Calgary Public Transit II - Page 100

Northski · #**1981** Posted **Jan 11, 2011, 7:31 PM**

Real time information for LRT is kind of useless. If frequencies are 5 minutes or 10 minutes your not going to adjust your behavior. Service disruptions announcements are of course highly useful.

It would be more useful to have real time information on the less frequent, least reliable, routes. For example routes like 73/72 and 20 come worse then randomly during bad weather.

Wooster · #**1982** Posted **Jan 11, 2011, 9:01 PM**

^ Real time information is not just about adjusting behavior. It really does make a big difference in riding a train to know the train is coming in 3 minutes as opposed to 7 or 8. I'm not sure why, but the knowledge really does make the ridership experience more enjoyable and less stressful. When I was in Toronto, real time info for the subway, even though frequencies are really good, felt like a god-send.

freeweed · #**1983** Posted **Jan 11, 2011, 9:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wooster

^ Real time information is not just about adjusting behavior. It really does make a big difference in riding a train to know the train is coming in 3 minutes as opposed to 7 or 8. I'm not sure why, but the knowledge really does make the ridership experience more enjoyable and less stressful. When I was in Toronto, real time info for the subway, even though frequencies are really good, felt like a god-send.

Absolutely. When the windchill hit -27 or whatever yesterday, and I had to wait for 2 City Centre trains, it sure would have been nice to know that at least my Crowfoot train was coming EVENTUALLY. For all I knew there was a service disruption - knowing it was 5 minutes away would at least calm me down, or heck, let me go inside for a few minutes to warm up.

Still more useful on infrequent buses, but it's awesome on trains. In London it was phenomenal even on trains with 3 minute service.

fusili · #**1984** Posted **Jan 11, 2011, 9:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wooster

^ Real time information is not just about adjusting behavior. It really does make a big difference in riding a train to know the train is coming in 3 minutes as opposed to 7 or 8. I'm not sure why, but the knowledge really does make the ridership experience more enjoyable and less stressful. When I was in Toronto, real time info for the subway, even though frequencies are really good, felt like a god-send.

It also lets people pop into a convenience store or coffee shop to grab something quickly if the train is going to be a bit. Even for people such as myself, I might take the train if it is coming soon, or I might just walk.

Additionally, putting GPS in the trains and buses makes lots of sense because it provides a huge source of information to analyze vehicle speeds and operations. Decisions concerning traffic signal timing, intersection design etc etc are made much better though proper information. For example NYC has put GPS units into all the taxis in the city. Because of this, they can analyze the impact of any changes on average traffic flow and speeds. This is how they learnt that closing Broadway for 4 blocks actually improved traffic.

Radley77 · #**1985** Posted **Jan 11, 2011, 10:09 PM**

I think the GPS will help people manage their time better. If it saves even one minute of time waiting at a stop, then based on about 160 million trips annually in Calgary for ridership, then it has saved 304 manyears in time in one year. I think that's phenemonal value.

MalcolmTucker · #**1986** Posted **Jan 11, 2011, 10:43 PM**

As long as it is relatively cheap, it is pretty good value. In the last couple of years the price to do it seems to really have dropped. That being said, besides major transfer points (LRT stations, some intersections) it is still way too expensive to install for the marginal utility which is close to zero (while it might transform 'perceived waiting time' which is most often a multiple of real time into real time, it still does not 'save' time.

Real economic utility comes from real time information being fed to online and smartphone capable trip planners and a newer teleride system (and perhaps a text-ride for the no smart phone crowd).

The Chemist · #**1987** Posted **Jan 11, 2011, 10:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fusili

Barcelona actually counts down the seconds to the metro arriving. Almost every time it was accurate within 10 seconds. It is nice as a passenger to be able to arrive at the station and say "Sweet, the train will be here in 45 seconds." It also helped that the headways were all 5 minutes or less.

They do this on the Shanghai Metro as well. And it's usually very accurate.

srperrycgy · #**1988** Posted **Jan 12, 2011, 1:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northski

It would be more useful to have real time information on the less frequent, least reliable, routes. For example routes like 73/72 and 20 come worse then randomly during bad weather.

I can vouch for this situation tonight. Got the bus stop at 5:10 and waited until 5:50 when 4 #72 buses appeared. Asked the operator where the delay was. CN was doing their railcar shunting at their crossing of Barlow Trail in the Foothills Ind. I'm only just getting warm again.

Ferreth · #**1989** Posted **Jan 12, 2011, 2:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by srperrycgy

I can vouch for this situation tonight. Got the bus stop at 5:10 and waited until 5:50 when 4 #72 buses appeared. Asked the operator where the delay was. CN was doing their railcar shunting at their crossing of Barlow Trail in the Foothills Ind. I'm only just getting warm again.

I hate that RR intersection! I hope that one is still in the works for a grade separated crossing in the next 2 years. I just about went home that way today, but my spidey road sense correctly steered me to Deerfoot instead today!

Ramsayfarian · #**1990** Posted **Jan 12, 2011, 2:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferreth

I hate that RR intersection! I hope that one is still in the works for a grade separated crossing in the next 2 years. I just about went home that way today, but my spidey road sense correctly steered me to Deerfoot instead today!

I thought CN had plans tor relocate that rail yard.

/edit
http://www.cn.ca/en/customer-news-calgary-logistics-park-20100204.htm

Ferreth · #**1991** Posted **Jan 12, 2011, 2:18 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramsayfarian

I thought CN had plans tor relocate that rail yard.

/edit
http://www.cn.ca/en/customer-news-calgary-logistics-park-20100204.htm

Forgot about that - I'd assume the City will have changed its plans then, not like there isn't something else the money can be used on.

MalcolmTucker · #**1992** Posted **Jan 12, 2011, 2:36 AM**

Well, some functions are leaving that yard, but some will stay.

From the release:

Quote:

With a scheduled opening expected in 2013, most of CN's Calgary yard operations will shift to the new Logistics Park. CN will also continue to provide quality rail service to customers along its existing lines in the City of Calgary.

fusili · #**1993** Posted **Jan 12, 2011, 4:54 AM**

Has anyone else checked out San Fran's plans for a "Grand Central Station" in their downtown, called the Transbay Terminal? It is freaking sweet. Best thing ever!

Check it out:

http://transbaycenter.org/

I know we will never have anything close to this level of station design in Calgary, but OMMFG it is awesome!

You Need A Thneed · #**1994** Posted **Jan 12, 2011, 6:07 AM**

Double post.

You Need A Thneed · #**1995** Posted **Jan 12, 2011, 6:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fusili

Has anyone else checked out San Fran's plans for a "Grand Central Station" in their downtown, called the Transbay Terminal? It is freaking sweet. Best thing ever!

Check it out:

http://transbaycenter.org/

I know we will never have anything close to this level of station design in Calgary, but OMMFG it is awesome!

That competition picked the wrong winner, though.

They should have picked this design for the tower.

UofC.engineer · #**1996** Posted **Jan 12, 2011, 6:39 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fusili

Has anyone else checked out San Fran's plans for a "Grand Central Station" in their downtown, called the Transbay Terminal? It is freaking sweet. Best thing ever!

Check it out:

http://transbaycenter.org/

I know we will never have anything close to this level of station design in Calgary, but OMMFG it is awesome!

Looks pretty Ballin'!

I guess that is what $45 billion dollars of high speed rail gets you

Policy Wonk · #**1997** Posted **Jan 12, 2011, 7:17 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fusili

Has anyone else checked out San Fran's plans for a "Grand Central Station" in their downtown, called the Transbay Terminal? It is freaking sweet. Best thing ever!

Check it out:

http://transbaycenter.org/

I know we will never have anything close to this level of station design in Calgary, but OMMFG it is awesome!

It is a bit of a waste since it will be crackhead central and a place the public avoids immediately after opening, just like the original Transbay terminal.

Ramsayfarian · #**1998** Posted **Jan 12, 2011, 2:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir.Humphrey.Appleby

Well, some functions are leaving that yard, but some will stay.

From the release:

The move should still make a huge difference with regards to impeding traffic

fusili · #**1999** Posted **Jan 12, 2011, 4:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by You Need A Thneed

That competition picked the wrong winner, though.

They should have picked this design for the tower.

I like this tower, and the terminal was pretty awesome, but I did like the rooftop park of the accepted proposal.

fusili · #**2000** Posted **Jan 12, 2011, 4:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Policy Wonk

It is a bit of a waste since it will be crackhead central and a place the public avoids immediately after opening, just like the original Transbay terminal.

Aww, why do you have to spoil our fun?