Quote:
Originally Posted by outoftheice
What I would like to see is Calgary Transit take steps to elevate the BRT network into a true primary transit network in the minds of Calgarians. To do this I think that they should take several steps to put it on par with the service standards of the LRT.
- Change the large format LRT maps that are posted at all of Calgary's LRT stations to large format Rapid Transit maps that include all of Calgary's BRT network. This would broaden public awareness of the BRT services. Maps would not necessarily need to show every stop along the BRT routes but should at the very least show how interchanges between the LRT and BRT services can be made. I think this will become much more important once we see the north and south crosstown services implemented as well as the Green Line BRT.
- Install heated shelters (or at the very least shelters) at all of Calgary's BRT stops. This helps to elevate the services beyond the rest of the bus network and brings the standard of a BRT stop closer to what is offered at Calgary's LRT stations. I think it will also help increase ridership as one of the only things that keeps me riding the LRT network in the winter is the knowledge that heated shelters are available at a large number of the stations and I would be more than happy to extend this ridership to the BRT network if I knew I wouldn't freeze my butt off at the stop.
- Install real time "Next Bus" signs at all of the BRT network stops. I think this system has dramatically improved the user experience for the LRT network and would do the same to the BRT network. I agree with others that a mobile app would be sufficient for the rest of the network but information for the BRT network should be accessible to all users and not just locals with mobiles who have knowledge of an app. Keeping with this train of thought, I think the schedules of the BRT routes as well as any regular bus routes that make use of the stop should be displayed.
- Install local area maps at all BRT stops. This is done at the LRT stations and is great for orienting oneself to the area when getting off the train. I think having this information readily accessible would make a huge difference in people's confidence levels when it comes to the whether or not they will be able to locate their intended destination once they've taken the bus to the general area where they want to be.
I'm not too sure how much implementing these things would be but my guess is that it would probably be in the $5-10 million range. While it is a large expense, I think the investment would be well received by transit users and go a long way to bringing Calgary's transit network into the "world class" realm. Now is also the time to do it as Calgary Transit gets ready to roll out seven major BRT corridor projects over the next few years.
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I agree, additionally I would suggest:
- Moving the BRT to dedicated infrastructure at key points this would significantly help it become a proper part of a rapid transit network.
-With the implementation of real time data, moving to a frequency based system rather than a time based one would help to, this way you know there will be a bus every x minutes rather than it coming at a specific time. The drivers would then aim to be x minutes behind the bus in front of them rather than aiming for a specific time at a specific stop. This would reduce the bunching that is seen now. This requires dedicated infrastructure though for proper implementation.
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