Completely off topic

I play on the school Futsbal league (indoor soccer, as far as I can tell) and even though we lost, our team totally rocks! Go Falling Squirrels!

Bus service on campus

I've been reading the Campus Transit Plan and thinking about what kind of buses would use the new bus loop

• The articulated B-Line buses
• Gasoline and/or natural gas powered buses
• Trolley buses
• Small community shuttle buses (short bus)

The campus transit plan also talks about why a below grade bus loop is better than one on-grade, and some of the requirements of the loop.

Better because:

• Faster transit service/fewer delays to buses
• Entire station would be 'fare paid zone'
• Avoid traffic congestion and delays at pedestrian crosswalks
• Weather protected, heated and climate controlled

Requirements:

• Entry/exit at University Boulevard at Wesbrook Mall
• Capacity of 40 or more buses
• Station would have to be well lit and feel safe
• Full accessibility
• Seating, telephones and other amenities
• Plan suggests glass doors separate passengers from buses to ensure air quality

I think it might also be useful to think of an underground bus loop as a chance to connect buildings underground. If the grassy knoll is removed to put in the new loop, it's reasonable to connect the loop to the SUB. There may also be a chance to connect it to the new library, although it is possible that is too far.

The idea of glass doors separating passengers from the bus exaust does not seem optimal. I think it would be better to have some kind of physical barrier. There is also the chance to line up the curb with the height of buses so they do not need to deploy the wheelchair ramp at this station.

Bus stuff

Although I haven't got the go ahead from thesis advisor M, I hav been doing some reading about how the UBC bus loop works and what need to be considered for the future. So, here are some issues in no particular order:

• The 10 year transit plan by Translink says that "the potential final link of the rapid transit network on the Burrard Peninsula is a western extension, connecting the existing system with the Central Broadway Business District and potentially to UBC. Studies to review alignments and technologies, community integration, cost, financing and phasing will be completed within the next five years; although it is unlikely that construction could begin until after 2013. The priority and requirement for a link as far as UBC should be addressed in the forthcoming longer-term growth management and long-range transportation plan processes." Basically, it says that it is likely that there will eventually be a Skytrain line to UBC, but it won't happen until after 2013. Since that's only 6 years away, so it may be one of the reasons bus loop design/construction has been delayed. It may be possible for me to incorporate space for an underground station: it's certainly something to discuss with thesis advisor M. The planning for this should occur in 2007.
• There has been a lot of construction on South Campus and it is likely this will continue: this should be addressed in any proposed transit plans for the region.
• Design and construction of the UBC underground transit exchange is slated for planning or implementation in 2007. The 2007 Transportation Plan also says that the UBC underground transit exchange will require Intelligent Transportation Systems functional studies to operate the facility.
• Tranlink is trying to implement a Community Pass for non-students that live at UBC.
• UBC Transit Exchange – A Memorandum of Understanding is being negotiated between TransLink and UBC for a new transit exchange at UBC." If approved, work is expected to begin in 2007 on the ITS functional requirements study and preliminary design for the underground transit exchange. Perhaps one of the most technologically sophisticated facilities of its kind, this underground exchange will be similar in function to an airport terminal with arrivals and departures information available to passengers via a large electronic message board in the upper plaza, before they proceed to board in the lower level. To provide this function, this project will require real time tracking of exact locations of transit vehicles as they enter and navigate through the arrival, holding and departures areas of the exchange. The system will assign buses to arrival and departure bays, alert passengers on gate location and maintain traffic flow". ( from the 2007 Transit Plan)
• Translink is planning on making buses a 'fare paid zone' (essentially putting the responsibility for paying fare onto the user) so B-Lines can board at all doors at all stops
• Trolley buses and articulated buses have very specific turning radii which significantly affect any transit hub.