Thursday, February 29, 2024

Emerald City Comic Con

 https://www.emeraldcitycomiccon.com/

https://seattleconventioncenter.com/

https://seattleconventioncenter.com/venues/summit-addition Quite a very nice new building for Seattle.

https://visitseattle.org/meeting-professionals/convention-center/summit-overview/

https://www.arup.com/projects/seattle-convention-center-summit-building

https://crosscut.com/culture/2023/01/seattles-new-convention-center-features-775m-local-art

NYC’s $15 congestion pricing toll

 https://nypost.com/us-news/nyc-congestion-pricing-toll-what-to-know/

https://nypost.com/2024/02/29/us-news/heres-what-new-yorkers-think-about-the-controversial-15-congestion-pricing-toll-as-mta-opens-public-hearings/

Too costly to drive, take the train, but it might cost you your life.

https://nypost.com/2024/02/22/opinion/the-mta-has-a-crime-epidemic-that-robots-cant-even-fix

Of course more police and increased security overall, can make a big difference.

What's going on at The One, Toronto's troubled $2-billion mega-tower?

https://financialpost.com/real-estate/the-one-toronto-troubled-2-billion-mega-tower

Looks like its going to be a fine tower, if it ever gets completed.

https://streetsoftoronto.com/why-are-some-toronto-homeowners-paying-less-tax/

https://www.thestar.com/business/mizrahi-pushed-out-of-the-one-skyscraper-development-inside-details-of-what-he-told-employees/article_b5d4a16c-d50b-11ee-a3dc-2fec3209e8e6.html

 https://storeys.com/mizrahi-forced-out-the-one/

https://urbantoronto.ca/database/projects/one.5048

https://www.gta-homes.com/real-insights/news/the-one-condo-goes-into-receivership-whats-next/

https://www.blogto.com/real-estate-toronto/2023/10/company-takes-over-torontos-one-tower/

NYC subway violence surge comes after police patrols plummeted to levels not seen since de Blasio administration

 https://nypost.com/2024/02/28/us-news/nyc-subway-violence-surge-came-after-police-patrols-plummeted-to-levels-not-seen-since-de-blasio-administration/

Any train system can be made to be safer, if there are enough police & security people around.

https://nypost.com/2024/02/20/us-news/nyc-subway-crime-jumps-by-nearly-20-this-year-compared-to-2023-data-shows/

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Pinnacle One Yonge, Toronto

 https://urbantoronto.ca/database/projects/pinnacle-one-yonge.6918

Height
  • 345 m (1,131 ft)
  • 307 m (1,006 ft)
  • 217 m (712 ft)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinnacle_One_Yonge The first building in Canada to reach or exceed 100 stories.


https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/country/canada

The One at Yonge and Bloor in Toronto

 https://www.blogto.com/real-estate-toronto/2024/02/the-one-yonge-bloor-mizrahi-toronto/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_One_(Toronto)#Receivership

https://urbantoronto.ca/database/projects/one.5048

At 328.4 metres (1,077 feet)[1][4] and 91 storeys,[5] it will be taller than First Canadian Place, which has been Canada's tallest building since 1975. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_One_(Toronto)

Despite being a little shorter, a tower in Melbourne has more levels than The One in Toronto.

It's almost like there is a different set of physics for Canada vs. the rest of the planet. Not just NYC & Chicago, but Melbourne would have its first residential tower of at least 100 floors before Toronto.

"...development project consists of a 316.7-metre-tall (1,039 ft) apartment building with 1,105 apartments over 100 floors." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_108


HEIGHT
1
To Tip:
318.7 m / 1,046 ft
2
Architectural:
316.7 m / 1,039 ft
3
Occupied:
312.4 m / 1,025 ft

https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/melbourne/australia-108/14817/


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_108#Planning,_design,_and_approval

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Melbourne#Overall

https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/country/australia

https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/country/canada

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

The UK could face blackouts by 2028 as delays to the delivery of a major nuclear power station continue

 https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1871416/urgent-blackout-warning-power-cuts-french-project

The Bakerloo line extension

 https://www.londonworld.com/news/traffic-and-travel/tfl-bakerloo-line-extension-construction-boris-johnson-sadiq-khan-4532715

 https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1869126/600m-London-Underground-Bakerloo-line-plan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakerloo_line , https://tfl.gov.uk/tube/route/bakerloo/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakerloo_line#Future_developments

https://www.londontubemap.org/en-1-Bakerloo-line-map.php

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakerloo_line#Future_rolling_stock

https://londonist.com/london/history/a-brief-history-of-the-bakerloo-line

https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/collections/stories/transport/bakerloo-line

NYC congestion pricing will spike tolls for bus operator

 https://nypost.com/2024/02/26/business/hampton-jitney-warns-of-cost-hikes-when-nyc-congestion-pricing-takes-effect/

Public & private high occupancy vehicles should be encouraged, not taxed.

https://nypost.com/2024/02/25/us-news/private-bus-operator-shocked-they-wont-be-exempt-from-nycs-congestion-toll-plan-part-of-the-solution/

The Décarie Expressway or Autoroute Décarie in Montreal

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_Autoroute_15#Decarie_Autoroute

There should have been a provision on this Autoroute for a bus & HOV lane. While there is an emergency lane on each side, it looks like its not quite the width for a standard lane. 

https://www.montrealroads.com/roads/decarie/

https://globalnews.ca/tag/decarie-expressway/

The Slow and Steady Death of the Gowanus Expressway in NYC

https://www.thedrive.com/vintage/2920/the-slow-and-steady-death-of-the-gowanus-expressway

Of course several highways & freeways built between the 1940s & 1970s were bulldozed through neighborhoods. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_278#Gowanus_Expressway

One would be hard-pressed to find such expressways that were bulldozed through upper middle-class or wealthy neighborhoods. 

 http://www.nycroads.com/roads/gowanus , https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_278

In a lot of cases, urban highways could have been built above or beside railway corridors or through industrial areas.

https://michaelminn.net/newyork/areas/sunset-park-waterfront/gowanus-expressway/index.html

However, there would still have to be arterial roads & streets connecting to the various expressways or motorways.

https://www.dot.ny.gov/regional-offices/region11/projects/project-repository/gowanus/about.html

The Go wasn't designed to have bus & HOV lanes.

https://www.dot.ny.gov/content/delivery/region11/projects/X73081-Home/construction

A lot of it doesn't even have full width emergency lanes, which could have become bus lanes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_278

https://www.eastcoastroads.com/states/ny/inter/i278

Thursday, February 22, 2024

When will AI be flying a plane full of passengers?

 https://interestingengineering.com/transportation/when-ai-flying-passenger-planes

It would always be good to never totally eliminate the human factor.

https://www.aviationfile.com/will-ai-replace-pilots-examining-the-future-of-aviation

https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisagarcia/2023/11/06/artificial-intelligence-wont-fly-planes-but-will-make-flying-better/?sh=69eb171634ac

https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-05-20/how-artificial-intelligence-could-completely-reshape-aircraft-future

https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aerospace/2023-06-14/beyond-automation-how-ai-transforming-aviation

https://simpleflying.com/aviation-future-ai-uses-list


https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=AI

The Time Paradox

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwSzpaTHyS8

Time is linked to space, energy and data.


https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=The+Paradox+of+Time

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=Simulation+Theory

Star Trek: 10 Best Holodeck Episodes

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

Star Trek TNG -- The Holodeck https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy5DAxGhV_c

Hidden Tech of the Holodeck https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dafUcwyC6vM


https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=Simulation+Theory

OpenAI's "World Simulator" SHOCKS The Entire Industry | Simulation Theory Proven?

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH9FU7Gd6v8

https://openai.com/sora#capabilities

In 1999 people got to watch The_Matrix & The_Thirteenth_Floor & ponder what it might be like to be in some kind of a very advanced simulation.

The Holodeck concept in the Star Trek universe is essentially a VR and AR interactive projection room. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holodeck#Depiction

https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Holodeck

https://gamerant.com/star-trek-how-does-holodeck-technology-work/

https://openai.com/research/video-generation-models-as-world-simulators

New Evidence For The Simulation Hypothesis? Donald Hoffman on The Simulation Argument https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhAgpq26Noc

We Live in a Simulation. The evidence is everywhere. All you have to do is look. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wMhXxZ1zNM

Humans are detached from reality | Donald Hoffman and Lex Fridman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM_FOUCpJ3I

Do we see reality as it is? | Donald Hoffman | TED https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYp5XuGYqqY


https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=Simulation+Theory

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Airports with the most runways

https://lauraclery.com/what-airport-has-the-most-runways

Unless the big jet planes are eventually replace with large V/STOL, long runways will remain as a key airport requerment. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V/STOL#Supersonic

https://jetsplore.com/en/aviation-news/which-airport-has-the-greatest-number-of-runways

https://wanderwisdom.com/transportation/Top-5-Largest-Airports-in-the-World

 https://simpleflying.com/us-airports-most-runways-list

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/web-stories/airports-with-most-number-of-runways-in-the-world-including-delhi/photostory/101760290.cms

https://curlytales.com/web-stories/8-airports-with-the-most-number-of-runways/

https://www.fliteline.com/blog/the-worlds-most-runway-rich-charter-airports

https://jetsplore.com/en/aviation-news/differences-between-concrete-and-asphalt-runway/

https://simpleflying.com/category/aviation-news/airports/



https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=LAX

A 6th Generation Fighter Jet Is On US Aircraft Carrier!

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxkPD-JcMJs

Globally prominent technology centers

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_technology_centers#Globally_prominent_clusters

Despite more people working from home, there is still a need for various tech offices & factories...

https://siteselection.com/issues/2024/jan/24-for-24.cfm

https://www.sovtech.com/blog/worlds-biggest-tech-hubs

https://www.fullstackacademy.com/blog/top-cities-for-tech-roles

https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/best-cities-for-tech-jobs

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/biggest-tech-talent-hubs-in-us-canada/

https://dealroom.co/guides/top-tech-ecosystems

Hardware, because it's not just about software. Unfortunately, automation will gradually continue to reduce jobs for people.

Monday, February 19, 2024

Eiffel Tower closes as staff go on strike

 https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2024/02/19/eiffel-tower-closes-as-staff-go-on-strike_6539005_7.html

https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20240219-strike-closes-eiffel-tower-again-as-staff-denounce-paris-financial-management

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240219-eiffel-tower-closes-as-staff-go-on-strike


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiffel_Tower#Transport

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiffel_Tower#Taller_structures

Vancouver faces hotel shortage ahead of 2026 World Cup

 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-hotel-shortage-2026-world-cup-1.7117696

The city has failed in attracting many more hotels over the decades. 

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2023/09/08/vancouver-hotels-shortage-city-councillor/

With so many strict & extremely limiting building restrictions, Vancouver has made it tougher for more hotels to set up shop in the city. A 30-40 story hotel with 30-40 condominium floors above that would provide a great incentive for more hotels to be built.

Unfortunately, there has been a strong, KEEP VANCOUVER SMALL agenda for several decades.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/seattle-vancover-tourism-infrastructure-facilities-economy-strengths Fortunatly, Seattle isn't under any of the Vancouver type restrictions & limitations.

www.seattletimes.com/business/as-seattle-area-keeps-building-hotels-there-soon-may-be-too-much-room-at-the-inn If only BC had such an issue, but it's the total opposite in Vancouver.

https://www.costar.com/article/1967732614/seattle-experiences-influx-of-hotel-rooms-in-construction

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/downtown-seattle-hotels-occupancy-nearing-pre-pandemic-levels/281-fffc5a41-8145-46f4-a375-f90384c34158 

"As of 2022, Metro Vancouver has a hotel supply of 23,292 rooms across 163 properties, including 13,290 rooms in 78 properties within the City of Vancouver." https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/metro-vancouver-hotel-supply-shortage-demand


  • Hotel rooms available in Downtown Seattle: 14,861
  • Hotel rooms available in King County: 43,490

https://visitseattle.org/press/press-kit/seattle-facts

Seattle like Calgary, Toronto & Montreal, have a think big & plan ahead mentality, which Vancouver continues to avoid.


https://versus.com/en/seattle-vs-vancouver

Sunday, February 18, 2024

Paris in the Twentieth Century and Alphaville

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_in_the_Twentieth_Century It was written in 1863 & set in the year 1960. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_in_the_Twentieth_Century#Predictions_for_1960

In the early 1860s, JV wrote about 300 m towers in a future Paris. However, it would take until the 1880s for Paris to have its first 1000 foot tower.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emile_Nouguier#Contribution_to_the_Eiffel_Tower 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Koechlin#Major_designs  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Sauvestre#Career

Alphaville was released in 1965 & is a cautionary story about the totalitarian Alpha 60, a sentient computer system running the city. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphaville_(film)#Production

 Smart cities might not be such a bright idea https://www.ft.com/content/9039f4de-cec8-11e7-947e-f1ea5435bcc7

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/337109.Paris_in_the_Twentieth_Century

https://lithub.com/on-the-1863-novel-that-predicted-the-internet-cars-skyscrapers-and-electronic-dance-music

The Eiffel_Tower isn't just a symbolic icon for Paris, but France, overall. It will always be known as the first 100 m tower in France. 

Height
Architectural300 m (984 ft)[1]
Tip330 m (1,083 ft)
Top floor276 m (906 ft)[1]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiffel_Tower#History

https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/explore , https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/the-monument

https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/explore/top

 https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/news/history-and-culture/everything-you-need-know-about-eiffel-tower-night

https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/the-monument/key-figures

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiffel_Tower#Transport

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eiffel-tower-grows-six-metres-after-new-antenna-attached-2022-03-15/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiffel_Tower#Taller_structures

Open AI's SECRET AGI Breakthrough Has Everyone STUNNED! (SORAS Secret Breakthrough!)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Xv6uSeXbJ4

AGI Before 2026? Sam Altman & Max Tegmark on Humanity's Greatest Challenge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFQvL3KVaOQ

What Is Q*? The Leaked AGI BREAKTHROUGH That Almost Killed OpenAI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6E41eXStsU

Intelligent Thinking About Artificial Intelligence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caepEUi2IZ4

Jaron Lanier Looks into AI's Future https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8vU9QtcMZw


https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=AI

The Post Building in downtown Vancouver

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/the-post-vancouver-amazon-loblaws-city-market-quadreal

Once again something that might be considered to be huge in Vancouver is average or a small size in many other cities.

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/the-post-amazon-vancouver-redevelopment-construction-update

https://storeys.com/quadreal-graeme-scott-the-post-vancouver-heritage-revitalization-amazon/

The Chicago ‘L’ Train

 https://interactive.wttw.com/chicago-by-l/sidetracks/history-l

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

https://interactive.wttw.com/chicago-by-l/sidetracks/how-cta-map-got-its-colors

https://www.transitchicago.com/rpm/

https://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/may-2019/once-and-for-all-is-it-the-chicago-el-el-l-or-l


Of course Paris & several other cities have elevated metro train lines, as well.

https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/news/visit/bir-hakeim-station-closed

Canadians mad that feds will no longer fund road expansion projects for cars

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/canadians-mad-feds-not-funding-road-expansion-for-cars


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoroutes_of_Quebec#History

https://www.montrealroads.com/roads/montreal-island/

https://dailyhive.com/montreal/canadians-mad-feds-not-funding-road-expansion-for-cars

https://mobilitymontreal.gouv.qc.ca/network-condition/traffic/

https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1143950/kilometres-autoroutes-quebec-troisieme-lien

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU0USZnglAs

https://www.quebecurbain.qc.ca/2010/08/30/le-reseau-demesure-dautoroutes-inachevees-de-quebec/

Emerging Technologies That Will Change The World

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzMiJFOa6w8

https://www.sciencefocus.com/future-technology/future-technology-22-ideas-about-to-change-our-world

https://www.simplilearn.com/top-technology-trends-and-jobs-article

Saturday, February 17, 2024

Has the shine come off the Vision Pro?

 https://www.theverge.com/24074795/vision-pro-returns-xbox-future-gemini-open-ai-vergecast


https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=Vision+Pro

Some of the best bike paths around the world

https://www.bookmundi.com/ng/best-bike-trails-around-the-world

https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/most-scenic-bike-routes-in-the-world

https://www.exploreworldwide.ca/blog/most-picturesque-cycle-routes

https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/20-worlds-best-cycling-routes-thatll-take-your-breath-away.html

 https://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/advice/best-bike-rides-in-the-world/

https://www.mountainbikeworldwide.com/travel-inspiration/our-top-10-mountain-bike-trails-around-the-world

https://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/advice/what-are-best-bike-commuting-cities-country/

https://factual-consulting.com/biking-to-work-most-beautiful-urban-bike-lanes

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-sfu-burnaby-cycling-connection-route-project

"Despite having some of the best bicycling infrastructure in Canada, Vancouver has a relatively low 2021 City Ratings score of 47, meaning it still has a way to go when it comes to improving safety and access." https://www.peopleforbikes.org/news/five-great-canadian-bike-cities

https://bikehub.ca/about-us/news/10-great-bike-commuting-routes-in-metro-vancouver


https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=bike+bridges

New Westminster, BC

Unfortunately, the little river city of New+Westminster never saw itself as having the same potential as Portland, Oregon. NW eventually went from being a backwater BC capital to becoming part of the Greater Vancouver Metropolitan Area. Unlike Portland, it has always been reluctant towards having wide train & road bridges.

The SkyBridge should have been multimodal like the fantastic Tilikum+Crossing in Portland.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/pattullo-bridge-surrey-board-of-trade Of course the new PB won't have a furture provision for bus & rail on a 2nd deck.

Friday, February 16, 2024

the Empty Skyscraper Problem

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI4jf5FAitk

Evolution of the Toronto Subway 1954-2030s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRpRxT9s--I

How to Fix Toronto’s (Mostly) Useless Subway Line: The Sheppard Subway https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wv0oWk_OVok

Why Toronto Removed a Subway Line... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvwmiSU7zLY

No Federal funding for new roads in Canada?

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

Canada’s environment minister ignites uproar with comments about funding new roads https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZCN5tmnNz8


How Toronto Got Addicted to Cars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkO-DttA9ew

This rail connection could change the SF Bay Area

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tGsiMXD4UI


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Bay_Area#Transportation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportation_in_the_San_Francisco_Bay_Area#Public_transportation

How Sydney’s new Metro West line could transform the city

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zUlOZm-CDU


https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=Australia

Transperth and WA

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transperth Unlike the BC approach, WA allows for longer trains, as well as many lanes. Why just have a 3 coach train when you can have a train consisting of 6 carriages?

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Transperth_B-series_train_on_the_Mandurah_Line_in_Como,_Western_Australia,_March_2022_05 4 lanes each way with 2 tracks in the middle. One would be hard-pressed to find something similar in or around Vancouver, BC. V-BC infrastructure is all about short trains & narrow roads. 
Perth, Calgary & Seattle, 8 lanes & 2 tracks, but not in Greater Vancouver.

Train length72.42 m (237 ft 7+316 in)[1]
Car length
  • 24.21 m (79 ft 5+18 in) (end cars)
  • 24 m (78 ft 8+78 in) (intermediate cars)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transperth_B-series_train Of course a 3 car train might be alright during the slow hours of the day, but a 6 car train makes all the difference. A 475 foot long train is getting close to the length of a 152 m or 500 foot long Montreal Metro train. Unfortunately, the Vancouver & BC approach is all about limited capacity & congestive planning.


https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=Perth

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=Australia

Bellevue, WA - Eastside Link light rail set to open in April

 https://komonews.com/news/local/eastside-link-light-rail-opening-april-27-south-bellevue-redmond-technology-stations-belred-2-line-public-transit-security-king-county-transportation-travel

https://bellevuewa.gov/city-government/departments/transportation/projects/east-link-light-rail

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_Line_(Sound_Transit) , https://www.soundtransit.org/blog/platform/get-ready-new-link-service-eastside-next-spring

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/trains-in-training-sound-transit-powers-up-its-future-eastside-light-rail-route/

https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/east-link-extension

https://www.theurbanist.org/2023/08/11/the-east-link-light-rail-starter-line-is-officially-a-go/

https://www.mercerisland.gov/community/page/light-rail-east-link

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Mercer_Island_East_Link_under_construction 4 lanes each way with 2 tracks in the middle. You would be hard-pressed to find something similar in or around Vancouver, BC. A balanced approach with efficient rail lines and a good road system can make all the difference.
Seattle, Calgary & Perth, 8 lanes & 2 tracks, but not in Greater Vancouver.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_Line_(Sound_Transit)#Route

Grade Separation for trains is always the best option. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aADuNDv7Wc But sometimes things are done to cut the cost of a rail line down.

Why You Shouldn't Put Light Rail in Tunnels https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-9sLvdqcJY


Greater Seattle is able to do so much more, simply because its not under a Vancouver & BC lack of vision perspective.

Memorial Drive (Calgary)

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Drive_(Calgary)

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/Calgary_Skyline_2015

Calgary, Seattle & Perth, 8 lanes & 2 tracks, but not in Greater Vancouver.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportation_in_Calgary#Organization

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/Memorial-Drive1-Szmurlo


Evolution of the Vancouver SkyTrain 1985-2035

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3kzHlQQSeg

The Surrey-Langley Skytrain segment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx5GBKjiw2c

Just because it's considered light rail, there still should have been a provision to easily have 152 m stations, like with the Montreal Metro stations. Instead, the first 2 lines only can handle 80 m trains & the C Line has a ridiculous 50 M station maximum. This, not properly building for the future agenda, is utterly foolish & inept. In spite of many cities opting for long trains & wide bridges, the BC approach is to provide half sized infrastructure for a half-assed approach to things. Nevertheless, there is still the potential to upgrade it to eventually becoming like a proper big city metro train system. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expo_Line_(SkyTrain)#Capacity_upgrades

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/SkyBridge

This is one of the best examples of BC bottleneck planning so far. The SkyBridge_for_SkyTrain should have had at least 3 tracks, not just 2 & only a maintenance track. The old inadequate 4 lane Pattullo_Bridge has only 1 narrow sidewalk & no bike or bus lanes. Thus, the Skybridge should have had 2 bike lanes & 2 footpaths. There also should have been 2 bus lanes, because when the train shuts down for maintenance or an emergency, a 24hr busway there is vital. The narrow SkyBridge really should have had a provision for a 2nd level, but that would go against the multigenerational congestive planning agenda of BC.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skybridge_(TransLink)

If the very narrow & inept old Patullo-Bridge had much better foundations, it could have become a great foot & bike+bridge, once its replacement opened. Unfortunately, even the new Pattullo_Bridge is already set to be a modern example of BC bottleneck planning. While it will at least have a bike & footpath on both sides, it will open without any proper bus & HOV lanes.

Even if the Expo_Line_(SkyTrain) was somehow open for 24hrs, there would still be the occasional emergency situation requiring the train bridge to close. Yet, even the new 4 lane Pattullo-Bridge will open without any bus, HOV lanes or emergency lanes. Thus, it will become another fine example of BC bottleneck planning. 

The new Pattullo-Bridge should open with 6 lanes & a provision to have at least 8 lanes. This would not only allow for 2 general lanes each way, but a bus & HOV lane each way & a truck lane each way. https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/pattullo-bridge-surrey-board-of-trade

Of course there also should have been a provision for a lower or upper deck, which could provide additional bus & train capacity. Unfortunately, it will start out as another 4 lane backward BC bridge.   


https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=bike+bridges

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Why 95% of Australia is Empty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnB_8Zm9lPk

Why Auckland Needs This new Railway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeMN22PaYSM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland#Transport

Why 80% of New Zealand is Empty https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_g6-4swJ_s

Brisbane and Perth vs. Halifax and Vancouver

Australia: Brisbane and Perth have already surpassed Halifax and Vancouver, in some key ways. (This is still a very roughed out or incomplete post.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brisbane#Infrastructure

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Leo_Hielscher_Bridges A 12 lane crossing.

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Airport_railway_station,_Brisbane

146_m Brisbane train is so much better than a 50 to 80 m Vancouver train.

Train length146.17 m (479 ft 7 in)[1]
Car length
  • 25,085 mm (82 ft 3.6 in) (end cars)
  • 24,000 mm (78 ft 9 in) (intermediate cars)

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


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perth#Transport

"Transperth B-series trains, three cars in length, operate on the Airport line every 12 minutes during peak and every 15 minutes outside peak and on weekends. All Airport line branch stations are fully accessible and have 150-metre (490 ft) long platforms, long enough for a six-car train. Train lengths are limited by most Midland and Fremantle line stations, which have platforms only 100 metres (330 ft) long. The installation of communications-based train control by 2027 will allow frequencies to increase and planned platform lengthening will allow train lengths to increase." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airport_line,_Perth

Fortunately, Perth chose not to Vancoverize their train & road system plans. Thus, the Perth Airport line can eventually have 150m long stations. Of course Vancouver opted to take the congestive planning approach. Indeed, why have 150m long Canada Line stations when 50m short stations are more appropriately symbolic?

"Unlike Bombardier ART trains, the Hyundai Rotem trains will not be operated as longer four- or six-car trains. Through inserting a middle "C" car at the articulated joint between two end cars, available capacity will be similar to a four-car Mark II or a six-car Mark I train. The Canada Line's station platforms are expandable to 50 m (164 ft 1 in) in length to accommodate these future three-car trains; the five busiest stations are already 50 m (164 ft 1 in) in length. The Canada Line has a designed future capacity of 15,000 pphpd when operating three-car trains at two-minute headways." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyTrain_(Vancouver)_rolling_stock#Canada_Line_fleet

The Catheter Line should have been designed with the capability to eventually have 152m long stations, as is the case with the Montreal Metro & the TTC Subway stations. But that would be planning for the future & be against the congestive Vancouver & BC planning approach. By not allowing the provision for 152m stations, that will ensure some financial drainage in the future. 

This view of the Vancouver_Airport_Skytrain_Station almost shows what a 4 car train would look like, but it's actually just two, 2 car trains on a single track. The YVR-Airport_station is so short & narrow, but it fits right in with the small town planning approach for Greater Vancouver.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyTrain_(Vancouver)#Future_expansion Unfortunately, the first 2 SkyTrain lines were designed to only have 80m stations. It remains to be seen if someday the stations might be extended to at least 150m. Despite budgetary limitations, the Catheter Line should have been designed to eventually have 150m stations. Unfortunately, it remains as a 50 m joke.

https://www.economist.com/business/2023/06/01/australia-and-canada-are-one-economy-with-one-set-of-flaws


https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=Canada+vs.+Australia+which+is+a+more+modern+country+in+terms+of+infrastructure

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=Vancouver%27s+little+Canoe+Bridge+vs.+much+better+examples

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=Canada+vs.+Australia

Canada vs. Australia which is a more modern country in terms of infrastructure?

https://www.quora.com/Canada-or-Australia-which-is-a-more-modern-country-in-terms-of-infrastructure-and-technology# Well, that depends upon who you ask, of course.

https://www.quora.com/Why-doesn-t-Australia-have-infrastructure-like-other-countries Whether you are in the outback, the desert or the bush, the roads will be narrow. One expects Greater Melbourne & Sydney to have an impressive level of infrastructure. Just like Toronto & Montreal have the most infrastructure in Canada. Followed by Calgary & Edmonton. 

Halifax,_Nova_Scotia is a long ways off from ever becoming a big city like Montreal or Boston. Its very slow growth compared to those cities. In many ways, Vancouver, BC remains as a stunted or thwarted city, due to so many building restrictions & congestive planning initiatives. Thus, it isn't allowed to rival some of the things that are permitted in Seattle, WA & Perth WA. 

Its amazing to see what Brisbane & Perth have been able to do, simply because they aren't in Canada & its not just because of the weather. Indeed, no city in Atlantic Canada or in BC has been able to rival some of the things that Brisbane & Perth have been able to do.

 https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/guilbeault-no-new-roads-1.7114867

https://globalnews.ca/news/10293868/environment-minister-road-funding

https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/i-should-have-been-more-specific-environment-minister-on-investing-in-road-infrastructure-remark-1.6768636

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-14/canada-tackles-infrastructure-issues-at-council-level/4819274 Even by 2013, Australia was starting to rival or exceed what Canada was able to do.

"When it comes to a comparison of economic performance, Australia comes out ahead of Canada." https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/should-australia-be-more-canada

https://www.economist.com/business/2023/06/01/australia-and-canada-are-one-economy-with-one-set-of-flaws


https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=Canada+vs.+Australia

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Melbourne trains above and underground

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2DqHcqTK9I

Melbourne's Secret Underground World https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TjQkWn9z8o

For such a long time, Melbourne never had an official subway or metro like Toronto or Montreal.

Melbourne Metro Tunnel Project Explained - Part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG8k-SPDQEk

The Metro Tunnel is one of Australia's largest public transport infrastructure projects in recent memory https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRB6hH_b_Ck


A look at Victoria's regional rail fleet operated by V/line. V/line operates an extensive network centered around Melbourne, using a variety of diesel locomotive hauled trains and DMUs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CB_nqHmFJE


https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=Canada+vs.+Australia

Sydney Transit

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

https://www.youtube.com/@sydneytrainsvlogs/videos

Sydney Australia Walking Tour - George Street Evening Rush https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRg1gJi6yqc trams...

https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/historic-3-minute-metro-journey-under-sydney-harbour , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5nbhuGG6LU

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/first-metro-train-travels-under-sydney-harbour/index.html

Sydney had the beginnings of a subway decades before Toronto & Montreal.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_railway_station , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtNfBLHj4E8

Opened20 December 1926

"Designed by John Bradfield in the Inter-War Stripped Classical architectural style,[1] the station comprises two platforms, each 158.5 metres (520 ft) long by 3.8 metres (12 ft) wide, under an arch with span 14.6 metres (48 ft). Museum's signage and cream tiling with maroon highlights are reminiscent of a typical London Underground tube station of the era, however its layout of central tracks under a grand arch are more in keeping with older stations of the Paris Métro. Until the construction of the Airport Line in the 1990s, it was the only underground station in Sydney without an island platform." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_railway_station#Design


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_station_(Toronto)  

OpenedFebruary 28, 1963
RebuiltApril 2008

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_station_(Toronto)#Connection_to_Line_2_Bloor%E2%80%93Danforth

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_1_Yonge-University 

OpenedMarch 30, 1954

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_1_Yonge-University#Opening  



https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=Canada+vs.+Australia

The Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts in Vancouver, BC

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

If properly strengthened, they might have been able to last into the 2070s.

Monday, February 12, 2024

Large fire breaks out at Sweden's biggest amusement park

 https://www.dw.com/en/large-fire-breaks-out-at-swedens-biggest-amusement-park/a-68236412

https://apnews.com/article/sweden-fire-amusement-park-goteborg-8020f041fe706812af49bb3df6125c2b

https://www.euronews.com/2024/02/12/fire-breaks-out-at-one-of-swedens-largest-water-parks

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/fire-breaks-out-swedish-amusement-park-no-injuries-reported-2024-02-12/

IL&M to relocate to The Stack office tower in Vancouver

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/industrial-light-magic-ilm-vancouver-studio-the-stack-relocation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIJzXmnnj18

The Abraham Lincoln Bridge, JFK Bridge and the Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges

"The Abraham Lincoln Bridge is a six-lane, single-deck cable-stayed bridge carrying northbound Interstate 65 across the Ohio River..." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln_Bridge

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln_Bridge#History

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy_Memorial_Bridge 6 lanes

Such a 12 lane river crossing always has the potential for bus & HOV_lanes.


The Sir_Leo_Hielscher_Bridges also form a 12 lane crossing.

https://nacto.org/docs/usdg/tcrp_rpt_90_case_studies_volume_1_levinson.pdf

https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=907bc8e76d695f86cc1a4939e0efdb82006c630e

https://wanderlog.com/list/geoCategory/867273/best-bridges-in-brisbane 

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - HOV METROPOLIS?

 https://trid.trb.org/view/721772

https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/rules/road/special

https://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp90v1_cs/Brisbane.pdf


Even though it would provide proper bus & HOV lanes, Vancouver is one of the most reluctant cities about allowing bridge duplication or twinning. Thus, everything is funneled into absurdly narrow bridges. 

The old Fraser_Street_Bridge was never replaced with a bus & bike bridge. The Oak_Street_BridgeKnight_Street_Bridge & the Arthur_Laing_Bridge are classic 4 lane Vancouver chokepoints. Unless new HOV & bus bridges are built, these 3 bridges will remain quintessential bottlenecks. The ridiculously narrow Lions_Gate_Bridge is a three lane joke. There should have been a bus, HOV & train tunnel built around there decades ago. 

The Second_Narrows_Crossing is also too narrow to accommodate proper bus & HOV lanes. Thus, any new parallel train bridge should also have bus & HOV lanes. Otherwise, it will just become another SkyTrain-bridge

Unlike stubborn Vancouver, Montreal was able to build the new Champlain_Bridge. Indeed, the New_Champlain_Bridge has 4 lanes each way & 2 train tracks in the middle.

Such is the gatekeeper mentality of Vancouver, a city that wants to perpetually excel in congestive transportation planning. Fortunately, this thwarting Vancouver mentality hasn't spread to most other cities around the world.