October 5, 2009 - 10:04 am |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
VANOC is hoping that commuting by car is abandoned during the 16 days of the Games. The City of Vancouver will use it as a trial run for its broader transportation objectives.
“Planning and infrastructure investments are paying off as we prioritize walking, biking, transit and goods movement, while attempting to limit single-occupancy vehicle volumes.”
This statement is not a part of VANOC’s Olympic transportation plan, but rather a quote taken directly from the City of Vancouver’s Transportation department website.
Clearly, Vancouver’s car commuters are going to be hard pressed to continue their preferences for getting around during the Games, as exclusive Olympic traffic lanes, severe parking resrictions and closed off streets will make getting behind the wheel a monumental test of patience. Here are just a few facts and figures:
- No. of vehicles now into and out of downtown: 400,000 per day
- No. of vehicles that will be affected by 2010 security closures: 80,000 per day
- Reduction of vehicles into and out of downtown during the Games: 20 per cent.
- Peak hour capacity in/out of the downtown to/from the east: 13,000 vehicles/hour
- Peak hour capacity on same roads during the security closures: 6,000 vehicles/hour
- Reduction of vehicles on east-west roads downtown roads during Games: 50 per cent.
- No of vehicles per day on Robson: 2,000 (near Cambie), up to 8,000 (near Burrard)
- No. of vehicles per day on Hamiltion: 4,000 (near Robson)
The City of Vancouver, however, will be looking very carefully at the successes and failures of such extreme measures to gauge the next steps towards making sustainability the defining feature of our transportation options.
Read the rest of this entry »
September 9, 2009 - 3:52 pm |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
Canada remains as the only OECD nation without a federal policy that ensures long-term, predictable transit investment.
With 61% of all operating costs for Canadian transit coming from passengers in the form of fares, Canada is severely lagging behind in terms of what their governments are contributing:
A substantial gap in government funding for Canadian transit when compared to other countries
According to the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA), between 2006 and 2010, there was a $20.7 billion national transit infrastructure deficit when it comes to fulfilling the basic requirements according to population.
These are compelling figures, giving Metro Vancouver’s mayors plenty of fodder for the upcoming federal election campaign. Here are five strategies that the Mayors should consider to not only engage the public, but also to secure firm commitments from the leaders of the two main federal parties. Read the rest of this entry »
September 9, 2009 - 12:17 pm |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
As the inevitability of a federal election begins to sink in to a weary Canadian electorate, the prospect of campaign commitments for investment in transportation infrastructure is top of mind for municipal officials across the country. This is especially so for the 22 member municipalities of Metro Vancouver, who have been hit with Translink’s recent ultimatum and the prospect of severe cutbacks in existing service levels (nevermind future needs).
Metro Vancouver's Mayors would be well advised to collectively strategize their lobbying efforts during the upcoming federal election campaign
So when considering the two parties that have a chance at forming government, who is going to step up to the plate? Read the rest of this entry »
