Winnipeg City Transit/Rapid Transit

[cslusarc]

With today's snow storm, has Winnipeg Transit ever used it's emergeny snow route plan? Today may have bern a good day to deplsy it.

[Kinguni]

Originally Posted by cslusarc

With today's snow storm, has Winnipeg Transit ever used it's emergeny snow route plan? Today may have bern a good day to deplsy it.

Never. They created it after the '97 blizzard, and I know there have been several times it should have been used. Excuse I heard was that they needed the mayor's authorization to implement it and they've never received it.

[bomberjet]

In my limited travel yesterday, I saw 2 buses stuck blocking the road entirely! Like sideways across both lanes haha

[Kinguni]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

In my limited travel yesterday, I saw 2 buses stuck blocking the road entirely! Like sideways across both lanes haha

That happened in quite a few places yesterday. Thinking the 4 season tires a few of the buses have kept those ones going. Hoping eventually the whole fleet has them, but they are in short supply across North America.

[thebasketballgeek]

Finally done my last major studio project for my Bachelor's in Environmental Design. I must say I have learned a bunch especially regarding transit. My site in question was Downtown and I thought it would be interesting to share my proposed transit expansion within Downtown and to a lesser extent the rest of the city.

Firstly as a reminder here is the proposed transit plan from the city.



Now for the proposal of my alternative. The dashed lines are BRT/Tram, while the solid lines are what I was thinking for a proposed metro system in the distant future as a justification for rail relocation.



Some things to note

- The Blue line from Portage/Pembina and the Orange Line from St. Mary's/Main remain uncahnged.

- The Rose line (Grant/KP) stays on Pembina and diverts to Donald once past Osborne Station. Where Donald will either be a new version of Graham Ave, or both Donald and Smith remain as 1-way roads but with a dedicated transit lane. Then once reaching City Hall goes on the Disraeli and feeds into Henderson until reaching Chief Peguis rather then going to Sutherland and to Kildonan Place. The idea is that the Red River is the most important asset of this city and we should have as many people living nearby the river as possible.

- Proposed the future Northwest Corridor to go on Osborne rather then Donald as it creates an opportunity for a Northwest/Southeast Corridor and would allow rapid transit to Osborne Village, the Leg, and creates a junction at Portage/Colony for U of W students as they'd be able to connect to the Blue Line. It's ridiculous there are no plans for Rapid Transit for Osborne itself considering the goddamn transit garage is on Osborne.

- Also wanted to implement an inner city E-W corridor on Broadway/Provencher. Not necessary but would really make the inner city work.

- Finally, for the proposed metro the tracks on the main line and the North End Yards are already double-tracked so it's not like we need to build the rail lines, so why not instead of allowing freight through the city centre we allow commuters to reach Downtown much easier?

The airport/union Station proposed metro would be 12.5 km long but would require roughly 4km of single track construction on Saskatchewan to connect to the North End Rail yard before no more additional track construction is needed.

Then the second metro would be from the Outlet Collection to Crossroads Station terminating where the Walmart/Superstore are located. I just said Kildonan Place in map because it would be easier for the reviewers to understand the context. This rail line is entirely double tracked btw since it's the CN main line.



Well that's all I have to say. The goal was to make living in Downtown car-free preferable rather then as an alternative mode of transportation like so many major cities around the world. I would love to hear some input/criticism and further the discussion of what we want transit in the city to be in the future as we keep on growing.

[rrskylar]

We were way off topic in another thread on the homeless population who have taken over most of the bus shelters downtown and elsewhere.

Pretty pathetic in a wealthy country like Canada that politicians across all levels are so apathetic at addressing the problems!

[thurmas]

With increasing violence on transit systems across North America and especially bad in Winnipeg if you expand these lines will people even increase the ridership with so many thugs now impacting weather people want to go via transit anymore due to perceived and real safety concerns.

[Biff]

All though yours is much more professional and thought out, I find it is fairly similar to something I sketched up. It is a light rail - freeway update map.

Light blue is expressways upgraded to freeway status.

LRT:
Purple - Main/Downtown/St Mary's
Dark Blue - Henderson/Downtown/Pembina
Orange - Portage/Downtown/Transcona

I had one before for McPhillips/Garden City/Notre Dame to Downtown

[rrskylar]

Originally Posted by thurmas

With increasing violence on transit systems across North America and especially bad in Winnipeg if you expand these lines will people even increase the ridership with so many thugs now impacting weather people want to go via transit anymore due to perceived and real safety concerns.

Last two times I rode Winnipeg Transit in the past month there were crazed individuals yelling and screaming at no one in particular......really makes anyone want to use the service!

Allowing anyone on for free has to stop! No one except the really desperate will be the only ones using it the way things are going!

[thebasketballgeek]

Originally Posted by thurmas

With increasing violence on transit systems across North America and especially bad in Winnipeg if you expand these lines will people even increase the ridership with so many thugs now impacting weather people want to go via transit anymore due to perceived and real safety concerns.

Of course there are many social issues in play, however, the alternative is too keep expanding roads and alienate lower income communities who only have enough money to pay for transit.

And from my experience the rapid transit lines feel much safer then the regular bus routes and imo a lot of that comes from the higher transit ridership and better transit stations on that line.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by rrskylar

Last two times I rode Winnipeg Transit in the past month there were crazed individuals yelling and screaming at no one in particular......really makes anyone want to use the service!

Allowing anyone on for free has to stop! No one except the really desperate will be the only ones using it the way things are going!

Whenever I went to the US, I noticed that transit (at least outside NYC) felt like a social service for the poor. Quite a contrast from Canadian cities including Winnipeg where there were lots of middle class commuters on the bus.

But it feels like that has changed dramatically over last few years. Now our transit system has taken on that social service character. Your example speaks to that.

I haven't been on a Winnipeg Transit bus since the pandemic and tbh no part of me wants to get on one right now.

[bomberjet]

I've been back on the bus about once a week lately. Haven't seen anything abnormal, beyond the bus shelter conditions I mentioned in the other thread.

I've been riding in off peak times, so am not sure how full the bus gets during the rush. Likely not as full as it was pre-pandemic.

[bomberjet]

Originally Posted by thebasketballgeek

Finally done my last major studio project for my Bachelor's in Environmental Design. I must say I have learned a bunch especially regarding transit. My site in question was Downtown and I thought it would be interesting to share my proposed transit expansion within Downtown and to a lesser extent the rest of the city.

Firstly as a reminder here is the proposed transit plan from the city.

[IMG][/IMG]

Now for the proposal of my alternative. The dashed lines are BRT/Tram, while the solid lines are what I was thinking for a proposed metro system in the distant future as a justification for rail relocation.



Some things to note

- The Blue line from Portage/Pembina and the Orange Line from St. Mary's/Main remain uncahnged.

- The Rose line (Grant/KP) stays on Pembina and diverts to Donald once past Osborne Station. Where Donald will either be a new version of Graham Ave, or both Donald and Smith remain as 1-way roads but with a dedicated transit lane. Then once reaching City Hall goes on the Disraeli and feeds into Henderson until reaching Chief Peguis rather then going to Sutherland and to Kildonan Place. The idea is that the Red River is the most important asset of this city and we should have as many people living nearby the river as possible.

- Proposed the future Northwest Corridor to go on Osborne rather then Donald as it creates an opportunity for a Northwest/Southeast Corridor and would allow rapid transit to Osborne Village, the Leg, and creates a junction at Portage/Colony for U of W students as they'd be able to connect to the Blue Line. It's ridiculous there are no plans for Rapid Transit for Osborne itself considering the goddamn transit garage is on Osborne.

- Also wanted to implement an inner city E-W corridor on Broadway/Provencher. Not necessary but would really make the inner city work.

- Finally, for the proposed metro the tracks on the main line and the North End Yards are already double-tracked so it's not like we need to build the rail lines, so why not instead of allowing freight through the city centre we allow commuters to reach Downtown much easier?

The airport/union Station proposed metro would be 12.5 km long but would require roughly 4km of single track construction on Saskatchewan to connect to the North End Rail yard before no more additional track construction is needed.

Then the second metro would be from the Outlet Collection to Crossroads Station terminating where the Walmart/Superstore are located. I just said Kildonan Place in map because it would be easier for the reviewers to understand the context. This rail line is entirely double tracked btw since it's the CN main line.



Well that's all I have to say. The goal was to make living in Downtown car-free preferable rather then as an alternative mode of transportation like so many major cities around the world. I would love to hear some input/criticism and further the discussion of what we want transit in the city to be in the future as we keep on growing.

GET'R DONE! Looks great.

[thurmas]

Originally Posted by esquire

Whenever I went to the US, I noticed that transit (at least outside NYC) felt like a social service for the poor. Quite a contrast from Canadian cities including Winnipeg where there were lots of middle class commuters on the bus.

But it feels like that has changed dramatically over last few years. Now our transit system has taken on that social service character. Your example speaks to that.

I haven't been on a Winnipeg Transit bus since the pandemic and tbh no part of me wants to get on one right now.

Certainly seems to be that is what it has become.

[thebasketballgeek]

Originally Posted by Biff

The freeway system you proposed cutting through the North End Rail yard is really interesting I have never considered it. Thinking about it now that’s probably an ideal E-W corridor connecting the Airport to Transcanada with the entire stretch being primarily industrial so it would be a MAJOR trucking route. This would also free up roads like St. Anne’s and Fermor to be more pedestrian and transit friendly as well.

[bomberjet]

I believe that route was part of the previous plan for Winnipeg freeways, the plan which includes Disraeli.

The E-W route went through Whittier park, crossed the N-S freeway (which Disraeli was part of) that was planned along Waterfront Dr. and then westward along the rail line.

It is different from Main St eastward than what Biff shows. But going west, IIRC it was to be along the rail line.

[optimusREIM]

Originally Posted by Biff

All though yours is much more professional and thought out, I find it is fairly similar to something I sketched up. It is a light rail - freeway update map.

Light blue is expressways upgraded to freeway status.

LRT:
Purple - Main/Downtown/St Mary's
Dark Blue - Henderson/Downtown/Pembina
Orange - Portage/Downtown/Transcona

I had one before for McPhillips/Garden City/Notre Dame to Downtown

This is porn to me

Here's my freeway plan. Similar idea using the rail yards, but I chose to continue following the ROW all the way to Brookside Blvd. I also do the western leg of the inner ring. Yours is better though. Colours mean order of construction. I treat the perimeter as a given, then red is next, followed by purple.

[bomberjet]

Mabe move this convo to the roads thread.

But since we're all doing it. here's my freeway plan from a couple years ago.

I do like the north downtown along railway thing.

[lbnevs]

I take the Blue line about 3 times a week from OV to UM. For an "RT" route, it's not very reliable. Regularly 5-10 minutes late, with some bunching during higher-frequency times.

I'm not sure what the issue is. I guess the 'rapid' part of RT is really a weakest-link problem.

The route is 90% busway, but there are a few stretches where it has to go into regular traffic (Main between the busway and Graham, the stretch between Graham and Balmoral Station, and the stretch it shares with regular campus traffic from IG Field to UM Station). Even Graham Transit Mall and Osborne Station can slow things down because there's no way for buses to pass each other.

[Kinguni]

Originally Posted by lbnevs

I take the Blue line about 3 times a week from OV to UM. For an "RT" route, it's not very reliable. Regularly 5-10 minutes late, with some bunching during higher-frequency times.

I'm not sure what the issue is. I guess the 'rapid' part of RT is really a weakest-link problem.

The route is 90% busway, but there are a few stretches where it has to go into regular traffic (Main between the busway and Graham, the stretch between Graham and Balmoral Station, and the stretch it shares with regular campus traffic from IG Field to UM Station). Even Graham Transit Mall and Osborne Station can slow things down because there's no way for buses to pass each other.

When university is in it's traffic at the U of M that throws a kink into things, especially heading in. If the bus looses 15 minutes in that traffic, and only 5 minutes of recovery time is provided on the run, then that bus will be at least 10 minutes late with no way to make up the time. WT scheduling department only cares about efficiency on paper.