Calgary Public Transit II - Page 308

DizzyEdge · #**6141** Posted **Mar 1, 2013, 8:04 PM**

I've also noticed some bus drivers have started opening the rear doors to let people on, particularly when people towards the back don't move to the back of the bus as they should. I'd like to see that as regular practice once people are stuffed up to the yellow line.

MalcolmTucker · #**6142** Posted **Mar 1, 2013, 9:22 PM**

^ Awesome

Offside_Ref · #**6143** Posted **Mar 2, 2013, 7:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TransitSupporter

I live in the NW and take the 3 SB from 32 Ave. We used to have a major problem like this (i.e. buses repeatedly full) but for the past several years CT has had some buses start their SB journey @ McKnight - it seems to help a lot. I don't know why they couldn't do something similar in the SW, starting some trips say, at 50th Ave or something.

I would imagine that it's fairly easy for CT to start the 3 from McKnight because Spring Gardens Garage is nearby. 50th Ave is quite a bit further from both the Southland and Victoria Park Garages. With such a huge difference in peak and off-peak service, I would imagine CT would try do reduce deadheading as much as possible.

Northski · #**6144** Posted **Mar 3, 2013, 10:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Offside_Ref

I would imagine that it's fairly easy for CT to start the 3 from McKnight because Spring Gardens Garage is nearby. 50th Ave is quite a bit further from both the Southland and Victoria Park Garages. With such a huge difference in peak and off-peak service, I would imagine CT would try do reduce deadheading as much as possible.

CT can also decide to have a proportion of buses that short turn on the route so you have 3 minute frequencies in the middle of the route and 6 minute frequencies at the ends of the route during rush hour. Skytrain in vancouver does a lot of short turning to match demand for maximum efficiency. C-train lacks the ability to short turn due to schedule, automated switches and driver turn around time and tail tracks. For buses it would easy to short turn as long as you had a good way to communicate to riders and a good turn around point and a high-frequency route to begin with.

Govertical · #**6145** Posted **Mar 4, 2013, 4:54 AM**

Went by Tuscany station today. Wow has it progressed quick. The roof structure is up now

Offside_Ref · #**6146** Posted **Mar 4, 2013, 5:40 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northski

CT can also decide to have a proportion of buses that short turn on the route so you have 3 minute frequencies in the middle of the route and 6 minute frequencies at the ends of the route during rush hour. Skytrain in vancouver does a lot of short turning to match demand for maximum efficiency. C-train lacks the ability to short turn due to schedule, automated switches and driver turn around time and tail tracks. For buses it would easy to short turn as long as you had a good way to communicate to riders and a good turn around point and a high-frequency route to begin with.

Does CT have any bus routes that currently do a short turn? The only time I ever see buses not signed for their entire route is to not do a leg past a C-Train station and just end there at the end of the day/rush hour.

DizzyEdge · #**6147** Posted **Mar 4, 2013, 6:02 AM**

I sometimes see Route 3 with signage indicating a 78th ave terminal short turn rather than the normal Sandstone terminal.

Bassic Lab · #**6148** Posted **Mar 4, 2013, 3:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fusili

They definitely do have ridership overlap. With the south being the largest transit market, it makes sense to have more than just the LRT provide a higher level of service. While a limited stop service does relieve pressure on the over capacity LRT, it will still be useful after the subway is built, as it serves areas not covered by the LRT, such as Britannia and Mission. Plus it is a straight north/south route and so fits nicely into a high frequency grid of transit routes.

It's the frequency that concerns me. Currently the #3 in the south is less frequent than the #3 in the north. In the north, measured southbound @ 16 Ave, there are now 130 buses during the day. In the south, measured northbound @ 56 Ave (where overcrowding typically becomes a concern during the rush), there are now 118 buses during the day. Frequency on the southern portion is essentially every ~10 minutes from 06:00 until 21:30 with ~5 minutes during the peaks. I consider that to be pretty much the minimum for a frequent route. Much longer and it becomes impractical to simply show up at any point during the day without checking the schedule.

I have real doubts that CT would be able to justify having two frequent routes on Elbow Drive, especially if the current capacity issues disappear as the SLRT is improved. If CT cannot operate both routes with a minimum frequency of ~15 minutes then they will both suffer. Furthermore, I just can't see the limited stop bus offering that much better service for riders north of Glenmore. The trip downtown is already short and the possible time savings would be quite short. Downtown is pretty much where everyone gets off and quite frankly, offering a limited stop service to Fishcreek Park is a pretty lousy way to help Mission residents (where the pass ups become common in typical circumstances) avoid a fifteen minute walk.

MasterG · #**6149** Posted **Mar 4, 2013, 3:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassic Lab

It's the frequency that concerns me. Currently the #3 in the south is less frequent than the #3 in the north. In the north, measured southbound @ 16 Ave, there are now 130 buses during the day. In the south, measured northbound @ 56 Ave (where overcrowding typically becomes a concern during the rush), there are now 118 buses during the day. Frequency on the southern portion is essentially every ~10 minutes from 06:00 until 21:30 with ~5 minutes during the peaks. I consider that to be pretty much the minimum for a frequent route. Much longer and it becomes impractical to simply show up at any point during the day without checking the schedule.

I have real doubts that CT would be able to justify having two frequent routes on Elbow Drive, especially if the current capacity issues disappear as the SLRT is improved. If CT cannot operate both routes with a minimum frequency of ~15 minutes then they will both suffer. Furthermore, I just can't see the limited stop bus offering that much better service for riders north of Glenmore. The trip downtown is already short and the possible time savings would be quite short. Downtown is pretty much where everyone gets off and quite frankly, offering a limited stop service to Fishcreek Park is a pretty lousy way to help Mission residents (where the pass ups become common in typical circumstances) avoid a fifteen minute walk.

There must be several bottle-necks and short-turn areas that can be used to alleviate a lot of this. Bus-bunching, while tough to solve, is a serious problem and wastes a lot of capacity on the 3 and reduces the frequency and customer satisfaction overall. Most people are used to packed buses or long waits for nearly empty ones.

Having a few areas improved like centre St. with bus-only lanes around key bottlenecks, priority at lights etc. that might helP?

MalcolmTucker · #**6150** Posted **Mar 4, 2013, 6:08 PM**

Route ahead has a progression of measures for high use routes based on capacity thresholds. Just need to fund it.

Northski · #**6151** Posted **Mar 4, 2013, 7:52 PM**

I know the 72 and 20 have lots of bus coming on and off during rush hour and for the school rush but they don't really short turn but go to do different routes. The 2,3 all have city center buses that end downtwon but again there not really short turned but rush hour only buses.

AgentGibb · #**6152** Posted **Mar 4, 2013, 8:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ByeByeBaby

I think the proposal for a limited stop (I prefer "select stop") service from TransitCamp and recently put forward by CT is the best bet; instead of 50 stops south of downtown, have 15-20 and put the bulk of the service on that route -- it would have fewer problems from delays as people get on and off. That's the main quick-and-easy solution. It would get most people on this faster route better suited to the long haul.

What about simply continuing the 301 down Elbow Dr. rather than ending it downtown. That way it would duplicate the 3 in the south as well as the north. That would effectively provide the "select stop" service and probably be less confusing for riders than having two different versions of the 3...

TransitSupporter · #**6153** Posted **Mar 5, 2013, 2:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

I've also noticed some bus drivers have started opening the rear doors to let people on, particularly when people towards the back don't move to the back of the bus as they should. I'd like to see that as regular practice once people are stuffed up to the yellow line.

Usually when I get on the #3 NB @ 16Av N in the PM rush, it's pretty full. I frequently just get on via the back door myself - it's always being opened by someone disembarking, and it's easy to just step aboard. Usually there's enough room that far back. Have never had anyone blink and I doubt the driver notices (or cares). I have a pass anyway.

elconsulto · #**6154** Posted **Mar 5, 2013, 8:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TransitSupporter

Usually when I get on the #3 NB @ 16Av N in the PM rush, it's pretty full. I frequently just get on via the back door myself - it's always being opened by someone disembarking, and it's easy to just step aboard. Usually there's enough room that far back. Have never had anyone blink and I doubt the driver notices (or cares). I have a pass anyway.

Certain drivers just tell people to get on in the back if the front is way too full. People don't really do anything when you ask them to move to the back beyond a certain point.

RyLucky · #**6155** Posted **Mar 8, 2013, 1:25 AM**

I think it's at 14th St and 17th Ave SW (This would be the like #2): https://maps.google.com/maps?q=calgary&h...1iBBlAtWEKSJKs2dA&cbp=12,288.65,,0,-1.18
Check out the source (University of Manitoba) for some other cool historical tidbits: http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~wyatt/alltime/calgary-ab.html
Here's a streetcar on 10th St NW at Kensington Road:

It's funny how you can tell the location by some of those old, character buildings in the photos. They look almost completely the same.

outoftheice · #**6156** Posted **Mar 10, 2013, 5:23 PM**

Just wondering if anybody had contact details for the main organizers behind Calgary Transit Camp?? I would like to touch base with them regarding a citizens initiative for transit in Calgary. If you could PM me the details it would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!