Halifax Transit

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

This is still planned for November 2013. Looks like the six buses will be provided by Overland Custom Coaches; http://www.halifax.ca/council/agendasc/documents/130226ca1012.pdf

Also Metro Transit is planning to purchase 22 standard 12.2-metre buses half of which will be for replacement. 5 will be used as expansion on existing routes and 6 buses will be used as expansion for new feeder routes for Woodside Terminal (for the new ferry coming online); http://www.halifax.ca/council/agendasc/documents/130226ca1011.pdf

Interesting. It is good to see the focus being put on the Woodside Terminal. In my opinion the ferry is a rapid transit link to the downtown core with its own right of way across the harbour (if one ignores the occasional other ship that might get in the way).

Will the new ferries be any faster than the current ferries? I know they won't be high speed ferries but a few extra knots would cut down on the trip time (as a sidenote, I just found out why knots refer to nautical miles per hour - http://www.onlineconversion.com/faq_07.htm ).

[gm_scott]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVXWGBgYj3M&list=SPEF0E157AE97E1954
Although I don't like Leno, this was super interesting. They even use retired D40s just like we have. Maybe when we are ready to retire some of our New Flyers we can send them to these guys. The price seems okay, I just worry our weather may not be good for a battery powered vehicle.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by gm_scott

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVXWGBgYj3M&list=SPEF0E157AE97E1954
Although I don't like Leno, this was super interesting. They even use retired D40s just like we have. Maybe when we are ready to retire some of our New Flyers we can send them to these guys. The price seems okay, I just worry our weather may not be good for a battery powered vehicle.

Very interesting. It will be exciting to see what the next decade brings in terms of all electric vehicles.

[musicman]

But what will the cubans do.. My uncle was down in cuba
this winter and saw some ex-metro transit busses down there..

[Hali87]

A couple relevant articles from today's Herald:

Cash for rural transit may be en route

Those living without a car on the outskirts of Halifax Regional Municipality usually have to rely on their feet, a bicycle or the kindness of friends and strangers to get around.

And with the suggestion of an urban transit boundary in the regional plan, it is unlikely bus routes will pull into those rural communities any time soon.

Instead, Metro Transit has suggested rural communities come up with their own transit solutions, something the municipality may help pay for if council approves the funding scheme that went before the grants committee Monday.

That committee recommended council approve it, although some members say the community groups should have a say in what they are expected to do to qualify for a grant.

Coun. David Hendsbee (Preston-Chezzetcook-Eastern Shore) said he would want to see funding for community transit in this year’s budget.

“We in the rural communities can’t wait another year,” Hendsbee said.

...

Would you do it on the bus?

Metro Transit wants you to “do it on the bus.”

Well, maybe not that!

But Halifax’s bus service wants you to think of all the other things you can do on the bus, like reading, finishing homework or napping — all those things you shouldn’t do while driving in hopes that more people will climb aboard.

“The tag line #DoItOnTheBus is purposely provocative,” said Tiffany Chase, spokeswoman for the Halifax Regional Municipality.

“The reason for that is, you know, it’s really hard to cut through all the other messaging and campaigns that are out there and we want to make sure that we get noticed.”

It’s also to bring potential riders to the campaign’s website at doitonthebus.ca, which has information that people may not be aware of, like recent and upcoming improvements to the system, Chase said. There’s also a nod to the new ferry coming for Woodside in 2014, with a “Do it on the Boat” reference online.

...

As an aside, whenever I see the name "Tiffany Chase" I always think of the movie Diamonds are Forever. Anyone else?

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Hali87

As an aside, whenever I see the name "Tiffany Chase" I always think of the movie Diamonds are Forever. Anyone else?

It's a wonderful name and she is about as good-looking as a movie actress too. The name from the movie was Case, not Chase, though I also made the same connection as you, and also thought about Plenty O'Toole...

[worldlyhaligonian]

How come there isn't any emphasis on URBAN transit?

The biggest issue in Halifax was getting around the most populated areas for me.

Please tell me they have route screens and verbal stop announcements by now?

[Aya_Akai]

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

Please tell me they have route screens and verbal stop announcements by now?

Nope...

[Wishblade]

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

How come there isn't any emphasis on URBAN transit?

The biggest issue in Halifax was getting around the most populated areas for me.

Please tell me they have route screens and verbal stop announcements by now?

haha, you kidding? This is Metro Transit were talking about here. For some reason I remember hearing that they somehow thought verbal stop announcements would only benefit the blind, and since they weren't a large portion of transit ridership they didn't think the implementation was worth the cost. Talk about stupidity...

[Spire]

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

How come there isn't any emphasis on URBAN transit?

Indeed, it's a focus that I think hasn't been emphasized enough. However, this is potentially a positive move: as I see it, Metro Transit is essentially trying to wipe their hands of the whole rural transit issue and put most of their focus on urban transit for the future. "We don't want to have the hassle of trying to run a bus out there, but if you want to try, go ahead! Here's a bit of money to get you started, and good luck."

As far as stop announcements go, they've been dragging their feet on that one, but I read a council report a while back that suggested it might be implemented in a few years, after the technology roadmap is completed. It's worth noting that numerous transit systems in Canada (particularly outside of Ontario, where it's a requirement) don't have any sort of auto announcer system, but I think it's definitely a worthwhile investment.

[Wishblade]

I know they have the stop announcements on the transit system in London, Ont and as a come from away I found it quite useful.

[pblaauw]

Originally Posted by Wishblade

I know they have the stop announcements on the transit system in London, Ont and as a come from away I found it quite useful.

I felt the same way when I was in Toronto. It's nice to have announcements, even if you can "see where you're going".

[someone123]

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

How come there isn't any emphasis on URBAN transit?

I think there has been too much of a focus on "coverage", and not enough of a focus on quality of service.

There also isn't enough integration of regional planning and transit planning. You can't value something like streetcars, commuter rail, or LRT properly if you don't take transit-oriented development into account. Many of the newer rapid transit projects in Canada were built along relatively low-density corridors that now have tons of ridership because they have grown up around the stations.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by Wishblade

haha, you kidding? This is Metro Transit were talking about here. For some reason I remember hearing that they somehow thought verbal stop announcements would only benefit the blind, and since they weren't a large portion of transit ridership they didn't think the implementation was worth the cost. Talk about stupidity...

Wow, it is that behind the times... jesus. Some airports have better transit than Halifax!

They should be rigging the buses with this stuff... compared to the overall price of the bus its nothing. What the hell are they doing, verbal announcements and screens are a norm for smaller cities. London Ontario has them? Shouldn't surprise us.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Its a benefit for both the blind and the seeing. Metro Transit is pathetic.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by someone123

I think there has been too much of a focus on "coverage", and not enough of a focus on quality of service.

There also isn't enough integration of regional planning and transit planning. You can't value something like streetcars, commuter rail, or LRT properly if you don't take transit-oriented development into account. Many of the newer rapid transit projects in Canada were built along relatively low-density corridors that now have tons of ridership because they have grown up around the stations.

Exactly... and if you don't have a car, being slightly out of the way is no longer an issue.

[Spire]

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

They should be rigging the buses with this stuff... compared to the overall price of the bus its nothing. What the hell are they doing, verbal announcements and screens are a norm for smaller cities. London Ontario has them? Shouldn't surprise us.

London has them largely because they were forced to, by an Ontario Human Rights Commission decision a few years ago which mandated that all public transit agencies in Ontario had to announce all stops, whether it be with an auto announcer machine or the driver calling them out. Several transit agencies fought this ruling, on account of the extra expense it would require. So this is not necessarily a case of London, or any other city in Ontario, being forward-thinking compared to Metro Transit...

This link lists the stop announcement practices of all agencies in Ontario before and after the decision. Not too many announcing every stop before the ruling.

That being said, Metro Transit really should get the ball rolling on this. Although no agencies in Atlantic Canada call out stops at the moment, there's no reason why we shouldn't be the first, and the benefits are clear.

For those interested, here is the latest staff report on the state of auto announcements, which they are targeting for 2014/15. It's not exactly a concrete committment, unfortunately.

[Hali87]

Originally Posted by Spire

Indeed, it's a focus that I think hasn't been emphasized enough. However, this is potentially a positive move: as I see it, Metro Transit is essentially trying to wipe their hands of the whole rural transit issue and put most of their focus on urban transit for the future. "We don't want to have the hassle of trying to run a bus out there, but if you want to try, go ahead! Here's a bit of money to get you started, and good luck."

That's how I interpreted it as well.

[someone123]

Vancouver's had the automated announcements for years; long enough that they have finally fixed the "street george street" announcement for the St. George and Broadway stop.

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

Exactly... and if you don't have a car, being slightly out of the way is no longer an issue.

There are (supposedly) some places where the government has mandated minimum bus services levels in terms of distance from houses to bus stops. The transit companies would be forced to run within 200 meters of every house (or whatever), so in response they created completely impractical lines snaking through miles of suburban streets that took forever to get anywhere. Everybody technically had "bus service" (so the angry "we don't even have buses out here!" people would I guess be satisfied..?), but not useful service.

I think there's some room for express commuter services serving nodes like Tantallon, but there's not much value in creating milk run routes through areas like Fall River. Other improvements like the creation of a dedicated right of way going across the peninsula would have a dramatically better cost/benefit ratio and would bring in more new riders.

The city needs to start looking at transit as a regional planning tool and as a driver for investment. Streetcar loops around the peninsula with some priority signalling and some dedicated lanes where possible (run them in a median along streets like Robie or University Ave) wouldn't be that expensive and would offer a high-quality service for people living in core neighbourhoods. A service like that would actually bring in new investment because people would want to live near the stops. Buses don't have anywhere near the same effect.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by someone123

There are (supposedly) some places where the government has mandated minimum bus services levels in terms of distance from houses to bus stops. The transit companies would be forced to run within 200 meters of every house (or whatever), so in response they created completely impractical lines snaking through miles of suburban streets that took forever to get anywhere. Everybody technically had "bus service" (so the angry "we don't even have buses out here!" people would I guess be satisfied..?), but not useful service.

I think there's some room for express commuter services serving nodes like Tantallon, but there's not much value in creating milk run routes through areas like Fall River. Other improvements like the creation of a dedicated right of way going across the peninsula would have a dramatically better cost/benefit ratio and would bring in more new riders.

The city needs to start looking at transit as a regional planning tool and as a driver for investment. Streetcar loops around the peninsula with some priority signalling and some dedicated lanes where possible (run them in a median along streets like Robie or University Ave) wouldn't be that expensive and would offer a high-quality service for people living in core neighbourhoods. A service like that would actually bring in new investment because people would want to live near the stops. Buses don't have anywhere near the same effect.

Jesus.