Installation of the first “walking sticks” — a key element of the stations’ designs that support benches, roofs and windscreens — will start with the Turtle Place station downtown.
Construction is moving out to the Fourth Plain corridor, where most of the work will be performed. Some lanes on the eastbound side of the road had to be closed, but Selk said no one has responded negatively so far.
“We’ve had some inquiries, but really no complaints, and we take that as a good sign,” she said.
Some Vine stations required deep trenches as part of their construction. C-Tran staff said that was to move some utility lines out from underneath Vine station so they can be accessed with minimal interruption to transit. At the Broadway and 16th streets station, that meant crews had to dig down 15 feet to move the line to a safer location.
“When or if the city or a private utility needs to access those, they’re not having to tear up a C-Tran BRT platform,” Scott Patterson, C-Tran director of development and public affairs said at the Feb. 9 C-Tran Board of Directors meeting.
Construction on The Vine started in November, but what turned into Vancouver’s wettest December on record prevented construction crews from pouring concrete in several locations.
The month brought other woes when some business owners in the 1500 block of Broadway were frustrated that construction on a nearby Vine station closed some parking spaces, sidewalks and interrupted street traffic during the holiday shopping season. Crews finished sidewalks in front of those business about two weeks ago.
To keep the public aware of the construction progress and changes coming with The Vine, C-Tran has been holding public monthly meetings at coffee shops around the city.
About 10 people attended the most recent one at Brewed Cafe and Pub downtown and asked about topics ranging from construction progress to electronic fares.
One visitor, a man who described himself as a Fourth Plain business owner but declined to be named said he was supportive of The Vine.
“I have strong feelings about it. We need to get into the 21st century with our transportation in Clark County,” he said.
