Waterbuffalo
03-12-2008, 06:39 AM
Wellll.. The city of Vancouver, BC will putting in a demonstration streetcar for the 2010 Olympics. How much do you think they will pull from such inspiration?
Well here is the article..
And find it here:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080311.BCSTREETCAR11/TPStory/TPNational/?page=rss&id=GAM.20080311.BCSTREETCAR11
Vancouver council to debate $8.5-million streetcar project
IAN BAILEY, Globeandmail.com
March 11, 2008
VANCOUVER -- City councillors are to be asked today to spend $8.5-million to help prove that streetcars have a place in the transit future of the city.
A staff report and motion up for debate seek the money to finance a demonstration project on three kilometres of track between Granville Island and the neighbourhood of the new Olympic Village.
The track now has limited service from a vintage streetcar operated by volunteers.
But Mayor Sam Sullivan would like to see a more fixed demonstration project running for the 2010 Winter Olympics to build enthusiasm for a larger system to be built after the Games that might run into Chinatown, the Downtown Eastside and towards Stanley Park.
Discussion today will include looking to the private sector to help with the citywide project by making it a public-private partnership.
Mr. Sullivan's great uncle used to drive the streetcars on the line, and his dad used to take them.
"I feel it's very important for us to jump-start this process by having a demonstration project that will get the citizens excited about the potential," the mayor said yesterday.
"We're going to see a lot of international interest in the athletes village, and, because this will be operating just adjacent to the athletes village, there will be a lot of international interest.
"We're going to have to work very hard to have this up and running by 2010, but I believe if there is enough political commitment to it, we can do it."
Mr. Sullivan said he felt a public-private development, or P3, could be crucial. "I think that it will happen much quicker if we can work through a P3. The access to capital and such would be enhanced. We need to do it. The No. 1 priority is the project has to go ahead."
A robust streetcar system would mark the first time in more than 50 years that such activity was a routine of the region. From the early 1900s to 1950s, the Interurban streetcar variably offered service between Chilliwack, New Westminster and central Vancouver. It was eventually replaced with other systems.
A modern demonstration streetcar might share the track.
The mayor said he has been lobbying for federal support on the project during each of the seven visits he had made to Ottawa since becoming mayor in 2005
"On every trip, I have brought up the streetcar. There's a lot of people intrigued by the idea."
Well here is the article..
And find it here:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080311.BCSTREETCAR11/TPStory/TPNational/?page=rss&id=GAM.20080311.BCSTREETCAR11
Vancouver council to debate $8.5-million streetcar project
IAN BAILEY, Globeandmail.com
March 11, 2008
VANCOUVER -- City councillors are to be asked today to spend $8.5-million to help prove that streetcars have a place in the transit future of the city.
A staff report and motion up for debate seek the money to finance a demonstration project on three kilometres of track between Granville Island and the neighbourhood of the new Olympic Village.
The track now has limited service from a vintage streetcar operated by volunteers.
But Mayor Sam Sullivan would like to see a more fixed demonstration project running for the 2010 Winter Olympics to build enthusiasm for a larger system to be built after the Games that might run into Chinatown, the Downtown Eastside and towards Stanley Park.
Discussion today will include looking to the private sector to help with the citywide project by making it a public-private partnership.
Mr. Sullivan's great uncle used to drive the streetcars on the line, and his dad used to take them.
"I feel it's very important for us to jump-start this process by having a demonstration project that will get the citizens excited about the potential," the mayor said yesterday.
"We're going to see a lot of international interest in the athletes village, and, because this will be operating just adjacent to the athletes village, there will be a lot of international interest.
"We're going to have to work very hard to have this up and running by 2010, but I believe if there is enough political commitment to it, we can do it."
Mr. Sullivan said he felt a public-private development, or P3, could be crucial. "I think that it will happen much quicker if we can work through a P3. The access to capital and such would be enhanced. We need to do it. The No. 1 priority is the project has to go ahead."
A robust streetcar system would mark the first time in more than 50 years that such activity was a routine of the region. From the early 1900s to 1950s, the Interurban streetcar variably offered service between Chilliwack, New Westminster and central Vancouver. It was eventually replaced with other systems.
A modern demonstration streetcar might share the track.
The mayor said he has been lobbying for federal support on the project during each of the seven visits he had made to Ottawa since becoming mayor in 2005
"On every trip, I have brought up the streetcar. There's a lot of people intrigued by the idea."