Rapid Transit Line

[Jessew]

Probably a pipe dream, but I was thinking today of the possibility of a rapid transit line through Nanaimo, probably not in the near future, maybe around 2020-2025 or later.

I envision one line, going from the back of Woodrove Center near the bus loop all the way to Duke Point.
It could travel elevated from Woodgrove to the highway side of Rutherford, with a station at the backside of the parking lot near Zellers, (since there will no longer be a door to enter on that side when target moves in, parking lot will be wasted anyway), crossing the highway to the west side, running along the trail/train tracks to Country Club, where it would pass back over to the Mall and have a station between Starbucks and DQ.

Train would then pass back across the highway, along the tracks towards Northfield, then would go underground just before Northfield Rd, and cross over to Brooks Landing with a station near the highway infront of Staples, down towards the Departure Bay Ferries, with a station at the ferries, then underground along Stewart Ave into Downtown, with another station possibly behind the Conference Center.
Train would then continue on towards the new Cruise Ship terminal passing underneath maybe leaving a possibility for an addon station at the terminal, then straight across over to Duke Point Ferries, where it would terminate.

Trains could leave every 20 minutes one starting at 7:00am from Woodgrove, and another leaving Duke Point at 6:50am, with the last trains leaving Woodgrove at 10:40pm and 10:30pm at Duke Point.

Travel time between each station is an average of 2 minutes, with some being closer to 1, and others closer to 3, with 2 minute stops at each station in between the two terminus, with 5 minute stops at Woodgrove and Duke Point.

Travel time from Woodgrove to Duke Point Ferries is approx 25 minutes, and Woodgrove to Departure Bay is about 13.

This leaves very convenient connection times at both Departure Bay, and Duke point ferries.

Would only need maybe 4 or 5 trains, 3 to run the line, and one or two for spares.

With a change in the bus system to hub-and-spoke, you could catch a bus to any of the stations, take the rapid transit line, then catch another bus out to where you are going, for example you could catch a bus from Brickyard to Woodgrove, get on the transit line, take it out to the Downtown station, then catch another bus straight up to VIU.

RDN states that they have about 2.62 million riders annually, and I believe such a system would improve the transit lines in Nanaimo, and probably increase ridership substantially.

I for one do not currently use transit at all, ever, however, with a system like this one I definately would use transit quite often.


Using the numbers for the new Evergreen line between Lougheed Center and the College in Coquitlam, I figure construction costs would be similar at around $1.4 bil. with funds being provided Federally, Provincially, and by the RDN/Nanaimo, but one might also be able to get funding from say ICBC if you could show it would decrease road usage/accidents, etc

Thoughts, ideas?

[PaulStevens]

Your idea is a good one. But the price tag would be too high for a place as small as we are. And we're still trying to get the old E&N line back on track, so to speak. I'd like to see the existing E&N line used in this way to start with, running a smaller bus like rail car from Lantzville to the Chase River area and back again.

[31jetjet]

ROFL...thats a good story!! I promise to apologize for laughing at you if it comes true. AFTER they build one in Victoria I MIGHT start to think about one in Nanaimo like....20 years later....lol.....

[MrWilson]

I have to say that it does seem very cool, but also seems like it wouldn't happen for quite some time.

[tailtwister]

I think I saw that episode of The Simpsons.

[Flugel Horn]

I think I saw that episode of The Simpsons.

Monorail ! Monorail !

Didn't the monorail later get replaced by the Matlock-Expressway ?

[MarkP]

I love your idea! I live in the South end and do most of my shopping in the North end so I would use transit set up like this all the time. I would much prefer to ride a train than to drive and with the price of gas going higher and higher it would make more sense economically as well.

[Jessew]

I do agree the idea seems expensive, and a little far fetched, I also believe it would be a great way to relieve traffic off the roads, and provide a decent way to get around town.

Traffic seems to be ever increasing especially down the old highway, and on Bowen, and with more traffic lights being added, with more plans on the way, the travelling time from the north to the south end will definately increase.
It's already pretty tied up at quite a number of the intersections.

While maybe not saving a ton of time, having a system like this would provide a reliable, convenient way to travel for shoppers, working folks, elderly trying to get to appointments, people with disabilities, and even tourists trying to see more of the town than one or 2 areas.

With another major shopping center being planned for the south end at Fielding Rd, realistically the track could go Woodgrove-Rutherford-Country Club-Brooks Landing, Departure Bay, Downtown, South End Shopping Center, Duke point.

Personally I'd rather be paying the $48 I paid on my taxes into a decent transit system, than into a library I've never been in.

[Bathtub in Bohemia]

Tram! I'll never live in a city without a tram system again. You don't have to worry about getting land, either. Just use the existing road network and if it causes restrictions to automobile traffic, you just create more tram riders and increased revenue. :-)

[Geoff]

A lot of good points to rapid transit in Nanaimo, but I agree costs would be high, and I agree using the E&N line in a similar way should get serious consideration.