public transit hub for Vancouver Island

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/hullo-ferries-nanaimo-hub-vancouver-island-public-transit

https://www.dpworld.com/canada/projects/nanaimo

Victoria to Nanaimo should all be one urban strip.

A mixed-use building development at VCC-Clark SkyTrain station with rental housing, office, childcare, grocery store, and retail uses

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/1155-east-6th-avenue-vancouver-vcc-clark-pci-low-tide-redevelopment

This is small considering how close it is towards downtown Vancouver. Its big when compared to developments in Kelowna, Kamloops & Prince George, but small by big city standards.

Surrey-Langley SkyTrain construction cost balloons by 50%

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/surrey-langley-skytrain-new-cost-opening-date

This should have been started decades ago, but BC always has to be behind schedule.

8-km-long Highway 1 widening in Abbotsford

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/highway-1-widening-abbotsford-fraser-valley-cost-bc-phase-3b

This should have been done in the 1980s, or at least by the 1990s. Still no bus & HOV lanes after all these decades. Of course no provision for rain rapid transit. This is BC congestive planning at its best.

Slate-Owned Metrotown Place Office Towers Under Receivership Listed By CBRE

https://storeys.com/metrotown-place-office-slate-receivership-listing Such a small office complex that would only be impressive in places like Victoria & Prince George. 

Richmond has to find a place where office buildings can not only be over 20 floors, but well over 30 stories. 

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/richmond-night-market-redevelopment-duck-island-hotel-entertainment-district

Hullo Ferries celebrates a busy first year, and looks ahead to growth and expansion

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/hullo-ferries-vancouver-nanaimo-high-speed-ferry-service-statistics

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Ferries NSW can do so much, because it was never under anything like the Vancouver restrictions & the backward BC mentality in general.

https://transportnsw.info/travel-info/ways-to-get-around/ferry#/

https://www.myfastferry.com.au/destinations/circular-quay/

https://www.sydney.com/articles/best-ferry-trips-in-sydney

https://www.transdev.com.au/solutions/sydney-ferries/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Ferries#Network

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferries_of_San_Francisco_Bay How can the SF+Bay+Area do so much? That's because it never had anything like the backward BC mentality to thwart it.

https://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=Ferries_on_the_Bay

https://sfport.com/ferry

https://sanfranciscobayferry.com/

http://calurbanist.com/san-francisco-bay-ferries/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferries_of_San_Francisco_Bay#Current_ferry_routes

Several Vancouver narrow bridge issues

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/metro-vancouver-bridge-cyclist-wire-allegations

Someone might have been very angry with bike people and not with car, bus & truck people. The real problem is that so much of the older BC infrastructure just wasn't designed to be more of a multi-modal crossing. The+Lion+Bridge+and+The+Iron+Bridge have no rail rapid transit crossings to help them.

The Ironworkers-Bridge is so narrow for a highway bridge in that location & wasn't designed for substantial future capacity. When it was initially designed in the 1950s, there was no concept to have 2 bus lanes, 2 HOV lanes, 2 truck lanes & 2 emergency lanes for a port city. Plus, at least 2 general traffic lanes each way & a provision for 2 train tracks. Thus, the 6 lane bridge is so overwhelmed, because it just can't do the job of an 8-10 lane wide bridge. While the Iron Bridge has 2 improved bike+lanes, they are part of the sidewalks.  

The former 8 lane Granville+Street will have 6 lanes, while the  & Oak+Street only has 4 lanes. The inadequate Oak+Street+Bridge (OSB) should have opened with at least 8 lanes, instead of only 4. Plus, 2 wide emergency lanes & 2 wide sidewalks. There still should be a new southbound OS Bridge, but the city would be against it. A narrow 4 lane bridge just doesn't have the space & capacity for 2 express bus lanes, 2 HOV & 2 truck lanes. Apparently, it's better to just funnel everything into only 2 lanes each way.  

The OSB should be twinned or replace with something like the Samuel-De_Champlain_Bridge in Montreal. The largest city in Quebec is allowed to have a nice wide bridge & long metro trains, because Quebec isn't bound by anything like the backwards BC mentality. 

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-montreals-new-44-billion-champlain-bridge-opens-to-traffic-for Fortunatly, the Vancouver mentality wasn't able to ever reach back to Montreal & prevent such a nice modern bridge from being built there. https://www.flatironcorp.com/project/champlain-bridge If you are from Montreal & have visited Vancouver, you will be surprise to see how much shorter an underground Vancouver train station is than what is allowed underground in Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton, Seattle, SF & LA...

https://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/granville-bridge-connector.aspx A bike & foot bridge should have been built next to it decades ago. Then the Granville Bridge could have 3 general lanes each way, plus a bus & HOV lane each way. Instead, if 2 bus & HOV lanes are designated, there will only be 2 general lanes each way in the downtown core.

The Burrard Bridge should have had a bike & foot bride next to it. Instead, it was reduced from a 6 lane crossing to a 4 lane bridge.

The very narrow Oak+Street+Bridge & the Knight Street Bridge, should have had bus+and+bike+bridges built next to them decades ago. 

Most bridges in Vancouver & the metropolitan region just weren't designed with that much future capacity in mind, especially for buses & HOV lanes. Thus, it's a travesty that by now, almost every crossing should have had bus & bike bridges built next to them. 

https://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/walk-bike-and-transit.aspx Unfortunatly, provisions for bus & bike lanes just weren't the thing to do several decades ago in BC.  

A truck lane is just as important as a bus & HOV lane. That's because freight should be efficiently & easily be transported in any major urban region.

https://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/trucks-commercial-and-oversize-vehicles.aspx

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Oak+Street+and+Granville+Street

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

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

The Largest European Cities

 https://www.discoveryuk.com/building-big/urban-explorers-a-tour-of-the-largest-european-cities

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1101883/largest-european-cities/

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

Should downtown Vancouver eventually require a 3rd major train station?

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/downtown-vancouver-train-station-new-railway-line-ideas

Perhaps eventually there could be a deep underground train station below Robson_Square. However, it's more likely that Waterfront+Station+and+Pacific+Central+Station would be extensively upgraded first.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robson_Square#Features

https://www.robsonsquare.com/about-us 

Wall Centre in downtown Vancouver

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_Centre_(Vancouver)

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

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/wall-centre-tower-fireworks-downtown-vancouver

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

Longer Trains for Crossrail?

 https://www.londonreconnections.com/2024/longer-trains-for-crossrail/

Ideally, it's always better to allow for enough future clearance for longer trains.

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

It's even better to have longer stations or at least a roughed out provision established in the first place.

https://www.londonreconnections.com/2024/bonus-trains-for-crossrail-more-details/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossrail#Route

https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/more-elizabeth-line-trains-arriving-in-summer-2026-73566 

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=The+Elizabeth+Line

The World's Biggest Abandoned Skyscrapers

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QgN1E-m76U

Why is anti-immigration sentiment on the rise in Canada?

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

Part of bringing more wealth into a country is to have most of the immigrants moderately wealthy to very wealthy. Then a smaller percentage of migrants & refugees would be less of a strain on the system. However, even if 60-70% of immigrants were well off or financially comfortable, some people still might get too jealous of them. 

Unfortunately, Canada has been several decades behind in keeping up with a necessary level of infrastructure. Canada is one of the largest countries in overall area, yet it doesn't even have 1% of the world's population.

Should the Hastings SkyTrain and North Shore SkyTrain lines be built together?

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/hastings-north-shore-skytrain-lines-regional-planning

Railway rolling stock

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Generation_Rollingstock Brisbane

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Docklands_Light_Railway_rolling_stock London 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Docklands_Light_Railway#Future_rolling_stock

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Docklands_Light_Railway_rolling_stock#B23_rolling_stock

Airport Trains and Stations

An Airport+Station is essential, but not all major airports have gotten around to building them.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Airport_railway_station,_Brisbane

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#Rail

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_de_Gaulle_Airport#RER

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow_Airport_Rail_Link , https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow_Airport_Rail_Link#Planned_reinstatement_of_the_link

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_International_Airport#Transit

The World’s Largest Railway Stations

 https://www.discoveryuk.com/building-big/the-worlds-largest-railway-stations/

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/7-of-the-busiest-train-stations-in-the-world.html

https://www.railway-technology.com/features/feature76247/

Is Montreal the best city in North America?

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yDtLv-7xZ4

The tallest buildings in Montreal aren't that impressive when compared to what's allowed in Melbourne, Toronto, Chicago & NYC.

https://reporter.mcgill.ca/montreal-named-best-student-city-in-north-america/

Montreal doesn't have the very wide freeways that LA, Houston, Dubai & Toronto have, but its not stuck with the narrow bridges that Vancouver has.

https://vocal.media/wander/why-montreal-is-the-greatest-city-in-north-america

https://blog.mtl.org/en/montreal-ranks-top The Metro is fantastic! Especially the newer walk-through 9 car trains.

https://www.mtlblog.com/2-quebec-spots-ranked-among-best-cities-in-canada

https://www.mtlblog.com/quebec-cities-cheapest-rent-prices-canada

https://www.mtlblog.com/montreal/what-montreals-iconic-habitat-67-was-supposed-to-look-like-photos

At least Montreal hasn't been forced to adhere to the same restrictions as Vancouver. The first 2 SkyTrain lines only have 80m stations, when the Montreal Metro has 152.5m stations. The Canada Line only has 50m stations. It would have been chaos if Montreal had decided to have short stations & narrow bridges.

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

NY-NJ Hudson Tunnel Project Ramping Up

 https://www.soundtransit.org/blog/platform/making-i-90-floating-bridge-stronger-longer-lasting-trains

The Economies of Australia and Canada

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gu5lPuaZ9Jo

In some ways Australia is able to think & plan as if its a bigger country than Canada. 

Waterfront Station and Pacific Central Station (Vancouver, BC)

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterfront_station_(Vancouver)

"Waterfront station was built by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) and opened on August 1, 1914.^[2] It was the Pacific terminus for the CPR's transcontinental passenger trains to Montreal, Quebec, and Toronto, Ontario." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterfront_station_(Vancouver)#History

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

"Pacific Central Station was built in 1917 by the Canadian Northern Railway as the terminus of its line to Edmonton.^[4] It was dedicated on November 2, 1919, a day after the first Canadian National trains began using the station.^[5][6] It was originally named False Creek Station..." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Central_Station#History

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Waterfront+Station+and+Pacific+Central+Station

LRT, Semi-metro and Heavy Rail Rapid Transit...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_rail , https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_rail#Types , 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_rail#Comparison_to_other_rail_transit_modes

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-metro 

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

Of course when Vancouver & the greater urban region became obsessed with keeping the roads & bridges narrow, it was as if there wasn't a proper concept of having express bus lanes & dedicated rapid bus lanes.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/translink-funding-issues-impacts-traffic-congestion

The 1959 George_Massey_Tunnel should have opened with 3 lanes each way. Plus, 2 wide emergency lanes. Then over the course of its first 2 decades, it could have become a 6 lane crossing with 2 bus & HOV lanes. 

By the 1980s, the inept 4 lane George_Massey_Tunnel should have had a parallel higher & wider bus & HOV tunnel consisting of at least another 4 lanes & at least 2 emergency lanes. Thus making it more capable as an eventual replacement to the old tunnel. Then by around 2000, there should have been a bike, truck & train bridge or tunnel as well. 

A George_Massey_Tunnel#Replacement by 2030? The first phase of this really should have been started by the 1980s. Of course the new tunnel with 8 lanes & 2 bike lanes, won't have 2 truck lanes & there won't be 2 HOV lanes. Plus, in accordance with a perpetual congestive planning mentality, there is no provision for an extension of the Canada Line to Delta.

The new tunnel should not only have had 3 general lanes each way & 1 bus lane each way, there should be 1 truck lane each way as well. Plus, 2 wide emergency lanes which could eventually be repurpose for a north & southbound rapid bus transit corridor. That's because, even if there is ever a YVR-Canada-Line to the ferry terminal, it won't be open 24 hours.

Someday the YVR-Canada-Line should not only have 2.5 car trains, but an actual 5 car train consisting of five, 20m coaches. Selective_door_operation technology would make this possible. Of course it would have simply been much better to have designed all the stations to already be at least 100m, instead of the inept 50m. Unfortunately, backward BC thinking keeps getting in the way.

https://www.richmond-news.com/local-news/province-considering-filling-george-massey-tunnel-with-sand-8777369 Despite the old tunnels height restrictions, a slightly smaller version of the Road_Train could have been ideal for it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_train#Trailer_arrangements

Keeping the old tunnel as a freight corridor between Delta & Richmond would be of tremendous benefit. Delta has the Roberts_Bank_Superport & the Tsawwassen_ferry_terminal.

Richmond has the Vancouver_International_Airport & the inept Canada_Line. 

Despite budget limits at the time, the Canada_Line should have been designed to eventually have 5 car trains & ultimately, 10 car trains. It should have been envisioned as a high capacity rail link between downtown Vancouver, YVR, Richmond & Delta. With an ultimate connection between the Tsawwassen_ferry_terminal and the Horseshoe_Bay_ferry_terminal. 

For some reason Vancouver & BC never seemed to really take off in the 1980s like Calgary, Seattle & Perth. Indeed, while Vancouver seemed to continue on its sleepwalking path after Expo_86, Brisbane really started to boom after its World_Expo_88. 

Unlike SW BC, the Brisbane Airport & seaport are much closer to each other. 

https://upload.wikimedia.org If you are from Brisbane & visiting Vancouver, you will be shocked to see such a short airport train. Being from Vancouver, its difficult to grasp how Brisbane was able to build such nice long trains. This is something to be very proud of, as it can move a lot of people in both directions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Airport_railway_station,_Brisbane This opened in 2001 & Vancouver's inept version had to be ready by 2010 with just 2 car trains. Yet, Brisbane designed their train to be high capacity capable as soon as it open for service. From a backwards BC perspective, it's amazing how Queensland is able to think & function on such a grand scale & to properly allocate the necessary funds. Who knows where so much of the funds went in BC? That's because not enough of it seems to have gone into the infrastructure. 

https:://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver_International_Airport#Rapid_transit_(SkyTrain) 

Unfortunately, this is an embarrassment line because, that's not a 4 car train, its only two, 2 car trains on a single track. How can Vancouver ever rank as a proper city & metropolitan area, when the trains are so short & most of the bridges are so narrow?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YVR-Airport_station Why have a double track station allowing for at least 155m - 200m long trains? Do it the backwards BC way with only a single track & a 50m station. This isn't just an example of extreme cost-cutting. Its not properly designing crucial transportation infrastructure for eventual high capacity. Fortunately, most proper big urban areas are able to think & build big right from the start. Case in point is Queensland.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sir+Leo+Hielscher+Bridges,+Queensland,+Australia

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/Gateway_Bridge This 6 lane & then a 12 lane crossing was possible, because Queensland isn't under anything like the backwater BC restrictions. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Leo_Hielscher_Bridges This has the potential to still have 4 lanes each way. Plus, 1 bus lane & 1 HOV lane each way.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_of_Brisbane , https://www.portbris.com.au , 

https://www.portbris.com.au/portbris-2060

Unlike backwater BC, Queensland is able to properly think, plan, invest & build for the future. Queensland just isn't hindered by anything like the BC Mind Virus (BCMV).

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=YVR-Canada+Line This is almost the worlds shortest train, because it only has 2 cars.

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=old+and+new+narrow+bridges 

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Brisbane+Airport+Railway+Line

Possible TransLink service cuts would overburden bridges and tunnels with vehicle traffic

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/translink-funding-issues-impacts-traffic-congestion

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/translink-trolley-bus-fleet-replacement-bidding-procurement

Loblaw parent company suffers $253M loss due to bread price-fixing settlement

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/loblaw-george-weston-limited-253-million-loss-bread-price-fixing-settlement

Some companies just can't understand why they have no sympathy from the public.

Senakw's first rental housing towers begin to take shape

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/senakw-squamish-first-nation-vancouver-towers-construction-july-2024

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

The tallest buildings in this Vancouver development should have been taller than the tallest building in NW, Burnaby, Coquitlam or Surrey. 

https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/pier-west-1/30319 

178 m / 584 ft https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/complex/3304

https://www.newwestrecord.ca/real-estate-news/new-wests-changing-skyline-pier-west-towers-hit-top-heights-7676861

Senakw should have had at least 2 or 3 towers much taller than the Living_Shangri-La, the tallest in Vancouver at 200m. Something like the Crown_Sydney scale, is banned in Vancouver, but it's no problem for big thinking cities like Sydney & SF.

Tip	271.3 metres (890 ft)
Observatory	250 metres (820 feet)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_Sydney#Approval

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Vancouver#Tallest_proposed_and_under_construction Most of BC is a backwater wildernes that is unapealling for people, but great for wildlife & vegetation. 

The plan was to continually thwart Vancouver, Victoria & Kelowna for as long as possible. That in turn slows down the few key areas of urban grown in BC. NSW & California, just never had the same, KEEP THEM OUT MENTALITY. Thus, they were able to think & properly plan for growth. There seems to be an unwritten rule, that as long as Vancouver can do things which are impressive to Kelowna-Victoria-Prince+George-and-Kamloops, that's good enough.

Sydney, NSW & SF, California just were never under the extreme restrictions that Vancouver has. Plus, Syd & SF haven't been under a multigenerational agenda to keep holding those scenic cities back. 

Sydney and SF aren't afraid to build taller next to a bridge, like Vancouver is. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Sydney#Tallest_buildings_(150m+)

"The taller tower, One Rincon Hill South Tower, was completed in 2008 and stands 60 stories and 641 feet (195 m) tall.^[A][B] The shorter tower, marketed as Tower Two at One Rincon Hill, was completed in 2014 and reaches a height of 541 feet (165 m) with 50 stories." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Rincon_Hill

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_San_Francisco#Tallest_under_construction,_approved_and_proposed

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_central_business_district#Transport This is what you are able to do when you aren't bound by the limiting mentality & backward agenda that Vancouver has. For some reason, Vancouver hasn't been able to get established big cities to emulate its congestive & inept planning standards. That's because most major cities want to plan & implement good transportation infrastructure. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco#Public_transportation

Fortunately, Sydney & SF never wanted to take the backwards Vancouver approach to things.

Canada is far off from even containing 1% of the world's human population & BC has yet to have the population of 1 Switzerland. Proper infrastructure planning like in Japan & S. Korea, the UK, CH & Germany, has already been able to accommodate many more people. However, most of the world is non-white & some parts of Canada still want to hold onto the old White British Colonial mentality for as long as possible.