Calgary Public Transit II

[suburbia]

On and off I've heard about people saying how good transit is elsewhere. I've experienced this also in some older cities, however, always knew the comparison wasn't fair as when I visited other places, I stayed in hotels strategically located. I was generally not "living" there in a place and location that could somewhat compare to where I am in Calgary and what I'd be able to afford. Within that context, I thought the following comment was interesting about Munich:

http://soapygina.blogspot.ca/2011/06/germany-day-eleven-and-twelve.html

Bikes aren't allowed on any of the fast trains so we had the milk run with 3 changes which would take upwards of 5 hours but only cost us 50€.

[freeweed]

The Cochrane-Calgary discussion reminds me that while occasionally we see this sort of issue, Canadians as a whole are MUCH less likely to fight with their neighbours than .. let's just say other places.

I think it's an interesting academic discussion and sure, occasionally we need to address something - but for the most part this country as a whole still works to take care of each other. We don't get into petty municipal debates anywhere near as often as I've seen... elsewhere.

And I'm extremely glad for it.

[ByeByeBaby]

Originally Posted by suburbia

On and off I've heard about people saying how good transit is elsewhere. I've experienced this also in some older cities, however, always knew the comparison wasn't fair as when I visited other places, I stayed in hotels strategically located. I was generally not "living" there in a place and location that could somewhat compare to where I am in Calgary and what I'd be able to afford. Within that context, I thought the following comment was interesting about Munich:

Bikes aren't allowed on any of the fast trains so we had the milk run with 3 changes which would take upwards of 5 hours but only cost us 50€.

Did you read the sentence before, where they say they are taking the train from Munich to Frankfurt? That's 400 km. The fast ICE train that they aren't allowed to take their bikes on would make the journey in 3h, 15m and leaves every hour at :50 past. (There is also an ICE train that takes 3h40 and leaves at :28 past the hour.)

[fusili]

Originally Posted by ByeByeBaby

Did you read the sentence before, where they say they are taking the train from Munich to Frankfurt? That's 400 km. The fast ICE train that they aren't allowed to take their bikes on would make the journey in 3h, 15m and leaves every hour at :50 past. (There is also an ICE train that takes 3h40 and leaves at :28 past the hour.)

EDIT- That would be like me saying I wanted to take my bike on the train between Barcelona and Madrid, but had to take the milk run, which takes 8 hours instead of the 3 hr bullet train (Madrid and Barcelona are about 600km apart). What terrible rail transit Spain has!

[DizzyEdge]

Originally Posted by freeweed

The Cochrane-Calgary discussion reminds me that while occasionally we see this sort of issue, Canadians as a whole are MUCH less likely to fight with their neighbours than .. let's just say other places.

I think it's an interesting academic discussion and sure, occasionally we need to address something - but for the most part this country as a whole still works to take care of each other. We don't get into petty municipal debates anywhere near as often as I've seen... elsewhere.

And I'm extremely glad for it.

Probably helps that we don't share a border and our sizes are so different.

[suburbia]

Via the World Bank:

https://twitter.com/WorldBank/status/289801851191324672

which links to:

http://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/city-t...g-people-not-vehicles?cid=EXT_TWBN_D_EXT

"City Transport: It’s About Moving People, Not Vehicles"

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

Probably helps that we don't share a border and our sizes are so different.

True - you do tend to see more squabbling between municipalities that are closer to equals. Like the GTA or GV.

Even still, we don't quite "compete" between ourselves as badly as we could.

[MalcolmTucker]

Helps that there are real hard caps on growth for water intensive uses for sure.

[fusili]

I took the West LRT on Sunday for the 1st time, giving my nephew (who is 6) a little tour. We went from Bridgeland to Sirocco.

I have to say, it is absolutely amazing (no surprise there). The views from the elevated portion are spectacular. I would love to have that view every day on my ride to work (if I ever move out of the Beltline area, it would be so I could be close to a station on the West LRT). Although I didn't get off at any stop other than Sirocco, I think all of them were well done and looked quite welcoming. Sunalta seems really cool, as does Westbrook. I really hope we get more density around some of those stations, especially places like Shaganappi point, which seems kinda wasteful to have such an amazing station beside a bunch of single detached homes.

[DarkKeyo]

Originally Posted by fusili

... especially places like Shaganappi point, which seems kinda wasteful to have such an amazing station beside a bunch of single detached homes.

Have they fixed the light timing yet? Last time I was at Shaganappi Point, it was nearly impossible to cross Bow Trail, and there was hardly any car traffic. I wouldn't choose to live near it because I would constantly miss trains while waiting for the light. Westbrook would be awesome to live near.

Expanding on that point a little, I think that we should never, ever design stations like Shaganappi Point. I don't understand why its a transit fad to design simple, somewhat sheltered platforms with ramps surrounded by access barriers like roads, freeways, railway mainlines, etc. If there is something that makes access difficult, build a station like Westbrook or Sunalta, or even Whitehorn. If there isn't, only then would you build simple stations that work as well as Sunnyside, Shawnessy, or Martindale. If you're going to surround it with density, build it like Westbrook and NOT like the new Chinook, or Lions Park/Banff Trail (I foresee these having problems if their TOD's are ever approved)

[5seconds]

Someone on Reddit posted this site http://www.rideschedules.com/

It gives route information via a map. Works pretty well.

[bigcanuck]

Originally Posted by 5seconds

Someone on Reddit posted this site http://www.rideschedules.com/

It gives route information via a map. Works pretty well.

Except that it hasn't been updated since December 9th - the West LRT changes are not present yet.

[5seconds]

Originally Posted by bigcanuck

Except that it hasn't been updated since December 9th - the West LRT changes are not present yet.

That's too bad. It's a lot easier to find route information there than via the Calgary Transit site.

[Just a Rider]

Originally Posted by fusili

I took the West LRT on Sunday for the 1st time, giving my nephew (who is 6) a little tour. We went from Bridgeland to Sirocco.

I have to say, it is absolutely amazing (no surprise there). The views from the elevated portion are spectacular. I would love to have that view every day on my ride to work (if I ever move out of the Beltline area, it would be so I could be close to a station on the West LRT). Although I didn't get off at any stop other than Sirocco, I think all of them were well done and looked quite welcoming. Sunalta seems really cool, as does Westbrook. I really hope we get more density around some of those stations, especially places like Shaganappi point, which seems kinda wasteful to have such an amazing station beside a bunch of single detached homes.

Next time try getting off at 45th. That's a station that I HOPE is still to be finished. The canopies run maybe a quarter of the length of the platforms from the west ends but there are brackets like those on the 7th Av stations so I have my fingers crossed they will be holding up canopies before long. There is no shelter on the west side of 45th to wait for the outbound (from Westbrook) 93 so you can expect to stand in the open for up to 15 minutes. I figured out if my westbound train arrives just after the southbound bus leaves (that`s almost always) it`s quicker to get to Richmond Hill by staying on the train to 69th and catching an inbound 93. No comparison with the 108 on a good day along 6th Ave ... the bus wins hands down. Musing about catching the 112 as even with a bit of a walk I suspect it would be faster.

[5seconds]

Looks like the SETWAY is making headway. Council approved the first part, though funds are still lacking:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/story/2013/01/15/calgary-council-approves-lrt.html

[mellbell416]

Originally Posted by 5seconds

Looks like the SETWAY is making headway. Council approved the first part, though funds are still lacking:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/story/2013/01/15/calgary-council-approves-lrt.html

I thought that the first stage of the SETWAY was supposed to be complete by 2014 and now we don't even have the funds for it and it won't be done until 2016 (maybe)???

[You Need A Thneed]

Originally Posted by 5seconds

Looks like the SETWAY is making headway. Council approved the first part, though funds are still lacking:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/story/2013/01/15/calgary-council-approves-lrt.html

It's interesting that Keating thinks an overpass over Glenmore is needed right away. Glenmore will be raised over the SE LRT, because the existing CP and CN rail lines aren't going to move.

[MalcolmTucker]

All MSI and other funds are allocated until the end of the funding envelope. The airport tunnel is funded out of post original MSI funds. SETway was never funded.

The GreenTrip funding might have freed some room, but for a project of that magnitude?

[You Need A Thneed]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

All MSI and other funds are allocated until the end of the funding envelope. The airport tunnel is funded out of post original MSI funds. SETway was never funded.

The GreenTrip funding might have freed some room, but for a project of that magnitude?

GreenTrip is funding phase 1 of the SETWAY, I believe.

(Well actually, Green Trip is funding the WestLRT, and the portion of MSI that originally used for WLRT that now was covered by Greentrip is going to be used for SETWAY)

[MalcolmTucker]

There was enough after paying for LRT fleet renewal, or has that been pushed off?