Calgary Public Transit II

[frinkprof]

I found this on CT's website. It shows the tentative schedule for 4 car train extensions. I presume it will be updated sometime later this year to show a more firm date on the ones listed as "2012 or 2013." Also note the ones which need to be closed. If no more are added, I must say I'm surprised that it is only 3 total including Southland. The Chinook closure will be a bitch to deal with since a lot of bus routes (especially crosstown routes like 72/73 and 23) connect through that station.



This is in addition to the following assumptions:

- Victoria Park/Stampede will be extended during the hockey offseason, and not during Stampede
- SAIT and University will be extended during the months of May-August
- Banff Trail will be extended during the months of December-May

[lubicon]

The Chinook closure will be a real bitch personally. The timing of it will coincide nicely with the moving of our company offices from DT to the industrial park just east of Chinook station. A large chunk of our workforce takes transit and we'll no sooner get settled in to our new digs and then everyone's commuting schedule will be completely messed up by this closure.

[MichaelS]

Do we know how long the closure will be? Will it be 6 weeks like Southland, or just a weekend like Whitehorn?

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by MichaelS

Do we know how long the closure will be? Will it be 6 weeks like Southland, or just a weekend like Whitehorn?

For Chinook and 39th Avenue, probably something on the order of 6 weeks like Southland. One or more weekend closures will likely be needed for most other stations.

[Cage]

Originally Posted by mersar

CT recently tendered for the replacement of all the windows on both the older sd160s as well as the u2s. Essentially stronger, more vandalism resistant and better insulated glass. They started with doing this on sone of the older sd160s when they did the roofline refurb and there's about a half dozen of those done now I believe now.

Thanks Mersar for the information. This answers my questions (the original question was poorly worded, apologies to the SSP community about that).

Replacement of windows on the older SD160s is great idea. No longer a need for the windows to open at the top as the cabin is climate controlled for both heat and a/c.

Changing the windows on the U2's does pose a problem, IMHO. They don't have A/C and the cabin can get quite hot when the train travels downhill and the driver rides the brakes. Openning and closing the windows is the only way to regulate cabin temp.

[mersar]

Originally Posted by Cage

Thanks Mersar for the information. This answers my questions (the original question was poorly worded, apologies to the SSP community about that).

Replacement of windows on the older SD160s is great idea. No longer a need for the windows to open at the top as the cabin is climate controlled for both heat and a/c.

Changing the windows on the U2's does pose a problem, IMHO. They don't have A/C and the cabin can get quite hot when the train travels downhill and the driver rides the brakes. Openning and closing the windows is the only way to regulate cabin temp.

I believe the new windows on the u2s are still openable.

[mersar]

Just looking through council agendas, and noticed that the LPT committee is going to be presented with a recomendation from Administration tomorrow to move ahead with buying new LRV's versus refurbisment.

Also a lot of details in the report outlining the rationale, including anticipated fleet sizes, cost per unit depending on going with Siemens or someone else, minimum order sizes, retirement plans (8 or 9 LRV's a year after 2012). And also the expected 'midlife' refurb for the older SD160's that will start in about 5 years, which will include updates to make them compatible with the Series 8 SD160's we're now receiving including new couplers, cameras, etc.

[MalcolmTucker]

When is the LPT meeting?

[CTrainDude]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

When is the LPT meeting?

Tomorrow....

[MichaelS]

Starts at 9:30 in the morning.

[CTrainDude]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

For Chinook and 39th Avenue, probably something on the order of 6 weeks like Southland. One or more weekend closures will likely be needed for most other stations.

I would guess that Chinook will be longer.

[McPaul]

I've determined that people in this city have NO comprehension of the term "personal space"

I got on the 302 at A Channel. Sat at the far back right, up against the window.

The 302 is a long ride, right?

Well, just two stops later, some guy gets on the bus, which is nearly empty, I think there was one person at the front and one in the middle.. This guy sits down at the back center seat Just one seat away from me.

Wtf? I wanted to turn to the guy and say "you have GOT to be kidding!!!?" but didn't. The bus was empty!!!

I could understand him sitting at the left window... Even that I wouldn't mind, but one seat between our cheeks? No way.

I know I should have moved or said something, but didn't. I just stared at him in disbelief.

And he rode it all the way down, too. I got off at 130 ave, he got off huts before the deer foot inn.


UGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

[frinkprof]

There is a significant committee going on today at City Hall. The Land Use Planning and Transportation (LPT) committee meets and will be presented with a series of reports that Calgary Transit was directed to prepare, largely dealing with the LRV fleet. The reports include:

- LRV fleet plan
- Whether to refurbish the old U2 trains, or to replace them with new ones
- Delivering 4 car CTrain service
- LRV storage and maintenance facilities.

I'll provide a brief summary. Lots more information, graphs, cool pictures of various LRV parts, etc. in the actual reports. I was going to pull some graphs and pictures, but I might save that for another time.

LRV Fleet Plan

Current fleet is 154 units, projected 2030 fleet is 233 units

Left out of assumptions are the possibility of SE and North Central lines, although it does assume extensions to Silverado and 212th Avenue in the south by 2021, and Stoney Trail in the NE by 2019, with the obvious extra LRVs needed to serve those extensions

Current U2s are to be progressively retired from 2013 until 2022 (based on replacing them rather than refurbishing them, see below)

Oldest SD160 units (32 of them, c. 2001) will undergo a mid-life refurbishment between 2015-2020 that will basically give them all the specifications of the new cars (interior cameras, side-mounted displays, new couplers to enable running them together), although not necessarily seating arrangement

Fleet total includes provision for extra cars needed for 4-car operation (see below)

U2 Refurbishment

Cost/benefit overrules refurbishment of U2s given the estimated $2.2M cost/unit versus $3.6M for a new car, and the marginal lifespan and reliability gains that the refurbishment would give

Delivering 4 car CTrain service

System will be 4-car capable by 2014.

2010 ridership numbers show that during certain segments of the peak morning and evening rushes on the various lines, 4 car service could be used now. More needed given 2020 ridership forecasts

When 2014 comes along, strategy will be to add 4 car trains to the schedule during these trouble spots

South Line during morning rush is busiest, with NE and NW lines being less, but roughly equal in terms of ridership

By end of 2014, a projection of 8 additional LRVs would be needed to be assigned to the 201 South-NW line, and 4 to the 202 NE line

More would be needed to accommodate future ridership over time for a total of 19 additional LRVs assigned to the 201, and 8 to the 202 line by 2020.

This amounts to what will be a incomplete peak system coverage by 4 car trains (meaning some trains at peak will be 3 car, some will be 4), so that leaves room for future growth

LRV Storage and Maintenance Facilities

This report was brief as apparently there is already a study regarding bus and LRV maintenance facilities being conducted by Calgary Transit and Transportation Infrastructure

Nature of operations, particularly at Anderson and Haysboro facilities will make 4-car train operation problematic for those facilities to cope

Currently, expansion is taking place at the Oliver Bowen Maintenance Facility (OBMF) in the NE, which should accommodate the current order of LRVs, and almost all of the projected 233 needed by 2030, but any more than that and capacity is constrained

Basically, new facility is needed to store LRVs in long term, and perhaps medium term to cope with 4 car operation.

Results

It is recommended that 50 more LRVs be ordered immediately for 2013-2015 arrival and commission.

20 are to replace least reliable U2s in current fleet, and 30 would be for growth (4 car trains)

Provincial GreenTRIP funding is recommend to cover the procurement costs

As many as 76 units are projected to be procured by 2017 to accommodate further U2 replacement, expansion of 4 car service, and future extensions to Stoney Trail and 212th Avenue.

Here's the link to the LPT agenda, if you click the last item listed (LPT2011-044), the report PDFs will pop up on the right hand side. The summary above is from these reports.

http://agendaminutes.calgary.ca/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=160&doctype=AGENDA

-------------

SE Transitway is also on the LPT agenda today, but I haven't gone over that yet. I may get to that later.

[Rusty van Reddick]

McPaul-

The back car of a subway is allegedly (I have never actually seen this in 29 years as an out gay man, so this might be an urban legend) the "cruising car." Looks like this guy decided to make that true of the backs of buses too.

You missed out on some lovin'. At the Deerfoot Inn.

[McPaul]

I was hoping and praying he wasn't getting off at 130 Ave either and had visions of this guy following me everywhere I went that day!!

apparently these fears were for good reason!

is this sort of like the Safeway on 8th is known in some circles as the "Singles Safeway" even though I've never seen anyone pick up anyone there? it's a half block from Xenex, so I am there several times a week. Never seen anything like that. Maybe I should start something...

[kw5150]

Originally Posted by McPaul

I've determined that people in this city have NO comprehension of the term "personal space"

I got on the 302 at A Channel. Sat at the far back right, up against the window.

The 302 is a long ride, right?

Well, just two stops later, some guy gets on the bus, which is nearly empty, I think there was one person at the front and one in the middle.. This guy sits down at the back center seat Just one seat away from me.

Wtf? I wanted to turn to the guy and say "you have GOT to be kidding!!!?" but didn't. The bus was empty!!!

I could understand him sitting at the left window... Even that I wouldn't mind, but one seat between our cheeks? No way.

I know I should have moved or said something, but didn't. I just stared at him in disbelief.

And he rode it all the way down, too. I got off at 130 ave, he got off huts before the deer foot inn.


UGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Maybe it was "just for laughs" playing a gag on you.

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by Rusty van Reddick

McPaul-

The back car of a subway is allegedly (I have never actually seen this in 29 years as an out gay man, so this might be an urban legend) the "cruising car." Looks like this guy decided to make that true of the backs of buses too.

You missed out on some lovin'. At the Deerfoot Inn.

This is entirely OT, but as a naive person I've often wondered about the dozens of urban legends surrounding how gay men hook up. "Be in this stall at 5pm on Friday" messages have always amused me because I've always assumed they're a joke, but a very small part of me thinks - what if it's for real? And what if right now it's 5pm on a Friday and I just need to pee? What am I getting myself into?

We should start a "gay man hookup urban legend" thread.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by freeweed

This is entirely OT, but as a naive person I've often wondered about the dozens of urban legends surrounding how gay men hook up. "Be in this stall at 5pm on Friday" messages have always amused me because I've always assumed they're a joke, but a very small part of me thinks - what if it's for real? And what if right now it's 5pm on a Friday and I just need to pee? What am I getting myself into?

We should start a "gay man hookup urban legend" thread.

[floobie]

Originally Posted by floobie

Hm. I take the train about twice a week from Dalhousie station, and do park there. I've usually been able to get a spot before about 9:30am. But after that, I'm screwed and have to drive to the university and pay more to park there... and usually have to walk way further to get where I'm going than I would if I were walking from the University station.

I have no opinion about the reservations so far. I'm not buying one for twice a week. But, I certainly don't mind not having to pay for parking. So, my satisfaction with this decision will be entirely dependent on how likely I am to get a spot at my usual time when this all goes into effect.

Time to update my opinion. Not a fan of the reservations at all. I've tried to get a spot at Dalhousie station a few times now, each time progressively earlier. I've yet to be able to get a spot. So, basically unless I can get to the lot before 7:30 or so (I'm assuming, having never actually succeeded yet), I'm out of luck... meanwhile the vast majority of the reserved spots are empty, at that point. I'd honestly rather just pay the three bucks. Sure, I could triple my commute time and take a bus to the station... or I could just hop in my car and get to the university way faster. The situation is still salvageable, though, I think. I'm hoping they'll make running adjustments to the size of the reserved sections in these lots.

Fortunately, once I find a job downtown and move into a nearby condo, this will all be moot. (Anyone looking for a new graduate geologist, by the way? )

[Ramsayfarian]

Originally Posted by freeweed

This is entirely OT, but as a naive person I've often wondered about the dozens of urban legends surrounding how gay men hook up. "Be in this stall at 5pm on Friday" messages have always amused me because I've always assumed they're a joke, but a very small part of me thinks - what if it's for real? And what if right now it's 5pm on a Friday and I just need to pee? What am I getting myself into?

We should start a "gay man hookup urban legend" thread.

I thought it was common knowledge that it happenes at Leaf's games.

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