Winnipeg City Transit/Rapid Transit

[CoryB]

There would also be potential to combined the current location to the scheduled location for different buses and feed that into something like Google Maps or Waze to better give feedback on real time changes in traffic congestion.

[mcpish]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

You're inside my head Optimus. It would make perfect sense to run down Notre Dame, up McPhillips, then get into the old rail right of way by the Casino running northeast towards Main and Chief. That track will be coming out in the near future, hopefully.

You could also have another line running northwest from the casino in the other rail right of way. Share that one like they're doing on the southwest line. Theres also the hydro corridor that's runs parallel to McPhillips.

I came up with a similar idea earlier this year, and drew a map. I figured going out from downtown through the existing CP rail yards, then around McPhillips Station Casino and then down the Hydro corridor out to Amber Trails.

see post:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...37#post6923437


In my first image, here is a rough idea of the transitway and possible stations:




In my second image, this is a rough idea of the kind of new BRT routes this could allow.

[cslusarc]

@mcpish, I doubt that modifications can be made to the Slaw Rebchuk Bridge (Salter St / Isabel St) to permit the addition of bus bays at the top of the bridge to allow transit busses to stop without blocking other traffic and the installation of stairs, escalators and elevators to connect travelers between Routes 17 & 38 up top with the ground level transit-way.

[esquire]

From CBC Manitoba, some prophet of doom stuff:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manito...lity-1.3608907

Winnipeg rapid transit corridors may be ineligible for federal funds

Ottawa earmarked $80M for Manitoba projects — but they must be completed by 2018

By Bartley Kives, CBC News

Earlier this year, the Trudeau government pledged to make $80 million available for Manitoba transit projects. On Tuesday, Winnipeg Transit director Dave Wardrop told council's public works committee the city's transit corridors may not be eligible for that money, along with $80 million worth of matching provincial transit funds, under the criteria laid out by the Trudeau government.

In order to be eligible, it appears the projects in question must be completed by 2018, Wardrop said. Right now, the East Transitway does not have a route, let alone a tentative start date. The Southwest Transitway might be completed by 2020.

I would hope that the feds provide an extension... it would be quite remarkable if they said that our punishment for not recognizing the importance of rapid transit by building it quickly enough was to not get rapid transit money at all.

[MalcolmTucker]

The initial Public Transit Infrastructure Fund tranche isn't for big projects:

The PTIF will primarily support investments that meet immediate public priorities including: projects that improve the state of good repair of public transit, that support system optimization and efficiency, increase asset management capacity, and design and planning for future expansion of public transit systems.

[bomberjet]

So we're supposed to spend $80M on a bunch of bus stop repairs and small time measures? Seems like a waste. What are the large Cities like Toronto going to do with hundreds of millions?

Seems like a weird program that is over funded and a bit confusing.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

So we're supposed to spend $80M on a bunch of bus stop repairs and small time measures? Seems like a waste. What are the large Cities like Toronto going to do with hundreds of millions?

Seems like a weird program that is over funded and a bit confusing.

For what it's worth there are probably a lot of incremental improvements that could be made to Winnipeg Transit apart from major capital projects like new RT lines... things like:

* Improved frequencies on key routes (the biggie)
* More articulated buses
* More shelters and mini-terminals
* More diamond lanes/queue jumping lights, etc.
* Various other comfort improvements like benches, improved lighting and signage, wifi, transit cops, etc.

Transit has actually done a lot of that sort of thing over the past decade, but there is always room for improvement.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

So we're supposed to spend $80M on a bunch of bus stop repairs and small time measures? Seems like a waste. What are the large Cities like Toronto going to do with hundreds of millions?

Seems like a weird program that is over funded and a bit confusing.

Does the city have buses on order? Want to implement wait time screens at a lot of stops? Maybe install fare sale machine at busy stops and move to proof of payment? fix of pavement/concrete in any bus lay bys? Have some life cycle projects on the transit garages?

Toronto is in the middle of a big signals project, and likely has enough regular maintenance and small upgrades like new turnstiles or adding an elevator to non-accessible stations going on that the money could easily be matched.

[bomberjet]

Shit, I guess. While I agree that all that stuff is great. $80M seems like a lot of cash to spend on shelters and signs. There needs to be plans in place to get the money, from my understanding, too.

To be clear, I'm not complaining about the funding. Just it's a bit of a weird situation where you need to have "shovel ready" projects for $80M in funding, on spot improvements.

[esquire]

^ I just hope that WT knows exactly what it's doing. It almost sounds like MalcomTucker knows more about funding eligibility than they do.

[bomberjet]

If transit can spend it on buses, like they are looking into now, I guess that's decent. Buses are expensive.

[Cyro]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

Does the city have buses on order?

Shortly, order pending approval..

May.27th

A report that will go to the city's public works committee next week shows Transit wants to extend its contract with New Flyer into 2017 and purchase, at a cost of nearly $16 million, 30 new 40-ft. buses officials say are necessary to replace unserviceable buses through to the end of 2017.

http://www.winnipegsun.com/2016/05/2...with-new-flyer

[bomberjet]

They've put that order on hold pending determination of Trudeau's funding requirements.

[CoryB]

The Investors Group Field station should be able to meet that timeframe. I wonder if they could work on accelerating the plans to expand the Fort Rouge garage to meet rapid transit needs could fall into this as well. Perhaps they can use those funds for the study and land acquisitions on the east transitway?

[bomberjet]

The planning thing I would say yes, but the City has already budgeted that for this year. Maybe they can get it back. Maybe they could also use it for the east transit garage they are planning.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by CoryB

The Investors Group Field station should be able to meet that timeframe.

I swear I'm going to give up my Bomber tickets if they ixnay this project.

[bomberjet]

^Hahaha. I could not see any possible scenario in which that station is axed.

I would think since the City is negotiating with Plenary on the final transitway contract, there will be some kind of documents coming out afterwards showing the final plan.

[jmt18325]

Might be a good opportunity to buy some electric buses.

[LilZebra]

Originally Posted by Cyro

Shortly, order pending approval..

May.27th


http://www.winnipegsun.com/2016/05/2...with-new-flyer

That same newspaper article said that WT plans on expanding the fleet from 625 to 635 diesel buses by 2017.

I hope we get perhaps 5 artics. and 5 40 footers out of this.

[biguc]

Given all the problems WT has been having with its fleet, I'd say they could easily spend $800 million and it would go to good use replacing and expanding the fleet. But 10 more buses is a joke.