UTL is about exploring past, present and future urban technologies in science and fiction, etc...
Monday, August 31, 2015
The Regional George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Competing proposals for Deltaport expansion
Of course BC just has to move so much slower than Queensland on infrastructure projects.
Delta has the big seaport and Richmond has the airport, and for such a long time the highway is only 2 lanes each way.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/malcolm-brodie-richmond-mayor-retirement
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Richmond+and+Delta
Sunday, March 29, 2026
YVR-Canada Line and REM Train
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1ouk0VifwM&t=42s Even if the YVR-Canada Line had to initially be built as a symbolically small city train, urban transportation infrastructure can be designed in ways that can double or even triple capacity to meet future demand. Unfortunately, its very difficult to build anything in BC with significant future capacity in mind.
Ultimately, the YVR-Canada Line should have had level station clearances to eventually be able to accommodate 10 car trains. Unfortunately, in typical backwards BC planning the stations weren't even designed with enough level clearance to accommodate 5 car trains. The joke that is the Canada Line only has a level station clearance of 50m to eventually accommodate just a 2.5 car train.
Most other cities actually build long stations to accommodate long trains right in the first place. Or, at least allow for enough level clearance so that the stations can eventually be doubled or tripled in length.
The YVR-Canada Line should have started with the Vancouver & Richmond segment, then the Vancouver and Horseshoe+Bay+ferry+terminal segment. Then finally, the YVR to Delta and the Tsawwassen+ferry+terminal.
The SkyTrain Stations in Greater Vancouver https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Qg78Bmf1fk
Unfortunately, proper big city transportation planning is very difficult to achieve in backwards BC. So much is watered down in Vancouver.
Montreal’s Biggest REM Expansion Yet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G1oeIAfxDU&t=106s
The Montreal REM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9O6RzsXIqQ
While the REM was designed to help the Metro, it should have the capability to be gradually expanded. Eventually, REM trains should be lengthened from 4 car trains to 6 and even 8 car trains.
In contrast, every Skytrain line should have been designed with enough level future station clearance to eventually accommodate a train as long as a 152.5 (500 ft.) long Montreal Metro train. The first 2 Skytrain lines have 80m stations and the joke that is the Canada Line only has 50m stations.
While the first 2 lines can accommodate 5 car trains, the C Line wasn't designed to accommodate 5 car trains. Just 2.5 car trains, someday.
Despite there being such a symbolic push for Vancouver to keep having short trains, narrow bridges and stumpy buildings, things are gradually changing in backwards BC. The Vancouver or BC Mind Virus should have been challenged decades ago, but too many loud people wanted to perpetuate the, KEEP THINGS SMALL AND INDEQUATE agenda.
Given how most of the bridges in Greater Vancouver are so narrow, there isn't enough room for proper bus and HOV lanes, or even wide emergency lanes. One would think that at least the trains & stations would have been designed to eventually be doubled or tripled in length. But that would go against the mutigenerational congestive planning agenda. That's why there still is only a 3 lane LGB when there should have been at least a parallel bus, HOV and train tunnel. The Pattullo+Bridge replacement didn't open with 2 bus and 2 HOV lanes, not even wide shoulders or emergency lanes. NW really likes the congestive planning approach. Of course the new tunnel between Richmond and Delta won't have an additional provision for a train tube. This will also help to perpetuate the congestive transportation mandate.
Fortunately, Selective_door_operation technology can eventually allow more sensible transportation planners to enable longer trains.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_door_operation#International_variations , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdH5d1ZthmM
This means that a 5 car Skytrain (85m) could eventually become a 7 car train, despite the 80m stations.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyTrain_(Vancouver)_rolling_stock#Alstom_Mark_V Thus, an 80m train can become a 117m train.
A two car and 2.5 car (50m) train on the multibillion dollar Canada Line is so absurd and inept! With some slight station modifications, there could be a potential to eventually accommodate three, 20m cars at such short platforms. Then, once 3 car trains could become possible, its just a matter of having an extra 20m car at both ends of each train. A 5 car train of 100m is so much better than a 50m joke of a train.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyTrain_(Vancouver)#Alstom_Mark_V_fleet
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=SkyTrain-Canada+Line
Sunday, September 14, 2025
The Boundary Road bridges (BRB)
Unfortunatly, there doesn't seem to be any BRB plan in place.
A North Boundary Road Bridge could provide an excellent BRT crossing between Burnaby and North+Vancouver. This would help to relieve pressure on the Iron Bridge.
https://movementyvr.ca/bby-heights-brt
The same with a South Boundary Roade Bridge with a BRT route between Vancouver and Richmond.
Then another BRT bridge between Richmond and Delta to the ferry terminal. This could help to relieve some of the pressure on the new tunnel, because it wasn't designed to have 2 HOV lanes & no train section.
https://www.translink.ca/plans-and-projects/projects/bus-projects/rapidbus-projects
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Boundary+Road
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=BRT
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Richmond+and+Delta
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Is Tsawwassen Mills is one of Metro Vancouver's worst urban planning mistakes?
Thursday, March 5, 2026
Why the Widest Freeway on Earth still Made Traffic Worse in Houston
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMwKgT4ZUvQ It is utterly foolish to not have enough space for a commuter train to run above, or in the middle or underneath the widest highways.
https://kinder.rice.edu/urbanedge/houstons-15-year-growth-three-charts Simply building wide roads like in Houston, L.A. and Toronto is just as bad as having mostly narrow bridges in Greater Vancouver.
Whether its 10 lanes or 20 lanes wide, there should always be 2 dedicated bus lanes and 2 HOV lanes. While the highway will get clogged up during the day, at least the buses and trains can still get through quickly.
The Pattullo+Bridge+replacement is only 2 lanes each way with narrow shoulders. It should have opened with enough space for 2 bus lanes and 2 HOV lanes, but that would go against the congestive urban planning mentality of BC.
The Samuel-De+Champlain+Bridge in Montreal is just as good as similar wide highway and train bridges in Seattle+and+Perth. All were possible, simply because they aren't limited by anything like the Vancouver and BC Mind Virus.
The narrow-minded Vancouver and BC approach is to try to funnel everything into just 2 or 3 lanes each way. Then there just isn't enough space to have 2 bus lanes and 2 HOV lanes. Greater Vancouver has certainly gone in the extreme opposite direction of Houston, L.A. and Toronto...
A wide Greater Houston highway has lots of space, but without 2 bus lanes and 2 HOV lanes, everything gets plugged up. In contrast, Greater Vancouver has most of its bridges and highways so damn narrow, there isn't enough space to accomodate a proper express bus and HOV network.
This deliberate backwards BC bottleneck-chokepoint planning approach is totally absurd.
There is no commuter train tunnel near the Lions+Gate+Bridge or even for the Massey+Tunnel+replacement. Thus, they are the best examples of BC choke-point urban planning. Despite having twice the lanes as the inept 3 lane LGB, the newer Iron+Bridge never had any emergency lanes. A bus and HOV bridge was never built next to it. Plus, no commuter train bridge. It's another fine example of BC choke-point, bottleneck planning.
A north and south Boundary+Road bridge system would provide direct access between the North+Shore, Richmond+and+Delta, but that's what a proper big city would do. Backwards BC has quite a problem with thinking and building big. The 2 car Canada+Line is another example. Don't build it to at least have a 5 car train, just design it to only have 2.5 car trains, someday.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Houston#Transportation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_610_(Texas)#Lane_configurations There is a point when simply adding more lanes won't provide long-term improvement. However, when combined with dedicated bus and HOV lanes, other options become available. Especially, if there is rail rapid transit and commuter rail as well.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/METRORail While not as extentise as DART_rail, it still works like a tram-train.
Of course longer streetcars or tram-trains are still slow on the actual surface street segments.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trams_in_Melbourne#System_upgrades
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
George Massey tunnel-new-replacement-contractor-selected
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/george-massey-tunnel-new-replacement-contractor-selected-bc
This new 8 lane tunnel should be the first phase of a regional transportation crossing. There should be a followup YVR-ferry terminal link between Richmond and Delta, someday.
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Massey+Tunnel+replacement
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Delta+Transportation
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Richmond+and+Delta
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
HWY 99 northbound offramp to Steveston HWY in Richmond reopens
https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/07/29/steveston-nb-offramp-closed-hwy-99-richmond
The H-99 corridor is such a transportation joke. No bus and train tunnels were ever built next to the LGB. The narrow tunnel between Richmond & Delta won't have any bus lanes until 2030 & still no train bridge or tunnel between YVR & the ferry terminal.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia_Highway_99#Route_description
https://www.richmond-news.com/search?search=on&q=George+Massey+Tunnel
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Richmond+and+Delta
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Delta+Transportation
Monday, May 12, 2025
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://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Massey+Tunnel+replacement
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Richmond+and+Delta
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
George Massey Tunnel Replacement
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Massey_Tunnel#Replacement 3 lanes each way and a bus lane each way.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/george-massey-tunnel-new-replacement-potential-cost-increase
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/massey-tunnel-design-team-chosen-1.7273022#
https://www.highway99tunnel.ca Of course the new tunnel is missing the crucial train section.
While a 10 lane bridge would have allowed a provision for a train to eventually run between Richmond and Delta, such a train would go against the congestive planning mentality that is BC.
Of course a train tunnel or bridge will have to eventually link Richmond and Delta, someday. Despite an opportunity to improve regional rail transportation, the BC government just doesn't see it as important enough of a project yet.
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Granville Bridge, Vancouver, etc.
https://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/granville-bridge.aspx
Even after 3 tries, Vancouver still couldn't quite get the Granville_Street_Bridge correct. Of course the 3rd bridge wasn't designed to have a lower deck for streetcars or tram-trains. Even though it was generally designed to be a car, truck and bus bridge, the sidewalks should have been double width and have an inner railing. If the city couldn't wait until late March, it should have had the official dedication in early March, not in crappy February 1954.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granville_Street_Bridge#Third_bridge_(1954) "On February 4, 1954, the current Granville Street Bridge opened to traffic after five years of planning and construction; its dedication ceremony was attended by 5,000 spectators after it had been delayed a week due to heavy snow."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granville_Street_Bridge#21st_century Unfortunatly, new bike lanes and extra sidewalks couldn't be installed below the 8 lane deck. Thus, Vancouver went for strike 3 and removed 2 lanes from the bridge. The Burrard+Street+Bridge lost 2 lanes and the Cambie+Bridge lost 1 lane. A bike and foot bridge could have been built on the west side of the Burrard Bridge, then no lanes would have been removed. The Cambie Bridge already had a wide sidewalk on its east side. The west sidewalk should have been widened, then no lane would have been removed.
The Granville+Bridge could have had 6 lanes and 2 bus lanes. Now, if there are ever 2 bus lanes, there will only be 2 general lanes each way.
Several cities around the world have bike & foot bridges and don't have to remove lanes from the existing bridges.
For such a congested city to have removed 5 lanes from 3 bridges, could there even be more of a reduction of lanes Well, there are some who would like to have the LGB just for bike and foot traffic.
That would be OK if an 8 lane tunnel could be built near it. Such a First Narrows Tunnel could have 3 lanes each way, plus a bus lane each way. A parallel triple track commuter train tunnel should be built close to it as well.
The new & improved tunnel between Richmond and Delta won't be ready until 2030. Since things move so slow in constipated, backwards BC, perhaps a First_Narrows_Tunnel might not be completed until 2040, or even 2050.
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Temporary stal̕É™w̓asÉ™m Bridge closure will impact all traffic this weekend for construction
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bridge-temporary-closure-surrey-new-westminster
Lets open a bridge without 2 wide emergency lanes or 2 wide shoulders. Especially make sure that it didn't open with enough space for 2 bus lanes and 2 HOV lanes. Of course don't design the Bridge to have a potential lower deck for trucks and trains. Its an instant classic BC bottleneck chokepoint!
https://www.pattullobridgereplacement.ca/about/projectoverview Just like the SkyBridge, apparently, there was no need to open it with 2 bus lanes, despite the train not running 24/7.
Unfortunately, the Bridges_over_the_Fraser_River in the BC Lower_Mainland just weren't designed to have proper bus lanes. Its so strange that the narrow SkyBridge was_for_SkyTrain only.
Just like the new tunnel between Richmond and delta, there is no provision for 2 train tracks. While there are 2 bus lanes, there won't be any exclusive HOV lanes. Eventually, there will have to be a proper train and rapid bus bridge or another tunnel beside it.
https://www.highway99tunnel.ca/project-overview-frt "The Fraser River Tunnel Project includes a new, eight-lane immersed tube tunnel that will replace the existing George Massey Tunnel on Highway 99. The new tunnel will have three vehicle lanes and a dedicated transit lane in each direction, with a separated active transportation corridor for cyclists and pedestrians."
Given that this is supposed to be a major port region, a train and rapid bus crossing needs to eventually be there. A train connecting YVR to the Tsawwassen Ferry terminal and 2 rapid bus lanes. Then the main tunnel could still provide 3 general lanes each way, plus a HOV lane each way. https://www.infrastructurebc.com/project/fraser-river-tunnel-project/
Unfortunately, proper big city size infrastructure is a difficult thing to achieve in backwards BC. Since the decision was made to not have a rail component in the new highway99tunnel, the middle 2 bike lanes should have been wide enough to eventually become 2 rapid bus lanes. Then a new bridge or parallel tunnel could have a YVR to ferry terminal train, plus 2 truck lanes, 2 bike lanes an 2 sidewalks.
This is what a proper big regional port crossing should be like, but for backwater BC, its a different set of priorities.
Thursday, November 6, 2025
Expect noise, vibration during upcoming Massey Tunnel replacement
https://www.delta-optimist.com/local-news/expect-noise-vibration-during-upcoming-massey-tunnel-replacement-11436394 This B$ should have been done a few decades ago.
A 10 lane bridge with 2 bus lanes, 2 HOV lanes & 2 wide shoulder-emergency lanes, plus at least 3 general lanes each way, could have been a nice wide crossing. Some 12 lanes, including the 2 emergency lanes. Plus, a provision for at least 2 LRT tracks.
Instead, it's a 3 lane each way tunnel with the 4th being a bus lane. No HOV lanes and no emergency lanes & especially, no train tube section.
So, just like the YVR-Canada (embarrassment) Line, this new 8 lane tunnel will eventually require some major upgrades.
Eventually, a YVR-Canada Line bridge or tunnel will have to be built so that someday, trains can go between the airport and the ferry terminal. Such a train crossing should be parallel to the new highway tunnel. A new train tunnel or bridge should have at least 3 tracks, 2 rapid bus lanes and 2 bike lanes and sidewalks. Then the bus lanes in the highway tunnel could become HOV lanes.
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Massey+Tunnel+replacement
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Richmond+and+Delta
Monday, February 24, 2025
Delta-hospital-emergency-room-closed-staffing-challenges
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/delta-hospital-emergency-room-closed-staffing-challenges
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/delta-hospital-er-closure-1.7466840
https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/02/23/delta-emergency-room-closed-second-night/
Every city or major municipality should have a big hospital and other appropriate infrastructure. Of course there should be a good working arrangement for all hospital staff.
Unfortunatly, Delta seems to have been treated with a backwater mindset for generations. The East side of Delta is like an urban extension of Surrey. The West side of Delta has a major seaport and a ferry terminal & a big shopping mall. Unfortunatly, it seems in accordance with the backwater planning mentality, that there is no train linking the ferry terminal and the shopping mall to Richmond & YVR, on the horizon.
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Westham Island Bridge, B.C....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westham_Island_Bridge So, it would take until the mid 2020s for this wagon road era bridge to be seriously considered for upgrading.
https://deltasheritage.com/buildings/wib.html Whenever a new bridge is built, it should have 2 wide lanes, 2 bike lanes & 2 sidewalks.
https://lifesincrediblejourney.com/explore-historic-westham-island/
https://seabc.ca/rehabilitation-of-westham-island-bridge-and-alexandra-bridge/
The Marpole_Bridge_(1889) was another wagon road era crossing that took a very long time to be upgraded.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marpole_Bridge_(1889)#Congestion_and_replacement
The 1970s Arthur_Laing_Bridge (ALB) should have had at least 6 lanes, plus 2 wide shoulders.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Laing_Bridge#Since_opening There also should have been 2 sidewalks & 2 bike lanes. By now, there should have been a bus+and+bike+bridge built next to it.
Several decades after the removal of the (wagon road) Fraser_Street_Bridge_(1894), no replacement has ever been built.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraser_Street_Bridge_(1894)#Provincial_government_headache
At the very least, it should have been replaced with a bus+and+bike+bridge in the 1970s.
https://www.richmond-news.com/local-news/photos-and-video-was-this-the-unluckiest-bridge-between-richmond-and-vancouver-4475444 However by now, there should have been a new 4 lane bridge with 2 emergency lanes, 2 bike lanes & 2 sidewalks.
https://evelazarus.com/the-fraser-street-swing-span-bridge
The joke that is the Knight_Street_Bridge (KSB) was deliberately designed to be another quintessential BC bottleneck-chokepoint. The bridge should have opened with 6 lanes & 2 wide shoulders or emergency lanes. Pulse, 2 wide sidewalks & 2 bike lanes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight_Street_Bridge#Maintenance,_upgrades_and_incidents Instead, the middle of the bridge is just 2 lanes each way, with 2 narrow sidewalks & no bike separate bike lanes. The KSB should have had a parallel bus+and+bike+bridge built next to it decades ago.
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
LRT, Semi-metro and Heavy Rail Rapid Transit...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_rail , https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_rail#Types ,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_rail#Comparison_to_other_rail_transit_modes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premetro
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-metro
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_transit
Of course when Vancouver & the greater urban region became obsessed with keeping the roads & bridges narrow, it was as if there wasn't a proper concept of having express bus lanes & dedicated rapid bus lanes.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/translink-funding-issues-impacts-traffic-congestion
The 1959 George_Massey_Tunnel should have opened with 3 lanes each way. Plus, 2 wide emergency lanes. Then over the course of its first 2 decades, it could have become a 6 lane crossing with 2 bus & HOV lanes.
By the 1980s, the inept 4 lane George_Massey_Tunnel should have had a parallel higher & wider bus & HOV tunnel consisting of at least another 4 lanes & at least 2 emergency lanes. Thus making it more capable as an eventual replacement to the old tunnel. Then by around 2000, there should have been a bike, truck & train bridge or tunnel as well.
A George_Massey_Tunnel#Replacement by 2030? The first phase of this really should have been started by the 1980s. Of course the new tunnel with 8 lanes & 2 bike lanes, won't have 2 truck lanes & there won't be 2 HOV lanes. Plus, in accordance with a perpetual congestive planning mentality, there is no provision for an extension of the Canada Line to Delta.
The new tunnel should not only have had 3 general lanes each way & 1 bus lane each way, there should be 1 truck lane each way as well. Plus, 2 wide emergency lanes which could eventually be repurpose for a north & southbound rapid bus transit corridor. That's because, even if there is ever a YVR-Canada-Line to the ferry terminal, it won't be open 24 hours.
Someday the YVR-Canada-Line should not only have 2.5 car trains, but an actual 5 car train consisting of five, 20m coaches. Selective_door_operation technology would make this possible. Of course it would have simply been much better to have designed all the stations to already be at least 100m, instead of the inept 50m. Unfortunately, backward BC thinking keeps getting in the way.
https://www.richmond-news.com/local-news/province-considering-filling-george-massey-tunnel-with-sand-8777369 Despite the old tunnels height restrictions, a slightly smaller version of the Road_Train could have been ideal for it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_train#Trailer_arrangements
Keeping the old tunnel as a freight corridor between Delta & Richmond would be of tremendous benefit. Delta has the Roberts_Bank_Superport & the Tsawwassen_ferry_terminal.
Richmond has the Vancouver_International_Airport & the inept Canada_Line.
Despite budget limits at the time, the Canada_Line should have been designed to eventually have 5 car trains & ultimately, 10 car trains. It should have been envisioned as a high capacity rail link between downtown Vancouver, YVR, Richmond & Delta. With an ultimate connection between the Tsawwassen_ferry_terminal and the Horseshoe_Bay_ferry_terminal.
For some reason Vancouver & BC never seemed to really take off in the 1980s like Calgary, Seattle & Perth. Indeed, while Vancouver seemed to continue on its sleepwalking path after Expo_86, Brisbane really started to boom after its World_Expo_88.
Unlike SW BC, the Brisbane Airport & seaport are much closer to each other.
https://upload.wikimedia.org If you are from Brisbane & visiting Vancouver, you will be shocked to see such a short airport train. Being from Vancouver, its difficult to grasp how Brisbane was able to build such nice long trains. This is something to be very proud of, as it can move a lot of people in both directions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Airport_railway_station,_Brisbane This opened in 2001 & Vancouver's inept version had to be ready by 2010 with just 2 car trains. Yet, Brisbane designed their train to be high capacity capable as soon as it open for service. From a backwards BC perspective, it's amazing how Queensland is able to think & function on such a grand scale & to properly allocate the necessary funds. Who knows where so much of the funds went in BC? That's because not enough of it seems to have gone into the infrastructure.
https:://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver_International_Airport#Rapid_transit_(SkyTrain)
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sir+Leo+Hielscher+Bridges,+Queensland,+Australia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Leo_Hielscher_Bridges This has the potential to still have 4 lanes each way. Plus, 1 bus lane & 1 HOV lane each way.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_of_Brisbane , https://www.portbris.com.au ,
https://www.portbris.com.au/portbris-2060
Unlike backwater BC, Queensland is able to properly think, plan, invest & build for the future. Queensland just isn't hindered by anything like the BC Mind Virus (BCMV).
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=YVR-Canada+Line This is almost the worlds shortest train, because it only has 2 cars.
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=old+and+new+narrow+bridges
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Brisbane+Airport+Railway+Line
Monday, January 13, 2025
Court upholds approval of B.C. port expansion
https://www.delta-optimist.com/highlights/court-upholds-approval-of-bc-port-expansion-despite-risks-to-whales-10069295 It remains to be seen if slow moving B.C. & Canada will eventually allow the Port_of_Vancouver to be on the same grand scale of what Brisbane and Singapore have allowed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberts_Bank_Superport
Whether, its Delta, Surrey, Richmond, NW, Burnaby, it's all part of the Greater Vancouver_Port_facilities.
If the expansion went sideways, but not further west into Georgia Straight, the area is still limited. However, if the expansion were to go a little further west into Georgia Straight, then their might be more of an argument against it.
The Port_of_Brisbane wouldn't be as big & mighty if it was bound by anything similar to the way how Canada builds its seaports.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_of_Brisbane#History
https://www.portbris.com.au , https://www.portbris.com.au/major-projects/fpe , https://www.portbris.com.au/major-projects/dedicated-rail-connectivity , https://www.portbris.com.au/portbris-2060
https://www.portsaustralia.com.au/members/port-of-brisbane
https://www.qic.com/Investment-Capabilities/Infrastructure/Global-Portfolio/Port-of-Brisbane
The Port_of_Singapore is so far away from the way of how Canada builds its ports.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_of_Singapore#Since_2022
https://www.mpa.gov.sg/port-marine-ops/operations/port-infrastructure/terminals
Brisbane and Singapore are on the same ocean as the BC part of Canada. Unfortunatly, Canada doesn't seem to want to have the same port scale & presence as those 2 Pacific ports. Being from backwards Vancouver, it's hard to fathom what Brisbane and Singapore have been able to do. Then again, they don't have to contend with the backwater BC mentality and its imposed restrictions.
Since Asia is the most populated part of the planet and BC is on the edge of the Pacific Rim, there should be plans to eventually have a BC port on the scale of the Port_of_Rotterdam. Or, the Port_of_Los_Angeles and the Port_of_Long_Beach, but with better coordinated efficiency.
https://www.burnabynow.com/economy-law-politics/david-eby-bc-prepared-for-economic-defence-against-american-threats-10060694 Canada needs to expand its trading with more countries.
Despite its overall area, Canada is far from housing even 1% of the world's population. Australia even has less people, but somehow they don't seem to have their own version of KEEP CANADA SMALL.
Being from the provincial backwater that is BC, its always amazing to see how Queensland can flourish, because it doesn't have the mutigenerational hindrances that backwards BC imposes.
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=B.C.
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Brisbane & Queensland
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Brisbane+Airport+Railway+Line
Friday, March 13, 2026
The Dunsmuir Tunnel in Downtown Vancouver, SkyTrain service to be reduced on weekends until June
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/downtown-vancouver-skytrain-service-delays-weekends Had the old railway tunnel been originally designed to be double tracked, it could have been converted into a double level, 4 track LRT tunnel, instead of a 2 track LRT tunnel.
Ideally, if a subway or metro line doesn't have 4 tracks, 3 would be the next best thing. Then, 2 tracks could always remain operational while the 3rd is being repaired. For the most part, Skytrain is just a double track system. Unfortunately, the YVR-Canada Line is even single tracked at the end of the line in YVR and in downtown Richmond.
The Canada Line should have been the 1st phase of an eventual south extension to Delta and the BC ferry terminal. Plus, a north extension from Waterfront_station_in Vancouver to Lonsdale_Quay and the ferry terminal. This would be a vital link between Canada_Line and the two regional ferry terminals. Unfortunately, Vancouver and BC are about maintaining congestion and transportation inefficiency.
Perhaps someday, if Vancouver is ever allowed to function like a proper big city, the Dunsmuir_Tunnel could be extended under Stanley Park and the 1st Narrows to Park Royal and to the ferry terminal. However, what's more likely to happen is that after the Dunsmuir_Tunnel reaches Waterfront_station, the line will continue east.
https://evelazarus.com/the-dunsmuir-tunnel
https://buzzer.translink.ca/2022/04/new-tunnel-technology-will-transform-your-skytrain-trip/
https://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/construction-progress-photo-of-cpr-dunsmuir-tunnel-10
https://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/construction-progress-photo-of-cpr-dunsmuir-tunnel-9
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 article highlighted the absurdity of Greater Vancouver ignoring or neglecting The Boundary Road Corridor. (BRC)
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.
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Boundary+Road+Corridor
Thursday, January 2, 2025
Canada's population and its lacking infrastructure
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/71-607-x/71-607-x2018005-eng.htm
Despite being the 2nd largest nation in overall area, Canada is far off from housing just 1% of the world's population.
There aren't enough big cities in the vastness of Canada.
It's strange that Halifax hasn't become a big city like Boston or Montreal. Since the 2020s, a lot more people work from home and there isn't always an industrial base in major urban areas. More people are retiring and like people working from home, might like living in a town of 1000-10,000 people just as easily as a city with over a 1,000,000 people. The point being, that the top 30 towns in Canada could be built up to at least a million people each. Winnipeg has yet to have a million people. Then the top 10 cities could be built up to 5-10 population regions. Greater Montreal has yet to reach the 5 million point and the Greater Toronto Area has yet to reach 10 million people like Greater Chicago or, CHICAGOLAND. The San_Francisco_Bay_Area is getting close to having 10 million people.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_largest_municipalities_in_Canada_by_population Vancouver is only the 8th most populated city.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_census_metropolitan_areas_and_agglomerations_in_Canada#List However, the Greater Vancouver Region is still the 3rd largest urban area in Canada. Yet, it's so far behind with the necessary infrastructure. Indeed, When Greater Toronto & Greater Montreal each exceeded the 3 million point, they had longer trains & wider roads. It seems that Vancouver & BC in general, have perpetually opted for a congestive planning approach.
Will Canada's Next Prime Minister be Pierre Poilievre? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dck8eZCpglc
Why is anti-immigration sentiment on the rise in Canada? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txyjmNXcWiU
https://www.norden.org/en/information/population-nordic-region
https://www.nordicstatistics.org/news/population-growth-in-the-nordics Whether its Canada or the Nordic_Countries, places with cold winters can accommodate a lot of people. However, without setting up the proper amount of infrastructure first, its utterly foolish.
Canada hasn't kept up with building enough school & hospital facilities, as well as the overall necessary infrastructure.
https://www.definitivehc.com/resources/healthcare-insights/top-largest-canadian-hospitals
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_General_Hospital
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foothills_Medical_Centre
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver_Hospital_and_Health_Sciences_Centre#Facilities
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Paul's_Hospital_(Vancouver) , https://helpstpauls.com/why-give/new-st-pauls-hospital
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraser_Health#Regional_hospitals
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrey_Memorial_Hospital
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Columbian_Hospital
