Calgary Public Transit II - Page 167

MalcolmTucker · #**3321** Posted **Jul 8, 2011, 5:09 PM**

By waiting a decade the costs of the upgrades likely decreased by an order of magnitude. Calgary buys tried and true things - think about the outcry if they had spent $10 million on a pilot system for bus realtime 5 years ago then it only worked sporadically.

The Chemist · #**3322** Posted **Jul 9, 2011, 12:49 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

By waiting a decade the costs of the upgrades likely decreased by an order of magnitude. Calgary buys tried and true things - think about the outcry if they had spent $10 million on a pilot system for bus realtime 5 years ago then it only worked sporadically.

Yes, smart card technology is far more developed now than it was a decade ago, as is real time technology. It's worth noting that even many large cities didn't have smart card technology a decade ago (London, for example, didn't have the Oyster the last time I visited there in 2004), nor did many of them have real time technology, so it's a bit much to have expected the same from Calgary at that time. Now these technologies are far more widely used, probably significantly cheaper, and significantly more reliable - the perfect time to be implemented.

Ferreth · #**3323** Posted **Jul 9, 2011, 2:04 AM**

I agree that Calgary Transit has in the past gone with low-tech tried and true stuff, but the last ticket machine upgrade not including at least credit card payments irked me. It was tried and true technology by that point; CT didn't want to pay the extra to support it. Hell, I'd have loved some sort of vending machine that could vend snacks, drinks, and 10- ticket books. Would've been quite useful late at night DT at times.

Koolfire · #**3324** Posted **Jul 9, 2011, 4:13 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mersar

According to a story on Global last night all stations outside the downtown are now equipped with at least 1 Ticket Vending Machine with a credit card reader, and in a couple weeks time they'll also be able to take debit card payments (waiting on something on the banks end of things from how they described it).

Too bad I'm 0-2 with these machines. Brentwood had communication issues with the reader, the machine dispensed a ticket with correct change. And the one I tried at stampede the buttons didn't work so I couldn't even select a ticket.

Radley77 · #**3325** Posted **Jul 10, 2011, 7:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Chemist

Yes, smart card technology is far more developed now than it was a decade ago, as is real time technology. It's worth noting that even many large cities didn't have smart card technology a decade ago (London, for example, didn't have the Oyster the last time I visited there in 2004), nor did many of them have real time technology, so it's a bit much to have expected the same from Calgary at that time. Now these technologies are far more widely used, probably significantly cheaper, and significantly more reliable - the perfect time to be implemented.

I had friends that had developed a realtime system back in 2004 and since it was done through the unviversity as a 4th year project, research was free, and it really didn't cost that much to build since many of the components at that time were already preexisting. All was missing was some clever ingenuity to put all the pieces together.

I think a major factor towards implementation of a realtime system was the cost of having digital access. I think the iPhone as well as competitively priced digital plans only came out in 2008. IMO, it wasn't until this sort of breakthrough technology in mass consumer market that would have been the bigger trigger for adoption of a realtime system.

UofC.engineer · #**3326** Posted **Jul 12, 2011, 4:31 AM**

Wrong Thread

mersar · #**3327** Posted **Jul 13, 2011, 3:00 PM**

According to what was posted on CPTDB there is an open house for the Sunnyside station upgrade on Wednesday, July 20, 2011, from 4:00pm to 8:00pm at the old Ant Hill building in Kensington.

Brentwood is coming along nicely, they've ripped out the old footers and poured new ones and have forms up to pour the wall that the platform rests on on the one side.

yads · #**3328** Posted **Jul 13, 2011, 7:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radley77

I had friends that had developed a realtime system back in 2004 and since it was done through the unviversity as a 4th year project, research was free, and it really didn't cost that much to build since many of the components at that time were already preexisting. All was missing was some clever ingenuity to put all the pieces together.

There's a big difference between building something as a university project and something that is robust enough to handle real world conditions. This is akin to the argument about having some art students design the Calatrava bridge.

Radley77 · #**3329** Posted **Jul 13, 2011, 9:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by yads

There's a big difference between building something as a university project and something that is robust enough to handle real world conditions. This is akin to the argument about having some art students design the Calatrava bridge.

I view the Peace Bridge as a management failure because there was no emphasis on coming up with a conceptual design that may have cost less (value for money) and the deadlines for installation have been repeatedly missed.

I would have welcomed ACAD students proposing some conceptual designs and understand that at some point it would have taken a professional firm to bring the project to the point of execution.

5seconds · #**3330** Posted **Jul 13, 2011, 10:34 PM**

'Connect'. That's the name of the electronic pass. Ugh.

http://www.metronews.ca/calgary/local/ar...mart-card-aims-to-connect-with-commuters

(Does anyone know how the card will handle transfers? Is the system smart enough to know that I just tapped in to a bus 30 minutes before and not charge me for my second trip?)

Danma · #**3331** Posted **Jul 13, 2011, 10:54 PM**

I suspect they will work out the details on that front. I certainly hope so, anyways.

The Chemist · #**3332** Posted **Jul 13, 2011, 11:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5seconds

'Connect'. That's the name of the electronic pass. Ugh.

http://www.metronews.ca/calgary/local/ar...mart-card-aims-to-connect-with-commuters

(Does anyone know how the card will handle transfers? Is the system smart enough to know that I just tapped in to a bus 30 minutes before and not charge me for my second trip?)

Should be. The system here in Shanghai knows when you transfer from the subway to a bus, and charges accordingly (50% discount for transfers).

UofC.engineer · #**3333** Posted **Jul 13, 2011, 11:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5seconds

'Connect'. That's the name of the electronic pass. Ugh.

http://www.metronews.ca/calgary/local/ar...mart-card-aims-to-connect-with-commuters

(Does anyone know how the card will handle transfers? Is the system smart enough to know that I just tapped in to a bus 30 minutes before and not charge me for my second trip?)

It should. If it doesn't do that, then it's a pretty bad system.

freeweed · #**3334** Posted **Jul 14, 2011, 12:13 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by yads

There's a big difference between building something as a university project and something that is robust enough to handle real world conditions. This is akin to the argument about having some art students design the Calatrava bridge.

To be fair, I'm willing to bet a lot of money that some SAIT welding students could have done a better job on the welds.

Zing!

DarkKeyo · #**3335** Posted **Jul 14, 2011, 2:44 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5seconds

'Connect'. That's the name of the electronic pass. Ugh.

http://www.metronews.ca/calgary/local/ar...mart-card-aims-to-connect-with-commuters

(Does anyone know how the card will handle transfers? Is the system smart enough to know that I just tapped in to a bus 30 minutes before and not charge me for my second trip?)

I knew they weren't capable of giving it a proper name. I suppose it could be worse (Range? Blah.) But, I am never going to call it the connect or whatever, I'll just say its the "Woosh" card, or "Prairie Oyster" card, and see if those names stick in people's minds better.

On another note, nothing much has been done to demolish Olympic Plaza, or to finish the concrete alongside the buildings at City Hall WB. City Hall EB has been left in a temporary state that looks ready to be worked on as soon as they close it. And bits of work along 7th from 2nd St to City Hall suggest that most of the sidewalks, and a chunk of Centre St station, will be ripped up and upgraded after stampede.

Ferreth · #**3336** Posted **Jul 14, 2011, 3:25 AM**

We should have called it the Moola card. Or the Cow Chip. Or the Equi card. Or the Prairie Oyster Card. I have a disconnect to Connect as a name.

DungHeap · #**3337** Posted **Jul 14, 2011, 4:42 AM**

The smart card technology is great, glad to hear Calgary is headed in that direction.

Here in Japan, not only can you use the smart card but you can use your cell phone. It works on the same touch pad. Also works for stores and vending machines etc...

When I visited Korea a while back, my friend in Seoul got us a T - card. This was really great, not only could you use the smart card for the bus and train you could use it in taxis. The touch pad was just resting on the arm rest beside the driver. One important point to note is that taxi fares in Seoul are extremely cheap.

just my recent smart card experiences

para transit fellow · #**3338** Posted **Jul 14, 2011, 2:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by freeweed

To be fair, I'm willing to bet a lot of money that some SAIT welding students could have done a better job on the welds.

Zing!

the magic legacy of contracting to the lowest tender

You Need A Thneed · #**3339** Posted **Jul 15, 2011, 6:00 AM**

The night lighting at Saddletowne station is on tonight, just 14 months before it's scheduled to open to the public.

Looks good.

mersar · #**3340** Posted **Jul 15, 2011, 4:50 PM**

Someone on cptdb mentioned theres rumors floating around at CT that the station might be opened in March 2012.

I might see if I can go take some photos tonight if the lighting is on again, I haven't seen anything up there in person for quite some time and I've been meaning to go check it out.