Comments on: It’s official: the Canada Line opens Monday, August 17

By: ;-)

;-) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 03:37:34 +0000

@Eburne: Yes, I too hate living near a zone boundary. In SE Vancouver, I’m 5 minutes to go shopping in Metrotown, or 5 minute to Richmond to work. Can’t win. Tourist who ride the Seabus are also hit with a double zone fare.

The zone boundaries are definitely easier to administer and understand on a map. However with today’s electronic fareboxes, I wish there was a way I could buy a 30 minute transfer (and I don’t mean from a panhandler). Can’t afford the full fare? Give me the option to purchase a half fare for that brief trip.

With regards to driving to YVR, the media mentions some pass are provided to workers to bypass the surcharge. Also in the future I heard, the YVR parking lot shuttles will be eliminated so everyone will need to pay the CLine surcharge to get to the terminal.

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By: Old_as_Eburne

Old_as_Eburne — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:15:35 +0000

I’ve lived in Marpole these thirty years, because it’s closest to work – at YVR.
Fifteen minutes, more or less, via the #100, south, west, direct.
City planners are forever urging us folks to live close to work, right? Makes sense, really.

This is like a Black Comedy. Starting September: Go east, about one mile, go south, go west.

“Oh, well,” I kinda chuckled, “looks like they finally figured out how to make the two-zone fare look worth it.”

Then I heard about this YVR Add-Fare.
Essentially, it’s another Zone.
I’m still stunned, as if slapped in the face.
So…two-zones, and YVR Add-fare? From Marpole?There are workers out here who will have to work two hours – of any four they may be lucky enough to get – simply to pay their daily commute.

I’m fortunate. My job’s full-time. I have a car. Guess how I’ll be commuting.

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By: Jhenifer Pabillano

Jhenifer Pabillano — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:31:45 +0000

Alyssa: Yes, your 1-zone pass is valid on all Vancouver stops. That’s if your 1-zone pass is scratched off for Vancouver, though!

The info about the passes is available in the Canada Line fares section on the TransLink website. Here’s the pertinent paragraph:

Standard TransLink fares apply. Tickets and passes are valid for travel on TransLink buses, SeaBus, and SkyTrain’s Expo and Millennium Lines as well as Canada Line.

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By: back to driving

back to driving — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:24:39 +0000

Eliminating the 491 and 496 is a HUGE MISTAKE,you are pushing A LOT of people back to driving their cars, now way people is going from one ride to three, DOUBLING the time…

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By: alyssa

alyssa — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 17:45:53 +0000

Is my bus pass good for the Canada Line – i.e. can I travel all the Vancouver stops on a Zone 1 pass? I can’t seem to find this info on the Translink or Canada line sites…

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By: Kevin B.

Kevin B. — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:04:33 +0000

Thanks. For some reason I thought the 424 would be running from Bridgeport but I was mistaken.

I was aware the AddFare won’t be implemented right away, but I’m worried about what happens when it is. Hopefully we’ll find out more details as it approches and UPS has info on getting one of those cards.

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By: Jhenifer Pabillano

Jhenifer Pabillano — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:57:27 +0000

Kevin:

I don’t have a ton of specific details on the addfare’s exact implementation, but as far as I know, the addfare doesn’t apply to those living or working on Sea Island, so you won’t be paying an extra $5. Everyone who qualifies will get a special card. You might want to check with UPS to see if they have more detail on that.

But yes, as Not Quite mentions, the addfare will not apply until 2010.

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By: Not Quite

Not Quite — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:22:11 +0000

Kevin: Sorry to tell you, but the 424 will also be discontinued effective 07 Sept. 2009. In fact, Airport Station will be closed.

Also, I believe that the surcharge for the Airport will not be imposed until sometime in 2010. Presumably after the Olympics.

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By: Kevin B.

Kevin B. — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:19:36 +0000

For months I’ve been excited about the Canada Line – I work at the UPS at the Airport, very close to Templeton station. I previously had to take the 98 or 491 from downtown to Airport station, and walk or ride a bike to work. The C90 comes straight here, but is a very inconvenient service which actually doesn’t benefit the employees of UPS at all, as it only arrives here at around 3:10pm and 4:15pm. So I was quite happy with the fact that I would now be able to ride the Canada line much closer to work and cut my travel time down significantly.

However, hearing about the AddFare combined with the discontinuation of both buses I use, I’m extremely disappointed and upset. I can’t afford to pay $5 a day to get to and from work. I’m already buying a 2 Zone Farecard every month. The C90 is not and has never been a viable option for me, so now I don’t know what to do.

Will the 424 stop anywhere closer to Templeton Station than it does currently? Right now I could take it to shave 5 minutes off my walk, but often I’ve walked that distance faster than the time it would take to wait for the bus.

I hear that YVR employees may be exempt from the AddFare? Is that confirmed? Will that be applicable to me, seeing as I don’t work in the Airport itself, but across the runway?

For the record, I’d like to ride the Canada Line on Monday but I think it will be too busy and I’ll stick to the 98 instead.

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By: stevestonmatt

stevestonmatt — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:44:29 +0000

Dear folks (& Translink) -

The loss of reliable bus service in order to funnel people on the Canada Line is not about petting griping, and many such bus services don’t parallel – or imperil – the Canada Line and that’s the point. Instead of encouraging people onto transit the Canada Line (or, rather, the wanton elimination of previously popular bus/commuter routes) actually makes it more difficult!!

Check out this Facebook Group for more, and sign up:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=109653674631

Perhaps with some public pressure there can be still a compromise!

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