Category: Politics

Driving, Politics, Transportation, Vancouver

BC Election – Neither Liberals or NDP understand tolls

It’s been a long time since my last post, but recent transportation news is too big to ignore. Both the major political parties have announced their stances on tolls.

On the same day the Liberals announced they would cap tolls on the Port Mann and Golden Ears Bridges at $500 a year starting Jan. 1, 2018 — a move that could cut a motorist’s driving costs by up to $1,000 a year — NDP leader John Horgan stole the Liberals’ thunder by promising to get rid of tolls for both bridges altogether if elected.

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Canada, Cities, Politics, Rapid Transit, Transit, Transportation, Vancouver

Surrey LRT – Support and Funding

The conversation for expanded fixed rail transit in Surrey continues to roll along. Metro Vancouver’s second largest municipality by population and largest by land area is still trying to push forward after the failed transit plebiscitie/referendum of 2015.

surrey-lrt-984x500

A few things have happened in the past year that may help Surrey get its long-desired LRT.

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Henry2 Comments
Canada, Cities, Politics, Rapid Transit, Transit, Transportation, Urban Planning

Toronto’s Transit Rollercoaster

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Ever since I lived in Toronto back in 2003, I’ve always kept an eye on transit developments in the GTA. In the early days, there was David Miller’s Transit City, which promised to criss-cross the city with light rail. Then Rob Ford rumbled into office and promised the gravy train along with the light rail trains. Instead, Rob Ford planned on fewer lines, but with all of them being heavy rail subway lines. Then most recently came John Tory and his SmartTrack which was a vaunted “surface subway” that would start moving Toronto in a new way.

Three mayors with three very different visions over the past 13 years. It’s enough to make any transit follower’s eyes spin.

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Canada, Politics

A Long 11-week Federal Election Campaign – Good or Bad?

I’m not entirely sure I like the idea of a long 11-week federal election campaign. Voting day is this year is October 19, 2015. If memory serves me correctly, this is the first federal election under the fixed-election date era. Prime Minister Stephen Harper just asked the Governor-General to dissolve Parliament on Sunday, August 2; thus, triggering the election campaign preceding the fixed election date.

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Canada, Politics, Transit, Transportation, Uncategorized, Vancouver

The Question of TransLink Waste – Daryl Dela Cruz’s Referendum Myths

In the upcoming 2015 Metro Vancouver Transportation and Transit Plebiscite, the question of waste at TransLink has loomed large. In fact, it’s the crux of No TransLink Tax campaign – a campaign running successfully on the visceral, instead of the logical. It’s a campaign that strikes a chord – no new taxes. It’s a simple and emotional statement. Why no new taxes? Well, because TransLink has squandered all of its existing money. Really?

Daryl Dela Cruz at Daryl’s Take and More has created a few blog posts addressing the matters of inefficiency and waste at TransLink. Continue reading “The Question of TransLink Waste – Daryl Dela Cruz’s Referendum Myths”

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Canada, Politics, Transit, Transportation, Vancouver

I’m on the go everyday and so are you.

I’m on the go everyday and so are you. I walk. I ride. I bike. I drive. It doesn’t matter how we get around, but we all want a choice. For a better choice on how I get around, I’m voting Yes to transit This is my personally created Vote Yes for Better Transit poster. Please feel to share if it strikes a chord with you. Or take the idea and create a similar poster of your own. We … Continue reading I’m on the go everyday and so are you.

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Canada, Politics, Transit, Transportation, Vancouver

Transportation and Transit Plan 13 – Newton to White Rock B-Line

When the Surrey LRT is completed, the #96 B-Line from Surrey Central to Newton Exchange will no longer be necessary, but modifying the B-Line to run all the way to White Rock from Newton would make perfect sense.

Newton to White Rock B-Line

newton to white rock bline map

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Canada, Cities, Politics, Transit, Transportation, Vancouver

Transportation and Transit Plan 10 – Metrotown to Cap U B-Line

This week, I’ve been going to cover some of the major projects that are planned to be implemented in 5-10 years after a Yes vote to the upcoming transit ballot. If Metro Vancouver residents vote Yes to the 0.5% PST increase, then 2020-2025 will see some of the largest transportation projects ever in the history of our region.

There are more B-Line buses slated to start service between 2020 and 2025.

Metrotown to Capilano University B-Line

metrotown to capu bline map

This B-Line bus will run mostly along Willingdon Avenue in Burnaby. Currently, this route is serviced by the #130 bus that runs 9 buses every hour between Metrotown and Brentwood – the busiest section of this route. The buses alternate between ending the runs at Hastings and Willingdon or at Kootenay Loop in East Vancouver. In the morning and afternoon rush hours, a few of the buses go to North Vancouver and end at Phibbs Exchange or Capilano University. The #130 is also a milk run that stops at every single bus stop along the way.

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