Thursday, December 30, 2021

Pedestrians vexed over snowy walkways after Vancouver bike lanes cleared first

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bike-lanes-cleared-pedestrian-walkways-snow-vancouver

Very typical of an inept city that is so bent on pushing bike lanes above everything else. Footpaths or sidewalks & streets have to adequately be cleared as well. There always seems to a kind of upside down or backwards approach that Vancouver likes to take.

Vancouver seabus-flooding at-waterfront-station

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/seabus-flooding-waterfront-station-december-30-2021

By now, there should have been a Seabus sailing every 5 minutes in both directions. Of course that would mean ordering more of them to be built. At the same time, the city is so stubborn about building a transit tunnel or any new bridges that are actually wide enough to have bus & HOV lanes in general.. 

Vancouver City Council approves 22-storey office tower near Victory Square

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/534-550-cambie-street-vancouver-victory-square-tower-approved

This DH article provides a good explanation as to how extreme the building restrictions are in Vancouver. Only 22 stories, not 44 and certainly not 66 stories in Vancouver. Vancouver has always bee against tall office buildings. Never-mind a 60 or even a 50 story office tower, Vancouver still won't permit any office building to even have a 40th floor. Of course Vancouver can't stop Calgary or Seattle, so they have long since had office towers well over 40 and 50 stories for decades.

Friday, December 17, 2021

Canada's immigration levels hit record high, population growth returns to normal

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/canada-immigration-population-growth-q3-2021

The power-structure still isn't likely to allow Canada to contain even just 1 percent of the worlds population, any time soon.

https://dailyhive.com/toronto/canada-immigration-population-growth-q3-2021

Commuter Rail

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxWjtpzCIfA

https://the-intersection-point.blogspot.com/2019/02/urban-and-suburban-rail.html

49-storey-tower-st-clair-west-yonge-toronto

 https://dailyhive.com/toronto/49-storey-tower-st-clair-west-yonge-toronto

Car-free travel in Rotterdam (Netherlands)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgFVjCL21WI

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotterdam  

Rotterdam: the City Rebuilt for Cars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22ovt1EMULY 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotterdam_Metro

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotterdam_Metro#Rolling_stock


Why Many Cities Suck (but Dutch Cities Don't) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4kmDxcfR48 , https://www.youtube.com/c/NotJustBikes/videos


Why Loop Lines Are So Successful

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUjaIQVjjXc


Greater_Vancouver will eventually require a proper train loop, not just the half-assed one in Burnaby.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyTrain_(Vancouver)#/media/File:Vancouver_Rail_Transit_Map.png

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyTrain_(Vancouver)#Rolling_stock

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyTrain_(Vancouver)#/media/File:Vancouver_SkyTrain_track_diagram_v3.svg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyTrain_(Vancouver)#Future_expansion


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_metro_systems

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_metro_systems#List

Why New York’s Billionaires’ Row Is Half Empty

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wehsz38P74g

Of course if someone has a few homes, they don't have to be living in them all of the time. Its just that with so much wealth & opulence in a world of growing homelessness, it seems to be an ongoing status symbol to have large empty homes.

Seattle is looking for a suitable site to build second major international airport

 https://dailyhive.com/seattle/seattle-second-international-airport

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle-Tacoma_International_Airport

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SeaTac/Airport_station

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle-Tacoma_International_Airport#Future

Monday, December 13, 2021

Rainier Square Tower

"Rainier Square Tower is a mixed-use skyscraper in the Metropolitan Tract of downtown Seattle, Washington.[4] The 850-foot (260 m) tall, 58-story tower is located at Union Street between 4th and 5th Avenues adjacent to the existing Rainier Tower; it is the second-tallest building in Seattle." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainier_Square_Tower


"Rainier Tower is a 41-story, 156.67 m (514.0 ft) skyscraper in the Metropolitan Tract of Seattle, Washington, at 1301 Fifth Avenue." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainier_Tower

Telus Sky

"Telus Sky, (also stylized as TELUS Sky) is a 59-storey, 222.3 m (729 ft)[1] mixed-use skyscraper in downtown CalgaryAlbertaCanada. At completion in 2019, the structure building became the third-tallest building in Calgary behind Brookfield Place East and The Bow." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telus_Sky

This building should have had 75 stories, at least 65.

105 storey hybrid timber towers

 https://www.constructioncanada.net/dialog-develops-system-to-build-105-storey-hybrid-timber-towers

There is a mindset that no building should ever rise above 100 stories, simply because its Canada. That's not the case in Australia, the USA & especially Asia.

https://www.dialogdesign.ca/stories/dialog-files-global-patents-for-hybrid-timber-floor-system

Australia couldn't wait for Canada to catch up.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eureka_Tower

After more than 2 decades since Australia allowed its first building to have more than 90 floors, Canada will finally have its first building with over 90 floors. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinnacle_One_Yonge

Of course Australia allowed its first building over 100 floors long before Canada will.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_108

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Australia#Tallest_buildings_under_construction_or_proposed

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Australia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Canada

Chicago was the first city outside of NYC to allow a building to have 100 floors.

The John_Hancock_Center opened in 1969.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Chicago#Tallest_buildings

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Chicago#Tallest_under_construction_or_proposed

If cities can continue to have more density & be economic engines, then more of the countryside & wilderness can be left for nature. However, there seems to be some that would like most of the human population to just disappear.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/looking-forward-to-the-end-of-humanity-11592625661 (Was this written by an A.I. program or a fascist human?)

https://www.wsj.com/articles/doomsday-math-says-humanity-may-have-just-760-years-left-11561655839

https://www.wsj.com/articles/empty-planet-review-a-drop-in-numbers-11549497631

The Thames Barrier must never fail. Here's why it doesn't.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY-XHAoVEeU

Although so much of London is near sea level, innovations such of this help to keep the city intact and running.

new-mississauga-hospital

 https://dailyhive.com/toronto/new-mississauga-hospital-renderings

Thursday, December 09, 2021

Tilikum Crossing, Portland vs. the Burrard Bridge

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilikum_Crossing

https://trimet.org/tilikum

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burrard_Bridge

https://www.urbanyvr.com/burrard-bridge-pedestrian-cyclist-improvements

If Vancouver had just built a proper bike bridge, then the Burrard_Bridge could still have 6 lanes. The city would rather create more congestion by reducing an already narrow road network.

27-acre site next to Richmond Oval acquired for redevelopment

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/keltic-canada-development-richmond-oval-redevelopment

Las_Vegas and Boston have much taller buildings that are close to their airports.

https://www.urbanyvr.com/keltic-richmond-land-sale

However, little Richmond will likely continue to have short, stumpy buildings.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Vancouver#Politics_and_government

Vancouver & Richmond could easily have Boston & LV size buildings close to YVR, but the small town BC mentality keeps getting in the way.


The Paradox Hotel Vancouver

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/trump-tower-vancouver-paradox-hotel

A new name for the 2nd tallest building in the city.

https://www.urbanyvr.com/new-hotel-trump-tower-vancouver

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_International_Hotel_and_Tower_(Vancouver)


The current tallest is the Living_Shangri-La tower. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_Shangri-La

This is the potential new tallest building in Vancouver.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/hudsons-bay-parkade-vancouver-holborn-group

https://www.urbanyvr.com/bay-parkade-redevelopment-concepts/


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Vancouver#Tallest_buildings

November's extreme flooding will be most expensive disaster in BC history

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/novembers-extreme-flooding-most-costly-disaster-bc-history

Wednesday, December 08, 2021

Austin's Tallest Tower Rising Quickly

 https://www.planetizen.com/news/2021/12/115481-austins-tallest-tower-rising-quickly

Not just tall by Austin standards, but it would be among the tallest buildings in Houston & Dallas.

San Diego Trolley Extension Launch a 'Rousing Success'

 https://www.planetizen.com/news/2021/12/115487-san-diego-trolley-extension-launch-rousing-success

Unfortunately, Vancouver, BC was one of the first cities to get rid of its streetcars or trams. Then, never followed up with a comprehensive road network. That doesn't mean to put freeways everywhere, but a good set of major streets & highways, with a provision for the return of trams.

Obviously, SD was able to do what Vancouver didn't. SD just wasn't a dense enough region to have something like BART or an LA Subway. Instead, SD allowed for the rebirth of its streetcars, in the form of a modern tram train or as its officially called, the SD trolley.

In contrast, stubborn Vancouver seems to be set to be one of the last cities to allow for the return of trams. Fortunately, Melbourne, Toronto, Boston & SF..., never totally got rid of theirs like Vancouver did.

https://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/news/San-Diego-MTS-off-to-promising-ridership-start-on-trolley-extension--65304

Vancouver's approved 2022 budget includes a 6.35% property tax hike

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-approved-2022-budget-property-tax-hike-635

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-city-council-votes-to-approve-climate-tax

As Vancouver continues to get even more expensive, you will still get more for your money if you live in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Calgary & Edmonton...

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-climate-emergency-action-plan-approved

Tuesday, December 07, 2021

B.C. fully reopens Highway 1 between Abbotsford and Hope

 https://bc.ctvnews.ca/b-c-fully-reopens-highway-1-between-abbotsford-and-hope-1.5697980

BC has already been far behind constructing the level of infrastructure that's common in Quebec, Ontario & Alberta.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/money-bc-cost-catastrophic-flood-damage

So even after eventually recovering from all the flood damage, BC will still be lagging.


Opinion: Vancouver City Council needs to prioritize new rentals, not condos and houses

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-secured-rental-policy-srp-housing-affordability

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/seattle-vancouver-rental-housing

https://www.straight.com/news/1366756/andrey-pavlov-rental-housing-where-seattle-thrives-vancouver-stumbles-goodman-report

https://landlordbc.ca/rental-housing-where-seattle-thrives-vancouver-stumbles/

https://www.sightline.org/2017/08/14/why-seattle-builds-apartments-but-vancouver-bc-builds-condos/

Toronto is looking to build 100 km of brand new bike lanes across the city

 https://dailyhive.com/toronto/toronto-add-100-km-new-bike-lanes

Unlike Vancouver, Toronto and most other real cities wont have to remove key traffic lanes. Indeed, unlike the Vancouver approach, most cities are able to construct bike lanes & bike bridges without having to reduce lanes for traffic. Of course in some cases its inevitable, but the Vancouver approach seems to be about creating more congestion. Just like having the first 2 Skytrain lines with only 80m stations, when the the Montreal Metro has 152m long stations. The 3rd line that goes to Richmond & the airport, only has a provision for 50m stations. Its another fine example of how Greater Vancouver refuses to properly plan for higher future capacity. 

The later half of the 20th century put an emphasis on personal cars, highways & freeways. Even the widest expressways will eventually get clogged up at times. So unless there is a comprehensive system of human powered vehicles, electric bikes as well as cars & buses & especially trams & trains, its gridlock.

Some see a future without any need or reason to have a personal motorized vehicle (PMV). However, that seems to be an extreme approach. A PMV just might not be as necessary with more affordable rental vehicles available. 

https://www.planetizen.com/blogs/115457-book-review-autonorama

Vancouver ranks 58th of top 100 destination cities around the world

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-city-ranking-58-out-of-100

That's the problem with the backwater BC mentality. Why have Skytrain stations longer than the underground Edmonton LRT stations or even at the same length as the Toronto subway stations? Vancouver really should have allowed a provision to have 500 foot or 152.5m stations like the Montreal Metro has. Vancouver opted to have narrow bridges so that it's almost impossible to have proper bus & HOV lanes. 

Fortunately, Vancouver, BC wasn't able to stop Seattle & Portland, Calgary & Edmonton from having a zoo within their city limits. Of course Vancouver made sure that it never had a proper big city zoo within its city limits like equally small Boston & San_Francisco did. Boston, SF & Vancouver are all less than 50 sq.mi. or 130 sq.km in area. Yet, those cities were allowed to do so much more than Vancouver.

The lack of proper big city museums & art galleries fits right in with the small city mentality of Vancouver.

Its as if there has been a multi-generational mentality to keep Vancouver small & backward since its early years.

"The first viaduct was completed in 1915, extending what was then called Harris St over the CPR Beatty St yards to connect to Georgia St.  At that time, Harris St was renamed East Georgia, and the viaduct called the Hart McHarg bridge, but it was more commonly called the Georgia Harris Viaduct.  It was poorly built and plagued by difficulties from the beginning; It was not uncommon to see sagging sections, timber propping it up, and concrete falling to the ground below.  In anticipation of the viaduct and the planned streetcar providing easy access to the city centre, apartments began popping up in the area in the preceding years, including the heritage building called the Jackson Apartments at 660 Jackson St/501 E Georgia.  Although a track was laid for the Georgia Streetcar to offer service across the viaduct, there were immediate concerns about its ability to hold the weight, and the plan was abandoned." https://www.placesthatmatter.ca/location/georgia-st-viaduct (A fine example of inept Vancouver planning & development. So many other cities were actually able to build a bridge for streetcars or trams, as well as cars & trucks. 

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/this-week-in-history-the-great-georgia-harris-viaduct-opens-in-1915 (Why properly build infrastructure for long-range durability & future capacity?)

https://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/before-demolition-of-old-georgia-viaduct-30-9-70-4 If done properly, the original viaduct should have been built to be strong enough to have 6 lanes with 2 streetcar tracks & bike lanes. Then a lower deck provision for another rapid transit line with bike lanes. Fortunately, Vancouver wasn't able to stop other cities from getting rid of their streetcars or prevent the rebirth of tram trains.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_Viaduct#Demolition Some people believed that with proper strengthening & maintenance, they could have remained for several more decades. Perhaps even past 2070.

https://thetyee.ca/News/2018/06/27/Vancouver-Inner-City-Slum-Clearance-Repair (While the cancellation of a freeway through East Vancouver was a good idea in the 1960s, since the 1970s viaducts were built, they should remain for several more decades.)

To allow Vancouver to have the infrastructure of Montreal or Seattle would mean to fully accept becoming a major metropolitan area. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champlain_Bridge_(Montreal,_2019-present) An 8 lane bride with a provision for a rapid transit train. https://dailyhive.com/montreal/montreal-light-rail-train-rem-video

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_90_floating_bridges Seattle has this as an 8 lane crossing with an LRT line as well. Unfortunately, such big city infrastructure just isn't allowed by the small city mentality of Vancouver.

If Vancouver, BC was allowed to become a major global city like Sydney, Australia or SF, California, the local power-structure would have to give up on its stunting agenda. 

A national power-structure has made sure that Canada has yet to even contain 0.005% of the worlds population. It just so happens that most of the world is non-white, but as long as Canada doesn't officially have a, KEEP THEM OUT agenda, the worlds 2nd largest nation won't even have 40 million people, when the world reaches 8 billion.

Friday, December 03, 2021

Stunning new elevated pathway through forest opens in West Vancouver

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/west-vancouver-british-properties-mountain-path-trestle-bridge

Vancouver Translink-snow-plan

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/translink-snow-plan

Getting ready for the return of crappy cold weather.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/alex-fraser-port-mann-bridge-cable-collar-ice-bombs

VIA rolling out brand new trains for Windsor-Quebec City route

 https://dailyhive.com/toronto/via-rolling-out-brand-new-trains-for-windsor-quebec-city-route-photos

Of course no one in W.Can. seems to be seriously planing for a semi-high-speed passenger train loop that would go from Vancouver, BC to Kelowna, Calgary, Edmonton, Prince George & back down to Vancouver. 

Then a prairie express train from Calgary to Winnipeg, with a few stops in between. Then a Toronto to Winnipeg express. It all just seems like pipe dreams, for now.

At least there is some initial high-speed train planning from Portland to Seattle & to Vancouver, BC. 


sfu-burnaby-fire-station-hall-location-campus

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/sfu-burnaby-fire-station-hall-location-campus

Wednesday, December 01, 2021

More rain is coming to British Columbia

After all these decades, planners are only now realizing that BC is notorious for heavy rain at times.

https://www.burnabynow.com/local-news/check-out-this-documentary-with-footage-from-the-1948-fraser-river-flood-video-4811000

Its not that the Trans-Canada_Highway in SW BC had to be all elevated through the Fraser_Valley_Regional_District. but it should have been on built up land.

 https://www.burnabynow.com/highlights/this-storm-is-not-over-with-more-rain-coming-british-columbians-evacuate-4819416

https://globalnews.ca/news/8417722/abbotsford-bc-flooding-latest-evacuations/

https://www.abbynews.com/news/evacuation-orders-and-alerts-issued-for-properties-on-sumas-mountain-in-abbotsford/

https://www.burnabynow.com/bc-news/new-evacuation-orders-needed-in-abbostford-but-mayor-confident-everything-has-been-done-to-keep-people-safe-4815270

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/b-c-floods-abbotsford-got-540-mm-of-rain-in-november-shattering-previous-record-1.5689844

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia_Highway_1#Lower_Mainland_section

"The Interior section of Highway 1 is considered sub-standard when compared to other highways with similar traffic volume in the U.S. or other parts of Canada." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia_Highway_1#Future

However, the inept highway has met the sub-standard requirements of BC for several decades.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia_Highway_1_between_Hope_and_Yale Just having the paved over equivalent of 2 wagon-roads was challenging enough for BC to attain. 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/post-wildfire-report-warned-trans-canada-highway-at-risk-for-landslide-1.6258963

 Its difficult for BC to achieve a quality similar to that of Alberta, Ontario or Quebec...

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/aerial-look-jackass-mountain-highway-1-closure

The mountains in Switzerland don't prevent good highways from being built.

Vancouver City Council approves 649 rental homes at SkyTrain Marine Drive Station

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/ashley-mar-housing-co-operative-8495-cambie-street-vancouver-intracorp-oxford-properties

There should be Brentwood_Town_Centre or Coquitlam-size buildings around there, given the high land costs in Vancouver.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/396-southwest-marine-drive-vancouver

In Las_Vegas & Rio_de_Janeiro, they allow tall buildings much closer to the airport, simply because they aren't under Vancouver & Richmond type zoning and building restrictions.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarran_International_Airport#/media/File:McCarran_Terminal_1(A,B).jpg

Look at how close the 40, 50 and 60 story buildings are to the McCarran_International_Airport_(Las_Vegas).

Its striking to see such high-rise development so close to the airport. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/00/Las_Vegas_strip_panorama_1.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarran_International_Airport#/media/File:McDonnell_Douglas_MD-83_(DC-9-83),_Allegiant_Air_AN1531779.jpg


Of course Rio_de_Janeiro has never used its scenic setting to hold back the scale of the city to the extent that Vancouver has.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santos_Dumont_Airport#/media/File:Santos_Dumont_city_airport.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santos_Dumont_Airport#/media/File:Santos_Dumont_by_Diego_Baravelli.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacarepagu%C3%A1_Airport#/media/File:Aeroporto_de_Jacarepagu%C3%A1.jpg

Same Quebec City police officers repeatedly involved

 https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/quebec-city-police-probing-third-video-of-violent-altercation-same-officers-repeatedly-involved-1.5689535

Quebec_City could some day become a big city like Montreal.

https://montrealgazette.com/news/quebec/opposition-wants-independent-investigation-of-brutal-arrest-in-quebec-city

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-new-probe-after-second-violent-arrest-video-involving-quebec-city/

Of course people should be fairly treated in an y place.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-city-police-officers-suspended-1.6268340

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/lawyer-of-black-man-detained-by-quebec-city-police-racial-profiling-1.6267046

https://www.britannica.com/topic/police/The-development-of-police-in-Canada

https://educaloi.qc.ca/en/capsules/police-ethics/

Once San Francisco's 'Grandest Boulevard,' Van Ness Almost Done With Another Makeover

https://www.planetizen.com/news/2021/11/115410-once-san-franciscos-grandest-boulevard-van-ness-almost-done-another-makeover (Certainly, there is a benefit to try to get more transportation efficiency out of a wide street.)

I have always been fascinated with wide streets. Wide streets have been around long before the motorways & freeways.


City of Vancouver planning to densify around SkyTrain's Renfrew and Rupert stations

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/renfrew-rupert-station-skytrain-area-plan

High-rise density makes sense around transit stations. 

350 cruise visits scheduled for Victoria in 2022, including the world's largest ships

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/victoria-bc-cruise-ship-season-2022

For some reason Victoria & BC in general, never seemed to build up its tourism industry as much as it could have in the good old days.

https://www.timescolonist.com/business/record-high-cruise-ship-visits-scheduled-for-2022-after-two-year-absence-4814620

https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/350-cruise-trips-expected-to-return-to-victoria-in-2022-1.5687427

https://theprovince.com/news/local-news/cruise-ships-returning-to-victoria-after-two-year-absence/wcm/3a0bac41-43e5-4a6f-8d67-47edbd604b34

https://www.cruisemapper.com/ports/victoria-bc-port-3

The Butterfly tower in downtown Vancouver

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/the-butterfly-first-baptist-church-restoration-revery-architecture

https://www.urbanyvr.com/first-baptist-church-renovation

https://www.urbanyvr.com/butterfly-westbank-first-baptist

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/1059-1075-nelson-street-vancouver-tower-rezoning-approved

Although these 2 towers will be tall by Vancouver standards they will still be shorter than the Marina_City towers in Chicago. 

https://wikipedia/Marina_City "The complex consists of two 587-foot (179 m), 65-story apartment towers, opened in 1963..."

Why does that matter? Its just that what is considered big in Vancouver is usually small in other cities. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Chicago
The Marina City towers can just barely be seen in the middle top of this picture.

Monday, November 29, 2021

bike-lanes in-Toronto

 https://www.blogto.com/city/2021/11/people-upset-bike-lanes-toronto-are-already-total-mess-after-first-snowfall

https://dailyhive.com/toronto/toronto-first-snow-bike-lanes

https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/streets-parking-transportation/cycling-in-toronto/cycling-google-map/

https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/braun-nearly-half-of-torontos-bike-lanes-get-failing-grade

https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/bike-lanes-integral-to-global-movement-away-from-cars

Construction begins on major expansion of Electronic Arts' Burnaby campus

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/electronic-arts-burnaby-campus-expansion-construction

There are those that not only don't want traditional industrial jobs in BC, but not even high-tech jobs.

https://obj.ca/article/techopia/ottawa-climbs-top-10-ranking-north-american-tech-talent-hubs

https://dailyhive.com/toronto/toronto-tech-talent-top-ranking-north-america-report

There is no reason as to why Greater_Vancouver can't become a tech & business hub on the scale of Seattle.

Toronto's Eglinton Crosstown LRT

 https://dailyhive.com/toronto/eglinton-crosstown-lrt-opening-may-not-happen-2022

This looks like a cross between the Trams_in_Melbourne, the CTrain in Calgary & Edmonton_Light_Rail_Transit

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trams_in_Melbourne#D-class_(Combino)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CTrain#Rolling_stock

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton_Light_Rail_Transit#Rolling_stock

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_5_Eglinton#Rolling_stock

It will be interesting to see how it all turns out, eventually.

https://www.blogto.com/city/2021/11/eglinton-crosstown-lrt-finished/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_5_Eglinton#Eglinton_West_LRT

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_5_Eglinton#Eglinton_East_LRT


Train lines can be constructed in such a way that there could be an allowance for future stations.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_5_Eglinton#Grade-separated_station_plan_(2019-present)


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_rail_transit_in_Canada#Calgary

Another Weather warning expanded for Metro Vancouver

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/metro-vancouver-rainfall-warning-prolonged

The Roadway Expansion Paradox

 https://www.planetizen.com/blogs/115395-roadway-expansion-paradox

Simply expanding road capacity isn't enough. Express bus & HOV lanes are essential components for any widening or upgrades. A provision for rail rapid transit should always be considered as well.

Friday, November 26, 2021

Stumpy Downtown Vancouver Buildings

 https://cityduo.wordpress.com/tag/downtown

It has to be a very well coordinated effort to be able to continually stunt & thwart a city.

https://cityduo.wordpress.com/2021/06/14/june-15th-2021-public-hearing-1500-new-jobs-enrage-downtown-hermits-while-hundreds-protest-an-extra-floor-of-homes-in-coal-harbour

Use any excuse possible to scale back the heights of buildings, keep roads & bridges narrow & especially only have short trains.

https://cityduo.wordpress.com/2021/03/23/vancouvers-diagrid-dilemma-pits-the-energy-of-the-future-against-the-shadows-of-the-past/

The red tape & Double Dutch B$ can easily scale down any building project in Vancouver. Fortunately, Seattle & Calgary don't have as many hoops to jump through.

https://cityduo.wordpress.com/2021/07/06/a-very-loopy-review-highlights-the-systemic-failures-in-vancouvers-urban-design-process/

No one from outside of Vancouver, especially BC could believe that its as if there is a multi-generational power-structure that transcends parties & organizations.

https://cityduo.wordpress.com/2021/06/09/community-bonds-save-vancouvers-multigenerational-housing-opportunity-from-a-rotten-core/

This power-structure will use any group or party to continually thwart Vancouver & BC in general. All one has to do is look at Alberta & Washington State. Calgary & Seattle build up big infrastructure & flourish simply because they aren't under the control of Vancouver & BC.

In the early 1970s, Vancouver started to have some buildings taller than Honolulu.

Right into early 2022, Vancouver Planning Department wouldn't permit any office tower to match the height of One_America_Plaza in SD.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_America_Plaza Is a 34-story, 500 ft (150 m) tall building with an area of 623,000 sq ft (57,900 m2). San_Diego is notorious for having one of the shortest skylines of any american city. Some day, if it can relocate its airport then it will likely have buildings as tall as Edmonton.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Canada#Tallest_buildings_in_Canada

Thursday, November 25, 2021

Port of Vancouver says it is 'planning for the cruise season to resume'

 https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/travel/port-of-vancouver-says-it-is-planning-for-the-cruise-season-to-resume-4800229

Perhaps a bunch of protester can try to stop tourism and international travel.

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/opinion/british-columbians-feeling-heightened-travel-anxiety-as-holidays-approach-4790361


Climate activists to block Lions Gate Bridge Friday morning

 https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/climate-activists-to-block-lions-gate-bridge-friday-morning-4800782 Due to the cities multi-decade long refusal to build up big city infrastructure, people are left with a 3 lane bottleneck. AKA, the Lions_Gate_Bridge. Its difficult to have rapid bus & HOV lanes when there are only 3 lanes to work with. Fortunately, most cities aren't thwarted by something like the Vancouver power-structure & backward BC mindset.

Other scenic cities such as, Seattle, SF, Sydney, Auckland & Rio just don't have Vancouver type restrictions to prevent building a big wide bridge across their harbors.

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/pipelines-blown-up-extinction-rebellion-defends-david-suzukis-controversial-comments-video-4794933

This is what happens when BC can't build a wall or electric fence around it. The, KEEP THEM OUT mentality is very strong in Vancouver & Victoria & BC in general.

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/it-will-make-people-angry-protesters-plan-to-block-major-vancouver-intersection-during-rush-hour-4539272

Why build up proper size infrastructure when you can just cause more disruptions & congestion?

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/protestors-plan-to-block-multiple-major-vancouver-bridges-intersections-and-highways-4500967

A lot of people don't have much of a choice but to use the inept 3 lane Lions_Gate_Bridge.

Vancouver & the North_Shore should have worked together decades ago to build their own version of something like the Downtown_Seattle_Transit_Tunnel. First for rapid buses & then LRT with a provision to become very high capacity. Fortunately, Vancouver wasn't able to stop Seattle, but Vancouver certainly continues to prevent itself from having big city infrastructure.

Another 3 lane wonder can be found in Victoriahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnson_Street_Bridge

BC has such expertise in bottleneck planning, but for some reason, it can't seem to get most of the world to do the same. 

City of Vancouver's expenses grow

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/city-of-vancouver-property-tax-increase-budget-forecast

Unlike most cities, Vancouver hasn't put as much money into its infrastructure. Yet, there are budgetary problems.

https://biv.com/article/2021/07/city-vancouvers-expenses-growing-faster-revenues

So many other cities were able to bring back streetcars or trams.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-municipalities-budget-covid-april-8-1.5525741

https://globalnews.ca/news/7346119/vancouver-capital-budget-cut/

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/vancouver-police-board-approves-vpd-budget-sets-up-fight-at-council-2022-4799937

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/here-is-how-much-youll-pay-for-a-one-bedroom-apartment-in-metro-vancouver-this-november-4798479

An expensive city that can't afford to have proper big city infrastructure, when so many other cities can.

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/vancouver-ranked-least-affordable-city-in-north-america-4549989

Edmonton, Alberta

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Edmonton

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton_Metropolitan_Region

Unlike the mild BC capital, Edmonton has been allowed to become a big norther city.

Victoria, BC is a hick-town when compared to Edmonton. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Canada#Capital_cities

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_census_metropolitan_areas_and_agglomerations_in_Canada#List

Calgary like Seattle, was able to grow big & tall because they don't have the restrictive building limits as Vancouver has.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Canada#Demographics

Edmonton might have the first 80 story building in Canada, outside of Grater Toronto. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alldritt_Tower

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Edmonton#Projects

Freezing rain wreaks havoc on roads in Edmonton region, several fatal collisions

 https://globalnews.ca/news/8401499/edmonton-freezing-rain-warning-november-25

Ideally, any major road in a cold climate should have a heating system.

https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/red-deer/1-killed-in-3-semi-crash-on-highway-2-in-central-alberta-1.5681396

Of course there is an extra up front cost with a snowmelt_system, but it can save more lives in the long run.

https://phys.org/news/2019-01-under-road-highways-ice-free.html

https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/2-killed-in-crash-on-highway-28-north-of-edmonton-1.5681193

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton#Roads_and_highways

https://ec.europa.eu/research-and-innovation/en/horizon-magazine/under-road-heating-system-keep-europes-highways-ice-free

https://solarroadways.com/specifics/heating/

Two Gilmore Place, Burnaby, BC

 Two_Gilmore_Place is the first time that any building in BC has been permitted to rise above 700 feet. (215.85  metres (708 ft) tall.)

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/gilmore-place-construction-skytrain-station-engineering

http://gilmoreplace.com , https://www.onni.com/gilmoreplace

https://www.burnabynow.com/real-estate-news/this-wild-burnaby-residential-tower-will-be-the-tallest-in-bc-photos-3889099

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/burnaby-approves-a-64-storey-residential-tower-that-will-be-the-tallest-in-b-c

https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/two-gilmore-place/34824

Edmonton already has the Stantec_Tower, which is 66-storeys at a height of 251 metres (823 ft), is the tallest building in Western_Canada in late 2021.

Seattle might eventually have a 93 story tower. https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?cityID=27&status=15

So far, Vancouver wont permit any building to rival Burnaby, Edmonton, Calgary, Seattle & especially Toronto & SF. Burnaby might have a few more tallest buildings in BC. https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?cityID=31&status=15

Surrey is trying to have the first office tower in BC that's over 700 feet. https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?cityID=2&status=15

Vancouver still wont permit any office building to have 40 floors, let alone 50 or 60.

The Broadway Commercial redevelopment Plan

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/1780-east-broadway-commercial-public-consultation

Almost any attempt to enable Vancouver to function like a big city is thwarted. Most of BC is a mountain wilderness that's too uncomfortable for people. Yet, the few major urban areas are continually stunted with so many restrictions.

https://shapeyourcity.ca/1780-e-broadway?tool=survey_tool&tool_id=feedback#tool_tab

So of course the most expressive & cantankerous people around the Commercial-Broadway_station area don't want Brentwood_Town_Centre size towers. Not even the towers going up in the Oakridge area.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/oakridge-centre-redevelopment-second-phase-february-2019

https://vancouver.skyrisecities.com/news/2019/06/work-commences-buildings-6-7-8-oakridge-centre

https://cityduo.wordpress.com/2018/10/03/udp-overwhelmed-by-unique-sophisticated-and-elegant-oakridge-centre-buildings-3-4-set-a-high-bar-for-vancouver-architecture/

https://westbankcorp.com/body-of-work/oakridge

That's in spite of the ridiculously short Oakridge-41st_Avenue_station's 50m platforms. Fortunately, Vancouver & BC can't make most other cities around the world have such short trains. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brentwood_Town_Centre_station Not even 60 stories.

Not 50 or even 40 story towers, just stumps in the 20 to 30 story range in East Vancouver.
At least they wont be quite as stumpy as these. 

The Broadway & Commercial area is an intersection of 2 Skytrain lines that simply will have buildings shorter than what will be at Oakridge & Brentwood. 

Even though I have always lived in Vancouver, I still don't understand why its one of the toughest places for people to accept a big city to flourish?

Vancouver and-housing-policies...

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-affordable-housing-policies

Just more B$ manipulation hype used to slow down the rate of people moving into Vancouver.

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/vancouver-ranked-1-greenest-city-in-the-wold-4358071

The green scam is a clever way to avoid building big infrastructure. Why build something like a 152m long Montreal Metro train, when you can just build a 50m Canada Line? Don't even allow for a provision to triple length the underground stations because that would add more capacity.

https://grist.org/cities/vancouver-promised-greenest-city-in-the-world-2020-what-went-wrong/

An excuse to keep the bridges narrow so its that its much tougher to have fast bus lanes. 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-planned-to-be-the-greenest-city-in-the-world-by-2020-it-probably-isn-t-1.5414502

Allow developers to build some projects big & tall, if they agree to also build affordable housing.

https://www.worldometers.info/world-population

Although Canada is the second largest country in land area, it doesn't even have half of 1 percent of the worlds population.

https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/#top20

Considering that almost every other country is smaller in area than Canada, yet they are still able to accommodate millions of more people, is astounding.

https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/population-by-country

The BC part of Canada is very reluctant to have its 2 mild regional urban areas become big.

Even if Vancouver & the BC Lower_Mainland was allowed to become as big as Montreal or Seattle, most of BC would still be wilderness & small towns. In some ways its Canada, but its especially BC that doesn't want Vancouver to ever become as big as the Greater_Toronto_Area or the San_Francisco_Bay_Area.

https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/canada-population

Even if the Victoria to Nanaimo area was allowed to become as big as Sydney or Miami, most of Vancouver_Island would still be wilderness & small towns. 

Most other best livable cities are actually allowed to build up proper size infrastructure than what little Vancouver permits. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Most_livable_cities#The_EIU's_Global_Liveability_Ranking 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Most_livable_cities#Global_Finance's_World's_Best_Cities_to_Live

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Most_livable_cities#Deutsche_Bank_Liveability_Survey


Of course Australia is another example of a vast land area with hardly any of the worlds population.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_in_Australia_by_population


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/discovering-hygge-in-copenhagen/worlds-greenest-city

https://thesustainablelivingguide.com/most-sustainable-cities

https://www.ubm-development.com/magazin/en/the-greenest-city-in-the-world/

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Report on B.C. policing finds ‘disturbing pattern of discrimination’

 "A new report highlights a “disturbing pattern of discrimination” in policing in British Columbia, says the province’s human rights commissioner.

Black and Indigenous people in British Columbia are either “grossly or significantly overrepresented” in arrest statistics while other racialized groups are also overrepresented, according to the report, which was funded by the human rights commissioner and submitted to a committee dedicated to reforming the province’s Police Act.

Data in the report “points to a significant trend of overpolicing of racialized people in B.C.,” commissioner Kasari Govender said..." https://globalnews.ca/news/8399088/bc-police-discrimination-report/

Two more stumps under 30 floors

 https://cityduo.wordpress.com/2021/11/23/canopy-conflicts-fail-to-bust-vancouver-office-buildings-lofty-elegance/

When the city wont even permit an office tower to have 40 stories, these two are cut before even reaching 30 floors.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/443-seymour-street-619-685-west-hastings-street-vancouver

They would be impressive in Victoria, Kelowna, Kamloops or Prince George. Not in Calgary or Seattle, Toronto or Montreal. That's how it goes for little scenic Vancouver. Fortunately, scenic cities like Auckland, Sydney & SF allow taller office towers than Vancouver & they are still just as scenic as ever.


Another lost potential of the cities first 50 story office tower. It wont even be permitted to have a 40th floor.

https://cityduo.wordpress.com/2018/07/16/12-minutes-of-daylight-savings-time-could-wipe-away-millions-of-dollars-of-job-space-from-vancouver

The more red tape & B$ that Vancouver can impose or mandate, the better the chance of holding the city back.

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Vancouver's severe hotel room shortage

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-hotel-shortage-tourism-recovery


"The Hyatt Regency Vancouver, located at 655 Burrard Street, is a 644-room hotel connected to the Royal Centre complex in VancouverBritish Columbia, Canada."

"Built in 1973, the Hyatt Regency Vancouver is a 35 floor tower standing at 359 feet or 109 metres. It was Vancouver's tallest hotel from 1973 to 2001. It has the largest number of hotel rooms in one building." 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyatt_Regency_Vancouver

Of course the Seattle version has almost double the number of rooms. As a big bulky building, it has a lot more capacity than the slender towers in vancouver.

"Hyatt Regency Seattle, also known as 808 Howell Street and 8th & Howell, is a high-rise hotel in the Denny Triangle neighborhood of SeattleWashington that opened in December 2018. The 45-story hotel, operated by Hyatt, has 1,260 hotel rooms and is the largest in the city."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyatt_Regency_Seattle

Height
Architectural520 feet (160 m)
Roof500 feet (150 m)
Technical details
Size1.2 million square feet (110,000 m2)
Floor count45
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyatt_Regency_Seattle#Facilities


Vancouver could have used a couple of these. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westin_Seattle

Fort McMurray, Alberta

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_McMurray#Highways_and_roads They can do what they do simply because they aren't under BC control.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_Highway_63#/media/File:Fort_McMurray_Athabasca_River_Bridges_2.png If this was in BC, everything would be funneled into 2 lanes each way.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Fort_McMurray_Athabasca_River_Bridges.jpg/640px-Fort_McMurray_Athabasca_River_Bridges.jpg Its not a big problem in many cities around the world to twin, duplicate or triple bridges. Of course in BC, the power-structure is always slow to infrastructure expansion projects.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Fort_McMurray_Athabasca_River_Bridges_2.png/640px-Fort_McMurray_Athabasca_River_Bridges_2.png

Fort_McMurray had a 10 lane crossing long before it would reach 75,000 people. Greater Vancouver was well over 2 million people before its 10 lane crossing was built. That is the Port_Mann_Bridge.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_Highway_63#Construction

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fort+McMurray,+AB/@56.7315359,-111.397114,369m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x53b03aeeff1a4459:0x5c8133330dca74b7!8m2!3d56.7266598!4d-111.3790441

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fort+McMurray,+AB/@56.7194885,-111.3967659,25723m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x53b03aeeff1a4459:0x5c8133330dca74b7!8m2!3d56.7266598!4d-111.3790441

Unlike Alberta or Washington State, BC really likes to funnel traffic into three-lane-crossings that should have at least double the capacity. The Vancouver & Victoria mentality has no control over Seattle & Calgary. Those are the two closest major cities to BC and its amazing to see how much larger their scale of urban infrastructure is. 

Nicomekl-river-bridge-and riverfront-park in Surrey, BC

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/nicomekl-river-bridge-riverfront-park

King_George_Boulevard should have a minimum of 6 lanes all the way through its length. That would make it a lot easier to have a couple of bus or HOV lanes. So much of BC just had a 1 lane each way wagon road mentality for so long. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_George_Boulevard#History So to even get to a point where there are 2 lanes each way frightens some people. Especially a multi-generational stubborn power-structure that doesn't want to encourage rapid growth. Since BC can't control immigration into Canada, the next best thing would be to build a wall to perpetuate the, KEEP THEM OUT agenda. Of course that would result in many challenges, so BC continually thwarts the size of its infrastructure. On a much larger scale, Canada has made sure that its nowhere near containing 1% of the worlds population. Yet in-spite of that, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary & Edmonton are all still able to build up larger infrastructure, because they don't have to contend with Vancouver & Victoria restrictions.

BC has such expertise in funneling traffic into a 3 lane crossing. Some people would just like it to remain as it is. 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Surrey,+BC/@49.0692287,-122.8233335,184m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x5485dc034d3fa75b:0xd28b4898abd598e0!8m2!3d49.1913466!4d-122.8490125

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Surrey,+BC/@49.0692107,-122.820008,521m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x5485dc034d3fa75b:0xd28b4898abd598e0!8m2!3d49.1913466!4d-122.8490125


The quintessential 3 lane bottleneck.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Lions+Gate+Bridge/@49.3154152,-123.1420283,2331m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x548673f143a94fb3:0xbb9196ea9b81f38b!2sVancouver,+BC!3b1!8m2!3d49.2827291!4d-123.1207375!3m4!1s0x548671e4314afbf5:0x3e51e1a4f59d56fa!8m2!3d49.3146651!4d-123.1392099


Of course the BC capital would have to have its own 3 lane bottleneck.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Johnson+Street+Bridge/@48.428204,-123.3727534,249m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x548f738bddb06171:0x38e8f3741ebb48ed!2sVictoria,+BC!3b1!8m2!3d48.4284207!4d-123.3656444!3m4!1s0x548f749c9ec2d143:0x5a83be27f477e403!8m2!3d48.4282598!4d-123.3721465


If you are from Montreal or QC, it would be difficult to imagine something like a BC power-structure putting in a 3 lane crossing when it should at least have 6 lanes.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Montreal,+QC/@45.4875674,-73.8697933,766m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x4cc91a541c64b70d:0x654e3138211fefef!8m2!3d45.5016889!4d-73.567256

Just imagine if this little 3 lane bridge was at a major crossing point in Montreal or QC.

https://www.google.com/maps/@45.4874563,-73.8679282,3a,60y,321.46h,85.09t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sbvDYhUmK9rVwp9NX8lpRhA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Montreal already has its share of congestion. If anyone there tried to impose BC bottleneck planning there it would be an outrage of protests.