Calgary Public Transit II

[MalcolmTucker]

Montreasl has automatic train control iirc so the doors lining up issue is easier for them to solve.

[DizzyEdge]

The only issue with the automated all doors opening is that will suck out a lot of warmth in the middle of the winter for possibly no reason.

[lubicon]

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

The only issue with the automated all doors opening is that will suck out a lot of warmth in the middle of the winter for possibly no reason.

Maybe that would keep people from standing at the doors and actually move to the centre of the cars. This could actually be a blessing.

[Calgarian]

I think the doors are fine the way they are, except maybe they should close a little more aggressively so some kids backpack blocking the sensor wont keep it open for 5 minutes.

[srperrycgy]

This audit was on City Council's Audit Committee's agenda today.

CT Overtime Management Audit

From the Executive Summary:

"We observed that out of 2,017 operators who volunteered for overtime in 2011, three individuals earned more than $30,000 in overtime pay; and that another 21 operators earned more than $20,000. Of these top 24 overtime earners, 21 were senior operators. The average overtime paid in 2011 to operators was approximately $3,596.

While management is aware of who these operators are, and the operators willingly sign-up for overtime, we pointed out that significant amounts of overtime for one individual can have negative health and safety consequences."

It's an interesting read.

[ByeByeBaby]

Originally Posted by srperrycgy

This audit was on City Council's Audit Committee's agenda today.

CT Overtime Management Audit

From the Executive Summary:

"We observed that out of 2,017 operators who volunteered for overtime in 2011, three individuals earned more than $30,000 in overtime pay; and that another 21 operators earned more than $20,000. Of these top 24 overtime earners, 21 were senior operators. The average overtime paid in 2011 to operators was approximately $3,596.

While management is aware of who these operators are, and the operators willingly sign-up for overtime, we pointed out that significant amounts of overtime for one individual can have negative health and safety consequences."

It's an interesting read.

It's interesting, and I think that the recommendations make sense (from a quick skim). We're talking about $2.7 million a year over budget on the last two years, which is like a 50% increase over the budget for overtime. That's the big massive headline, but what no one talks about -- and you can't find out from this report or the media reports -- is that CT has a $213 million per year personnel budget; this is about a 1% deviation overall. (And presumably some of the overtime is because CT hasn't hired staff, so the regular wage budget may be under.)

Certainly, there is a reason for budgets and big overages need to be checked out and it seems like action needs to be taken. But there's one tree in a big forest everybody seems to be looking at.

[MalcolmTucker]

Compared to the overtime situation in Toronto, this is nothing.

I've made $20k in overtime before. It's nice, but my God are you ever drained at the end of the year. Definitely not something you can maintain long term.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by srperrycgy

This audit was on City Council's Audit Committee's agenda today.

CT Overtime Management Audit

From the Executive Summary:

"We observed that out of 2,017 operators who volunteered for overtime in 2011, three individuals earned more than $30,000 in overtime pay; and that another 21 operators earned more than $20,000. Of these top 24 overtime earners, 21 were senior operators. The average overtime paid in 2011 to operators was approximately $3,596.

While management is aware of who these operators are, and the operators willingly sign-up for overtime, we pointed out that significant amounts of overtime for one individual can have negative health and safety consequences."

It's an interesting read.

While massive shifts in overtime trends are of note and should be addressed, the fact that a few folks take-up those over-time opportunities at a higher clip is neither here nor there. Individuals working hard to legitimately earn extra bucks should not be penalized for it (unless the colluded to create the situations requiring overtime).

Separately and not relating to an organization with a lot of oversight such as CT, I've heard in Roads that there used to be situations where snowplough guys would sleep in their equipment cabs in the city lots for the balance of their shifts when snowfalls didn't pan out, and only proceed to maintenance after their usual driving hours were over such as to ensure overtime. Can't verify, but if that type of stuff is true, it's a different ballgame altogether!

[CTrainDude]

Originally Posted by suburbia

While massive shifts in overtime trends are of note and should be addressed, the fact that a few folks take-up those over-time opportunities at a higher clip is neither here nor there. Individuals working hard to legitimately earn extra bucks should not be penalized for it (unless the colluded to create the situations requiring overtime).

Separately and not relating to an organization with a lot of oversight such as CT, I've heard in Roads that there used to be situations where snowplough guys would sleep in their equipment cabs in the city lots for the balance of their shifts when snowfalls didn't pan out, and only proceed to maintenance after their usual driving hours were over such as to ensure overtime. Can't verify, but if that type of stuff is true, it's a different ballgame altogether!

The fact of the matter is, if CT continues to hand out OT like it does - based on seniority - it's easy for the most senior operators to volunteer and work a lot of overtime. It just means that one guy gets $30,000 because he's always the first in line, rather than having six junior guys each with $5,000. I don't think that number is really that surprising - if OT was supposed to be handed out equally, then that number would be hugely alarming.

[mellbell416]

When i s the Chinook LRT finally going to be ready for action again?? It has been down forever, and I drove past it the other day and man, it looks like it is in a complete mess....

[mersar]

Originally Posted by mellbell416

When i s the Chinook LRT finally going to be ready for action again?? It has been down forever, and I drove past it the other day and man, it looks like it is in a complete mess....

Mid August. It's a long way to go, there's currently no platform inside the shelter so quite a bit of work.

[Chealion]

Originally Posted by mellbell416

When i s the Chinook LRT finally going to be ready for action again?? It has been down forever, and I drove past it the other day and man, it looks like it is in a complete mess....

August.

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

[RyLucky]

Seeing as how Calgary has recently been considering tram/streetcar, I thought this might be relevant. Montreal has a new plan for a tram. Sorry it's in French:

http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/pls/portal/d.../1_rapport_synthse_projet_du_tramway.pdf

Edit: By new, I guess I mean "newly made public" feasibility plan. It looks like it's 100% separated ROW, $1B, 32 stations, 70 000 passengers daily, hopefully to be complete 2021.

[Cage]

Here is how delayed trains due to passenger holding open the door is solved in London's Tube.

www.jokeroo.com/videos/fail/woman-blocking-dor-tram.html

[elconsulto]

Originally Posted by Cage

Here is how delayed trains due to passenger holding open the door is solved in London's Tube.

www.jokeroo.com/videos/fail/woman-blocking-dor-tram.html

I don't think we need any special technology or new system to keep the doors clear, just hire a "bouncer" or security guard for each platform during peak hours. I've heard people say it won't happen, but is that really out of the question? The other day some dickheads held up the train for like 45 seconds, I watched one of them hold the door open so his buddy could grab his skateboard which rolled across the platform. That's got to mess up their schedule somewhat. Or why not just ban teenagers from the train? hahaha

[Jeffsey500]

Originally Posted by elconsulto

I don't think we need any special technology or new system to keep the doors clear, just hire a "bouncer" or security guard for each platform during peak hours. I've heard people say it won't happen, but is that really out of the question? The other day some dickheads held up the train for like 45 seconds, I watched one of them hold the door open so his buddy could grab his skateboard which rolled across the platform. That's got to mess up their schedule somewhat. Or why not just ban teenagers from the train? hahaha

Have they considered reprogramming the doors to force close? Elevators doors force close after a certain time, they start making noise and closing and ignore the door open buttons, optical beams, door sensors, etc. I'm thinking a similar logic could help.

[Offside_Ref]

Originally Posted by Jeffsey500

Have they considered reprogramming the doors to force close? Elevators doors force close after a certain time, they start making noise and closing and ignore the door open buttons, optical beams, door sensors, etc. I'm thinking a similar logic could help.

From what I've heard, they use the story of a blind person getting separated from their guide dog from forced closed doors as a reason not to have it.

[DoubleK]

Maybe the SE LRT could actually be a gondola/tram.

If the numbers in that article are right, we are clearly doing it wrong.

[MichaelS]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

Maybe the SE LRT could actually be a gondola/tram.

If the numbers in that article are right, we are clearly doing it wrong.

I have always thought a gondola would be the perfect solution for the North Central line, as it could run up centre street for a fraction of the cost (no need for costly widening, or a bridge/tunnel up the hill from downtown).