3249 replies to this topic

[Matt R.]

I'm sure they'll figure it out. It can't be that difficult to trigger the gates/lights. I can also see the bus stopping at crossings just as a matter of fact, and I would imagine there'll be bus stops at crossings.

Dudebro bc transit can’t even figure out copy+paste for accepting tap on busses here.

[splashflash]

You can’t (easily) run buses across rail rights of way. None of the level crossings are legal for that.

Any plan like this makes no sense whatsoever.

Buses will have to activate the lights and gates if they want to proceed through the level crossing at any speed over say 5mph. Maybe even at any speed whatsoever. There is absolutely no pecedent for that (yet alone the proven, redundant technology) anywhere in North America. We do not have the laws for it either.

We don't have such laws in BC but it's no longer true that North America doesn't have such a system for buses.

In Los Angeles the G Line busway has railway-style crossings.
From Wikipedia: "As part of the LA Metro system enhancements approved by voters in 2016 with Measure M, Metro is implementing several major upgrades to the G Line. These include railroad-style four-quadrant crossing gates with traffic signal preemption at all at-grade intersections between North Hollywood station and just east of Van Nuys station, a new elevated Van Nuys station, and bridges over Van Nuys Boulevard, Vesper Street, and Sepulveda Boulevard. Improved traffic signal priority will also be introduced at all other intersections. All work is being designed to accommodate the future conversion of the busway to light rail."

To prepare for the project, Metro built a prototype railroad-style crossing gate system at the Hayvenhurst Avenue pedestrian crossing, the first of its kind on a busway in the United States. The installation was completed in February 2022.[35
https://en.wikipedia...s_Angeles_Metro)

I am very optimistic compared to rail, as the 2020 study showed the possibility of a single or two lane busway at ts to $110M cheaper than rail. The flexibility is much greater, with the study showing three distinct sections with the mid to avoid the FN reservations, if needed.

Edited by splashflash, 18 October 2025 - 01:15 AM.

[splashflash]

How is a bus coming through the rail ROW evey 3 or 7 minutes or whatever going to help the vehicle traffic around those ROWs?

And how are the neighbours going to like the bells at those crossings going off 124 times per day?

It's folly.

Maybe it could be robobuses. The buses on the LA G Line don't have bells, presumably because they are considered able to stop quick enough to not warrant them. I'm not sure about the gates if they have bells.

This could be used up the Malahat too and serve as a emergency bypass and perhaps for trucks. A bus road is easier to build than rail since lesser grade restrictuons allow for cutting back to the main highway north of Goldstream Park.

Edited by splashflash, 18 October 2025 - 01:06 AM.

[splashflash]

I count 14 crossings between Vic West (Bayview) and the Island Highway overpass in View Royal. Three are between Bayview and the Esquimalt Road crossing.

2 crossings between Island Highway and downtown Langford at Veterans.

3 more through to Langford Lake.

Any mention of the busway continuing up the Malahat? Few crossings there.

Edited by splashflash, 18 October 2025 - 01:51 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Any mention of the busway continuing up the Malahat? Few crossings there.

 

Here is a perfectly shovel-ready project that can be put in place now.

 

Make the right-of way over the Malahat a paved bike and walking trail, wide enough and strong enough for two-way very slow traffic, open only for detours, and with a rail down the centre or one side, but plugged up until such time as rail possibly returns.

 

 

I do not know eactly how you do it, but there should be some way.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 18 October 2025 - 02:24 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

 

 

 

 

 

Now, also replace the to main trestles, but make them with extra viewing areas for pedstrians, and improve the pedestrian trail to get to them from Goldstream Park.

[Victoria Watcher]

[lanforod]

All mode share? What tells people and vehicles to get out of the trains way?

[Victoria Watcher]

All mode share? What tells people and vehicles to get out of the trains way?

 

No, no.  The rail is only there for possible future use.   

 

The road is only there for emergency vehicle use when a Malahat detour is needed.  Police open and close it to one-way or two-way traffic.

 

The rest of the time it's just a pedestrian and bike trail.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 18 October 2025 - 06:28 AM.

[Mike K.]

Any mention of the busway continuing up the Malahat? Few crossings there.

Yes it may, but the immediate focus is on the CRD portion.