Calgary Public Transit II

[DizzyEdge]

Can anyone tell me the max capacity (sitting + rush-hour standing) of CT's normal and articulated buses? I tried googling but got nowhere.

Also, any info on the daily ridership of the 301 line?

[Elbownian]

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

Can anyone tell me the max capacity (sitting + rush-hour standing) of CT's normal and articulated buses? I tried googling but got nowhere.

They don't exactly make this easy to find on the site. No info on standing room though: http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/seating_capacity.html

[DizzyEdge]

the CT site is pretty terrible.

[DizzyEdge]

can anyone tell me the total cost of station refurbishment/replacement for 4 car trains?

I've always been curious how much replacement of existing LRT stations after 30 yrs of use messes up the "LRT is cheaper than subway" equation when subway stations might last indefinitely (at least the structure itself)

[MalcolmTucker]

The 5 car incremental cost is pretty high. The question is when is it worth it versus 4 car trains with increased frequency. Since to make either of those choices you need the 8th Ave subway, Heritage Drive crossing removal, likely some other grade separation removals.

At what ppdph the capital needs for grade separation becomes a wash between the two options I have little idea, but I doubt it is within even the 40 year time horizon.

Outside of that you have extending stations, moving crossovers, likely redoing the car barns if the storage lanes aren't divisible by 3, 4 and 5. You also have upgrading the electrical system, but depending on how exactly the system is designed if you are running the same number of LRVs simultaneously likely would need an equally capable system.

I doubt either choice would have frequency at a level where a new signalling system would be needed above and beyond what is needed for 4 cars.

[DizzyEdge]

Ugh, sorry I totally mis-typed, I meant for 4 car trains. The current work being done. Basically it occured to me that the 'cheaper' option of LRT vs subway might not be so cheap if stations are replaced every 30-40 yrs.

[DizzyEdge]

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

Can anyone tell me the max capacity (sitting + rush-hour standing) of CT's normal and articulated buses? I tried googling but got nowhere.

Also, any info on the daily ridership of the 301 line?

Originally Posted by Elbownian

They don't exactly make this easy to find on the site. No info on standing room though: http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/seating_capacity.html

This may not be completely accurate but it appears the #s (sitting + standing) are:

80 - 2010 Nova Bus Low Floor LFS
116 - New Flyer D60LFR (2007, 2008)

and for comparison sake

100 - double decker bus (eg, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Dennis_Enviro500 )
132 - Current TTC streetcar
205 - Current TTC articulated streetcar
231 - New TTC streetcars

[DizzyEdge]

So many questions tonight: how much % more transit traffic can centre street handle before basically failing?

[Radley77]

Does anyone know whatever happened to the Connect Card? I thought that was supposed to be rolled out in the Spring or Summer? Last update on the Calgary Transit site is from July 2012:

http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/connect.html

[DizzyEdge]

Originally Posted by Radley77

Does anyone know whatever happened to the Connect Card? I thought that was supposed to be rolled out in the Spring or Summer? Last update on the Calgary Transit site is from July 2012:

http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/connect.html

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calgar...it+swipe+card+program/7406211/story.html

guaranteed to be ready for the SETWAY opening.

[mersar]

Originally Posted by Radley77

Does anyone know whatever happened to the Connect Card? I thought that was supposed to be rolled out in the Spring or Summer? Last update on the Calgary Transit site is from July 2012:

http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/connect.html

Its been plagued by technical issues (some say due to choosing the lowest bidder rather then someone who's built most of the rest of the electronic payment systems out there). Last I'd heard was maybe December, but likely spring.

[Radley77]

Originally Posted by mersar

Its been plagued by technical issues (some say due to choosing the lowest bidder rather then someone who's built most of the rest of the electronic payment systems out there). Last I'd heard was maybe December, but likely spring.

Thanks mersar for the update! Interesting that payments from mobile phones for transit may replace both cash and cards. Maybe not now, but 10 years down the road...

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/7391806.html

[Full Mountain]

Originally Posted by Radley77

Thanks mersar for the update! Interesting that payments from mobile phones for transit may replace both cash and cards. Maybe not now, but 10 years down the road...

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/7391806.html

The technology exist today, many new phones have NFC and can be used for this very purpose with the same readers that the non contact credit cards use, not sure if it's directly compatible with the connect system, but it likely is. I for one can't wait till Google Wallet launches in Canada!

[Bigtime]

Funny that the connect card discussion has come up, as the city just announced the cancellation of the program with the current supplier:

http://newsroom.calgary.ca/pr/calgary/calgary-transit-cancels-electronic-240651.aspx

[fusili]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Funny that the connect card discussion has come up, as the city just announced the cancellation of the program with the current supplier:

http://newsroom.calgary.ca/pr/calgary/calgary-transit-cancels-electronic-240651.aspx

I am hoping we get tap-in, tap-out capabilities. That would be great for data and analysis.

[Ramsayfarian]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Funny that the connect card discussion has come up, as the city just announced the cancellation of the program with the current supplier:

http://newsroom.calgary.ca/pr/calgary/calgary-transit-cancels-electronic-240651.aspx

Herald has an article about it as well.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calgar...ntract+after+repeated/7518617/story.html

[You Need A Thneed]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Funny that the connect card discussion has come up, as the city just announced the cancellation of the program with the current supplier:

http://newsroom.calgary.ca/pr/calgary/calgary-transit-cancels-electronic-240651.aspx

I would think we are looking at least a year from now, then.

[DarkKeyo]

Signs were posted at Lions Park today with renderings for the extension to a 4 car platform, with a construction start date of Spring 2013. The platform will be extended east, with the crosswalk and bus zone currently there relocated and expanded. It looks a lot like the Sunnyside extension, but without losing ramp access.

[AgentGibb]

Originally Posted by mersar

Its been plagued by technical issues (some say due to choosing the lowest bidder rather then someone who's built most of the rest of the electronic payment systems out there). Last I'd heard was maybe December, but likely spring.

It's unfortunate that it's gone so badly. Hopefully now that the contract has been cancelled we can go after something that's standard and proven like, say, this sort of thing:
http://www.calypsonet-asso.org/index.php

As someone who works on embedded systems for a living, I find it baffling that this should be so hard. It's been done before. Many. Times. No need to reinvent the wheel.

[eggbert]

Global News this morning reports it will be two years before a replacement system is in place.