Tuesday, May 20, 2025

A ‘Bus priority system’ at traffic signals reduces delays in Dubai, but not in Vancouver

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubai Unlike Vancouver, when there are extra lanes, it's so much easier to have proper bus lanes & even HOV lanes. It's just a matter of efficiently using that wider road-space. The backwards Vancouver & backwater BC approach is to try to funnel everything into 2 lanes each way whenever possible. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emirate_of_Dubai Whether its a hot climate or a cold climate, people aren't going to be walking or biking around in 40 to 45C or in -30 to -40C weather.

 https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/transport/dubai-bus-priority-system-traffic-signals-cuts-delays?utm_medium=recommended-inarticle-dt&utm_source=art-rcmd-api

https://www.dubai.ae/web/dubai.ae/city-of-future

Unless backwards Vancouver & backwater BC build a proper system of bus & HOV bridges & have longer SkyTrain station, it all remains a sad joke. The Iron Bridge replacement, if it ever happens, must not only have 3 general lanes each way, but an extra 2 lanes each way for Rapid Bus Transit & HOV. A 10 lane bridge with a provision for a lower deck, is what a proper big city would do, but Vancouver only wants to be a toy city or a movie set full of fake props.

Real estate remains a key driver of Dubai Investments’ profits

 https://gulfnews.com/business/real-estate-remains-a-key-driver-of-dubai-investments-profits-1.500133697

https://gulfnews.com/business/property/dubai-luxury-homes-super-rich-saudis-indians-lead-in-buying-multi-million-dollar-properties-1.500134619

https://www.dubai.ae/web/dubai.ae/city-of-future

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/crime/gulf-first-commercial-brokers-scam-investors-dubai

Could the Site C dam’s massive worker camp end up in a B.C. landfill?

 https://globalnews.ca/news/11188195/site-c-dam-housing-landfill/

More backwards BC foolishness! These housing units could be relocated & reassemble into an affordable housing facility. If someone has been living on the street for several months or years, they would be happy to have their own safe living unit.

Long waits a ‘defining aspect’ of Vancouver byelection, report finds

 https://globalnews.ca/news/11188313/vancouver-council-byelection-long-waits/

Not properly preparing for the amount of people voting is all part of the multigenerational backwards Vancouver & BC mentality. 

With so many narrow bridges in Greater Vancouver, there should have been a system of bus & HOV bridges built, instead of funneling everything into such narrow crossings. 

Proper long-range urban planning would have allowed for easy future clearance to double the length of the first 2 skytrain stations & triple the length of the Canada (embasesment) Line. The first 2 lines only have about 80m for platform length & the 3rd line only has absurd 50m stations. In contrast, the high capacity Montreal Metro has 152.5m long stations, as does the TTC Subway.

Thinking big & building big has always been a problem for backwards Vancouver & backwater BC. 


Toronto could experience coldest May stretch this week since 1967

 https://toronto.citynews.ca/2025/05/20/toronto-weather-this-week-may-forecast/

This is totally depressing. Apparently, as more places get hotter around the world, Canada has a colder spring. If the summers start to become truncated, some people just might give up and move to Australia. 

There already have been some Australian cities that are warmer during their winters than some Canadian cities during their summers.

Burnaby’s municipal government is looking to put a greater emphasis on catalyzing economic and business growth

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/burnaby-task-force-economic-growth

Burnaby might eventually have a taller office tower than what's allowed in stumpy Vancouver. In the meantime, taller residential towers exist in Burnaby, because Burnaby isn't under the the extrem Vancouver restrictions.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/concord-metrotown-metropolis-at-metrotown-construction-redevelopment

Stumpy Vancouver wont permit any residential tower to have 65 stories. No office tower in Vancouver has been allowed to have a 40th floor. 

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-new-tallest-building-bc-gilmore-place

New hotels in Montreal

 https://blog.mtl.org/en/new-hotels

https://www.newhotelsopening.com/new-hotels-in-montreal.html

Unlike Montreal, Vancouver keeps falling behind, because of its provincial backwater mentality.

https://www.biv.com/news/real-estate/vancouver-needs-10k-more-hotel-rooms-says-report-10508458


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

Is Montreal the centre of the AI world?

 https://www.rcinet.ca/en/podcasts/montreal-centre-of-the-a-i-world

https://blog.mtl.org/en/montreal-artificial-intelligence

Construction begins on Marriott's 30-storey Moxy and Elements hotel in downtown Vancouver

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/848-850-seymour-street-vancouver-marriott-moxy-elements-hotel-construction

Vancouver’s Tiniest Movie Theatre?

 https://scoutmagazine.ca/you-should-know-about-vancouvers-tiniest-movie-theatre/

So many things are kept small and backwards in Vancouver & backwater BC. Hower, a nice small theater prop in this case, is very quaint & interesting.

The Mount Royal Tunnel in Montreal

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Royal_Tunnel#REM

https://rem.info/en/news/first-passage-rem-through-mount-royal-tunnel-and-start-dynamic-testing-area

https://www.montrealgazette.com/news/article144286.html

Even the REM train stations should be expandable to eventually accomodate 6-8 car trains.


The Dunsmuir_Tunnel was rebuilt to become a double deck tunnel providing a split_platform station configuration. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split_platform#North_America

Unfortunatly, the Burrard_station & Granville_station platforms were only built to be 80m, when they should have been 155m-160m. This would have helped to eventually have 9 car SkyTrains, just like 9 car Montreal Metro trains. 

With proper long-range planning in mind, the SkyTrain should have been planned to eventually be a double length LRT system. Instead, its been challenging enough just to establish 5 car trains on the first 2 lines.

Unfortunatly, the 3rd line or Canada_Line was built to only have 50m, whereas the Montreal Metro has 152.5m long stations.

The Canada_Line_Stations have platforms that are only 50 metres (160 ft) long, when all the stations should have been built with a future clearance of 160m. That would have allowed for a future provision to eventually accommodate at least 8 car trains at each station.

The Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel

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

Unlike in backwards Vancouver, a bus tunnel, a bus bridge, or a HOV crossing that is designed to eventually become part of a LRT conduit, makes sense. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downtown_Seattle_Transit_Tunnel#Bus_tunnel

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downtown_Seattle_Transit_Tunnel#Opening_and_bus-only_operation

An express bus tunnel from downtown Vancouver to W. Vancouver & H. Bay would make sense. Especially, if it was designed to eventually be for a LRT crossing. Unfortunatly, backwards Vancouver & BC usually opt for the congestive planning choice.

Pioneer Square in Seattle and Portland

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

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

Sunday, May 18, 2025

Former Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson’s appointment as housing minister

"The one thing, from this corner anyway, that it feels fair to rake him over the coals for, is using ending homelessness by 2015 as an election campaign item in 2008. 

Hindsight is 20/20, of course. But not only didn’t happen and the problem got a whole lot worse—it seems, at least now, like an incredibly irresponsible thing to put in the pamphlets of an election campaign. It was a callous, cheap promise to make and one that showed a lack of understanding of the complexity of the issues at play. The other levels of government didn’t force Robertson to make that promise." https://www.straight.com/city-culture/5-ways-of-looking-at-former-vancouver-mayor-gregor-robertsons-appointment-as-housing

Is the Push for below-market rental units in B.C. highrises a stupid idea?

 https://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/below-market-rental-units-bc-highrises-stupid

https://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/who-gets-in-to-vancouvers-below-market-rental-apartments

Saturday, May 17, 2025

How Toronto is turning its commuter rail system into a rapid transit network

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtEKDIg2jzw

The TTC streetcar to the CNE

 https://www.ttc.ca/news/2022/August/Take-the-TTC-to-the-CNE

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

https://www.ttc.ca/news/2024/August/TTC-increasing-service-to-The-Ex-for-CNE

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exhibition_Loop#Future

https://www.theex.com/getting-here/#public-transit

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterfront_West_LRT#Route_layout

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterfront_West_LRT#Exhibition_Place%E2%80%93Dufferin_Gate_Loop_streetcar_connection

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto_streetcar_system#Routes

It would have been devastating if Vancouver's backwards mentality had convinced Toronto, SF & Melbourn to get rid of their streetcars & trams.

https://transittoronto.ca/archives/weblog/2024/08/14-lets_go_--.shtml

Playland and the PNE

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/playland-weekend-opening-wild-mouse

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

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

https://buzzer.translink.ca/2017/04/from-rails-to-rubber-a-look-back-at-the-regions-transition-from-streetcars-to-buses/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/256850977796478/posts/3032980890183459/

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

https://stephenrees.blog/2008/03/11/vancouver-to-rebuild-granville-island-streetcar-route/

https://stephenrees.blog/2010/01/15/sneak-preview-inside-the-olympic-line-%E2%80%93-vancouver%E2%80%99s-2010-streetcar/

https://stephenrees.blog/2010/03/22/vancouver-says-goodbye-to-olympic-streetcar/

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-olympic-line-streetcar-future

https://buzzer.translink.ca/2015/08/a-history-of-the-14-hastings-in-vancouver-an-interview-with-planner-peter-klitz-about-the-iconic-bus-route/

While backwards Vancouver was so quick to get rid of its streetcars & tram-trains, Toronto, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, New Orleans, SF, Portland, Seattle & especially Melbourne, retained or revived some of their lines.

https://transittoronto.ca/archives/weblog/2024/08/14-lets_go_--.shtml 


Friday, May 16, 2025

The Prudential Center (Boston)

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prudential_Center_(Boston)

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_Bay,_Boston#Transportation

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Boston_Back_Bay.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_Bay,_Boston#Other_prominent_buildings

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Prudential+Center/@42.3470601,-71.0817575,517m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x89e3652d0d3d311b:0x787cbf240162e8a0!2sBoston,+MA,+USA!3b1!8m2!3d42.3555076!4d-71.0565364!16zL20vMDFjeF8!3m5!1s0x89e37a0e4cb2d8cd:0x67285acc59047ccf!8m2!3d42.3470567!4d-71.0817427!16zL20vMDJtZmI1!5m1!1e2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDUxNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Vancouver city council decision on controversial towers development delayed

 https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/vancouver-council-decision-towers-delayed-june-10

There is a good argument to have more affordable housing in these towers.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-housing-city-hall-polka

Thus, if a developer was allowed to build 10-20 floors higher by including more affordable units, then there would be more vertical space to work with. 

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/1780-east-broadway-commercial-vancouver-safeway-proposal-public-hearing While these would be consider to be MEGATOWERS by Victoria, Prince George & Kamloops, they wouldn't be in Burnaby or eventually Surrey & Coquitlam.   

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Commercial-Broadway_station.jpg

The Safeway, parking lot & the Commercial-Broadway_station area is all a prime high-rise development zone.

Edmonton's high level bridge streetcar

https://exploreedmonton.com/attractions-and-experiences/high-level-bridge-streetcar

Even though it's a small attempt, Edmonton was able to reactivate a portion of its old streetcar system.

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

https://www.edmontonstreetcars.ca/about/history

 https://www.edmontonstreetcars.ca/highlevelbridge

"It was designed from the outset to accommodate rail, streetcar, two-way automobile, and pedestrian traffic.[2] The original bridge design included three tracks on the upper deck: The middle track was for CPR trains, and the two outer tracks were for streetcars." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Level_Bridge_(Edmonton)

The High_Level_Bridge opened in 1913 & had 1 heavy rail track in the middle & a streetcar track on either side. Even by 2013, backwards Vancouver didn't have a triple track railway bridge within its city limits. Indeed, by 2025, its been tough enough to have a double track freight train bridge & a double track commuter rail bridge within the Greater Vancouver Region. Fortunately, the SkyTrain is at least double tracked, except for the end of the line in Richmond.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Level_Bridge_(Edmonton)#Modifications

https://globalnews.ca/news/3335890/wider-sidewalks-lrt-tracks-and-shared-use-paths-on-edmontons-high-level-bridge-to-be-studied/

Vancouver was one of the first cities to get rid of them and will likely be one of the last cities to bring them back. Things are more possible in Alberta, simply because its a separate jurisdiction & mentality than backwater BC.

The Streetcars of New Orleans

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

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

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

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

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

YVR receives unique accolade among the world's best airports

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/yvr-worlds-best-airports-accessibility

Unfortunatly, the YVR-Airport_station has one of the shortest & narrowest stations of any major airport. 

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/00/Vancouver_Airport_Skytrain_Station_2008-04-22.JPG All of the C-Line stations should have been designed to ultimately accomodate 10 car trains, at least 8 car trains. This picture shows what a 4 car train could be like. Unfortunatly, its only two, 2 car trains. Ridiculously short 50m stations can only accomodate a 2-2.5 car train, not 4 or 5, let alone 8-10 cars. Combine this with mostly very narrow bridges in the Greater Vancouver Region and you see congestion or bottleneck planning at its best in backwards BC.

In true lack of a big vision for BC, the YVR-Airport_station_Platform is so narrow & short that only 1 train at a time can stop on the very short single track station. While such small-scale train infrastructure would be impressive for Victoria, Kelowna, Prince George & Kamloops, it's hardly impressive to Seattle, WA and Perth, WA. 

https://www.yvr.ca/en/passengers/transportation/public-transportation

https://thecanadaline.com/station-guides/yvr-airport/

https://www.translink.ca/schedules-and-maps/station/yvr-airport/schedule 

Being from backwards BC, it's amazing to see how several major airports will have at least a double track airport train station. The Portland_Airport_MAX_station is another one of them. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_Airport_station , https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAX_Red_Line

Ideally, the+airport+train should be more than a 2 car joke. Even 4 car trains should be able to stop at stations with enough future clearance to accomodate 6 car trains.  


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

B.C. considers a vehicle levy to help fund Translink

 https://www.biv.com/news/commentary/rob-shaw-bc-considers-vehicle-levy-to-help-fund-translink-10659333

While a better funding approach would be good, its sad that all the Vancouver SkyTrain stations were designed to be so short. Apparently, it was to save money, but it will cost a lot more to try to gradually lengthen those very short SkyTrain stations.

Martello Tower in Vancouver, BC

Height91 m (298 ft)
Floors32
Construction Year1968

 https://www.skydb.net/building/271949875/martello-tower-vancouver

Only 32 stories, not 64.

https://www.apartments.com/martello-tower-vancouver-bc/844fnx3/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/3321188921434592/posts/3959736840913127/

Beach Avenue in Vancouver

 https://viewpointvancouver.ca/2020/04/02/beach-avenue-vancouver-1974

https://vancouverida.com/portfolio/1011-beach-avenue-martello-tower/

Rage Against the NJ Turnpike Machine

 https://turnpiketrap.org

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogSQKRuf0zI CBS

Expand or just maintain it? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXFfQl-upz8


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=NJ+Turnpike

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

BC continues a go-slow approach to the Massey tunnel replacement as fears of a price rise grow

 https://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/bc-ndp-go-slow-approach-massey-tunnel-replacement-fears-of-price-rise-grow

This is the epitome of multigenerational BC transportation planning ineptness & B$! 

https://www.biv.com/news/commentary/rob-shaw-ndps-massey-tunnel-quagmire-keeps-sinking-deeper-10646645


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Massey+Tunnel+replacement

Road closures coming to Surrey this weekend for huge annual parade

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/cloverdale-rodeo-parade-surrey-road-closures

https://cloverdalerodeo.com/rodeo/rodeo-parade/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjVebQsCANA 2024

https://www.cloverdalerodeo.com/pdf/136865_Parade_Map.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=7j4ywCCWCMA 2024

Marina City in Chicago

Marina_City (MC) "The complex consists of two 587-foot (179 m), 65-story apartment towers, opened in 1963" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marina_City#Architecture 

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Marinacity466.JPG 

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/The_Butterfly_and_First_Baptist_Church_in_Vancouver_04.jpg

https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=107021 The 57 story Butterfly tower in Vancouver is 586 feet, so its only 1 foot shorter than Marina_City. MC was able to fit in 65 floors into the same height.

https://reveryarchitecture.com/projects/butterfly/

https://westbankcorp.com/body-of-work/the-butterfly

https://www.canadianarchitect.com/revery-unveils-design-of-the-butterfly

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Marina_City%2C_Chicago%2C_Illinois%2C_Estados_Unidos%2C_2012-10-20%2C_DD_01.jpg While these towers would be around the 3 or 4th tallest in Vancouver, they have almost become like stumps in Chicago.

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

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cf/Chicago-00.jpg Marina City is in the top, middle part of this picture and is hardly noticeable on the Chicago skyline.

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

Being from smallminded Vancouver, its always amazing to see how so many cities are allowed to be on a big scale. 

Monday, May 12, 2025

Mountains cover 75 per cent of British Columbia

 https://www.welcomebc.ca/choose-b-c/explore-british-columbia/geography-of-b-c

Yet, somehow if Vancouver was allowed to have real big city tall buildings, the mountains of BC would be blocked out.

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

The stumpy building limits are part of the agenda to keep BC small.

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/geography-of-british-columbia

The Greater Vancouver region & lower mainland is the only part of backwater BC that has a few million people. 

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-10-highest-mountains-in-british-columbia.html

Greater Victoria & Nanaimo are far from having a million people.

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

Even Kelowna, Penticton & Vernon are nowhere near half a million residents.

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

https://www.britannica.com/place/British-Columbia

Switzerland can fit into BC almost 24 times, yet BC doesnt have the population of one CH.

City of Vancouver proposes Trout Lake view cone changes for transit-oriented development around SkyTrain's Commercial-Broadway Station

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/trout-lake-view-cone-vancouver-proposed-changes-transit-oriented-development

Safeway on West Broadway in Kitsilano eyed for redevelopment

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/safeway-2733-west-broadway-vancouver-kitsilano-redevelopment

Possible redevelopment of Safeway on Kingsway in East Vancouver

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/safeway-kingsway-hastings-vancouver-burnaby-crombie-wesgroup-redevelopment

Is Vancouver's tourism at risk without urgent action on hotel construction?

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-tourism-risk-hotel-development-construction-policies

The rise and fall of the BC inter-urban railway

"The BC Electric Inter-Urban Railway ran trams from New Westminster to Chilliwack from 1912 to 1950" https://www.surreynowleader.com/community/north-delta-history-the-rise-and-fall-of-the-inter-urban-railway-2947692

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia_Electric_Railway#Interurban_rail_lines

https://maps.nicholsonroad.com/bcer/

https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=3498

https://www.chilliwack.com/main/page.cfm?id=3111

https://fvhrs.org/history/

https://buildchilliwack.com/a-rail-idea-that-wont-quit-revisiting-fraser-valley-rail-proposals/

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/fraser-valley-metro-vancouver-regional-rail-west-coast-express

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6578199

Pattullo Bridge fully closing to traffic for multiple days

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/pattullo-bridge-full-closure-long-weekend

Backwards BC has always had a problem with proper planning for future infrastructure capacity. In the 1930s, NW was the remnant of a small backwater provincial capital. In the late 1800s or the early 1900s, NW could have absorbed what is today known as the Tri-Cities. There could have been better cooperation with Surrey to become a proper river metropolis region. 

Unfortunatly, in the 1930s it was still amazing just to have plumbing & electricity in Surrey. So to have a Pattullo-Bridge (PB) with 4 wagon roads on it, was also amazing. Apparently, there was only enough funds to have one sidewalk. The PB should have been on a similar scale as the Burrard_St._Bridge, with 6 lanes & 2 sidewalks & even a provision for a lower tram-train deck. But in backwards BC such forward planning is difficult.

Of course the Burrard+Street+Bridge was reduced to 4 lanes and the replacement of the 4 lane Pattullo+Bridge will only open with 4 lanes. Of course there is no provision for a rail transit line on it.


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

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=the+BC+inter-urban+railway

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Tri-Cities

Vancouver International Airport (YVR)

 

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/moray-bridge-yvr-airport-vancouver-richmond-misty-vision-sensors

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/moray-bridge-replacement-richmond-vancouver-international-airport-yvr

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-international-airport-yvr-industrial-multi-modal-transportation-hub


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

The Richmond-Delta Tunnel

It was first called, the Deas Island Tunnel and then the George_Massey_Tunnel. Perhaps the new tunnel will be given a different name. This narrow tunnel has been a serious chokepoint for several decades. Apparently, there wasn't any proper big city planning, despite there being a ferry terminal & the Delta Port facilities.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Massey_Tunnel#Replacement

Even the new tunnel will be symbolic or indicative of not having a train between the Delta ferry terminal and YVR. The new tunnel or crossing should have been built in 2 phases. 

First, the two 4 lane sections for general traffic & buses. Then, as port & truck traffic increases, a train & truck tunnel or bridge should be built. 

https://www.richmond-news.com/local-news/province-considering-filling-george-massey-tunnel-with-sand-8777369  


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Massey+Tunnel+replacement 

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Richmond+and+Delta

Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal

Why have a proper high capacity rail line connecting the Horseshoe_Bay_ferry_terminal to YVR, when so much traffic is funneled into the narrow 3 lane Lions+Gate+Bridge and the inadequate 4 lane Oak Street Bridge?

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6578199


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Horseshoe+Bay+ferry+terminal

Tsawwassen ferry terminal

Backwater BC has been under a multigenerational lack of vision planning trap. A primary example of this is the lack of an official plan to have a rail link connecting the Tsawwassen_ferry_terminal and the Horseshoe_Bay_ferry_terminal to YVR.

 https://www.bcferries.com/travel-boarding/terminal-directions-parking-food/vancouver-tsawwassen/TSA

https://www.bcferries.com/routes-fares/schedules/daily/TSA-SWB

https://www.bcferries.com/routes-fares/schedules/daily/TSA-DUK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6EaFGz9zXA

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

https://www.delta-optimist.com/local-news/60th-anniversary-of-tsawwassen-ferry-terminal-photos-3123928


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Tsawwassen+ferry+terminal

NSW OSCAR Trains

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

Train length81.55 m (267 ft 6+58 in)
Car length
  • 20.34 m (66 ft 8+34 in) (OD)
  • 20,435 mm (67 ft 12 in) (ON/ONL)

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

An 8 car train stopping at a 6 car station.

"Example of selective door operation. The doors in the first 2 carriages are not opened, because the platform is too short for an 8-carriage OSCAR train." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_door_operation

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


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Selective+Door+Operation

Selective Door Operation (SDO)

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_door_operation#UK_variations

SDO is a great way to add an extra car at both ends of a train. Thus, a 3 car train can become 5 & a 6 car train could become 8. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground_S7_and_S8_Stock#Features

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground_S7_and_S8_Stock#/media/File:Articulate_section_S_stock.JPG

https://www.witpress.com/elibrary/wit-transactions-on-the-built-environment/74/12046

https://www.rssb.co.uk/research-catalogue/CatalogueItem/T686

The Chicago L can run up to an 8 car train, because that's the maximum station platform length. If the L can ever have walkthrough trains, then an 8 car train could become a 10 car train with SDO.

Stubborn Vancouver & BC just can't seem to allow for proper comprehensive transportation planning. 

Unfortunately, the multibillion dollar Canada+Line wasn't designed for significant future capacity. No five car trains, just a 2.5 car joke. There was a lack of vision to connect the Horseshoe+Bay ferry+terminal with downtown Vancouver and the airport.


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Selective+Door+Operation

Saturday, May 10, 2025

After 10 years, East Broadway Safeway redevelopment proposal finally faces Vancouver City Council decision

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/1780-east-broadway-commercial-vancouver-safeway-proposal-public-hearing

The KEEP IT SMALL, BECAUSE ITS VANCOUVER mentality has held this back for a decade. Despite being a major regional SkyTrain intersection, various people are determined to have stunted buildings that might be impressive by Kelowna or Victoria standards. Ideally, the most vocal people would like the scale to not even rival that of what's in Kamloops & Prince George. These very expressive people are too afraid to allow Brentwood or even Oakridge size towers.  

Friday, May 9, 2025

17 Bids Filed for Hudson’s Bay as Store Liquidation Proceeds

 https://retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2025/05/17-bids-filed-for-hudsons-bay-as-store-liquidation-proceeds 




Will there still be a HBC store at Oakridge someday?


Vancouver Whitecaps expecting biggest MLS crowd of the season this weekend

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/whitecaps-expecting-biggest-mls-crowd-season

https://www.bcplace.com/events/2025/van-vs-lafc

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BC_Place#Canadian_football

https://www.bcplace.com/events/2025/lions-vs-elks

https://www.bcplace.com/events/2025/van-vs-sea

BC_Place Stadium was rebuilt to last well into the foreseeable future.

https://www.bcplace.com/the-stadium

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BC_Place#Renovation_and_roof_replacement

However, its unfortunate that it wasn't redesigned to ultimately accommodate 65K to 75 thousand people.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BC_Place#Post-renovation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BC_Place#Baseball


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Arenas+and+Stadiums

Arenas and Stadiums

https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/difference-between-arena-and-stadium

https://udcsports.com/stadiums-vs-arenas-whats-the-difference/

CFL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cQxORqbcd8 

US Stadiums for World Cup 2026 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZlMy9Kv-tA

Mega Stadiums https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OvQvY-QZbM


https://itsthevibe.com/abandoned-stadiums/?xsmr=1

U$ELE$$? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhIkIm-JU3U

6 more U$ELE$$ stadiums. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK34jgdWGKM

6 Most Embarrassing Stadiums in America https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGY-SaIdA8U

7 Most Useless Arenas in America https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e3O9tANOvU


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Arenas+and+Stadiums 

Canada's Geography

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BcnuKgv9B0

Thursday, May 8, 2025

A proposal for a tower up to 1,033 feet or 315 meters in Downtown Vancouver

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/hudsons-bay-parkade-vancouver-redevelopment-holborn-group

Vancouver & even the Lower_Mainland is a small portion of backwater BC.

https://globalnews.ca/news/11170798/new-development-pitched-downtown-vancouver-bc-tallest-tower

Most of BC is mountainous wilderness, there are only a handful of areas in backward BC in which there can be major urban areas.

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

https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?countryID=1&status=15 Backwater BC was supposed to always have the smallest buildings, when compared to what Ontario, Quebec & Alberta allows. 

https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?stateID=7&status=15 Ontario

https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?stateID=12&status=15 Quebec

https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?stateID=2&status=15 Alberta 

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

https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?stateID=24&status=15 Washington State

https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?stateID=47&status=15 Western Australia

https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?stateID=14&status=15 California 

https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?stateID=1 As of May 2025, there are a few residential towers in the low to mid 60s range. No office tower in BC has a 40th floor.

https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?cityID=2&status=15 While Vancouver won't permit office towers to have a 40th floor, it can't stop Surrey from potentially have a 47 story office tower. https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?cityID=2&status=15

Western Canada's tallest building with a public observation deck proposed for Vancouver

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/canada-tallest-public-observation-deck-vancouver-tower-new

https://vancouversun.com/news/massive-development-proposed-for-downtown-vancouver

https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?countryID=1&status=15 For the longest time, Vancouver was to not only have its tallest buildings shorter than Toronto & Seattle, but shorter than Montreal, Calgary & Edmonton. 

Holborn Group proposes 38-storey social housing tower for Gastown

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/388-abbott-street-vancouver-social-housing-tower-holborn-group

Another push to revive dying Vancouver’s Chinatown Plaza underway

 https://globalnews.ca/news/11171783/push-revive-dying-vancouvers-chinatown-plaza-underway/

Bunker Hill, Los Angeles

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunker_Hill,_Los_Angeles

https://www.onbunkerhill.org/

 https://waterandpower.org/Museum2/Bunker_Hill_1930s_Plus.html

https://www.pbssocal.org/shows/lost-la/before-downtown-l-a-s-high-rises-bunker-hill-was-simply-home

Canucks construction continues as Rogers Arena gets new seats in place

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/canucks-construction-rogers-arena-new-seats


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Rogers+Arena

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Arenas+and+Stadiums


Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair

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

https://vancouversbestplaces.com/events-calendar/festivals-and-events/cloverdale-rodeo/

https://www.surreynowleader.com/marketplace/an-original-kind-of-country-cloverdale-country-fair-is-rooted-in-tradition-reimagined-for-today-7962338

https://cloverdalerodeo.com/

Vancouver's Celebration of Light fireworks

 https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/events-and-entertainment/three-canadian-teams-celebration-of-light-fireworks-vancouver-2025-10634733

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/05/08/vancouver-honda-celebration-of-lights-canadian-lineup/

https://vancouversun.com/news/vancouver-fireworks-honda-celebration-of-light-2025-dates-tickets-info

https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/celebration-of-light.aspx

https://hondacelebrationoflight.com/

https://www.surreynowleader.com/local-entertainment/all-canadian-fireworks-dates-at-2025-celebration-of-light-in-vancouver-7993672

Vancouver Soccer team is surging, while Vancouver NHL team is sinking

 https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/entertainment-media-sports/kirk-lapointe-whitecaps-surging-canucks-fans-sulking-10631761


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Rogers+Arena

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Arenas+and+Stadiums

Dog owners fined for leaving pup in the sun in Costco parking lot

 https://globalnews.ca/news/11168599/viral-video-shows-dog-owners-fined-for-leaving-pup-in-the-sun-in-costco-parking-lot/

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/highlights/watch-dog-left-tethered-to-vehicle-in-bc-costco-parking-lot-owner-fined-10623557

The Anaheim Ducks are hardly raising ticket prices but spending a billion dollars on their arena. The Canucks are also spending big, but handing fans the bill.

https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/rogers-arena-seats-renovations-ticket-price-hike

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

https://www.coliseum-online.com/honda-center-in-line-for-1-bn-makeover/

https://www.costar.com/article/107126959/southern-california-hockey-stadium-revamp-adds-to-us-sports-venue-makeovers

https://www.latimes.com/sports/hockey/ducks/story/2025-04-29/ducks-honda-center-renovation-angel-stadium

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

https://www.anaheim.net/5157/Honda-Center-OC-Vibe


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Arenas+and+Stadiums

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Rogers+Arena

Sunday, May 4, 2025

How Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu Day tragedy unfolded

 https://globalnews.ca/news/11162776/a-family-and-a-festival-how-vancouvers-lapu-lapu-day-tragedy-unfolded/

A person might be troubled about various things, confused or enraged. Therefore, it's imperative not to make it easy for any person to crash & smash into a crowd of people.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/a-family-and-a-festival-how-vancouvers-lapu-lapu-day-tragedy-unfolded/

Crowd control is important, but crowd protection is just as important.

Saturday, May 3, 2025

The Clay Wade Bailey Bridge

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

3 lanes with a double track railway bridge next to it.

https://bridgestunnels.com/location/clay-wade-bailey-bridge

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

So far, the 3 lane LGB never had a double track, LRT bridge or tunnel built next to it.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/Lions-Gate-Bridge-North-Shore.jpg


The Simon Kenton Memorial Bridge, Kentucky

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

This 2 lane wonder with 1 sidewalk could have been a backwater BC bridge. 

https://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=kentucky/maysville/

Unfortunatly, the LGB only has 3 lanes & 2 sidewalks. Both are little, narrow backcountry type bridges, but the inadequate LGB is forced to do the job of a big city crossing.

Thursday, May 1, 2025

Hopes for new South Vancouver swimming pool are barely afloat

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/south-vancouver-swimming-pool

If a proper big city pool can't be in every neighborhood, then there should at least be a major swimming pool complex in every quadrant of the city.

New B.C. legislation to speed up public and private projects

 https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/05/01/new-bc-legislation-to-speed-up-public-and-private-projects-says-minister/

Unfortunatly, backwater B.C. has been slow to get various things done for generations. 

Festival organizations look to increase security measures following Lapu-Lapu tragedy

 https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/05/01/vancouver-filipino-festival-lapu-lapu-attack-groups-increase-security/

Second floating hotel may soon house 900 more LNG workers at B.C. site

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/woodfibre-lng-squamish-second-floating-hotel-workers

City of Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu festival planning called into question compared to other events

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-lapu-lapu-planning-events

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-14668865/hallmark-star-noel-johansen-wife-killed-vancouver-lapu-lapu.html


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Lapu+Lapu+Festival+mass+killing

Horseshoe Bay upgrades

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bc-ferries-passenger-booking-changes-horseshoe-bay-upgrades

Its very strange that there wasn't any proper planning to have a train connecting the Horseshoe+Bay+ferry+terminal, YVR and the Tsawwassen+ferry+terminal.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bc-ferries-popular-route-busy-weekend

Unfortunatly, it was difficult enough just to have a 2 car SkyTrain-Canada+Line between Vancouver & Richmond, nevermind the Tsawwassen ferry terminal.

Vancouver enters peak cruise ship season

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-peak-cruise-ship-season-2025

Calgary film industry optimistic for recovery after North America-wide slowdown

 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/film-industry-production-demand-1.7522648

Playland and the PNE in Vancouver, BC

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/playland-2025-season

https://www.pne.ca/about-us/hastings-park-master-plan/

Unlike the CNE, various small-town agenda types have tried to reduce or even dismantle the PNE over the decades. Fortunately, the PNE has been gradually been able to build itself up to something more than just a backwater county fair. There seems to be a multigenerational mentality to perpetuate a, NO FUN VANCOUVER agenda. Fortunately, this horrible backwards mentality hasn't been able to catch on with most cities around the world.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/playland-redevelopment-expansion-pne-plan-update-long-term



https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Hastings+Park

Some Canadians want to move to the U.S. after federal election results

 https://dailyhive.com/canada/federal-election-results-canadians-move-us

https://www.postalley.org/2025/04/29/thanks-trump-in-epic-comeback-liberals-reelected-in-canada/

If you move to the US, UK, France, Australia or NZ, you get to have the color blue on the national flag. 

https://dailyhive.com/canada/canada-recession-2025-wells-fargo

Portland MAX LRT

 


The Portland MAX is slow. This is how to fix it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OF2-lnj8vEQ

MAX and Streetcar lines https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Izhd3SQ38PE , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JvGTx4ufFo

Festival mass killing probes face long, uncertain road

 https://www.nsnews.com/opinion/les-leyne-festival-mass-killing-probes-face-long-uncertain-road-10596922

https://vancouversun.com/news/day-before-vancouvers-lapu-lapu-tragedy-suspect-told-police-items-were-thrown-into-his-suv


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Lapu+Lapu+Festival+mass+killing

TransLink to expand Metro Vancouver bus service with newly approved investment plan

 https://www.delta-optimist.com/national-business/translink-to-expand-metro-vancouver-bus-service-with-newly-approved-investment-plan-10596988

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/04/30/mayors-council-translink-bus-service-increase/

B.C. business groups seek 'drastic' action on trade, tariffs following election

 https://www.delta-optimist.com/economy-law-politics/bc-business-groups-seek-drastic-action-on-trade-tariffs-following-election-10595658

How St. Louis Runs a Metro With Light Rail

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-swqBlY1r2k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbhxG0YASZI

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Major TransLink funding plan approved to improve service and avoid cuts

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/translink-tax-fare-increase-funding-approved

Two Canadian cities rank among the world’s wealthiest

https://dailyhive.com/canada/cities-in-canada-among-worlds-wealthiest

While Toronto now has more people than Chicago, the GTA is still less populated than the Chicagoland Area. Toronto has yet to have a building with at least 100 floors like Chicago, NYC & Melbourne.

There is always a strong resistance to allow the Greater Vancouver Region to rival that of Greater Montreal or the Greater Seattle Area. Thus, the trains are shorter, most of the bridges are narrower & most of the buildings are like stumps. The keep it small & hold it back approach, is all part of the symbolism towards refusing to build proper big city size infrastructure. 

Of course the Vancouver Marathon will have closed major roadways

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-marathon-road-closures

Any event in which there is a crowd of people, always needs to have roadblocks and effective safety barriers in place.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-mental-health-crisis-tragedy 


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Lapu+Lapu+Festival+mass+killing

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Senseless vehicular crash into a Vancouver festival

 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/lapu-lapu-attack-family-colombia-1.7522034

It shouldn't be this easy for anyone to drive and crash into a crowd of people. Proper safety barriers can make all the difference.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/accused-festuval-killing-mental-health-1.7521867


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Lapu+Lapu+Festival+mass+killing

Why is Metro Vancouver Creating a New Downtown?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybMhTlj-l5s 

Unlike Seattle and Calgary, Vancouver has no office towers over 50 stories. There aren't even any 40 story office towers in BC. Vancouver is firmly against permitting any office tower from having a 40th floor. However, Vancouver cant stop Burnaby and especially Surrey from having an office tower over 40 stories. While a 50 story office tower anywhere in backwater BC still seems unlikely, Burnaby and Surrey will likely be the first 2 cities in BC to have at least a 45 story office tower. 

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/50-storey-tower-community-hub-edmonds-burnaby 

So far, stubborn and strict Vancouver has only permitted 2 buildings to be taller than the tallest in Bellevue,_Washington

Vancouver has only permitted one building to be taller than the tallest in Vaughan, Ontario.

https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/cg-tower/32139 

Since Burnaby and Surrey aren't under the backwards and thwarting restrictions that Vancouver has, Burnaby and eventually Surrey, will have taller buildings than stumpy Vancouver. Indeed, Burnaby already has some buildings taller than Downtown_Bellevue. Surrey will eventually have some buildings taller than the Vaughan_Metropolitan_Centre.          

Vancouver will continue to limit the height of its buildings for as long as possible. Vancouver won't allow a bus and train tunnel near the lion Bridge, let alone a 6 lane highway tunnel. Despite the Iron Bridge needing a parallel bus bridge and a Skytrain bridge, progress remains at a snail's pace. There still seems to be no interest in building a bus bridge next to the Oak and Knight Bridges. A city on the moon and Mars might happen before stubborn Vancouver ever builds a new Fraser Street bus & bike bridge. Not only should there be a Boundary Road Bridge to Richmond, but at least a Boundary bus & bike bridge to the North Vancouver.  

Its like backwards BC keeps hoping that by symbolically refusing to build up proper big city size transportation infrastructure, people will stay away. However, its only because no one has been able to effectively challenge the bottleneck-chokepoint mentality, that not much has been done.