Why so many say “Transit Sucks”
I am going to Abbotsford City Hall this evening. I have been invited to take part in the InterRegional Transportation Select Committee. I have never used West Coast Express, or had reason to, but this looked like an opportunity. Of course it would mean an overnight stay in Abbotsford but I think I could probably afford that.
I tried using Translink’s trip planner but that does not recognise any destination outside the Translink servcie area – but it will get me to Mission Station by 1803. I have also discovered by using the BC Transit web page that Central Fraser Valley Transit operates a “Valley Connector” that meets WCE trains and train buses. Of course there is no information about this service on the WCE web page. And I would need somewhere to stay either within walking distance of City Hall or use a taxi, I suppose. I am assuming that once in Abbotsford the distance between the Valley Connector route to City Hall would be walkable – but then I have also to check into the place where I might stay.
Anyway door to door looks like a little over three hours, and the return tomorrow would be on a “train bus” unless I could find a B&B that serves really early breakfast – not that I like eating very much at the time I would need to. From my on line researches I cannot find a reasonably priced B&B anywhere near City Hall. And the fare $14.75 each way, plus whatever the room and taxis would cost. I am not wildy keen on long distance buses – and I would have to leave about now and not get back until noon tomorrow.
Frankly the prospect appalls.
It is not that I expect a direct door to door service, but a place like Abbotsford, home to an international airport after all, should, I think, be better connected to the major metropolitan region it abuts. And I should be able to get downtown easily to catch a train there. Not have to transfer at Richmond Centre (the direct bus on Garden City does not pick up passengers on its way back into town).
One of the people who spoke last night at the Word Press camp, Bruce Byfield has his thoughts on transit on line too. You might find them enlightening. And some more here from Jeanette Winterson specifically about trying to use a train, in Britain, on a Sunday.
I did a search before I started writing this, and found nothing – but I have that deja vu feeling. Did I write this already?
UPDATE I left Abottsford last night at 9pm and was home at 10
What’s the InterRegional Transportation Select Committee?
Jordan
May 1, 2008 at 2:35 pm
It is an initiative of the City of Abbotsford in response to pressure from VALTAC and others to reopen the question of Rail for the Valley in a broader transportation context
Stephen Rees
May 1, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Valley Max bus 21, Aldergrove Connector, runs between Abbotsford and Aldergrove for $2.25. It meets up with TransLink bus 502.
http://www.busonline.ca/regions/cfv/schedules/schedule.cfm?line=21&
Of course it takes 2.5 hrs to get from Richmond Centre to Aldergrove, a 13 minute wait, and another 30 minutes to Abbostford Centre.
Sungsu
May 1, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Sungsu
I am not about to volunteer for a 3 hour bus ride – and not when I would have to use two tickets – as they only have 90 minute validity. But if the nice Train Bus does not appeal the combination of buses from Richmond to Aldergrove and the potential for missed connections makes the prospect even worse.
The point of my post was that if a train enthusiast like me can be deterred from a trip like this, what possible hope do we have of getting regular folks to stop driving?
I am going to drive. As a diabetic I must eat on time each day or risk … unpleasantness. And of course one can eat on WCE – but not on buses. As things stand I am going to drive and revisit that nice curry place I ate at last time
Stephen Rees
May 1, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Bourquin Exchange, which is the terminus for Valley Max bus 31 from Mission City Station is about 1.7 km from Abbotsford City Hall.
Sungsu
May 1, 2008 at 3:01 pm
The problem of the West coast Express (Re-election Express) from the start was that it wasn’t a regularly scheduled, there and back service.
Malcolm J>
May 1, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Yes I agree, I have made many bus trip from horseshoe bay to the city and because of gridlock the time I get to skytrain at granville my time is almost out (3 zone ticket)
Here I have paid for thee zones and I haven`t gotten through two zones yet and my time is caput, I have made many calls to translink complaing only to fall upon deaf ears,I even asked bus drivers if I could pay when I get on at horseshoe bay and if he could give me my ticket when just before I get off, some drivers say yes but most say no.
Another problem is with people who live at zone boundries,to go anywhere they automaticaly have to get a two zone ticket, even if their only going one station.
The other problem I see is the fact that there are no bathrooms anywhere and considering our aging demographics it can be very awkward especialy for females, its a little easier for males but you can imagine the what happens around the backside of skytrain stations.
Mr. rees I would personaly like to thank you for your help, you truly are a gentleman and from what I read and a scholar——–signed……………………..why are there no safe parking lots around most skytrains
grant g
May 1, 2008 at 5:31 pm
No quibbles about this transit connection sucking. But I have to point out that your post explains how transit to Abbotsford sucks, not why.
Cap'n Transit
May 1, 2008 at 8:19 pm
How could WCE service be improved? Would service in both directions work. And what about weekends? The Sound Transit train in Washington State offers Mon-Fri service in two directions, and monthly pass holders can travel on Amrtak Cascades trains as well, which runs on weekends. http://www.soundtransit.org/x71.xml
Also, I’m curoius to know whether its technically feasible to have passenger rail service linking Richmond/YVR with the Fraser Valley using existing rail lines.
Andrew L.
May 1, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Andrew L., I think the rail service you mention is feasible, but not practical. The RAV/Canada Metro, would not be able to handle regular passenger trains, so I will discount that.
There are two rail (swing) bridges (CNR & CPR) connecting tracks from Richmond to the mainland, but providing a rail service via these routes would be difficult, but not impossible. It all depends how much money one wanted to throw at the project.
A route from the Fraser Vally to YVR could conceivably cross the ancient Fraser River Rail Bridge, continuing along the Southern R.R. & C.P.R. rights-of-way to the CNR rail Bridge crossing the Fraser, continue along CNR R-O-W’s until it passed #5 road, where a short line needs to be connected to the CPR, then a new bridge (crossing the middle arm) and line would need to be built to YVR.
I don’t expect to see that in my lifetime.
Malcolm J.
May 2, 2008 at 8:00 am
The obvious way to provide rail service from YVR to the Valley is to use the existing CPR tracks from New Westminster to Marpole. A transfer would be required to the Canada Line at Cambie/Marine. In the early stages of examining low cost options for the Evergreen Line this was evaluated as an extension of the southeastern alignment from Coquitlam. The tracks run through the (mostly formerly) industrial riverside area and are still in use but there is plenty of spare capacity. These tracks also then turn north to Arbutus – which still lies neglected but theoretically available for a local streetcar type service.
If the province was serious about doing low cost rail transit and Riverside as TOD this whole project has some definite appeal as demonstration of how rail can shape growth
Stephen Rees
May 2, 2008 at 9:09 am
I can see the Kent Ave. line (or whatever its name is) being used for DMU style trains in the future.
I would be concerned about the added pressure that a line would bring for the continued conversion of industrial lands to residential – particularly the desirable riverfront lands.
Ron C.
May 2, 2008 at 2:52 pm