https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/george-massey-tunnel-bridge-replacement-skytrain-option
The tunnel option should have still included an additional section for at least something like the Edmonton_LRT.
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Via Rail says trips in Ontario, Quebec may take longer after CN rule change
https://globalnews.ca/news/10817048/via-rail-ontario-quebec-corridor-slowdown-cn-rule-change
It's strange that over the past few decades, a new passenger rail corridor wasn't built.
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
South of the Fraser
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024MOTI0112-001305
https://www.sfprhighway17.com/
The Fraser_Valley of BC is so lacking of infrastructure.
Highway 1 Keith Road and Mt Seymour Parkway
https://www.mcelhanney.com/project/highway-1-keith-road-mt-seymour-parkway/
The North_Shore_(Greater_Vancouver) is designed to be heavily congested.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/ironworkers-on-ramp-traffic-north-shore
The North+Shore should have at least 2 rapid transit train crossings.
There should have been a train, bus & HOV tunnel by the First Narrows generations ago.
There should have been a train, bus & HOV bridge beside the Iron Bridge decades ago.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/provincial-federal-municipal-governments-launch-north-bowinn-ma
https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=214205&page=13
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=North+Shore+of+Greater+Vancouver
Rainier Square, Seattle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainier_Square_Tower 850-foot (260 m) tall, 58-story tower
https://www.nbbj.com/work/rainier-square
https://www.supremesteel.com/projects/rainier-square-tower/
https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/rainier-square/16751
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainier_Tower 41-story, 156.67 m (514.0 ft)
LRT remains the best option for North Shore rapid transit
https://www.nsnews.com/opinion-lrt-remains-the-best-option-for-north-shore-rapid-transit-9643033
Ambleside,_West_Vancouver should certainly be a SkyTrain stop along the way. N. Vancouver has always had very limited transportation options. Several decades ago when the decision was made to put a BC ferry terminal in W. Vancouver, there didn't seem to be a proper long-term bus & truck bridge or tunnel & even a rail rapid transit crossing. The 3 lane Lion Bridge is too narrow for any express bus lanes & the region foolishly refused to build a bus & truck tunnel for what is supposed to be a major port city. The Iron Bridge should have been designed to be wide enough to accomodate 2 bus-lanes & 2 truck lanes. Instead, everything is funneled into 3 lanes each way with no emergency lanes. Thus, if there is a stall or a crash, the busses & trucks get jammed up with all the other traffic.
Living on the North_Shore_of_Greater_Vancouver can be nice, but you are punished when you go into the City of Vancouver or visa-versa. A train crossing would certainly improve things.
Cost of Living in Vancouver (UPDATED) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWRTM1TY58A
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Surrey transit-plan-east-west-bus-routes
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/translink-surrey-transit-plan-east-west-bus-routes
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bc-conservatives-childrens-hospital-surrey
Surrey will eventually become the most populated city in BC, but for the foreseeable future, it's still Vancouver.
Cost of Living in Vancouver (UPDATED) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWRTM1TY58A
Monday, October 14, 2024
Mississauga Votes Against Allowing Fourplexes
https://storeys.com/mississauga-votes-against-fourplexes/
There can be both & even all of the above. Single family homes, duplexes, multiplex, low-rise apartment blocks & mid to high-rise towers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M_City_Condominiums This is the start of taller buildings in Mississauga than what is allowed in very restrictive Vancouver.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Mississauga
Thursday, October 10, 2024
ASEAN and Canada
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASEAN
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASEAN#Economy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASEAN#Free_trade
https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/asia-population/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Asia
https://globalnews.ca/news/10386750/canada-41-million-population/
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/71-607-x/71-607-x2018005-eng.htm
https://www.canadianaffair.com/blog/how-big-is-canada
https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/population-by-country/
Neom - The Line - The Rise and Fall of Saudi Arabia's Linear City
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak4on5uTaTg
Saudi Arabia is Building Neom, a Two-Kilometer Skyscraper https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhU4nA3i_IQ
Saudi Arabia’s giant money pit: NEOM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XNK55tc3x8
The Egyptians are Building a Huge New Capital City
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auowZtMw0uQ
Why Egypt is selling a city to UAE for $35 billion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9SGlBUMbeA
The Future Of Australian Cities
https://scenariojournal.com/article/made-in-australia/
https://theconversation.com/new-cities-its-an-idea-worth-thinking-about-for-australia-92990
https://www.indaily.com.au/opinion/2019/05/02/why-isnt-australia-planning-new-cities
Will Australia cope with the rise of mega cities? Australia 2050 (part 2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4BBpqpXRCM
Australia’s insane plan to green the Outback https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGrDOR7lBQ4
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Monday, October 7, 2024
A-second-okanagan-lake-bridge-for kelowna?
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bc-conservatives-second-okanagan-lake-bridge-kelowna
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Kelowna
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=K-V-PG-K
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Kelowna-Victoria-Prince+George-Kamloops
Sunday, October 6, 2024
Saturday, October 5, 2024
Friday, October 4, 2024
First Nations could build Vancouver's new tallest towers at Rupert SkyTrain station
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/3200-east-broadway-vancouver-rupert-station-mst-aquilini
High density by a train station is always a good idea.
Thursday, October 3, 2024
How Skyscrapers are Ranked is Absurd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kLx9pXVJlw
When Chicago built the Tallest Building in the World | The story of Sears Tower https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm0dzhFeArw
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
A Bus Rapid Transit route between Park Royal and Metrotown
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bc-ndp-bus-rapit-transit-route-west-vancouver
Either a new bus, HOV & train bridge has to be built, or a new much wider Iron Bridge is essential.
However, there should also be a train between Horseshoe+Bay and the Park_Royal_Shopping_Centre with a link to downtown Vancouver.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel-De_Champlain_Bridge A nice 8 lane bridge with 2 train tracks was possible in Montreal, because its far away from the stunted infrastructure agenda of Vancouver & the backwater BC mentality. Any new Iron Bridge should be at least as wide as the New_Champlain_Bridge_in_Montreal.
Of course people from Vancouver are allowed to visit Montreal, but the backward BC mentality just isn't allowed to take over Quebec, Ontario or Alberta.
Monday, September 30, 2024
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation.html
https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1631130192216/1631130220404
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Day_for_Truth_and_Reconciliation
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-national-truth-reconciliation-day-1.7336497
Saturday, September 28, 2024
North Vancouver lane realignment on pause following public outcry
https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2024/09/28/north-vancouver-lane-realignment-iron-workers-bridge/
Unfortunatly, the Iron Bridge wasn't designed with future capacity in mind. No emergency lanes, no bus-lanes and no provision for rail rapid transit.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/north-vancouver-lane-change-1.7336664
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=The+Ironworkers-Bridge
Transit service cuts could lead to 200 more hours stuck in traffic a year
This lack of funding just conveniently fits in with the multigenerational mentality or agenda to perpetually implement congestive urban planning in BC.
In the 1950s & 60s, there just wasn't any concept in Greater Vancouver to have wide emergency lanes & a provision for future express bus lanes. Thus, all the bridges & the D. Island Tunnel were instant bottlenecks or chokepoints.
Then in the 1970s & 80s, instead of admitting that all of the regional crossings are inadequate for providing express bus & HOV lanes, things just kept on going the wrong way. There was no incentive to build proper bus & HOV bridges to help the congested crossings. That's because such new infrastructure would actually improve the regional transportation system.
In the 1980s, the first SkyTrain line should have been designed to eventually allow for 152.5m long stations, just like the high capacity Montreal Metro stations. Instead, the first 2 SkyTrain lines were designed to only have 80m short stations.
Then the 3rd line, the C Line or the embarrassing Canada Line, was designed to only have 50m stations. If the argument to have half size or one 3rd size trains was due to construction budget limitations, the stations could have still been designed to eventually allow for 153m long trains. However, that would go against the backward congestive BC approach to infrastructure.
Why allow for a 10 car train that could someday link YVR to both of the ferry terminals? Apparently, it was much better to just have a 2 car joke of a train between Vancouver & Richmond. Why build a bus & HOV tunnel next to the LG Bridge, when everything can just be squeezed into an inept 3 lane crossing? Why build a bus & HOV bridge next to the Oak & Knight Bridges, when they can remain as 4 lane chokepoints?
The multigenerational symbolism of congestive planning seems to be imperative for backward BC. That's the best way to continually demonstrate a reluctance to have a proper express or rapid bus network & trains that are as long as those on the Montreal Metro & the Toronto Subway. A proper HOV network would also enable more people to get around more efficiently, but that would conflict with the narrow bridges.
Things are so backwards & inept in BC, but building proper infrastructure means to properly plan for growth & future transportation demands.
Friday, September 27, 2024
West Vancouver opens door to deferring wastewater plant cost overruns
Apparently, some people thought that no public oversight was a good idea.
That way, there could be tremendous cost overruns, which can cause Metro Vancouver infrastructure to continually fall further behind.
This is total $HIT BOX and $HIT PIPE mismanagement and excrement!
Thursday, September 26, 2024
A Vancouver-penthouse-at 838-west-Hastings
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-penthouse-838-west-hastings
This building doesn't even have 40 floors, so it's not that tall by today's standards.
https://bosaproperties.com/residential-portfolio/jameson-house
For most of the history of BC, stunted or thwarted Vancouver was where the tallest buildings, widest bridges & roads would be.
Now Burnaby, NW, Coquitlam & especially Surrey will be building taller & wider than what restrictive Vancouver allows.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/opinion-bc-real-estate-association-housing
If it were possible, Vancouver would block out the sun & just have perpetual rain throughout the year.
East Vancouver tenants living with no power, refuse to leave
When a building becomes uninhabitable, the residents should be helped to find adequate temporary housing. Then whenever the building problems are fixed, they should be allowed to move back in. If the building is going to be torn down for a new residential structure, they should be allowed to reside there for the same rental rate until they ever want to move out.
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
BC NDP voters rethinking carbon tax
If the carbon tax actually went into properly building up the BC infrastructure, then it might have been worth it. However, the farce of Vancouver and BC in general, is still such a lagging mess. Greater Vancouver is facing transit cuts & most of the bridges in the region are still in need of parallel bus & bike bridges.
The first 2 SkyTrain lines only have 80m stations when the Montreal Metro has almost 153m stations. The line between Vancouver, YVR & Richmond only has a clearance for 50m stations. Longer stations like in Montreal & Toronto, can move a lot more people. Unfortunatly, BC keeps taking the congestive planning option.
Monday, September 23, 2024
Restaurants in Canada are predicting severe consequences following changes to foreign workers policy
Once again the issues aren't being properly addressed. The restaurants need more long-term employes.
Sunday, September 22, 2024
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.
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
Friday, September 20, 2024
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
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.
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/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/
Thursday, September 19, 2024
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
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
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.
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Metro Vancouver transit facing 'drastic cuts'
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.
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
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.
The 8 lane GSB becomes a revamped 6 lane bridge with 2 bike lanes & 2 sidewalks.
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
Monday, September 16, 2024
Climate change costs growing for B.C. municipalities
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.
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.
Saturday, September 14, 2024
Construction for Oakridge-41st Ave Station Upgrades Starts Sept. 16th
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.
Thursday, September 12, 2024
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.
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
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/
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Sunday, September 8, 2024
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.
Saturday, September 7, 2024
Friday, September 6, 2024
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.
Thursday, September 5, 2024
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
Wednesday, September 4, 2024
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
Tuesday, September 3, 2024
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
Monday, September 2, 2024
Thursday, August 29, 2024
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Monday, August 26, 2024
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
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.
Sunday, August 25, 2024
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/
Saturday, August 24, 2024
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
Friday, August 23, 2024
Thursday, August 22, 2024
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/
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Rail strike would halt B.C.'s West Coast Express
Ideally, any commuter rail & intercity lines should have their own tracks so that there is no conflict with the tracks for freight trains.
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Toronto’s CNE is off to a rough start after record-setting rainfall on opening weekend
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/
Monday, August 19, 2024
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://www.interstatebridge.org/updates-folder/river-crossing-visualizations/
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
Thursday, August 15, 2024
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.
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
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.
Tuesday, August 13, 2024
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://sanfranciscobayferry.com/
http://calurbanist.com/san-francisco-bay-ferries/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferries_of_San_Francisco_Bay#Current_ferry_routes
Monday, August 12, 2024
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
Sunday, August 11, 2024
Friday, August 9, 2024
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.
Thursday, August 8, 2024
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
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Tuesday, August 6, 2024
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.
Monday, August 5, 2024
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
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