Calgary Public Transit II

[sim]

Originally Posted by fusili

Re: Mar wants cops to ride crime off LRT

How about undercover police officers on the train. I remember Berlin had something like this, and I am pretty sure New York does as well. In Berlin, the people who check your tickets are plain clothed young officers who show you their police identification as you show them your pass. The guy who checked my ticket was wearing a hoodie, jeans and sneakers.

Uniformed officers are good at creating a presence of authority, but undercover police officers are much better at actually catching criminals.

Haha, yeah it's always kind of interesting when you are riding the S-Bahn and a lady holding an umbrella and a grocery bag asks you for proof of payment. Why does this lady want to see my ticke... oh.

In Poland we were surrounded by 4 plain clothes "officers." We had tickets, just not secondary tickets for our large bags. Who knew.

It's pretty easy to evade the transit cops here when you see them coming from a mile away.

[mooky]

F'ing prawns!

[You Need A Thneed]

NE extension update:

Forming on Saddletowne station has started, not to be confused with the retaining walls/gutters that have been done for a while now. It looks like the piling at both stations is completed or nearly completed. Sound walls must be almost completely done.

Utility relocating along 64th Ave (I believe it's related to the LRT project) has been underway for a couple of weeks. There are new overhead utility poles along the north side of 64th - just east of Metis.

I saw signs up advertising an information session for the LRT and for Metis Trail that is coming up on May 8 (Saturday) at 10 am. I'm pretty sure it's at Crossing Park School again. I'll confirm the details when I get a better look at the signs.

[fusili]

Originally Posted by sim

Haha, yeah it's always kind of interesting when you are riding the S-Bahn and a lady holding an umbrella and a grocery bag asks you for proof of payment. Why does this lady want to see my ticke... oh.

I have seen several times where uniformed officers get on the train at somewhere like SAIT, and a couple of people see them come on, and immediately get off. Kinda obvious.

[CTrainDude]

Originally Posted by fusili

Re: Mar wants cops to ride crime off LRT

How about undercover police officers on the train. I remember Berlin had something like this, and I am pretty sure New York does as well. In Berlin, the people who check your tickets are plain clothed young officers who show you their police identification as you show them your pass. The guy who checked my ticket was wearing a hoodie, jeans and sneakers.

Uniformed officers are good at creating a presence of authority, but undercover police officers are much better at actually catching criminals.

They used to have plain clothes CT officers a few years back, but I believe this ran afoul of the province and the whole 'Peace Officer' thing.

[craner]

This has likely been discussed so forgive me - I don't visit this thread too often:

Is the 4th Street SW LRT station being rebuilt 1 block east (i.e. between 3rd St & 4th St. W) ?

If so I find it odd that they would not want to have the station directly adjacent to the new courts parkade park.

I await your responses eagerly.

[mersar]

Originally Posted by craner

This has likely been discussed so forgive me - I don't visit this thread too often:

Is the 4th Street SW LRT station being rebuilt 1 block east (i.e. between 3rd St & 4th St. W) ?

If so I find it odd that they would not want to have the station directly adjacent to the new courts parkade park.

I await your responses eagerly.

4th Street is being rebuilt exactly where its always been, between 4th and 5th street. The block between 3rd and 4th is too short to use for anything (it fits about 2.5 LRV's on it), the work happening there is just the related streetscape renovations being done in conjunction with the new stations. If the station was being moved they would have built the new one before tearing out the old one as they've done on the rest of the relocated stations

[frinkprof]

Nevermind.

[frinkprof]

Nevermind.

[fusili]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

People without private vehicles (captive transit riders) have a tough time getting to places that all but mandate private vehicle use? In other news, water is wet.

Exactly. What is hilarious is how the Herald, and well, older Calgarians don't seem to understand that public transit is the number one concern for youth. Some parts of the article make this seem like this is a huge revelation or is somehow surprising. Our transit sucks, and those who don't take it, have no idea how hard it is for people who depend on it.

[craner]

Originally Posted by mersar

4th Street is being rebuilt exactly where its always been, between 4th and 5th street. The block between 3rd and 4th is too short to use for anything (it fits about 2.5 LRV's on it), the work happening there is just the related streetscape renovations being done in conjunction with the new stations. If the station was being moved they would have built the new one before tearing out the old one as they've done on the rest of the relocated stations

Thanks mersar - Glad to hear it.

[The Chemist]

Originally Posted by CTrainDude

They used to have plain clothes CT officers a few years back, but I believe this ran afoul of the province and the whole 'Peace Officer' thing.

Yep, I remember having my ticket checked one time back when I was in high school by a plain-clothes officer. It's silly that they can't do that anymore.

[RicoLance21]

I got a 'what if' scenario that has been on my mind for quite some time...

What if Calgary approved converting buses on major routes to trolleybuses to further expand its 'wind energy initiative' program on public buildings/vehicles? Also, forget what Edmonton had done. That city is never on board with such 'wind energy' initiatives.

What bus routes would get electrified?

[frinkprof]

Nevermind.

[RicoLance21]

I bought this up because Winnipeg and Laval has been considering its own system recently. Also, I see Calgary as a more feasible city to the trolleybuses than the city to the north, given the higher bus frequency, hilly terrain, denser inner city, proximity to a number of renewable resources, and better management. I have been experiencing both cities system, so I have strong proof of all of the above. I do have doubts too, but Edmonton for sure has absolutely no chance.

My choice of routes would be 1,2,3,6/106,7/107,17,and 305.

What about 301? If NLRT gets built, the whole BRT route would become redundant.

[frinkprof]

Nevermind.

[RicoLance21]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Well a big part of the idea behind introducing the 301 route in 2003 was to be a precursor to planned LRT routes, same with the 302. Limited stops and improved infrastructure (buses, signal control, and shelters) to establish travel patterns while not making the big expenditure on LRT (such as overhead wires).

I guess the 305 route would be the only BRT worth converting. Maybe future BRT to MRU would be too.

[Doug]

I'm old enough to remember when Calgary had trolley buses.

[mersar]

Theres an open house Friday mid-day for the new City Hall station.

Join The City's transportation team on the plus 15 level of The Core shopping centre for a public information session on Friday, May 7, between 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. to see design concepts for the new "gateway" stations on the east and west ends of downtown.

Some other details in the posting on the city blog

[frinkprof]

Nevermind.