Phase 2 of consultation on Langley City and Langley Township Bus Exchanges starts November 27, 2012
Phase 2 of consultation on Langley City and Langley Township Bus Exchanges starts November 27, 2012
Everyone knows that Metro Vancouver is constantly growing. This is certainly true of both the City of Langley and the Township of Langley. In fact, the City of Langley is growing faster than the national average (6.2% vs. 5.9%), while the Township of Langley is growing even faster (11.2% vs. 5.9%).
Knowing that the demand for transit in these two areas South of the Fraser is only going to increase, we’ve been working with our partners, the City and the Township, and other stakeholders since January of this year regarding two proposed bus exchanges aimed at serving this increased transit need.
Update: Here are a couple of comments about the consultation process thus far:
“Partnering with TransLink on this project is important for bringing the future transit services outlined in the South of Fraser Area Transit Plan to our community. The project is also an opportunity for us to start thinking about how the Willowbrook neighbourhood can evolve as part of the Langley Regional City Centre.” – Mayor Froese, Township of Langley.
“This project is key to realizing the City’s vision for the neighbourhood as an outstanding, vibrant neighbourhood as outlined in our Downtown Langley Master Plan. Bringing the transit exchange close to our Downtown’s heart will support the neighbourhood and create a convenient, comfortable transit experience for residents.” – Mayor Fassbender, City of Langley
Now we’re ready for Phase 2, the stakeholder/public consultation phase. This phase is to present the latest design options and get feedback to inform further design as well as get feedback on the criteria for how they will be evaluated. It’s important to note that these options are in their very early stages. They will very likely change as a result of this and future consultation as well as more technical work and design to happen in the future.
Downtown Langley Exchange & Area Plan + Willowbrook Exchange & Area Plan
In keeping with the City of Langley’s Downtown Master Plan and their vision for Downtown Langley, we’re looking at providing an exchange that supports redevelopment of the neighbourhood while providing a comfortable environment for transit passengers. There will be a handful of options for the new Downtown Langley Exchange, which we’ll post here on November 27. Each of these options will include recommendations for land use, urban design and new street connections that will integrate the exchange with the neighbourhood. We’ll also post info about the Willowbrook Exchange & Area Plan in the Township of Langley on November 27.
Like the Downtown Exchange, the Willowbrook Exchange will also take into consideration land use, urban design and the street network to support transit, walking and cycling in the neighbourhood.The consultation for both exchanges runs from November 27 to December 7, 2012. The following two open houses are part of this latest phase of consultation:
November 27, 2012 – 5 p.m. -8 p.m. – Township of Langley Civic Facility – 20338 – 65 Avenue, Langley
November 29, 2012 – 5 p.m. -8 p.m. – Langley City Hall/Library – 20399 Douglas Crescent, Langley
We really encourage all who’re interested in attending the open houses and/or fill out the questionnaire on the exchanges and area plans that will be available November 27 to December 7, 2012.
It is November 28th and the plan has not been posted yet.
Hi Badak: The link has been updated. Sorry about that!
@ Translink
I will fill in the questionnaire, after submitting this, but I just wanted to put my thoughts here just for discussion and elaboration.
It is good to see some options. I won’t use any of those exchanges very much, because I don’t expect to travel to Langley much. It would also be nice to have Jarrett Walker chime in on what gives us best value.
Here is my feedback.
*** Regarding Willowbrook Exchange ***
Option #1 does seem interesting, but I don’t like it, because it seems quite separated from the other areas. I’d be willing to try it, but it does seem a bit pricey, because of the significant land acquisitions. How much do you need to pay to get the land? How do we know if it is worth it?
1 really positive thing that it has going for it is the perfect connection to the kiss-and-ride. Transit exchanges need it.
Option #2 seems to be the best, because it is seems to be next to the mall. Concept #1, with the layover zone off street, seems best. I would like to see a cut and cover layover zone, so that it blocks as little development and pedestrian activity as possible. I have the feeling that the property owners really want to do the right thing here, so this seems like a chance that we should make sure that we don’t pass up.
Option #3 seems decidedly unpleasant, and bad for long term growth. I think that it might be useful for a short term place. The implied low cost seems good. If the cost is low enough, then maybe it would be worth using it as a temporary exchange to get things going.
*** Downtown Langley Exchange ***
I completely support option #3. It seems to offer the most integration, and not require a barren lot. It also seems to have a sense of permanence.
I don’t like option #1, because it seems to be such a barren place that is distant from the shops and streets. It seems to increase walking, because there is nothing to do there, but wait or walk past it.
I don’t like option #4, because it seems to be so expensive, and unjustified considering the amount of ridership. Maybe Langley has more ridership than I realize. We should be pinching pennies and investing in new sources of income, not building new luxuries.
I request that Translink add the option to build a sky scraper on its properties. It is important that there be lots of room for offices, medical services, and other amenities. Most current exchanges are barren wastelands that are pushed away from the ultimate destinations. Allowing customers to go straight from transit to restaurants, without crossing streets is the utmost importance for the future.
And for goodness sake, please try to bring Greyhound in on the project, so that we can transfer easily.
I’m with Eugene on integrating buildings and transit. New West Skytrain Station used to be empty – now it has a few condo towers and an outdoor mini mall attached to it and has become a destination. While I don’t mind crossing the street, I don’t want to have to walk across large empty concrete fields because someone didn’t think ahead and build in amenities.