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A fun heat map showing where people use transit the most

April 21st, 2016 · 1 Comment

A nice visual look at transit use in Vancouver, compliments of a group called the 10 and 3, who sent this to me. http://www.the10and3.com/a-heat-map-of-public-transit-use-in-vancouver/ A Heat Map of Public Transit Use in Vancouver By Arik Motskin and Zack Gallinger Vancouver Skytrain Vancouver was relatively late to the game in Canada when it came to building […]

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Is the Canada Line at maximum capacity? No. Will it be in a decade? Depends on …

April 22nd, 2014 · 108 Comments

For the last year, every time I’ve gone to a public hearing or meeting about development, I’ve heard people fret about how there’s not enough capacity to absorb the new people who will be coming with the developments. Not enough schools, hospital space, parks, libraries, you name it. And it used to be that, along […]

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Two cities, two rapid-transit lines, a world of differences

August 15th, 2010 · 12 Comments

As promised, the first of my two stories in the Globe Saturday. This a comparison of the rapid-transit lines in Seattle and Vancouver, both celebrating a one-year anniversary this summer but with very different histories and outcomes. I know this has already generated some comments elsewhere but for those who missed them …

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Canada Line hits 100,000-plus last three months

August 6th, 2010 · 98 Comments

In giddy anticipation of their one-year anniversary, TransLink sent out an updated count of their ridership this morning. Not too surprising to anyone who rides the line regularly, which seems to be packed at all times and is particularly jammed with suitcase-toting people heading out to the airport at all hours. Figures released by TransLink […]

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The Marine Gateway decision: Details

June 3rd, 2010 · 52 Comments

The journey of the Marine Gateway project through city hall is one worth following. This, for those who haven’t read it before, is the largest development ever considered for rezoning outside the downtown. It will also, I believe, set a certain level of expectation for the kind of density that might be considered for other […]

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Marine Gateway project narrowly turned down by urban design panel

June 2nd, 2010 · 11 Comments

I wrote in today’s Globe about the impending review of the giant Marine Gateway project at the foot of Cambie, accompanied by some neighbourhood unease about the size of this project, which you can read here. Since that appeared this morning, the urban design panel has reviewed this project and voted 5-4 not to support […]

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Richmond works to become a city

April 29th, 2010 · 26 Comments

I spent a lot of time in Richmond in the late 1970s and the 1980s. I worked as a commercial fisherman with boats based in Steveston for several years, had a set of relatives there and took my son to Suzuki violin classes every week for more years than I care to remember. It was […]

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My ride on our new public limo

August 17th, 2009 · 44 Comments

As promised, here is my Globe story on my advance ride of the new Canada Line. Not surprisingly, I wasn’t able to include even half of the details and observations from my two hours riding the line, but I’m sure some of you are out there now critiquing it with your sharp eyes so I […]

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Canada Line hoopla about to begin

August 14th, 2009 · 41 Comments

You may not know this out there in non-media-land, but a major frenzy is about to break out over the opening of the Canada Line. It’s all hands on deck for the opening Monday, where about 40,000 are expected to ride the line in the eight hours it’s open and free. It sounds like parties […]

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Mixed-use project on industrial land gets support from several quarters

July 24th, 2009 · 24 Comments

Vancouver city staff have unequivocally indicated that they don’t support the project that PCI’s Andrew Grant is proposing for next door to the new Marine Drive SkyTrain station, a mixed-used development with two towers — one market condos, one rental — office space, a cineplex and a plaza. Head city planner Brent Toderian emphasized that […]

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