Daryl DC 🚅🚇🚡🚍
@daryldc.bsky.social
🇨🇦🇵🇭 1995, ENTP, he/him. Enthusiastic about cities, housing, and transit. Founder, https://skytrainforsurrey.org/; Build the SFU Gondola. https://x.com/daka_x
After decades of misinformation derailing SkyTrain expansion plans since the 1990s, Prasarana Malaysia is about to definitively prove that everyone who said that SkyTrain is a "proprietary system" was wrong.
This is MONUMENTAL LEAP for our region.
#vanpoli #bcpoli
dailyhive.com/vancouver/sk...
This is MONUMENTAL LEAP for our region.
#vanpoli #bcpoli
dailyhive.com/vancouver/sk...
Vancouver councillor claims SkyTrain is a 'proprietary technology', but this is false | Urbanized
Many assertions made in Vancouver city councillor Colleen Hardwick's motion on SkyTrain technology and the involvement of Bombardier are not true.
dailyhive.com
November 4, 2025 at 5:52 AM
After decades of misinformation derailing SkyTrain expansion plans since the 1990s, Prasarana Malaysia is about to definitively prove that everyone who said that SkyTrain is a "proprietary system" was wrong.
This is MONUMENTAL LEAP for our region.
#vanpoli #bcpoli
dailyhive.com/vancouver/sk...
This is MONUMENTAL LEAP for our region.
#vanpoli #bcpoli
dailyhive.com/vancouver/sk...
It's going to be an interesting duel this fall between Finch West LRT and the Deux-Montagnes REM...
bsky.app/profile/deni...
bsky.app/profile/deni...
We are so not ready for the ridership explosion that the REM is going to bring.
October 30, 2025 at 10:42 PM
It's going to be an interesting duel this fall between Finch West LRT and the Deux-Montagnes REM...
bsky.app/profile/deni...
bsky.app/profile/deni...
The numbers are there in plain sight for everyone to see on the ETSAB reports. 9,000/day, against projections of 31,500.
I'm not saying it won't get there eventually, but if you want to defend the Valley Line, then I think you'd better start talking to other fellow Edmontonians instead of me. (3/3)
I'm not saying it won't get there eventually, but if you want to defend the Valley Line, then I think you'd better start talking to other fellow Edmontonians instead of me. (3/3)
October 27, 2025 at 12:23 PM
The numbers are there in plain sight for everyone to see on the ETSAB reports. 9,000/day, against projections of 31,500.
I'm not saying it won't get there eventually, but if you want to defend the Valley Line, then I think you'd better start talking to other fellow Edmontonians instead of me. (3/3)
I'm not saying it won't get there eventually, but if you want to defend the Valley Line, then I think you'd better start talking to other fellow Edmontonians instead of me. (3/3)
If it's not the speed guidelines, it's b/c the signal priority system is not aggressive enough in giving trains the green light right away, so they slow down.
No matter what you say, I think it does affect travel time competitiveness, and has (accordingly) affected the ridership outcome. (2/3)
No matter what you say, I think it does affect travel time competitiveness, and has (accordingly) affected the ridership outcome. (2/3)
October 27, 2025 at 12:23 PM
If it's not the speed guidelines, it's b/c the signal priority system is not aggressive enough in giving trains the green light right away, so they slow down.
No matter what you say, I think it does affect travel time competitiveness, and has (accordingly) affected the ridership outcome. (2/3)
No matter what you say, I think it does affect travel time competitiveness, and has (accordingly) affected the ridership outcome. (2/3)
I watched your linked video and it shows me exactly what I remember: VL trains are signed to slow across many intersections, and down to 30 km/h at station approaches—presumably for the ped X-ings @ each end that don't have bells/gates. On most other railways trains can enter at full speed. (1/3)
October 27, 2025 at 12:23 PM
I watched your linked video and it shows me exactly what I remember: VL trains are signed to slow across many intersections, and down to 30 km/h at station approaches—presumably for the ped X-ings @ each end that don't have bells/gates. On most other railways trains can enter at full speed. (1/3)
Alright, what is your conclusion then?
What I know is consultants use all sorts of complex population + traffic models to get ridership targets, which justify billions of $ in funding.
Clearly, dedicated lanes and even a full railway ROW (as on 66-75 St-Davies) don't get you to the targets in YEG.
What I know is consultants use all sorts of complex population + traffic models to get ridership targets, which justify billions of $ in funding.
Clearly, dedicated lanes and even a full railway ROW (as on 66-75 St-Davies) don't get you to the targets in YEG.
October 27, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Alright, what is your conclusion then?
What I know is consultants use all sorts of complex population + traffic models to get ridership targets, which justify billions of $ in funding.
Clearly, dedicated lanes and even a full railway ROW (as on 66-75 St-Davies) don't get you to the targets in YEG.
What I know is consultants use all sorts of complex population + traffic models to get ridership targets, which justify billions of $ in funding.
Clearly, dedicated lanes and even a full railway ROW (as on 66-75 St-Davies) don't get you to the targets in YEG.
For what it's worth I have been to Edmonton and ridden Valley Line (Aug 2024); I saw that there was signal priority, but it seemed a bit watered down (i.e. only programmed to activate if trains running late, like on Toronto Line 5). I experienced a couple of long red light waits at Bonnie Doon (2/2)
October 27, 2025 at 5:25 AM
For what it's worth I have been to Edmonton and ridden Valley Line (Aug 2024); I saw that there was signal priority, but it seemed a bit watered down (i.e. only programmed to activate if trains running late, like on Toronto Line 5). I experienced a couple of long red light waits at Bonnie Doon (2/2)
RE this, it's long been known that Valley Line will stop at red lights; this was admitted by city planners and Councillors when they were questioned in 2015 during the Metro Line crisis (see: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... - I just updated our release to add this link and the appropriate quote)
(1/2)
(1/2)
Start of Metro LRT expected to stop traffic for up to 16 minutes | CBC News
The grand opening of the Metro LRT line next week will herald some grand traffic delays along the route, city officials warned Wednesday
www.cbc.ca
October 27, 2025 at 5:25 AM
RE this, it's long been known that Valley Line will stop at red lights; this was admitted by city planners and Councillors when they were questioned in 2015 during the Metro Line crisis (see: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... - I just updated our release to add this link and the appropriate quote)
(1/2)
(1/2)
TBH I see Edmonton is not really talking about this (waiting for VL West first?), which is why I'm not even sending this to Edmonton media; if they find it, I'll let them talk!
But I do think the current data begs question whether designing more like original LRT lines would've been better! 🤔 (2/2)
But I do think the current data begs question whether designing more like original LRT lines would've been better! 🤔 (2/2)
October 27, 2025 at 5:21 AM
TBH I see Edmonton is not really talking about this (waiting for VL West first?), which is why I'm not even sending this to Edmonton media; if they find it, I'll let them talk!
But I do think the current data begs question whether designing more like original LRT lines would've been better! 🤔 (2/2)
But I do think the current data begs question whether designing more like original LRT lines would've been better! 🤔 (2/2)
Not countering that at all! My main goal is to contextualize this for people in my metro area (Surrey/Vancouver, BC) who are once again considering an LRT.
Valley Line is now 35-40% of YEG's LRT system length but has just 15% of the ridership, so it doesn't seem like a great model for us 🤔 (1/2)
Valley Line is now 35-40% of YEG's LRT system length but has just 15% of the ridership, so it doesn't seem like a great model for us 🤔 (1/2)
October 27, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Not countering that at all! My main goal is to contextualize this for people in my metro area (Surrey/Vancouver, BC) who are once again considering an LRT.
Valley Line is now 35-40% of YEG's LRT system length but has just 15% of the ridership, so it doesn't seem like a great model for us 🤔 (1/2)
Valley Line is now 35-40% of YEG's LRT system length but has just 15% of the ridership, so it doesn't seem like a great model for us 🤔 (1/2)
NOTE TO MEDIA: I would love to speak with you on this!
Come find me at the Blue Grouse Gondola ribbon cutting ceremony at 4PM at the Grouse base station! I will be in attendance and wearing maroon-red/SFU colours!
Come find me at the Blue Grouse Gondola ribbon cutting ceremony at 4PM at the Grouse base station! I will be in attendance and wearing maroon-red/SFU colours!
December 12, 2024 at 7:08 PM
NOTE TO MEDIA: I would love to speak with you on this!
Come find me at the Blue Grouse Gondola ribbon cutting ceremony at 4PM at the Grouse base station! I will be in attendance and wearing maroon-red/SFU colours!
Come find me at the Blue Grouse Gondola ribbon cutting ceremony at 4PM at the Grouse base station! I will be in attendance and wearing maroon-red/SFU colours!
The sheer pedestrian volume makes that right turn arguably useless anyway 🤷
December 2, 2024 at 7:28 PM
The sheer pedestrian volume makes that right turn arguably useless anyway 🤷
It's quite an old pic now because of how long we've been waiting for the #SFUGondola 😅 but there is good news as TransLink's 2025 Investment Plan going to Mayors' Council tomorrow makes it the highest priority!
If approved we will, hopefully, finally get gondola by 2028! #GiveStudentsALift
If approved we will, hopefully, finally get gondola by 2028! #GiveStudentsALift
November 27, 2024 at 10:05 PM
It's quite an old pic now because of how long we've been waiting for the #SFUGondola 😅 but there is good news as TransLink's 2025 Investment Plan going to Mayors' Council tomorrow makes it the highest priority!
If approved we will, hopefully, finally get gondola by 2028! #GiveStudentsALift
If approved we will, hopefully, finally get gondola by 2028! #GiveStudentsALift