Calgary Public Transit II

[fusili]

Originally Posted by Wooster

I wonder if an LRT line that ran basically the current 305 BRT route from Forest Lawn all the way west to Bowness would make any sense. Certainly the east leg, but could neighbourhoods like West Hillhurst - Parkdale - Montgomery and Bowness provide enough critical mass to support a line? could it run on Memorial drive or 16h avenue in this part of town?

I think the east end of the 305 could definitely do light rail. A streetcar would work better in my opinion. I would imagine this could work on the west side as well, but densities in Hillhurst-Parkdale-Montgomery and Bowness would have to increase. But I think that is totally possible considering the grid pattern and relative proximity to the downtown. With the light rail, it will only spur development further.

[McMahon]

Originally Posted by srperrycgy

From 1981:

Was there a different City Hall station previous to the current one?

[mersar]

Originally Posted by McMahon

Was there a different City Hall station previous to the current one?

Nope. It may have received a coat of paint but its the same station.

[DizzyEdge]

Originally Posted by mersar

Nope. It may have received a coat of paint but its the same station.

Yep just blue paint instead of the yellow in the pic:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s...K_Lq6G0H_CT5kzNSQ&cbp=12,258.41,,2,-0.81

[McMahon]

Wow. I've stood at that station thousands of times and have never noticed the skylight.

[srperrycgy]

Ok folks. I've had a bit of fun on Twitter tonight tweeting some tips on using the CTrain during Stampede. Some of you have seen this already. I was trying to be irreverent and helpful at the same time. Excuse the Twitterspeak.

LRT Tip 1: Let your fellow passengers off the CTrain before you get on.

LRT Tip 2: A packback full of #stampede stuff smacked in the head hurts. Put the bag on the floor @ ur feet.

LRT Tip 3: If the CTrain is full, another will appear w/in a few min. (at peak hours) No need to run for it.

LRT Tip 4: If you and ur dtn office mates are going to the rodeo, buy a book of tickets instead of paying cash.

LRT Tip 5: No one wants to see u making out with the gf/bf du jour. Please have some discretion.

LRT Tip 6: Try not to barf on the CTrain. Seriously, please try not to.

LRT Tip 7: Avoid travelling on Kids Day or Seniors Day. If u do, have patience.

LRT Tip 8: Holding the CTrain doors for your buddy will piss off ur fellow passengers and the operator.

LRT Tip 9: If u can walk from dtn to #stampede, do it. It's not far. It works off the bkst and/or corn dogs.

LRT Tip 10: Newer LRVs (the boxy ones) now have A/C. Enjoy.

LRT Tip 11: Please remember to bathe. Odours and crowded CTrains aren't fun for anyone.

LRT Tip 12: There are 2 LRT stations that acccess the park: Vic Park/Stampede and Erlton/Stampede.

LRT Tip 13: Keep the onboard YouTube videos tasteful and not x-rated. No one wants to see ur 8 sec ride.

LRT Tip 14: Try to Watch ur language. Kids are around. Try Yee Haw! instead of the f-bomb.

LRT Tip 15: Hang on! The straps and poles are there for a reason. No! Not for that! sheesh!

LRT Tip 16: Help out visitors if you can. I know a lot of you will.

LRT Tip 17: Your 4ft Stuffed Bear doesn't deserve it's own seat. Give up ur seat for someone who needs it.

LRT Tip 18: $3 required to park at LRT Park-n-Ride lots weekdays only (2am-6pm).

LRT Tip 19: There are 3 CTrain cars w/ 4 exits on each. Plenty to get on/off the CTrain. No need to 'herd' at 1

LRT Tip 20: Escalators: Stand to the right. Walk on the left. Simple right?

LRT Tip 21: Because of const., Centre St. is the last platform heading S. before Vic Park/Stampede. City Hall closed.

LRT Tip 22: Last One: Have Fun! CT is there to get u to #stampede #yyc #yyctransit

[outoftheice]

Thanks to all for the encouraging words about growsmart.ca. I'll keep plugging away at it and hopefully one day it will start to show some results. There's an article in today's Herald talking about funding for the SE LRT becoming a priority in the election. If only this discussion could be expanded to include planning for a Centre Street Subway, then I would be a happy camper!!

Push on in Council, and in mayoral campaign, to make Southeast LRT top priority

By Jason Markusoff, Calgary Herald July 6, 2010

Mayoral candidate Bob Hawkesworth is positioning himself as champion of the southeast LRT, urging council to devote nearly all the Calgary’s region’s provincial transit dollars to a downtown-to-Douglasdale line.

His campaign promise-cum-aldermanic maneouvering comes two weeks after the Stelmach government confirmed that the Calgary area will get $800 million from the "Green Trip" program for intercity and big-city transit expansions.

Hawkesworth, a northwest alderman, will present a council motion at the July 19 meeting to demand city officials have a formal funding pitch for the southeast LRT ready for the next mayor and council to approve by November.

He’s also pitching to formally investigate other funding options, since even the full $800 million wouldn’t be enough to extend C-Train service to the southeast and the province’s Green Trip rules say cities help fund the projects.

Calgary Transit’s functional planning study for the line envisions underground stations up 2nd Street S.W. downtown to Eau Claire and a southeast terminus at the South Calgary hospital.

"I’m proposing that we get maximum value by starting at-grade downtown and going as far as we can get with the money available," Hawkesworth told reporters in a lobby of a new 10th Avenue S.E. building, near where the train would stop.

C-Train expansions will likely become a major issue this election campaign, including from longtime proponent Ald. Ric McIver, who represents the southeast.


© Copyright (c) The Calgary

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Push+C...riority/3243101/story.html#ixzz0syYKUdwB

[freeweed]

Re: those Stampede tips:

I must be getting old and crusty, because I have a very hard time parsing most of those. I know it's technically related to English, and Twitter is a piece of shit so we have to talk like morons when using it due to needless character limitations, but still.

(Not an attack on the poster, an attack on the medium)

[Rusty van Reddick]

fw, I'm older than you and had no problems at all.

Tip 23: Smoke stink is worse than BO. If you just sucked down a fag, stay off the train.
Tip 24: If the train has windows that open, OPEN THEM.

[Radley77]

COol, I like the tips...

Move to the centre of the train (or rear of the bus) is another one that I think really helps keep the system operating efficiently.

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by Rusty van Reddick

fw, I'm older than you and had no problems at all.

That's because you didn't spend a year of your life obsessed with Sumerian culture.

I've gotten used to "u" to some degree, but I swear my brain just does a full stop every time I see "ur" used. I keep thinking our new LRT stations are going to be shaped like ziggurats

[Stang]

Originally Posted by Rusty van Reddick

Tip 24: If the train has windows that open, OPEN THEM.

I'm assuming that the air conditioned LRVs would be better off with them shut. But on the old U2s - absolutely!

Edit: That actually reminds me to ask: do the SD160s with AC have the windows permanently closed now? I have seen this done somewhere on a train with air conditioning before, but I can't recall where.

[mooky]

I believe on AC equipped LRV's they have secured the windows permanently shut.

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by mooky

I believe on AC equipped LRV's they have secured the windows permanently shut.

This is correct, and in fact CT now has stickers on the window that state "This Window Does Not Open".

I passed on an amusing anecdote a few weeks back when a rider struggled for half of her ride home to open a window; maybe CT saw that and the light bulbs turned on.

[mersar]

Yep. The new Series 8 LRV's actually have one piece windows so you can't actually try to open them, and some of the refurbs of the older LRV's are also getting the one piece windows (2224 did and 2211 I believe did) when they go in for their roofline update and new paint job (since CT has gone back to painting the LRV's rather then using vinyl decals)

[Aegis]

Originally Posted by freeweed

This is correct, and in fact CT now has stickers on the window that state "This Window Does Not Open".

I passed on an amusing anecdote a few weeks back when a rider struggled for half of her ride home to open a window; maybe CT saw that and the light bulbs turned on.

What a stupid decision on the part of the LRV design team. What if the A/C breaks? At least with a window that can open, it would be tolerable..

[MichaelS]

Originally Posted by Aegis

What a stupid decision on the part of the LRV design team. What if the A/C breaks? At least with a window that can open, it would be tolerable..

But what if someone opens the window on a hot day when the A/C is working fine? It will be very inefficient, and probably cause the car to actually heat up than if you had just left it closed (sort of like leaving the fridge door open).

Have you had some bad luck with some mechanical devices recently? With this post, and your post about the automated parkade a few days ago in the construction thread, it seems you are kind of gun shy to trust technology these days.

[mooky]

He's having a Maximum Overdrive moment!

[Aegis]

Originally Posted by MichaelS

But what if someone opens the window on a hot day when the A/C is working fine? It will be very inefficient, and probably cause the car to actually heat up than if you had just left it closed (sort of like leaving the fridge door open).

Have you had some bad luck with some mechanical devices recently? With this post, and your post about the automated parkade a few days ago in the construction thread, it seems you are kind of gun shy to trust technology these days.

No, technology is great - but only if it makes life better through higher efficiency, pareto optimal output, or expanded intangible benefits (knowledge, education, etc). Its only as good as "the weakest link."

If technology solves one problem (hot interior of a train in the summer) but creates another (unbearably hot train in the summer when a/c malfunctions), are we really farther ahead?

The simple solution is, just leave the window functionalty! That way, you have the best of both worlds. Most people would understand that when the A/C works, you close the windows so that you get maximum benefit.

I saw a documentary the other day on this company that was trying to install these "play wells" (I forget the trade-marked name) in Africa. All the celebrity doo-gooders were behind it (Bill Clinton, Richard Branson, etc). The idea was, install a massive mechanical wheel that kids can spin around on all day, and that mechanical motion brings the water up from the underground well. The problem was, many of these villages had perfectly functional horizonal well dericks (the kind you see in campgrounds in Kananaskis), and they were forcibly removed to make way for the play-well. The play-well machine was not designed for adults to use, (too small), so when kids didn't want to spin around (and get dizzy all day,) there was no water. Most of the machines broke, and some of them were drilled in locations without an underground water source. Sure enough, this company didn't have a 24 hour repair service. Perhaps some other forumers can describe the exact sitution in more detail, but it's yet another of an inferior technology that costs more doesn't actually make people's lives easier. The solution would have simply been to leave the old well infrastructure in place, just incase the new miracle play-well didn't work as expected.

In general, I like well-engineered technology that makes people's lives easier or more productive ; not ultra-proprietary, non-standardized, anti-open source stuff that just costs more and creates dependency on another product or service, or leads to a worse-than-expected outcome later on.

[You Need A Thneed]

If other cities don't have problems with the AC malfunctioning, then why do we? Most other cities don't have openable window in their train cars at all. Pretty much all of those cities have a lot greater risk of overwhelming heat than we do.