September 27th Rotary Meeting Notes
Guests: Dave Lewin, our guest speaker from Translink,
Karen Rockwell (2nd meeting),
Eddie Trovato Music teacher from GlenEagle HS,
Khayanga Wasike our friend from Kenya and a
special WELCOME BACK to George Broderick.
Upcoming events:
- October 10 World Mental Health Day wear purple
- October 12 End Polio Now—5:30-8:30 Burrard Public House. $25.00 includes Burger and Beveridge.
- October 14th Rotary RIPS
- October 21st Rotary Tree Planting at Dawes Hill Park in Coquitlam
- February 9th 2018 Peace Building Conference in Vancouver.
- Rotary World Help’s 20th anniversary this year. So far 372 containers with a value of $112,000,00 and impacting 10 million people in 3rd world countries.
President Mike’s “Rotarian making a difference” this week—Bill Lawrie
Dave Lewin guest speaker from Translink.
New Evergreen Line has been very successful especially peak rush hour periods and for special events including our RIBFEST. They have an order in for 40 more cars. Our system is currently the longest driverless train in the world.
Use of new compass cards has increased dramatically now they’ve worked thru the initial glitches. Now the gates are operational cards work better. Note when you enter a gate you are charged for 3 zones then when you exit you are credited if your trip is less than 3 zones. Also note that previous to Compass cards there were over 200 different forms of payment/passes but now there are only 3—concession, adult blue and white.
Majority of the translink trips are still on buses. Working on small new park and ride at Inlet Centre and a “kiss-n-ride” for the same area. Tied in with the advent of the Evergreen Line they launched the biggest bus expansion ever adding new routes to tie into line stations plus adjusting and adding routes throughout the lower mainland.
Bike routes are considered part of the Translink network. Many cycle/bus as part of their commute (buses now have bike carriers (2 bike) on most routes). Translink looking at creating bike storage in the stations to make bike/skytrain trips feasible in future.
Fare Policy Review ongoing—considering cost per distance travelled not by zones. Vancouver is also 1 of the only places where you have 90 minutes to transfer so can ride/shop/and return home on 1 charge if made within 90 minutes.
System has lots of people to help in the stations, there is a “trip planner” app and website, also text to “next bus” where you can get info on the next bus to your stop, next week is kid’s free week next week
They are looking to work with groups (kids or adult) to understand system and tie ins. We will work closer for RIBFEST next year to get more guests from outside TriCities area and they will work with us with advertising on trains (print, online, videos on the train).
Also have a unique program for “Compass Card Donations” for visitors who don’t use all their card or locals who want a new card and drop off their old card donating the money still on the card to their program. Money goes to those who need it.
We have also just found out that Steve W is our new BEST friend of Rotary because look what he bought.....