The Great Canadian Transit Thread

[sober2ndthought]

Originally Posted by miketoronto

sober2ndthought

I can tell you those trains are not going as fast as the Edmonton and Calgary LRT's. They can't be going more than the speed limit, as there are no barriers between the trains and cars, or signal crossings arms.

If you play the Seattle one next to a Calgary or Edmonton one you will see the difference.

Fair enough.

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Not much of a difference in speed in street sections. They basically are exactly the same. Faster on the highways and grade separated sections, slower in street sections.

The only number I care about is this 250,000 that is how many people use the CTrain everyday and that is before the new West Line opened. I suspect that will add another 30,000 - 50,000 riders.

But lets forget about all this lets discuss the Eglinton LRT. It is basically being built how you like LRT. Most of the line is completely segregated. Either in a tunnel under Eglinton or on the existing Scarbrough Tracks. Only a relatively short section is running down the median of a city street. So what's the problem? You will pretty much get subway quality travel for most of the trip.

P.S. did you notice the little yellow light on the street lights, that is how Seattle warns drivers of the LRT. They do that instead of crossing arms a sections where there are a lot of homes nearby because it reduces noise.

[MexiQuebecois]

The C-Train looks very nice, is there a map showing the coverage as well as planned expansions? Also, is the bus system integrated into it? Like say, you take the bus and it drops you off at the C-Train, then you board to go to work downtown?

I always imagined Calgary to be a very car-dependent city, must be the oil...

[Alexcaban]

Took this photo last week. McGill metro at 4:30 PM.

[sober2ndthought]

Originally Posted by MexiQuebecois

The C-Train looks very nice, is there a map showing the coverage as well as planned expansions? Also, is the bus system integrated into it? Like say, you take the bus and it drops you off at the C-Train, then you board to go to work downtown?

I always imagined Calgary to be a very car-dependent city, must be the oil...

Here is the most up to date map of the C-Train System. All of those extension are in the process of being completed and they will open this year. Including the new West Line. This is a very very dated map, but it shows how well the LRT is integrated into the city. By the end of this year, all of the currently operating lines will pretty much reach the urban boundaries.

The Bus System is integrated into the system as well. Basically most of the bus routes in the parts of the city where the LRT runs are used to feed into the LRT system and them from there you take the LRT where you need to go. This map was posted regarding the new West LRT Bus network. It really shows how the city integrates the buses into the LRT.

The city is looking at additional lines. The city is currently studying a potential route for a future North-Central Line (including a connection to the Airport) as well they city is looking at a route for a future Southeast Line. As well they are looking for funding for a new downtown LRT tunnel. This map shows you what the suburban LRT system will ultimately look like according to the current long range plan. This one show you what the downtown map will eventually look like according to the current long range plan.

Originally Posted by MexiQuebecois

I always imagined Calgary to be a very car-dependent city, must be the oil...

That is a myth actually. The city has a lot of sprawl but the LRT has really taken on a considerable ridership. In a city of one million, 250,000 people use the LRT daily with only a half of the city covered. As for downtown commuters that number spikes to 50 percent of all downtown commuters.

Based on my experience of living in Ontario, Calgary is much more transit oriented than any city here in Ontario. Toronto included, especially when you compare the entire GTA to Calgary.

Oh did I mention, the LRT is powered by wind. So much for an oil and gas town.

[MexiQuebecois]

That looks very impressive. My transit experience in Canada is limited to the GTA and Montreal, and the system in Montréal is by far my favourite one. I like how it's integrated, which makes for a rather smooth transition between different methods of transportation, eliminating the need to have a car altogether.

Right now living in Mexico City really makes me appreciate the system in MTL.

[Robertpuant]

Originally Posted by MexiQuebecois

That looks very impressive. My transit experience in Canada is limited to the GTA and Montreal, and the system in Montréal is by far my favourite one. I like how it's integrated, which makes for a rather smooth transition between different methods of transportation, eliminating the need to have a car altogether.

Right now living in Mexico City really makes me appreciate the system in MTL.

In North America, it's got to be one of the best. I was moderately disappointed with Toronto's and Chicago's. Boston was a complete turn off. As for NY, I'll have to visit the city again to pass further judgement on its transit.

[sober2ndthought]

Originally Posted by MexiQuebecois

That looks very impressive. My transit experience in Canada is limited to the GTA and Montreal, and the system in Montréal is by far my favourite one. I like how it's integrated, which makes for a rather smooth transition between different methods of transportation, eliminating the need to have a car altogether.

Right now living in Mexico City really makes me appreciate the system in MTL.

I like Montreal's system but I hate the fact that there really is nothing for the West Island. It almost feels like the powers at be are intentionally trying to keep it that way for political reasons.

Personally, I would like to the see a steel tire Metro line running at-grade along the Autoroute 40 to the west island, then travel along the Mount Royal Railway line eventually entering into a tunnel and linking up with the Universitie Du Montreal on the Blue Line, Guy Condorida on the Orange Line and Lucien L-Ailler on the Orange line alternatively an LRT line which continues along the Autoroute 40 (instead of dipping south) to the East Island. While extending the Green Line to La Salle and Blue Line to Notre-Dame.

[MexiQuebecois]

Originally Posted by Robertpuant

In North America, it's got to be one of the best. I was moderately disappointed with Toronto's and Chicago's. Boston was a complete turn off. As for NY, I'll have to visit the city again to pass further judgement on its transit.

I've used San Diego's and LA's transit.

LA Transit SUCKS! It's as if the city was punishing you for not having a car.

Mexico City's system basically covers the whole city, and it's dirt cheap: 25 cents one way, but since it's heavily subsidized by the government, it looks like crap, it's overcrowded and insecure. Basically all of the issues that come with mass transit in a developing nation. I wish the government would increase the rate and use the money to vastly improve the system; plus Québec would greatly benefit from this since it uses bombardier trains.

Originally Posted by sober2ndthought

I like Montreal's system but I hate the fact that there really is nothing for the West Island. It almost feels like the powers at be are intentionally trying to keep it that way for political reasons.

Personally, I would like to the see a steel tire Metro line running at-grade along the Autoroute 40 to the west island, then travel along the Mount Royal Railway line eventually entering into a tunnel and linking up with the Universitie Du Montreal on the Blue Line, Guy Condorida on the Orange Line and Lucien L-Ailler on the Orange line.

Mentioning steel instead of the typical rubber tire trains is taboo in Montreal.

You're right, the West Island is completely neglected, though recently they added 3 new bus routes to try to cope with this problem. I was looking at the 2020 plan and there are some awesome projects there, such as LRT along cote-des-neiges, pie IX and other areas, but again, nothing for the West Island if I remember correctly.

[MexiQuebecois]

Check it out! Just ignore the lame jokes from that creepy CEO

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[MTLskyline]

Yeah, the West Island should definitely have much better transit. It is the same population as Longueuil (230,000), although its land area is 30% larger than Longueuil's.

I think the way to go would be to improve commuter rail service on the Vaudreuil-Hudson commuter train line to the point where there are at least 2 trains an hour between 6am and 9pm on weekdays (with a stop in the airport's already built underground station) and 1 train an hour outside then. At the moment there are only 13 outbound and 14 inbound departures daily.

[sober2ndthought]

Originally Posted by MexiQuebecois

You're right, the West Island is completely neglected, though recently they added 3 new bus routes to try to cope with this problem. I was looking at the 2020 plan and there are some awesome projects there, such as LRT along cote-des-neiges, pie IX and other areas, but again, nothing for the West Island if I remember correctly.

Politics seems to play a bigger role in Montreal Transit Planning. I just remembered seeing this map a while back.

Could you imagine if the PQ had been a little less focused on Sovereignty-Association and a little more focused on governing the province what Montreal's Metro could have been?

The one thing though Montreal did right though was long term planning. Unlike Toronto, Montreal opened with shorter lines but more of them and the focus wasn't constantly just adding stations to the existing lines rather it was focusing on building up a good core network then extending it. Toronto it seems still hasn't figured out long term urban planning. The focus is quickly get something built and figure out the details afterwards. See the subway extension to Vaughn as one example. With that extra 6 billion could the city could have easily built Transit City and a Downtown Relief Line. Probably why Montreal's Metro has higher ridership per-route mile than Toronto despite the fact it is a smaller city with a smaller Metro.

[Vaillant]

Originally Posted by MTLskyline

Yeah, the West Island should definitely have much better transit. It is the same population as Longueuil (230,000), although its land area is 30% larger than Longueuil's.

I think the way to go would be to improve commuter rail service on the Vaudreuil-Hudson commuter train line to the point where there are at least 2 trains an hour between 6am and 9pm on weekdays (with a stop in the airport's already built underground station) and 1 train an hour outside then. At the moment there are only 13 outbound and 14 inbound departures daily.

I'm using that train everydays, definitely service should be improve, especially on week-ends, sometimes I finish school at 1pm and next train is at 3:15pm which is way to long

[miketoronto]

The STM has been improving service to the West Island over the past few years. In fact the 470 Express bus has been one of the largest and most successful increases in transit service in Montreal, and it serves the West Island.

I think where the STM really loses out with the West Island, is service frequency on local routes. 30-60 minute service is just attractive. I do not know if this is because the area is mostly low density and affluent, or if it stems from the STM just not trying hard enough. Clearly the 470 shows that when good service is offered, people will ride.

[MexiQuebecois]

Originally Posted by sober2ndthought

Toronto it seems still hasn't figured out long term urban planning. The focus is quickly get something built and figure out the details afterwards. See the subway extension to Vaughn as one example. With that extra 6 billion could the city could have easily built Transit City and a Downtown Relief Line.

Politics seems to play a bigger role in Montreal Transit Planning. I just remembered seeing this map a while back.

Could you imagine if the PQ had been a little less focused on Sovereignty-Association and a little more focused on governing the province what Montreal's Metro could have been?

The one thing though Montreal did right though was long term planning. Unlike Toronto, Montreal opened with shorter lines but more of them and the focus wasn't constantly just adding stations to the existing lines rather it was focusing on building up a good core network then extending it. Probably why Montreal's Metro has higher ridership per-route mile than Toronto despite the fact it is a smaller city with a smaller Metro.

From what I've heard, the major problem that Toronto is having right now is its mayor, the guy's a complete idiot apparently.

Is this guy for real?
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Originally Posted by Vaillant

I'm using that train everydays, definitely service should be improve, especially on week-ends, sometimes I finish school at 1pm and next train is at 3:15pm which is way to long

I don't know how you can deal with that, maybe it's the fact that I've been in Mexico City for too long, but I can't deal with a commute longer than 30 minutes, and it's driving me insane down here, to the point that I'm planning my whole life back in Montreal around a metro station, still haven't decided where though, perhaps around Cadillac/Langelier?

[sober2ndthought]

Originally Posted by MexiQuebecois

From what I've heard, the major problem that Toronto is having right now is its mayor, the guy's a complete idiot apparently.

Ford isn't my cup of tea, but we can't pin all of Toronto's problems on Rob Ford. Calgary had Ralph Klein as mayor and he gave us our LRT system, and when it comes to loonies I see little difference between Klein and Ford.

The problem runs much deeper, it has more to do with the city constantly revising and changing plans. This isn't something new, it seems after every single election a new Mayor, Premier or City Council tries its best to change a plan which is already put in motion. Network 2011 is the best example of this.

Edmonton suffers from the same problem, the current LRT plan is the latest incarnation of various transit plans in Edmonton and I would not be surprised if this one dies as well.

In both cities because of the constant revision no long term plans are never kept and in the end the city ends up losing out.

Calgary, Montreal and even Vancouver seem to have avoided this problem. Once a plans is arranged it is built with only minor changes to accommodate communities. But generally speaking it is rare to see any major changes to existing plans once they are crafted. The long term interest of the city will often outweigh any local opposition.

[Rico Rommheim]

Originally Posted by MexiQuebecois

From what I've heard, the major problem that Toronto is having right now is its mayor, the guy's a complete idiot apparently.

Is this guy for real?
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I don't know how you can deal with that, maybe it's the fact that I've been in Mexico City for too long, but I can't deal with a commute longer than 30 minutes, and it's driving me insane down here, to the point that I'm planning my whole life back in Montreal around a metro station, still haven't decided where though, perhaps around Cadillac/Langelier?

You're planning to return, but then to settle in Cadillac or langelier ? I can't think of an uglier or uncomfortable district in Montreal than the east-end of the green line.

[Alexcaban]

The West Island is about to get a major service increase coming this April.

4 new express routes linked to Côte-Vertu and Lionel Groulx, and added service on the 470 Express Pierrefonds.

The new routes are:

1. 475 Express Dollard-des-Ormeaux



2. 405 Express Bord-du-Lac

3. 425 Express Anse-à-l'Orme

4. 485 Express Antoine-Faucon

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

You're planning to return, but then to settle in Cadillac or langelier ? I can't think of an uglier or uncomfortable district in Montreal than the east-end of the green line.

And Heyy!!! Langelier is my station and there is nothing wrong with that area. Its pretty well serviced by the 33 Langelier and 32 Lacordaire

[MexiQuebecois]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

You're planning to return, but then to settle in Cadillac or langelier ? I can't think of an uglier or uncomfortable district in Montreal than the east-end of the green line.

Montreal's "ugly" for someone raised in Tijuana, Mexico is a joke. The only areas I've heard are really bad : around St-Michel and Montreal Nord.

I didn't mean "settle" per se as in buy an apartment and all of that.
Let's see what you recommend, here's the situation and all advice is welcomed:

I'm moving with my wife, she's an anglophone from Ontario and the main priority is for her to learn French. My French is good, but I'll still be taking grammar classes for about 3-4 months, she'll have to be in French immersion courses for about two years. Now the two schools are:

Centre Lartigue
2217, avenue Papineau (corner of Sherbrooke)

Or

Centre Saint-Louis
4285, rue Drolet, 3e étage (almost corner of Rachel)

The point is that either of these schools have to be easily accessible by metro, but I'd prefer a mainly francophone area (she won't be forced to speak French otherwise)

I don't know how long it will take her to find a job (any kind will do, even call centres) and because of that we'd like to keep the budget to around $750 max for a 4 1/2, feasible? I was thinking around Beaubien as well.

Now what do you recommend?

Originally Posted by Alexcaban

And Heyy!!! Langelier is my station and there is nothing wrong with that area. Its pretty well serviced by the 33 Langelier and 32 Lacordaire

Exactly my point. I don't see anything wrong with it, but I'm open to recommendations.

[Rico Rommheim]

I'm talking aesthetics here. Every time I've been to that part of town the ugliness of most buildings really stuck out. But that's understandable considering that is where Montreal's post-war urban form took hold.

[MTLskyline]

The Plateau is actually quite anglophone now. I was surprised the last few times I was there.

Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie seems like a decent (and still overwhelmingly francophone) area to me (orange line - Rosemont, Beaubien).

Villeray might be a good bet as well (blue line between Jean-Talon and D'Iberville).

Ahuntsic-Cartierville is OK in some parts (orange line between Jarry and Henri-Bourassa), although it does border Montreal North and Saint-Michel (in case you don't want to be near those areas).

Hochelaga-Maisonneuve (Frontenac eastward) is also quite francophone, although is a little seedy in parts, but also quite nice and underrated parts too. (The area around the Angus Yards is somewhat nice, as are some of the historic buildings in the former city of Maisonneuve just south of the Big O).

If you were willing to consider the south shore, I would recommend the Old Longueuil area between Rue Saint-Charles and Rue Gentilly (and between Joliette and d'Auvergne).