Statue of Liberty heavy shaking during NYC earthquake

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITwm3PVq620

Of course NYC, Boston & Chicago aren't as earthquake prepared as LA, SF & Seattle.

https://www.ksbw.com/article/monterey-county-sheriffs-statue-liberty-earthquake-shakes-new-york-california-4-8/60412551

https://www.wbaltv.com/article/earthquake-videos-new-york-city-area/60411727

Urban Seismology: on the origin of earth vibrations within a city https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-15499-y

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abl3564

https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/26276/new-challenges-for-seismic-risk-mitigation-in-urban-areas/magazine

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-world-s-10-most-earthquake-prone-countries.html

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/24/13165

https://www.worldatlas.com/natural-disasters/the-12-most-earthquake-vulnerable-cities-in-the-world.html

Of course the ability to predict earthquakes would be so beneficial.

https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/which-country-has-most-earthquakes

High-density housing vs. better amenities

 https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/real-estate-news/vancouver-neighbourhood-divided-high-density-housing-vs-better-amenities-8453134

Vancouver has impose decades of severe building restrictions that the BC government finally had to implement higher housing standards, but it still might not be enough. Edmonton, Calgary & Seattle all have allowed a taller residential tower than what is permitted in strict Vancouver. If more affordable housing was included on the lower floors, then the high cost upper floors can offset the overall building costs.

Cruise ship season in Seattle

 https://www.cruisecritic.com/find-a-cruise/port-seattle

https://www.portseattle.org/places/smith-cove-cruise-terminal-pier-91

https://www.cruisecritic.com/find-a-cruise/departure-port-seattle

https://www.portseattle.org/cruise-lines

https://www.globaljourneys.com/cruises/from-seattle-to-vancouver

https://cruiseweb.com/ports/departs-seattle-washington

Last year was already very good for Seattle.

https://komonews.com/news/local/record-setting-cruise-season-seattle-celebration-princess-cruises-million-passengers-port-boat-economic-recovery-revenue-industry-power-reduce-emissions-local-hospitality-group-longshore-representative-coast-guard

Unlike Vancouver, Seattle has been steadily increasing its hotel room stock over the decades. 

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

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

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

Renovation planned for Nat Bailey Stadium in Vancouver

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/nat-bailey-stadium-vancouver-renovations

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/dan-fumano-nat-bailey-stadium-set-for-20-million-upgrade-city-memo-says

https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/files/MEMO-NatBaileyFacilityImprovements-20240202.pdf

https://theprovince.com/sports/baseball/vancouver-canadians-upgrades-to-nat-bailey-stadium-slated-to-begin-this-winter It really takes a long time to get things done in Vancouver.

https://ballparkdigest.com/2020/03/13/planned-nat-bailey-stadium-upgrades-stalled-by-audit/

Could Nat_Bailey_Stadium ever undergo an extensive expansion? That remains to be seen.

"The stadium's seating capacity is 6,500 and as of 2019 they led the short-season A clubs in attendance and outdrew Vancouver's AAA team." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nat_Bailey_Stadium#Stadium_history

Perhaps the baseball stadium in Winnipeg is in a better setting. It certainly has a little more capacity than NBS.

Theirs is in Downtown_Winnipeg, right by the Red River. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downtown_Winnipeg#Broadway-Assiniboine 

"Blue_Cross_Park opened on May 24, 1999."

"Blue Cross Park has a seating capacity of 7,481, as well as 30 luxury skysuites, a picnic area, and an open patio overlooking the field from the right field corner."  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Cross_Park#Features

Of course Seattle has a big-time baseball stadium. 

Capacity	Baseball: 47,929

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-Mobile_Park

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_Park Having a baseball stadium near the water doesn't effect the game, one way or another. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakland_Coliseum However, a baseball stadium next to a river, the ocean or a lake, just might add to the overall setting. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogers_Centre

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

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

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 length	72.42 m (237 ft 7+3⁄16 in)[1]
Car length	24.21 m (79 ft 5+1⁄8 in) (end cars) 24 m (78 ft 8+7⁄8 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

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

Vancouver Broadway-Commercial Safeway Redevelopment

 https://storeys.com/westbank-crombie-broadway-commercial-safeway/

A lot of people or just a small extremely vocal few, want Vancouver to just be a provincial backwater for as long as possible. The NIMBY crowd just can't fathom any BC city & urban region to eventually be on the scale of Montreal or Seattle.

Seattle will host 6 matches in 2026 FIFA World Cup, including a U.S. game at Lumen Field

https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/article285076122.html

Big events cost big money, but can reap huge benefits.

 https://www.king5.com/article/sports/soccer/world-cup/big-expectations-world-cup-seattle-2026/281-72ac2c89-eb4b-4c25-b0bf-2027264730a6

https://www.lumenfield.com/venue-info-news/fifa-world-cup-26-tm-seattle-match-schedule-announcement

https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2024/02/us-mens-national-team-to-play-2026-fifa-world-cup-group-stage-matches-in-los-angeles-and-seattle

https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/seattle-to-host-6-world-cup-matches-1-team-usa-game

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_2026_FIFA_World_Cup_bid#United_States

UBC student flying from Calgary to Vancouver to avoid the high rent

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/ubc-student-flying-commute-calgary-vancouver

Almost every city is expensive now. However, Calgary like Seattle, has been allowed to become a big city.

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/ubc-student-commutes-from-calgary-cheaper-than-paying-vancouver-rent-1.6759116

Little Vancouver remains as a backward, congested mess.

Broadway (Manhattan)

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadway_(Manhattan)

Wide+streets can still be quite beneficial as efficient multimodal transportation corridors.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadway_(Los_Angeles)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadway_(San_Francisco)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadway,_Sydney

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadway_(Seattle)

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

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=wide+streets

Building Height Restrictions in Various Cities

Height_restriction_laws can be a great way to hold back the vertical scale of a city. Usually, the cities with the tallest buildings are also the more economically prominent ones. However, that's not alway the case.

Honolulu has several buildings over 40 floors, but none are office towers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Honolulu

Phoenix only has one building with 40 floors. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Phoenix , https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Phoenix#Tallest_buildings:_approved,_site_plan_under_review_or_proposed

San_Diego has some buildings over 40 stories, but none of them are office towers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_San_Diego

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Height_restriction_laws#Canada Despite Canada having a vast area of land, only a tiny portion of that land has some very tall buildings on it. 

Montreal is small when compared to Toronto, but big when compared to Vancouver.

https://ville.montreal.qc.ca/portal/page?_dad=portal&_pageid=2762,3101387&_schema=PORTAL

Montreal won't be allowing any 100 story towers like those in NYC, Chicago or Melbourne anytime soon.

https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/montreal-politicians-debate-whether-to-allow-skyscrapers-higher-than-mount-royal-1.5401429

Just allowing a 50-60 story building is still a big deal for Montreal.

https://cultmtl.com/2021/05/in-defence-of-building-height-restrictions-in-montreal-mount-royal-urban-plan-denis-coderre

Vancouver won't permit any building to rival what is in Calgary or Seattle. 

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-view-cone-impacts-broadway-plan-cambie-street

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/central-broadway-plan-view-cones-mountains-queen-elizabeth-park

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-tower-building-shadowing-solar-access

No fireworks in Vancouver, BC for New Year's Eve 2023

 https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/events-and-entertainment/no-fireworks-in-vancouver-for-new-years-eve-2023-8043481 Its all part of being a provincial backwater. Just one of the many bizzare things about Vancouver & BC.

However, Vancouver wasn't able to stop Seattle and Calgary with their NYE plans. Of course it's not Vancouver, its the Vancouver & BC mentality, but it seems to have no effect on Washington State or Alberta. That's why they have been able to do so much more through the years. 

"Also as is now tradition, there will not be any (official) New Year's Eve fireworks, which have not taken place since 2018." https://storeys.com/new-years-2023-open-closed

"There will be no fireworks lighting up Vancouver's night sky on New Year's Eve again this year.

Event organizers announced Thursday that the official celebration on Dec. 31, 2023 has been cancelled." https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/nye-fireworks-cancelled-vancouver-1.7017024

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=No+fireworks+in+Vancouver

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=New+Year's+Eve

Portland OR and Vancouver, WA: A Tale of Two Cities

 https://portlandreloguide.com/portland-and-vancouver-a-tale-of-two-cities

This is a stunted region, when compared to the larger scale of Greater Seattle & especially the San_Francisco_Bay_Area. Then of course there is LA, Chicago & NYC.

https://www.travelportland.com/region/vancouver

https://www.visitvancouverwa.com/blog/post/vancouver-vs-portland

https://www.portlandrealestate.com/blog/portland-vs-vancouver-wa

Greater Portland has nothing as big as Seattle's Columbia_Center or the Salesforce_Tower in SF.

https://living-inportlandoregon.com/living-in-vancouver-washington-vs-portland-oregon

https://www.columbian.com/news/2021/oct/22/skybridge-new-buildings-part-of-vision-for-vancouvers-waterfront-gateway

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

The Ship Canal Bridge in Seattle

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_Canal_Bridge The SCB should have HOV & bus-lanes in all of its three 4 lane sections, or at least on the lower deck. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ajGMRXlYmg

It's not amazing to have a 12-lane section of highway in Ontario and even in Queensland. 10 lanes in Alberta, but it would take until 2015 for all 10 lanes to open up on the new Port_Mann_Bridge in BC. The 8 lane Fremont_Bridge_in_Portland,_Oregon opened in 1973 with 2 levels. Far beyond the 4 lane joke that was the old Port_Mann_Bridge of the 1960s.

https://historylink.org/File/3312 For Seattle to have a 12 lane structure so close to BC in the early 1960s, was amazing, but so was the Space_Needle. 

https://mynorthwest.com/3931367/when-i-5-ship-canal-bridge-became-13-million-parking-lot/

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/prioritize-fixing-i-5s-ailing-ship-canal-bridge/

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

https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/projects-and-programs/programs/bridges-stairs-and-other-structures/bridges

Of course the decades of simply building more & more traffic lanes have become quite evident for the induced demand argument. However, today it should be about making streets, roads & highways much more efficient. More bus & HOV lanes & alternate powered vehicles can really help. While the EV option can be a good thing, there should also be more hybrid vehicles.

Third Avenue Transit Mall in Seattle

 https://www.theurbanist.org/2023/06/19/seattle-plans-to-extend-and-upgrade-third-avenue-transit-mall-in-2024

Hopefully, Seattle won't turn it into another 2 lane Nicollet_Mall or the 2 lane Granville_Mall, because Vancouveization sucks!

https://cdn.downtownseattle.org/files/advocacy/dsa-third-avenue-vision-booklet.pdf

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

If its at least 3 lanes, then buses can pass, but it still wont be as good as the Portland_Transit_Mall. 

https://downtownseattle.org/advocacy/transportation-access

https://www.theurbanist.org/category/transportation/

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

Sound Transit Station Area Concepts for West Seattle Link

 https://www.theurbanist.org/2023/12/13/sound-transit-shares-station-area-concepts-for-west-seattle-link/