[Armind]

Metro mayors ready to pass Evergreen Line gas tax (http://www.theprovince.com/news/Metro+mayors+ready+pass+Evergreen+Line/5501710/story.html#ixzz1Zs5E1QmJ)

This is gonna be fun, increase in gas tax + Portmann bridge toll. :fuuuuu:

Regional mayors met The Province's editorial board on Oct. 4 to discuss the proposed gas tax to pay for TransLink upgrades. Pictured is (from left to right): Dianne Watts from Surrey, Peter Fassbender from Langley, Pam Goldsmith-Jones from West Vancouver, Richard Stewart from Coquitlam and Gregor Robertson from Vancouver.
Photograph by: Jason Payne, PNG
Get ready to fork over another two cents a litre for gas tax.

Several Metro Vancouver mayors said Tuesday they have the votes necessary to approve a gas tax increase for transportations improvements at a crucial meeting on Friday.

“We believe a good strong majority of mayors will support this,” Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson told The Province editorial board Tuesday. “It is an investment which is crucial for the economy and livability of the region.”

Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts agreed.

“This is the right thing to do. In another 20 years there will be another million people in the region. We have to get this done,” she said.

Robertson and Watts both indicated a majority of the region’s 22 mayors are supporting a TransLink plan called Moving Forward.

The plan would provide funding to finish the long-awaited Evergreen SkyTrain line to Coquitlam, as well as other transportation improvements.

The mayors are voting on the plan at the Mayor’s Council on Regional Transportation on Friday.

The support of Vancouver and Surrey, the region’s two largest cities, is vital. Their votes, plus a handful of other mayors who have also committed themselves, virtually guarantee that the plan will pass.

Vancouver’s and Surrey’s votes count for more than the others because the tallies are pro-rated on the basis of populations.

The mayors say their approval of the funding mechanism will also result in $20 million annually for major road network improvements, $6 million for cycling and significantly expanded bus service hours totalling 425,000 hours region-wide.

Mayors in Burnaby, Richmond and the Langley Township have stated their opposition to the plan. They say it doesn’t go far enough to address funding problems for transportation in the future.



Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/news/Metro+mayors+ready+pass+Evergreen+Line/5501710/story.html#ixzz1Zs7CtjDy

[Vansterdam]

:fuckthatshit:

[MindBomber]

I wonder how much revenue could be generated annually by installing turn stiles at skytrain stations.

[striderblade]

"In another 20 years there will be another million people in the region"

This line can be use over and over in a loop to rape us in the ass with fee for the rest of our life. 20 years later....
"in another 20 years there will be another 10 million people in the region, Now you'll have to give us half of what you earn, increase property tax, and we'll have to charge your ass for breathing the city air tax blah fucking blah".

Not if them guys keep coming up with shit we have to pay and raping our pocket with every chance they get. Fucking life is hard already here as it is. Having a bachelor degree here will most likely get you minimum pay jobs or 30ishK earning per year. Some people are already having a hard time to meet end meets. Watch once the project is finish they'll start raising the fare price. Is not gonna end. Next time they'll cry to bchyrdo/harrison gas and start taxing you for using water in the house just so they can build new shit that some of us don't even us. I don't know like a fucking sidewalk for dog and cat only.

[Nlkko]

Nothing we can do about. And they said turnstiles cost 170million. It always cost Translink so much to do anything.

[haha13]

fucking pointless, just take the 97 to coquitlam station, its not like every bus is jammed pack

[twixxer]

meh, i am okay with it, cost of everything is going up and this is just the beginning.

[Ikkaku]

gas taxes to places I go a handful of times per year? :fuckthatshit:

[StylinRed]

how bout they just raise prices in the cities that will be getting these services; property taxes, gas taxes, tolls, fares, for cities like coquitlam and surrey

leave the rest of us alone

[Culverin]

Nothing we can do about. And they said turnstiles cost 170million. It always cost Translink so much to do anything.

Turnstiles should have been installed with the construction of each of the new stations. Octopus cards should have been adopted when we went away from the old tear strips.

Translink is stupid, they should have weighed the costs of removing the current system and reinstalling something different.



As for toll bridges. The more tolls throughout the city, the better.
We need to do everything we can do to put pressure on the cities to grow vertically. Having to commute from Langley to Downtown is just a waste of time. It's also a waste of environmental resources in everything from refining the petroleum, the pollution from the cars, even added wear on the tires.

I'm for anything that forces us become proper stewards of our environment.
And before any of you say that's too harsh, it's time our generation stepped up to bite the bullet or we are just as bad as all the ones that came before us.

[2damaxmr2]

FRAK!

[CP.AR]

FUCK YOU TRANSLINK

Raising taxes and tolling bridges is not the only way to balance your books (at least attempt to)
it's the hefty bonuses you hand out to execs who stand there and make non-educated decisions. (please see Peter Griffin taking a SAT test with the animal sound toy)
Also, trying to get people to ride transit does NOT immediately mean raising taxes and tolling bridges. How about re-thinking existing bus lanes such that they run through areas at need, and perhaps develop ACTUAL bus loops and not have 4 stops in a row BLOCKING TRAFFIC and call it a day (see No.3 Road Richmond Centre, Partially Dunbar... et al.)

[Death2Theft]

You could start by getting rid of the carbon tax since it's compeltely bogus, yet yuppies like you "feel better" about paying a tax that you "think" is helping the enviroment.

I'm for anything that forces us become proper stewards of our environment.
And before any of you say that's too harsh, it's time our generation stepped up to bite the bullet or we are just as bad as all the ones that came before us.

[adambomb]

Translink needs more advertising revenue. They need to stop making the stations look "unique" and "green" and start whoring themselves out to major corporations.


Does anybody have any objections to riding in a skytrain car that has wall to wall Coca-Cola ads? The benefits could mean reduced fares and new infrastructure. This is where the money should come from. :smug:

[MindBomber]

I agree with everything you said in your post, except that commuting is a waste of time. Commuting from Langley isn't a waste of time if you prefer the lifestyle in that area, but the lack of transit available makes it difficult or impossible to not use a vehicle, which is a waste of environmental resources. Translink needs to expand eastward and begin offering the necessary services to all areas, before they just work on improving existing infrastructure.

and $170,000,000 million for turnstiles, how is that even possible.. did they release a cost break down?

Turnstiles should have been installed with the construction of each of the new stations. Octopus cards should have been adopted when we went away from the old tear strips.

Translink is stupid, they should have weighed the costs of removing the current system and reinstalling something different.

As for toll bridges. The more tolls throughout the city, the better.
We need to do everything we can do to put pressure on the cities to grow vertically. Having to commute from Langley to Downtown is just a waste of time. It's also a waste of environmental resources in everything from refining the petroleum, the pollution from the cars, even added wear on the tires.

I'm for anything that forces us become proper stewards of our environment.
And before any of you say that's too harsh, it's time our generation stepped up to bite the bullet or we are just as bad as all the ones that came before us.

[CP.AR]

I agree with everything you said in your post, except that commuting is a waste of time. Commuting from Langley isn't a waste of time if you prefer the lifestyle in that area, but the lack of transit available makes it difficult or impossible to not use a vehicle, which is a waste of environmental resources. Translink needs to expand eastward and begin offering the necessary services to all areas, before they just work on improving existing infrastructure.

and $170,000,000 million for turnstiles, how is that even possible.. did they release a cost break down?


probably from the need of having 4 supervisors supervise one dude drilling holes or some shit like that.
oh, and who can forget the abundance of traffic flaggers! unions require so many redundancy checks it's more comprehensive than launching a fucking space shuttle.


get rid of redundancy personnel you ask?

:fuckthatshit: go on strike

[Tapioca]

how bout they just raise prices in the cities that will be getting these services; property taxes, gas taxes, tolls, fares, for cities like coquitlam and surrey

leave the rest of us alone

This is a silly argument.

How about we raise taxes for people that use the health care system disproportionately? Like smokers who will develop lung cancer? Or alcoholics? Or the people who eat too much white bread and sugar and develop type-II diabetes?

[FerrariEnzo]

why not just tax all the rich people instead... like all the mainlanders buying up all the damn houses...

[Tapioca]

I agree with everything you said in your post, except that commuting is a waste of time. Commuting from Langley isn't a waste of time if you prefer the lifestyle in that area, but the lack of transit available makes it difficult or impossible to not use a vehicle, which is a waste of environmental resources. Translink needs to expand eastward and begin offering the necessary services to all areas, before they just work on improving existing infrastructure.

and $170,000,000 million for turnstiles, how is that even possible.. did they release a cost break down?

I respectfully disagree. It makes sense for Translink to increase services where there is density because more people means greater use of transit services. I know this is a deeply unpopular statement, but ultimately if you choose to live in a low density neighbourhood, you should bear the costs of living in that neighbourhood.

$170 million includes the cost of implementing the smart card system that goes along with the fare gates. Technology ain't cheap; we won't be getting old style turnstiles where we buy tokens to get access. The smart card will be able to track usage across the system so Translink will be able to understand what areas need more services.

[Culverin]

I agree with everything you said in your post, except that commuting is a waste of time. Commuting from Langley isn't a waste of time if you prefer the lifestyle in that area, but the lack of transit available makes it difficult or impossible to not use a vehicle, which is a waste of environmental resources.

Sorry, I had a typo.

Should have read:
As for toll bridges. The more tolls into the city, the better.
We need to do everything we can do to put pressure on the cities to grow vertically. Having to commute from Langley to Downtown is just a waste of time. It's also a waste of environmental resources in everything from refining the petroleum, the pollution from the cars, even added wear on the tires.

By the city, I mean Vancouver.
But by vertical growth, I mean less urban sprawl, more high rises like the ones that have popped up around Edmonds, Brentwood, Gilmore and Holdom.

I think you took it as to mean to commute out to Langley is a waste of time. Quite the opposite actually. I have nothing against you living in Langley.
I meant to say that living in Langley and commuting out to Downtown is a waste of time.

I totally agree with you on transit. But before that can happen, we need to push more jobs out of the downtown core, and into the other cities. Wouldn't you rather work in your own city than to drive across 3 to get to work?

[StylinRed]

This is a silly argument.

How about we raise taxes for people that use the health care system disproportionately? Like smokers who will develop lung cancer? Or alcoholics? Or the people who eat too much white bread and sugar and develop type-II diabetes?

you could and we do in some cases (like with the fat foods tax many countries are proposing/implementing even canada) but i wouldn't go any further than we are.

smokers do pay higher taxes (cigs are taxed heavily) alcohol is taxed and the govt controls/profits from it

i wouldnt go any further in that regard as i feel we're targeting it accordingly

But can't you see? THOSE Who USE those items/services are taxed more heavily (so what you proposed sarcastically is actually already in place)

What we're already doing in other facets of our economy should be used here as well but its like translinks targeting system is broken; with my argument coquitlam is the only one getting the evergreen line it would be easy to target coquitlam residents and those who will be using the transport

what translink is doing would be like the govt imposing another sales tax on goods to cover smokes (instead of simply raising taxes on smokes)



we already pay taxes towards translink in general like we do for healthcare for optional services/treatment we should target those who would be using it specifically like we do smokes/alcohol/cosmetic (we dont cover cosmetic surgeries) as we should do for things like the evergreen line and bridges (gondola lifts? sfu)

[gars]

You guys need to stop focusing on what should have, could have been done. Bitching about how "we should have had an octopus system" is useless. PWC did an audit back in 2008, and found that the fare evasion only costs translink about $4-5 million a year. It would have cost us $170 million, plus $15 million a year to run a system similar to Octopus. That said - part of the fare evasion includes people hoping onto buses as well, which is not going to be stopped completely by having an octopus card.

Even with the sophisticated system that London has - I saw on a daily basis people jumping over turnstiles, people going in two at a time. Turnstiles won't stop all fare evaders.

And honestly, I'm happy to pay a few cents a litre if it means that it takes more drivers off the road.

[goo3]

Transit in Langley = waste of money. Don't underestimate just busy a route has to be in order for it to break even. We're not paying for Chinese drivers, Chinese buses, Chinese construction, and Chinese maintenance.

If you live out there, drive your car then park 'n ride.

[Culverin]

you could and we do in some cases (like with the fat foods tax many countries are proposing/implementing even canada) but i wouldn't go any further than we are.

smokers do pay higher taxes (cigs are taxed heavily) alcohol is taxed and the govt controls/profits from it

i wouldnt go any further in that regard as i feel we're targeting it accordingly

But can't you see? THOSE Who USE those items/services are taxed more heavily (so what you proposed sarcastically is actually already in place)

What we're already doing in other facets of our economy should be used here as well but its like translinks targeting system is broken; with my argument coquitlam is the only one getting the evergreen line it would be easy to target coquitlam residents and those who will be using the transport

what translink is doing would be like the govt imposing another sales tax on goods to cover smokes (instead of simply raising taxes on smokes)



we already pay taxes towards translink in general like we do for healthcare for optional services/treatment we should target those who would be using it specifically like we do smokes/alcohol/cosmetic (we dont cover cosmetic surgeries) as we should do for things like the evergreen line and bridges (gondola lifts? sfu)


Agree, I think smokes, and booze is taxed acceptably right now.
We've got plenty of non-smoking programs that have done wonders for our generation.


As for targeting just Coquitlam for the Evergreen line is not something I can agree with. Like StylinRed already said, Coquitlam citizens have already paid translink. It's not like only Richmond or Vancouver got hit with the Canada line. We all carried the burden.


My agenda here is to reward green and sustainable and to punish what isn't (obviously in a way that is feasible of course). Thus I think smokes, booze and cosmetic surgeries is fine. It doesn't really help anybody or solve anything. However, the Evergreen line definitely can help bring vertical growth right along the line.


We have to think of public transport as a shared system. Just because you don't live in Coquitlam doesn't mean the GVRD as a whole doesn't benefit. Even if you're only commuting from Burnaby to Downtown, with the Evergreen in place, there will be less cars in Burnaby and Vancouver.



If Translink was smart, they would build us some real freaking park and rides. :swear:
Who am I kidding? They are just going to continue sending our money down the drain.

[MindBomber]

I respectfully disagree. It makes sense for Translink to increase services where there is density because more people means greater use of transit services. I know this is a deeply unpopular statement, but ultimately if you choose to live in a low density neighbourhood, you should bear the costs of living in that neighbourhood.


Transit in Langley = waste of money. Don't underestimate just busy a route has to be in order for it to break even. We're not paying for Chinese drivers, Chinese buses, Chinese construction, and Chinese maintenance.

If you live out there, drive your car then park 'n ride.

Respectfully, I doubt either of you have ever spent a substantial amount of time in Langley, much less lived there. Your comments are based on assumption, not actual knowledge.

The density in the majority of Langley is equal to any other city in the GVRD outside of the DT core and continually growing, the demand for transit exists, is massive and only growing. The areas that are low density are farmland and acreage, on the outer cusps of Langley and relatively insignificant.

[MindBomber]

Sorry, I had a typo.

Should have read:


By the city, I mean Vancouver.
But by vertical growth, I mean less urban sprawl, more high rises like the ones that have popped up around Edmonds, Brentwood, Gilmore and Holdom.

I think you took it as to mean to commute out to Langley is a waste of time. Quite the opposite actually. I have nothing against you living in Langley.
I meant to say that living in Langley and commuting out to Downtown is a waste of time.

I totally agree with you on transit. But before that can happen, we need to push more jobs out of the downtown core, and into the other cities. Wouldn't you rather work in your own city than to drive across 3 to get to work?

Makes more sense now, fail removed.

I totally agree that more jobs should be pushed out of the downtown core, business doesn't need to be concentrated into a single area to be successful. The issue is that top earning professionals want access to the cities amenities in their off-time without spending a substantial amount of time in the car, and businesses doesn't want to locate themselves where employees don't want to live. Bringing us right back to needing improved transit options for Langley.

[quasi]

So when they were putting the train through Vancouver, Burnaby, New West and Richmond everybody in the LML should kick in and pay for it. When they extend the train east of the fraser or into Coquitlam those residents should be soley responsible for the burden of paying it? Makes absolute sense..............if you live in Vancouver, Burnaby, New West or Richmond. :)

In all honesty I don't even want the damm thing to come out here. I live in Cloverdale, 2 blocks west of Langley and I'd prefer the skytrain stays away. All it does it bring crime with it, I'll drive if I need to go somewhere.

[1exotic]

or just raise public transit costs... its already fucking cheap.

there is a shit load of taxes on the gas already.


god damn hippies

[StylinRed]

So when they were putting the train through Vancouver, Burnaby, New West and Richmond everybody in the LML should kick in and pay for it. When they extend the train east of the fraser or into Coquitlam those residents should be soley responsible for the burden of paying it? Makes absolute sense..............if you live in Vancouver, Burnaby, New West or Richmond. :)

In all honesty I don't even want the damm thing to come out here. I live in Cloverdale, 2 blocks west of Langley and I'd prefer the skytrain stays away. All it does it bring crime with it, I'll drive if I need to go somewhere.


just cause they rolled with failed logic in the past doesn't mean they should stick with it :P

[melloman]

You guys need to stop focusing on what should have, could have been done. Bitching about how "we should have had an octopus system" is useless. PWC did an audit back in 2008, and found that the fare evasion only costs translink about $4-5 million a year. It would have cost us $170 million, plus $15 million a year to run a system similar to Octopus. That said - part of the fare evasion includes people hoping onto buses as well, which is not going to be stopped completely by having an octopus card

:fuckthatshit: $4-5 million per year... since 1986.. 25 years x $5mil/year... is $125 million lost.. and they will just continue losing money unless something is done.

Personally this topic has been beaten to death. All Translink goes after is people who drive. And it's really fucked because hey... I drive.. and now I'm also paying for you guys to take a skytrain I will NEVER use?

Toll bridges are 1 thing.. because that's understandable how the USER pays.. but this "tax the crap out of drivers on everything" is getting ridiculous.

ps... I hope the world does start to freeze over.. because then the gov't will be FUCKED and have to spend that "Carbon Tax" money on doing something productive with it.. instead of just paying execs with it. :troll:

[dr.funk]

http://d24w6bsrhbeh9d.cloudfront.net/photo/322934_460s.jpg

[Gridlock]

I'm getting sick of being nickle and dimed to live here.

I did some research on toll bridges(ok, I looked it up on wikipedia).

Of the toll bridges in Canada, there are 2 in Halifax at $1 a piece.

There are a bunch in Ontario. They ALL go to the United States. ALL of those bridges are equal or less in cost to what they will charge on the Port Mann/Goldenears/Patullo without transponder. And I'm not trying to go to a different country, I'm trying to go to work.

Now, let's spike a little gas tax again. Where the christ is the carbon tax?

There is only so far I'm willing to go to live here.

Carbon Tax, transit gas tax, tolls...which really are admission fees to the city.

[gars]

:fuckthatshit: $4-5 million per year... since 1986.. 25 years x $5mil/year... is $125 million lost.. and they will just continue losing money unless something is done.

the PWC audit was done in 2007. They estimated the loss of revenue of the skytrain to be about $3.4 Million, buses to be about $2.7 Million.

Operating costs of an "Octopus" system is $15 Million A YEAR. You do the math. And no, the bus system will not gain back the majority of that $2.7 Million lost with an Octopus system. The skytrain system as well - includes fraudulent passes - such as people using a bought U-Pass - something that won't be stopped by a turnstile system, unless you want to install retina scanners.

I'm getting sick of being nickle and dimed to live here.

I did some research on toll bridges(ok, I looked it up on wikipedia).

Of the toll bridges in Canada, there are 2 in Halifax at $1 a piece.

There are a bunch in Ontario. They ALL go to the United States. ALL of those bridges are equal or less in cost to what they will charge on the Port Mann/Goldenears/Patullo without transponder. And I'm not trying to go to a different country, I'm trying to go to work.

Now, let's spike a little gas tax again. Where the christ is the carbon tax?

There is only so far I'm willing to go to live here.

Carbon Tax, transit gas tax, tolls...which really are admission fees to the city.

Toronto does have the 407 which is a toll express highway. You can either pay to go on that, or go with all the heavy traffic on the 405.

[Tapioca]

Respectfully, I doubt either of you have ever spent a substantial amount of time in Langley, much less lived there. Your comments are based on assumption, not actual knowledge.

The density in the majority of Langley is equal to any other city in the GVRD outside of the DT core and continually growing, the demand for transit exists, is massive and only growing. The areas that are low density are farmland and acreage, on the outer cusps of Langley and relatively insignificant.

I reckon that a comparison of the average size of lots in your typical East Vancouver neighbourhood to any housing development in the rest of the GVRD built in the last 20 years would tilt in favour of the latter. I'm not talking just about the concentration of high rises, but the design of neighbourhoods and the corresponding sprawl.

If Translink was smart, they would build us some real freaking park and rides.

Park and rides are a pretty inefficient use of space. If Translink bought a swath of land, wouldn't it make more sense for it to develop commercial and/or residential buildings on that land that would generate long-term revenue rather than provide a park and ride that would generate very little?

[melloman]

Either way... when it comes to Translink.




Everybody except Translink loses.
/end.

[Lomac]

Transit in Langley = waste of money. Don't underestimate just busy a route has to be in order for it to break even. We're not paying for Chinese drivers, Chinese buses, Chinese construction, and Chinese maintenance.

If you live out there, drive your car then park 'n ride.

I live in Langley and used to work in Vancouver. The closest park and ride is at King George. The amount it costs to park and pay for a ticket ends up being more than simply paying a toll. Plus by the time I would get out there, I've already driven half way to Vancouver. Its ultimately cheaper both in money and time to drive the entire way.
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

[tiger_handheld]

Regional mayors met The Province's editorial board on Oct. 4 to discuss the proposed gas tax to pay for TransLink upgrades. Pictured is (from left to right): Dianne Watts from Surrey, Peter Fassbender from Langley, Pam Goldsmith-Jones from West Vancouver, Richard Stewart from Coquitlam and Gregor Robertson from Vancouver.
Photograph by: Jason Payne, PNG
Get ready to fork over another two cents a litre for gas tax.

Several Metro Vancouver mayors said Tuesday they have the votes necessary to approve a gas tax increase for transportations improvements at a crucial meeting on Friday.

“We believe a good strong majority of mayors will support this,” Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson told The Province editorial board Tuesday. “It is an investment which is crucial for the economy and livability of the region.”

Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts agreed.

“This is the right thing to do. In another 20 years there will be another million people in the region. We have to get this done,” she said.

Robertson and Watts both indicated a majority of the region’s 22 mayors are supporting a TransLink plan called Moving Forward.

The plan would provide funding to finish the long-awaited Evergreen SkyTrain line to Coquitlam, as well as other transportation improvements.

The mayors are voting on the plan at the Mayor’s Council on Regional Transportation on Friday.

The support of Vancouver and Surrey, the region’s two largest cities, is vital. Their votes, plus a handful of other mayors who have also committed themselves, virtually guarantee that the plan will pass.

Vancouver’s and Surrey’s votes count for more than the others because the tallies are pro-rated on the basis of populations.

The mayors say their approval of the funding mechanism will also result in $20 million annually for major road network improvements, $6 million for cycling and significantly expanded bus service hours totalling 425,000 hours region-wide.

Mayors in Burnaby, Richmond and the Langley Township have stated their opposition to the plan. They say it doesn’t go far enough to address funding problems for transportation in the future.



LOL WUT??
Somebody explain why car drivers need to subsidize cyclists?

[striderblade]

My next prediction on more upcoming fee is ICBC will start making cyclist pay for fucking insurance. Reason? well is seem like is gonna cost us a fucking arm and leg to drive in the furture. So those fucker are not gonna make any money and will start some sort of tantrum bullshit. Road will gone and be will replace by the $6 million for cycling project Those fucking cyclist are using the road they should pay. We hit them we pay. They hit us we pay for deductable. They need to insure their own shit. Or i'm just gonna fuck up their bike with my beater and give them middle finger and say why? fuck you that's why. :fuckthatshit:

That is why they called the fucking circle of life. Cause one shit will start eating another shit when shit happen.

[7seven]

LOL WUT??
Somebody explain why car drivers need to subsidize cyclists?

Just as I read that, I looked out my office window from Bentall 3 all the way down the Dunsmuir bike lane, not one single cyclist/bike using it :facepalm:

[Anjew]

LOL BS....in rush hours the train is crazy full all the time... imagine when the people from port moody, coquitlam, poco get in the trains FIRST..... the cities PAYING for the extension get SHAFTED.

fantastic!!!!

and why the hell am i paying for it when i'm driving a car and not transit???
INCREASE the cost of the additional zones... like from poco you need 4zones now because you gotta pay for the damn extension!!!

[fliptuner]

LOL BS....in rush hours the train is crazy full all the time... imagine when the people from port moody, coquitlam, poco get in the trains FIRST..... the cities PAYING for the extension get SHAFTED.

fantastic!!!!

and why the hell am i paying for it when i'm driving a car and not transit???
INCREASE the cost of the additional zones... like from poco you need 4zones now because you gotta pay for the damn extension!!!

I hope you were singing the same tune when the Canada Line got built cause we all payed for that and I rarely go to Richmond.

I actually don't even want the Skytrain over here - the fewer people the better.

[Anjew]

actually i saw the richmond line easier to take down since it connected with the airport as well.

[Death2Theft]

Because they dont pay tax on houses and because they are most likely to be using public transit?:fuckyea:
why not just tax all the rich people instead... like all the mainlanders buying up all the damn houses...

[optiblue]

I swear, the world economy is going to collapse if even 2/5 people switch to an all electric car.
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

[MindBomber]

I reckon that a comparison of the average size of lots in your typical East Vancouver neighbourhood to any housing development in the rest of the GVRD built in the last 20 years would tilt in favour of the latter. I'm not talking just about the concentration of high rises, but the design of neighbourhoods and the corresponding sprawl.


Go for a drive in Langley and check out the lots sizes of new developments.

[quasi]

Go for a drive in Langley and check out the lots sizes of new developments.

Exactly, take a drive through my neighbourhood and it's just as if not more dense then most neighbourhoods in Vancouver and it's not even close. The exception to the rule would be downtown with all the highrise apartments, we don't have highrises out here.

My sons school has 7 full kindergarten classes and according to the school they have yet to peak they expect more growth over the next 4 years. How many does your average Vancouver school have? :)

[MindBomber]

Exactly, take a drive through my neighbourhood and it's just as if not more dense then most neighbourhoods in Vancouver and it's not even close. The exception to the rule would be downtown with all the highrise apartments, we don't have highrises out here.

My sons school has 7 kindergarten classes and according to the school they have yet to peak they expect more growth over the next 4 years, how many does your average Vancouver school have? :)

No, not exactly, new construction in Langley is all extremely high density and construction of new developments increasing density is constant. The density in the core of Langley and Cloverdale is equal to anywhere in the GVRD that doesn't have high rises. When I began high school in 2001 in Langley my high school had 1100 students, when I graduated that had increased to 2800 students.

[Alatar]

Makes me want to go for a drive to fill up with gas in Blaine now.

[bluejays]

Tax the people who drive, so that they can pay for the people who transit
http://www.jappleng.com/jSpot/Sekai/gallery/general-images-a38/why-u-no-guy-meme-i10151.jpg

[bluejays]

Makes me want to go for a drive to fill up with gas in Blaine now.

My thoughts exactly

[shenmecar]

Every couple of months theres a new tax.

[FRStan]

Every couple of months theres a new tax.

Every couple of months we gotta bend over :heckno:

[quasi]

No, not exactly, new construction in Langley is all extremely high density and construction of new developments increasing density is constant. The density in the core of Langley and Cloverdale is equal to anywhere in the GVRD that doesn't have high rises. When I began high school in 2001 in Langley my high school had 1100 students, when I graduated that had increased to 2800 students.

The thing with Vancouver is most areas are already developed it's not like they are knocking down trees or 20 square blocks of houses and building huge subdivisions. They knock down and replace or renovate single homes but it's not really the same. Out here they still have tons of untouched land that's being developed and when they build it's not a single house but a whole subdivision. The lot sizes are tiny to cram as many homes in as possible which makes for dense population.

[Lomac]

The thing with Vancouver is most areas are already developed it's not like they are knocking down trees or 20 square blocks of houses and building huge subdivisions. They knock down and replace or renovate single homes but it's not really the same. Out here they still have tons of untouched land that's being developed and when they build it's not a single house but a whole subdivision. The lot sizes are tiny to cram as many homes in as possible which makes for dense population.

*coughClaytonHeightscough*

Five houses crammed onto a single acre lot, each with a basement suite and a carriage house out back. It's the closest thing you can get to having an apartment block without the actual building.

[quasi]

*coughClaytonHeightscough*

Five houses crammed onto a single acre lot, each with a basement suite and a carriage house out back. It's the closest thing you can get to having an apartment block without the actual building.

Yes sir.

[Death2Theft]

Yet more people keep coming to vancouver, too bad people dont vote with their feet and start walking away.
Every couple of months theres a new tax.

[goo3]

The density in the majority of Langley is equal to any other city in the GVRD outside of the DT core.

That's not saying much.

Too far, too costly, not enough ppl. You even admit Langley's an island. YOu wanna lay down how much infrastructure to serve 100K? Not gonna work. Move closer or drive.

[Culverin]

LOL WUT??
Somebody explain why car drivers need to subsidize cyclists?

Need? No.
Must? Because we as stewards of the environment with even a modicum of sense recognize that burning fossil fuels for overpowered single-person transport is not sustainable.

Bike lanes a good idea? Yes.
Bike lane implementation? Fail. They just needed to move it elsewhere and minimize costs. But this isn't translink. This is the City of Vancouver dicking around with their money.


Subsidizing sustainable transport? They have my full and utter vote behind this. We need more skytrain or subway system.

Give me these skytrain lines and I will shut up and be content
- from broadway to UBC.
- From Lougheed to coquitlam center
- From willingdon and hastings to marine drive.
- From marine drive to cambie.

At that point, I will focus my hopes elsewhere.



Before you guys make some crazy arguments, please understand that the bike lanes have nothing to do with the proposed gas tax.
Thanks.

[MindBomber]

That's not saying much.

Too far, too costly, not enough ppl. You even admit Langley's an island. YOu wanna lay down how much infrastructure to serve 100K? Not gonna work. Move closer or drive.

Where did I state that Langley's an island?
Langley borders directly onto Cloverdale, Port Kells, it's just a hop over the bridge to Maple Ridge and hopefully soon a short bus ride from Abbotsford which is also expanding rapidly. An extension of light rail wouldn't just serve the 130k living in Langley, it would serve all the surrounding communities since access to transit east of the Fraser is poor at best.

If Langley isn't going to have it's access to transit improved, it's citizens are doing nothing but subsidizing transit for those who live in cities closer to Vancouver.


Need? No.
Must? Because we as stewards of the environment with even a modicum of sense recognize that burning fossil fuels for overpowered single-person transport is not sustainable.

Bike lanes a good idea? Yes.
Bike lane implementation? Fail. They just needed to move it elsewhere and minimize costs. But this isn't translink. This is the City of Vancouver dicking around with their money.


Exactly, improving infrastructure to facilitate bike lanes is a great move on the part of Vancouver, they just implemented them very poorly. Lessening the need for infrastructure that supports a single car, transporting a single person to and from work through transit expansions is an even more worthwhile investment. Mass transit is infinitely more effective and efficient at transporting people than highways. It would be my dream to see Vancouver and it's surrounding communities evolve to a level where driving to work is no longer the norm, but that it's the exception.

[hotjoint]

Tax the people who drive, so that they can pay for the people who transit
http://www.jappleng.com/jSpot/Sekai/gallery/general-images-a38/why-u-no-guy-meme-i10151.jpg

Yup, gotta love translink. They find a way to fuck you even if you don't take transit.

Every couple of months theres a new tax.

Seems like it doesn't it.

Anyone also notice how gas prices are still the same as when oil was $100 a barrel? LMAO we're getting fucked left and right

[iEatClams]

I honestly dont know why we are not more pissed about the obvious price gouging thats going on with gas prices at stations.

Oil has gone down from over $110 in May to $80 now. Yet gas prices at the pump are still the same. Yet oil prices go up, the prices at the pump seem to reflect the changes a lot quicker. I understand refining and all that other shiet but still.
Gas should be at least 10 cents cheaper than it is right now!

[Mr.HappySilp]

^^ u mean gas will be 10cents higher once this tax passes. By the time they do put the tax in transit will come up with some BS saying 3cents a litre is nto enough and the actual amount is 10cents per L.

[PornMaster]

IMO someone should make a stand for all this bs on taxing gas like a motherfucker

[tonyzoomzoom]

f u translink !!

[SFUguy]

Mayors from Surrey, Vancouver and at least five other cities are poised to force through a two-cent gas tax hike to help fund the Evergreen Line and other transit expansion projects.

Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts, Vancouver’s Gregor Robertson and mayors from Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Langley City, West Vancouver and the District of North Vancouver issued a joint statement Tuesday saying they will vote for TransLink’s Moving Forward supplement on Friday.

The seven mayors represent 70 per cent of Metro Vancouver’s 2.5 million residents and hold enough population-weighted votes to force the plan through even if most of the region’s 22 cities object.

Burnaby, Richmond and Delta mayors said they will oppose the plan arguing their municipalities have the least to benefit.

The extra two cents a litre in gas tax would take effect in April and raise $40 million a year of the needed $70 million annually to fund the plan.

Mayors and the province would have one year to negotiate another $30 million worth of new funding sources for TransLink – such as a road pricing, a vehicle levy, a second regional carbon tax or other options.

The supplement would allow TransLink to deliver its $400-million contribution for the $1.4-billion Evergreen Line.

The plan would provide for RapidBus service over the Port Mann Bridge to Surrey and Langley, a new B-Line express bus route down King George Boulevard, a Langley-White Rock bus route, more frequent SeaBus service, SkyTrain station upgrades and various other bus service increases, along with some more money for road work and cycling routes.

Voiceonline | B.C Mayors vote in new gas tax (http://www.voiceonline.com/2011/10/08/b-c-mayors-vote-in-new-gas-tax604/)

[civic_rice]

B.c.= bring cash
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

[Mr.HappySilp]

Lol mind as well put a meter in everyone's car and tax them every Km they drive and bill them directly.

[doma]

More trips to the states!

[Redlines_Daily]

:seriously:

[Energy]

Sigh at least Pt. Roberts is just a few minutes away.

[Gnomes]

Mayors and the province would have one year to negotiate another $30 million worth of new funding sources for TransLink – such as a road pricing, a vehicle levy, a second regional carbon tax or other options.

Another tax on gas as an option? That will be a 3rd tax within a short period of time if it gets approved.

[hongy]

Fuck this shit.

[vl_86]

Is there any way to vote against this, besides bitching to your local MLA?

[optiblue]

really sucks, but no matter how much gas costs, I'll still pay... what would I do, take the bus? :troll:

Can't wait to see EV's bring down entire economies~

[Rotary_Rage]

Glad I moved to Alberta, woke up to 109.9 for regular at the pump, our premium right now is cheaper then B.C.'s regular (121.9)

[Culverin]

Get a bike.
My SR50 sips at gas. A North Burnaby to Downtown commute 5 days a week only costs me about $6-7 in gas. That is about the same as 1 day on transit.


Keep the car, but just drive it in bad weather.

[Szeto]

Get a bike.
My SR50 sips at gas. A North Burnaby to Downtown commute 5 days a week only costs me about $6-7 in gas. That is about the same as 1 day on transit.


Keep the car, but just drive it in bad weather.

you ride even when it snows? ...

[hongy]

Glad I moved to Alberta, woke up to 109.9 for regular at the pump, our premium right now is cheaper then B.C.'s regular (121.9)

:speechless:paid 153.9 a few days ago for my car....

[Noir]

Glad I moved to Alberta, woke up to 109.9 for regular at the pump, our premium right now is cheaper then B.C.'s regular (121.9)

I would kill for 121.9., $139.9(ish) is the norm in the lower mainland now.

[MG1]

Glad I get my gas from Abbotsford. $1.24. Closer to $1.20 with Superstore Superbucks. I hope Abbotsford stays out of range (GVRD).

[Culverin]

you ride even when it snows? ...

No, last year, we had the snow stick on the ground for a while. So I played it safe and stayed off the bike for about 2 weeks (maybe a little less).

Otherwise, I'm pretty much riding unless it's coming down in sheets or below zero. I take the skytrain otherwise. Even at 50cc, my off the line acceleration and strategic lane changes, I'm usually the one waiting for traffic, not the other way around. You're going to get pulled over before you can max it out in the city.

[Ch28]

Get a bike.
My SR50 sips at gas. A North Burnaby to Downtown commute 5 days a week only costs me about $6-7 in gas. That is about the same as 1 day on transit.

scooter =/= bike

:troll:

[GLOW]

bike lanes and now this. i want to give gregor one of these

http://i39.tinypic.com/23k85xu.jpg

[ImportPsycho]

I'm more angry at gas company not lowering price when crude oil price drops but jacks up the price as soon as crude oil price goes up. also jacking up price on long weekends?:fuckthatshit:

[Mr.C]

Well, looks like Texaco in Blaine will get even more of my business now.

[JesseBlue]

dump the carbon taxes now as i do not see any value in it...

if someone tells me that tax helps in building the new bridge to replace port mann...so help me, i'll bitch slap you back to the stone ages...

[herragge]

you ride even when it snows? ...

It barely snows here. And when it does, drive the car instead of the bike.

:speechless:paid 153.9 a few days ago for my car....

Man I hear ya. Honestly, prices here in BC are ludacris and people should not be content with them. Alberta is cheaper, and it isn't even refined there so the disparity shouldn't be as large as it is. Leverage the market arbitrage going across the border to get gas is now the only reasonable alternative. And that is far for alot of people.

[chewbacca]

Glad I've got Nexus. :D

[Everymans]

dump the carbon taxes now as i do not see any value in it...

if someone tells me that tax helps in building the new bridge to replace port mann...so help me, i'll bitch slap you back to the stone ages...
Fuckin this.. It's going to be a toll bridge for like 40 years at like 4$ a day or something ridiculous. I'm getting to the point where I really want to get rid of my car because of all the money it's costing me. But I work in a very industrial area where the buses don't run when I have to start work and I'm not a god damn machine capable of biking 15 kilometers there and then doing it back after an exhausting day of work. So getting rid of my car is not an option and there is no fucking car pools at 6 a.m. and I doubt that a nightbus is going to run to where I work even after this. I'm at the point of seriously considering protesting some of the bullshit us vancouverites are getting smacked onto our laps. that port mann bridge costs 2.2 billion dollars. That stupid arena we just built cost what, 800million? And it will maybe be entirely full 3 times for the time it exists? We coulda stuck with the old one for another 15 years and used that money for things that actually matter. This carbon tax is even a bigger waste. Maybe if they're struggling they should make the sea to sky road a toll road since that gathered quite the heftly tax payer price tag.

Days like this, when it costs me 50$ to fill up a fucking econoshitbox are days when I miss living in Alberta where it was nearly half that to fill up for 2 weeks, normally 30$(94 cents when I moved, it went up by 10 cents immediately after crossing the boarder).

[melloman]

Was talking to co-workers yesterday about this..

Can anyone confirm that they PASSED the plan to construct the Evergreen Line??
1 co-worker has been following this topic (lives close to North Road) and he said, they have passed the tax, and are starting to collect money... but they haven't passed the Evergreen Line yet.. :fuckthatshit:

Meaning that they are just fucking stealing money now for no purpose. Why am I paying another gas tax for nothing?

[tiger_handheld]

where does abbotsford start? and where is the first gas station?

[Lomac]

where does abbotsford start? and where is the first gas station?

The east side of Safeway on Fraser is where you'll start finding cheaper gas.
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

[Death2Theft]

Someone needs to send a reporter in to see where and how this money is being spent.

[Bahhbeehhaaaa]

WE DONT TAKE TRANSIT

[penner2k]

last time I filled up I paid $1.01 a liter... but I live in Alberta.. haha

[q0192837465]

I love how the government's solution is always to increase revenue. Have they ever considered reducing spending?

[Everymans]

yall niggs aren't understanding that the point of this is to get people out of their cars and on mass transit. If you go to work downtown and live like a block away from a bus stop that will get you to work in about the same time then you should take the fucking transit. Our roads are incredibly congested and we need less car traffic or else we will have to continue expanding roads lane on lane. The car is becoming more and more useless as public transportation becomes more and more accessible. Right now you can get from the airport to newton for 5$. It will probably cost that much in gas to make that trip. And if we all start using public transportation for our commute then less money will be sunk into road construction which is an insanely expensive system and a very time consuming and difficult task. Now if gas is getting a hike then I'm going to be less encouraged to drive to work, then I'm going to start using the bus which will probably save me a decent amount of coin and will save the energy and cause one less car on the road... Although I drive a delivery truck for employment so i'm going to be out there anyway, and Buses don't go to my workplace at my time so it doesn't really help me much.

I'd really rather drive to work as it is more comfortable and faster. But this city is heading in a more green progressive perspective. It's trying to become the Canadian New york city. Trying to reform everyone into a passenger instead of a driver. Unfortunatly this doesn't pan out well for the suburbs.

[q0192837465]

^ exactly. There's no alternative. It makes sense to implement heavy taxes if driving is a luxury, like for ppl in downtown core. However, for many of us regular folks, housing prices have already forced us to live further and further away, making driving a necessity and not a luxury. Tax luxury for all I care. But increasing tax on necessity is just wrong.

[civic_rice]

Paid 1.13 today in Calgary and was furious with that..... Got back home to
Medicine hat and it was 1.09.......... I don't ever Want to drive in bc again
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

[Soundy]

Fuckin this.. It's going to be a toll bridge for like 40 years at like 4$ a day or something ridiculous. I'm getting to the point where I really want to get rid of my car because of all the money it's costing me.
Have you ever calculated the gas it takes you to creep along Hwy. 1 in traffic from 200th all the way to the bridge? Before you diss the toll, try looking at how much it costs you to NOT move along the freeway the way it is now (or even was before the construction started.

Living in Pitt Meadows, working in Langley, my wife GLADLY pays the $5.20 (both ways) toll ever day... because taking that route saves her over $10 in gas every day (and the more gas prices go up, the more she saves).

And what is your time worth? My wife's commute via Port Mann was over an hour each way... with the Golden Ears, it's 20 minutes. Surely you have better things to do than sit in traffic for two hours a day?

Try to think about what all this is supposed to accomplish before you whine about the couple of bucks it costs you for the convenience. Then if it's still not worth it... take the Alex Fraser or the Patullo, and enjoy your time in traffic.

[Mr.HappySilp]

yall niggs aren't understanding that the point of this is to get people out of their cars and on mass transit. If you go to work downtown and live like a block away from a bus stop that will get you to work in about the same time then you should take the fucking transit. Our roads are incredibly congested and we need less car traffic or else we will have to continue expanding roads lane on lane. The car is becoming more and more useless as public transportation becomes more and more accessible. Right now you can get from the airport to newton for 5$. It will probably cost that much in gas to make that trip. And if we all start using public transportation for our commute then less money will be sunk into road construction which is an insanely expensive system and a very time consuming and difficult task. Now if gas is getting a hike then I'm going to be less encouraged to drive to work, then I'm going to start using the bus which will probably save me a decent amount of coin and will save the energy and cause one less car on the road... Although I drive a delivery truck for employment so i'm going to be out there anyway, and Buses don't go to my workplace at my time so it doesn't really help me much.

I'd really rather drive to work as it is more comfortable and faster. But this city is heading in a more green progressive perspective. It's trying to become the Canadian New york city. Trying to reform everyone into a passenger instead of a driver. Unfortunatly this doesn't pan out well for the suburbs.

Have you consider why ppl don't take transit?
1. On weekends (Sundays and Holidays espeically) bus pass my house very 30mins Meaning if someone miss a bus they will have wait 30mins So 30mins here and there and you wasted a ton of time JUST waiting for the bus. Sorry but time is money.
2. Their schedule sucks. On weekends and holidays the stop skytrain/bus service extra early Don't even get me started on the night bus. It operates on such a small area we mind as well get rib off it. LOL skytrain leave Waterfront at like what 12:30am on a weekend as the last train. That's when the party started. Same the bus also at night there is less bus. Would you want you gf to be all alone waiting at a bus station for 30mins coz she miss a bus?
3. Way too crowded during rush hour. Between 8am to 9am and around 4pm to 5:40pm the skytrain is literally fill with ppl. With the evergreen line good luck getting on at boardway. If they want ppl to start using it run the train more frequent during rush hour. If it is pack now think about HOW pack it will be when the evergreen line is built.
4. Outages. While it doesn't happen a lot IT DOES HAPPEN A LOT DURING WINTER. Is every year they have the same issue in winter so why haven't they learn from it? I still remember one winter I have to take the skytrain and there was as outage and ppl waited in the stations for more than an hour. That's unacceptable. And this doesn't happen only one,IT HAPPENS EVERY WINTER.
5. Those people that checks tickets are a joke. They check maybe 5ppl and wave the rest go on. Why hire them? Either do what Hong Kong does install some gates . I free load the skytrain for a few months before and never got caught. They skytrain cop is so dumb they only block one exit so all you have to do is use the other exit.

I don't see a point in expanding their if they can't even manage the current transit system. Fix the issue first then we can talk about expanding.

[Everymans]

Have you consider why ppl don't take transit?
1. On weekends (Sundays and Holidays espeically) bus pass my house very 30mins Meaning if someone miss a bus they will have wait 30mins So 30mins here and there and you wasted a ton of time JUST waiting for the bus. Sorry but time is money.
2. Their schedule sucks. On weekends and holidays the stop skytrain/bus service extra early Don't even get me started on the night bus. It operates on such a small area we mind as well get rib off it. LOL skytrain leave Waterfront at like what 12:30am on a weekend as the last train. That's when the party started. Same the bus also at night there is less bus. Would you want you gf to be all alone waiting at a bus station for 30mins coz she miss a bus?
3. Way too crowded during rush hour. Between 8am to 9am and around 4pm to 5:40pm the skytrain is literally fill with ppl. With the evergreen line good luck getting on at boardway. If they want ppl to start using it run the train more frequent during rush hour. If it is pack now think about HOW pack it will be when the evergreen line is built.
4. Outages. While it doesn't happen a lot IT DOES HAPPEN A LOT DURING WINTER. Is every year they have the same issue in winter so why haven't they learn from it? I still remember one winter I have to take the skytrain and there was as outage and ppl waited in the stations for more than an hour. That's unacceptable. And this doesn't happen only one,IT HAPPENS EVERY WINTER.
5. Those people that checks tickets are a joke. They check maybe 5ppl and wave the rest go on. Why hire them? Either do what Hong Kong does install some gates . I free load the skytrain for a few months before and never got caught. They skytrain cop is so dumb they only block one exit so all you have to do is use the other exit.

I don't see a point in expanding their if they can't even manage the current transit system. Fix the issue first then we can talk about expanding.

1.Holidays and weekends can be quite problematic. But not as many people work on holidays and weekends so the need for more buses isn't really there and the demand for quick travel to work is far lower then weekdays.

2.I totally agree with you here. I hate the night bus schedules and the routes. A nightbus should run for the entire night. And skytrains should be running 24/7, would make it so much easier for people like me who have to go to work at 5a.m. Then I'd have more reason to take the bus or train. But on the other hand if the skytrain is running at 4a.m on a weekday then it's going to be losing a shitload of money because barely anyone is going to use it. Same with the nightbus.

3.Broadway is going to be a hardcore nightmare because it's such a small area and it's a really big bottleneck. But if they are going to put more money into the translink system then hopefully they will have a lot more trains running and the 99 will be less busy with the train there.

4.They definitely need to pull up their boots when it comes to delays and problems. I'm not sure how they will fix it, but with more money they better atleast be fixing a lot of the existing problems.

5.The honor system of the skytrains is being replaced with gate entrances. So the need for police checks will be minimized and it will be incredibly difficult to get on the train without a ticket, therefore more people will be buying them. I was really poor for a 4 month stint and I rode the skytrain every weekday without paying. Never got checked once. Now if they had gates, they probably would have made 300$ off me in that time.

[bloodmack]

yay, live in abbotsford where the only transit we got is a few fucking buses. yet we now have to pay a tax that people are using as an excuse to pay for some fucking useless skytrain (to us). And this tax is not going to disappear. we should just tax the air we breathe ffs.

[Soundy]

yay, live in abbotsford where the only transit we got is a few fucking buses. yet we now have to pay a tax that people are using as an excuse to pay for some fucking useless skytrain (to us). And this tax is not going to disappear. we should just tax the air we breathe ffs.

And who do you think currently pays for those buses you DO have? That's right: everyone else in the GVRD and BC. Even though they'll never use them. Ditto all the other SkyTrain lines. And buses. And SeaBus. All of transit is subsidized by people who'll never use it, or only use a little bit of it in their own corner of the world. Get the fuck over it and don't be so fucking selfish and short-sighted.

[q0192837465]

Are the new taxes in place now? Gas prices has shot up this wkend.

[badgerx3]

Are the new taxes in place now? Gas prices has shot up this wkend.

nope not til april 1 2012 afaik

[b92]

i'd maybe, just maybe support this shit if translink operated their trains and buses 24/7 like new york city or other cities. That was its actually worth it for people. Anyways, fuck icbc and translink and fuck the mayors who want this, they are robbers.

[Mr.HappySilp]

1.Holidays and weekends can be quite problematic. But not as many people work on holidays and weekends so the need for more buses isn't really there and the demand for quick travel to work is far lower then weekdays.

2.I totally agree with you here. I hate the night bus schedules and the routes. A nightbus should run for the entire night. And skytrains should be running 24/7, would make it so much easier for people like me who have to go to work at 5a.m. Then I'd have more reason to take the bus or train. But on the other hand if the skytrain is running at 4a.m on a weekday then it's going to be losing a shitload of money because barely anyone is going to use it. Same with the nightbus.

3.Broadway is going to be a hardcore nightmare because it's such a small area and it's a really big bottleneck. But if they are going to put more money into the translink system then hopefully they will have a lot more trains running and the 99 will be less busy with the train there.

4.They definitely need to pull up their boots when it comes to delays and problems. I'm not sure how they will fix it, but with more money they better atleast be fixing a lot of the existing problems.

5.The honor system of the skytrains is being replaced with gate entrances. So the need for police checks will be minimized and it will be incredibly difficult to get on the train without a ticket, therefore more people will be buying them. I was really poor for a 4 month stint and I rode the skytrain every weekday without paying. Never got checked once. Now if they had gates, they probably would have made 300$ off me in that time.

Just Sat night around 6pm skytrain was having issue where ppl waiting for at least 30mins. and again on Sunday morning which lasted for about 10mins. Just wait till Winter and see how bad our skytrain is.

[Tapioca]

i'd maybe, just maybe support this shit if translink operated their trains and buses 24/7 like new york city or other cities. That was its actually worth it for people. Anyways, fuck icbc and translink and fuck the mayors who want this, they are robbers.

There are very few cities in the world that operate their metro systems 24/7. I was in NYC in August ans while their subway runs 24/7, it runs on a very reduced schedule after midnight. HK, which some argue has the best system on the world, shuts down at 1230. So does Paris. And buses do run pretty much 24/7 here - they're called the nightbus. Does it make economic sense to run buses on a regular schedule during the night to satisfy a couple of thousand club goers every weekend? Probably not.

Even if Translink wanted to run the system 24/7, how would it pay all of the staff? Even if it broke the union, would you drive a bus at 3 AM for 15 an hour? I wouldn't.
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

[penner2k]

There are very few cities in the world that operate their metro systems 24/7. I was in NYC in August ans while their subway runs 24/7, it runs on a very reduced schedule after midnight. HK, which some argue has the best system on the world, shuts down at 1230. So does Paris. And buses do run pretty much 24/7 here - they're called the nightbus. Does it make economic sense to run buses on a regular schedule during the night to satisfy a couple of thousand club goers every weekend? Probably not.

Even if Translink wanted to run the system 24/7, how would it pay all of the staff? Even if it broke the union, would you drive a bus at 3 AM for 15 an hour? I wouldn't.
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)


Very few cities also have their "nightlife" pretty much be centered in one small area like Vancouver does.

[gars]

When I was in London - the tube usually closes at around 1130 - 12. A few stations had one last tube come at around 1215, 1230, depending on which direction you're going. Nightbusses come - but just as infrequently as the ones here, or even less so.

I've bussed home from a friend's party in Clapham South to Holland Park where I lived, at night around 1, and it actually took me just over 2 hours using the night busses. It's literally just over 6 miles apart as well.

NYC is great because taxi's are cheap enough because their city is dense enough and many people take it. If I had taken the cab'd home in London, it would have easily cost me £40-50, and minicabs - maybe £30-40.

[xpl0sive]

it finally makes sense for me to buy a 500 litre tank and throw it in the back of my truck. I'll go to the US and buy premium gas for under $4/gal. That will save me about 50 cents/litre versus buying gas here... so that's $250 savings every 500 litres...

[gars]

it finally makes sense for me to buy a 500 litre tank and throw it in the back of my truck. I'll go to the US and buy premium gas for under $4/gal. That will save me about 50 cents/litre versus buying gas here... so that's $250 savings every 500 litres...

Can customs tax you for that?

[penner2k]

it finally makes sense for me to buy a 500 litre tank and throw it in the back of my truck. I'll go to the US and buy premium gas for under $4/gal. That will save me about 50 cents/litre versus buying gas here... so that's $250 savings every 500 litres...



The last rig I was working on the leasehand decided to use the company card to fill up the slip tank on his diesel truck. The rig manager was pissed when he was looking through receipts and saw a receipt for 450 liters of diesel when our crew truck had a 100 liter tank.

[Culverin]

Can customs tax you for that?

Yeah... I'm pretty sure petrol isn't a non-taxable item like groceries.

[xpl0sive]

but wouldnt that be the same as going down to fill up your car? when they ask me at customs what i'm bringing back i always say i went to fill up my car, they just waive me through...

[penner2k]

but wouldnt that be the same as going down to fill up your car? when they ask me at customs what i'm bringing back i always say i went to fill up my car, they just waive me through...

Technically the second tank wouldnt be considered part of the vehicle though. They could say you are transporting fuel. You can get smaller slip tanks that arent as noticeable though.

[UFO]

but wouldnt that be the same as going down to fill up your car? when they ask me at customs what i'm bringing back i always say i went to fill up my car, they just waive me through...

It's just a courtesy to let you bring a full tank of gas back across the border. Like how if you go down for a day trip and they usually let you through even though you buy $100 worth of stuff though technically your tax/duty exemption is $0.

I've heard of people bringing jerry cans of gas back and getting taxed, although it doesn't happen unless you are being unreasonable about it.

[xpl0sive]

so how much tax are they charging? 12% HST? if so, it's still cheaper since it comes out to about $1.15/litre

[melloman]

^^ 2 cents/litre.

[SpicyToFu]

So what have any of you done about the issues surrounding the whole gas tax?

Some bring good points about the lack of performance with BC-transit, the need to drive to and from work where transit presence is poor or even lacking.

Went back to school and moved closer to take the bus with a U-pass, so I wouldn't get charged for insurance, parking and fuel. Not driving for the next 2 years is my way of telling ICBC and the oil industries to get lost. I also run everywhere I can't reach by bus fast enough, but there are days when I wish I was driving, especially days when I feel sick, grocery shopping, etc... Funny thing is, although I moved closer to school and it is only a 5 min. bus ride on a week day, it is about 45 min (alternate route) or more on a weekend.

All things said, and there are good points, but none are feasible in the long run, like buying a tank and filling it up in the states. I`m not supporting this whole gas tax, I want to know, after all this talk, is there any action any of us can take, or were you all just venting. Cuz we all know how effective that is.

I really want to know what action we can do as citizens

[Everymans]

So what have any of you done about the issues surrounding the whole gas tax?

Some bring good points about the lack of performance with BC-transit, the need to drive to and from work where transit presence is poor or even lacking.

Went back to school and moved closer to take the bus with a U-pass, so I wouldn't get charged for insurance, parking and fuel. Not driving for the next 2 years is my way of telling ICBC and the oil industries to get lost. I also run everywhere I can't reach by bus fast enough, but there are days when I wish I was driving, especially days when I feel sick, grocery shopping, etc... Funny thing is, although I moved closer to school and it is only a 5 min. bus ride on a week day, it is about 45 min (alternate route) or more on a weekend.

All things said, and there are good points, but none are feasible in the long run, like buying a tank and filling it up in the states. I`m not supporting this whole gas tax, I want to know, after all this talk, is there any action any of us can take, or were you all just venting. Cuz we all know how effective that is.

I really want to know what action we can do as citizens

If enough of us disagree we could protest, write letters to our elected leaders and maybe just like the hst, have a vote to get rid of it... If we all stay silent and try and live with it, then nothing is going to change.

[UFO]

If enough of us disagree we could protest, write letters to our elected leaders and maybe just like the hst, have a vote to get rid of it... If we all stay silent and try and live with it, then nothing is going to change.

I think enough people have documented that HST was a good thing, and getting rid of it will not only cost us more money in the long term, but also affect our economy negatively in the short and long term.

Voting on taxation is not something that should be left up to Joe Public. How many people voting on HST had absolutely no idea what it was about, and properly educated themselves on all the finer details prior to voting?

I like the concept and idea of the Evergreen Line, just like how I like the Canada Line. We have to understand and accept that the money is going to come from our wallets one way or another, whether it be a gas tax, property tax hike, sales tax hike, income tax hike, or cuts to other services.

There is never enough money to go around to fund all the services that everybody wants, and invariably somebody will always complain that their own interests are not being served.

[Tapioca]

There is never enough money to go around to fund all the services that everybody wants, and invariably somebody will always complain that their own interests are not being served.

Great point. I seem to see complaints about this more and more often: why should my taxes pay for X when I don't benefit from it?

I mean, there's a tax-free haven next door if people hate taxes in BC: it's called Alberta.