National Train Day in USA

This Saturday is National Train Day in the USA. I thought I'd mention it now because sometimes you can get some great deals from AMTRAK if you act fast around this date. I've written before about my trips out of the Fairhaven Station in Bellingham, WA several times. It's a great place to travel out of if you live in the Fraser Valley.

AMTRAK has established this website for this year's National Train Day. Last year I traveled on National Train Day and it was a party-like atmosphere at almost every station along the way. Surprisingly they list activities at other Washington State stations, but not Seattle. The Portland, Oregon station has a special event that you can view here.

There are also some great pictures of old and new trains, as well as this article from AMTRAK's ARRIVE Magazine. US Vice President Joe Biden rode the rails up and down the US east coast with an estimate of 7,000 round trips during his career. The Obama administration has been putting considerable stimulus monies into rail as many of you know. It's interesting to note that an AMTRAK employee told me shortly after the election that when the presidential election results were announced, a few former executives at AMTRAK resigned because they knew that under Obama they would actually have to work towards improved passenger rail service.

Living in the Valley I don't even bother to look at Via Rail's website much. Their was a time a couple of years ago that their search engine didn't even show Vancouver to Seattle train service. It's a sad state of affairs for our national rail service and we can only hope that one day money will be invested in it and we can have our National Train Day here in Canada in a real way. Until then I will continue to depart from BEL and give AMTRAK my train fare. For that I get exceptional and friendly service, good food, fresh drinks and a stress-free ride to Seattle or Portland. I would love to do the coast to California one day via AMTRAK. A worthy goal for the future!

Happy National Train Day to you!

More on Quattro 3

I promised more sustainability info on the Quattro 3 development in Surrey that was launched on May 1st. Here it is:

• All of the Quattro buidlings (1-3) are set into grade and therefore do not have excessive land requirements. This allows for more green space on the property.
• Quattro 3 offers more homes on the same footprint as the other Quattro buildings. But as Quattro 3 is a five-story building and Quattro 1 & 2 are four-story, Quattro 3 gains the higher density.
• Quattro 3 suites have Low-E coating on glazing (glass windows, doors, etc.), fluorescent lighting in some common areas including corridors, and energy efficient appliances.

Here's the sweet spot as I see it. You are nearby to two SkyTrain stations and in a walkable neighbourhood that allows you to visit the super market and other shopping and services. the Quattro community is built on land that previously provided NO usable public land. It now offers the Quattro community green space with parking and an outdoor atrium - all amenities that did not exist before Quattro. If you are looking for a new home, check out Quattro. At some point very soon I hope to visit their presentation centre and check it out for myself.

Quattro 3 in Surrey - Location, Location, Location

I've been looking to write about a new development in the City of Surrey and just have not had a free moment. I plan to do a couple of posts on QUATTRO because it is worthy of some note here. I am also awaiting slides from that Active Transportation forum I attended because I want to provide some visuals for you.

We will highlight sustainable and/or transit oriented developments here from time to time. We are not getting money to do this (we don't!), but as advocates we feel we need to recognize quality developers that buy into the vision that the people who read this blog support. So, let's look at Quattro for a bit...

Back in 2008 part of this nearly-completed development burnt to the ground. The developer took his time to assemble a quality product and this past Saturday May 1st, Quattro 3 was launched. In the heart of Surrey City Centre this development is very transit oriented and walkable. Quattro 1 and 2 sold out within hours of their launch. Sales of Quattro 3 have been brisk and I believe this is due to people getting over their love affairs with automobiles and looking to public transit and walkable neighbourhoods.

I thought in this post I would keep it short and perovide this area map to show just how walkable and transit-accessible Quattro really is. See for yourself:

How would you like all of these amenities in your back yard? What you may not realize is that Mayor Dianne Watts and her administration have dedicated a City of Surrey Economic Development section JUST for Surrey City Centre and as most know, she has committed to relocate Surrey City Hall to this area. You've heard the phrase, "Don't Mess with Texas"? I say, don't mess with Surrey. Watch this space as we examine more details about this exciting development at Quattro 3.

If you know of a transit-oriented or sustainable development in your area, please e-mail us with some info and a URL and we will check it out and investigate including it here.

TransLink Planning Process May Change

Today's Province Newspaper carries an article that in the print addition carries a planning headline and in the electronic edition has another. You can read it here. I'm tired of reading negative, after negative story on every news topic, so I'd like to focus on the positive.

"Transportation Minister Shirley Bond is more interested in getting things done than in how they are done. That’s why the TransLink legislation she introduced Thursday changed the rules on how the transportation authority does its planning, she says. Instead of having to detail funding for a 10-year plan, the amendments will simply require TransLink to show every year how it will pay for the next three years of its operation."

I think this sort of planning is a huge step in the right direction and one that is based more on reality. I've seen detailed 5 and 10 year plans in business that are totally unrealistic and worthless. I worked for a large corporation that loved them. As a member if the senior management team, I found the entire exercise just plain silly. Good on Minister Shirley Bond for applying some common sense and good business logic. TransLink needs to become more business minded.

With regards to public oversight I would just say that I'm all in favour of oversight and public participation. But I'm seeing more and more in the municipal setting that when it comes to technical issues, staff get kicked around by people who are not engineers, nor have the years of technical experience. I believe as in the corporate world there is a place for a Board of Directors and then public discussion as plans are made technically ready. I'm sure others here will disagree with that, but I'm seeing the harmful affects of this other system on our community.

The short of it is, better planning by TranLink equates to a better transit system for all of us. Right on Minister Shirley Bond!