Calgary Public Transit II

[DizzyEdge]

Rural vs Urban resident ratios?

[RyLucky]

[double post]

[RyLucky]

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

Really not sure, I actually checked Ontario and Alberta revenue per person and Alberta brings in about $800 more per person, so I guess that throws out the argument of 'well other provinces have a sales tax'

I don't think other provinces have an "easy" time getting funding, nor do I think Alberta is necessarily entitled to more benefits because we pay more taxes (just as I'm not sure rich neighbourhoods deserve as much funding as poor neighbourhoods). I say this as someone who identifies as more 'Calgarian' than most folks I know. However, the Federal government ought to be more reasonable about how and to whom funding is provided. For example, the 3 biggest federal public transit grants of the past 5 years have all been granted in battleground ridings, which looks more than a little suspicious.

The best option, IMO, is to reduce the role of the feds and provinces in providing funding for these projects, putting more onus on cities, but this is only fair if cities have the agency for plebiscite or tax freely. The way the world is going (more urban, more multinational, etc), I think this way is only fair.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

I'm not sure why, if Ontario's cities can so easily secure federal funding for their transit projects (Kitchener's ION LRT is being funded 100% by provincial and federal I believe), why can't we ask for appropriate funding? Being the 4th largest city in the country, with the economy to definitely be able to pay back the loans, I don't know why it's such an issue to find funding.

Calgary tends to spread the Building Canada Fund around. For example, the National Music Centre got $25 million, Telus Spark $40 million. My understanding is this money could have went to LRT if we had wanted to.

In Alberta, we spend way more on infrastructure than we could ever get a federal match for.If we decided to dedicate federal money all to one project we could. This is what other places have done.

Again, it doesn't mean Alberta gets less than it is due, it is just spent differently since we are building all sorts of stuff. Complaining won't really help much.

Also, I am pretty sure Toronto would trade having MSI and the BMTG instead of the Ontario government running and funding transit construction.

[Nouvellecosse]

So the chart says "BRT, in mixed traffic" So if it's in mixed traffic, what sets it apart as being BRT as compared to a regular express-bus route? Or is it just in mixed-traffic for a short stretch?

[DizzyEdge]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

So the chart says "BRT, in mixed traffic" So if it's in mixed traffic, what sets it apart as being BRT as compared to a regular express-bus route? Or is it just in mixed-traffic for a short stretch?

Welcome to Calgary

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

So the chart says "BRT, in mixed traffic" So if it's in mixed traffic, what sets it apart as being BRT as compared to a regular express-bus route? Or is it just in mixed-traffic for a short stretch?

I think 16th Ave for example didn't need dedicated lanes iirc. Skip lanes at some lights and transit signal priority is more than enough save for a few places.

[UofC.engineer]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

So the chart says "BRT, in mixed traffic" So if it's in mixed traffic, what sets it apart as being BRT as compared to a regular express-bus route? Or is it just in mixed-traffic for a short stretch?

Hey Buddy! Good to see you on this thread! I'm suprised you visit threads in cities that don't have any rapid transit .

What are your thoughts on the BRT plan?


...I'm all ears

[J-D]

Originally Posted by RyLucky

203 will not do much to alleviate 201. The routes appear to run parallel on a map, but actually their catchment areas are almost totally unique.

I think it would have to make some sort of a difference, but maybe not when it finally comes to fruition.

Theoretically it could shift out-of-town users coming in from Okotoks, and there are presumably a number of people who live in the SE portion of town that currently take the 201. Think Mckenzie, Cranston, etc park-and-riders.

[DizzyEdge]

Love the comments:

http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/01/31/cit...he-southeast-and-north-central-lrt-lines

[MasterG]

Originally Posted by RyLucky

I don't think other provinces have an "easy" time getting funding, nor do I think Alberta is necessarily entitled to more benefits because we pay more taxes (just as I'm not sure rich neighbourhoods deserve as much funding as poor neighbourhoods). I say this as someone who identifies as more 'Calgarian' than most folks I know. However, the Federal government ought to be more reasonable about how and to whom funding is provided. For example, the 3 biggest federal public transit grants of the past 5 years have all been granted in battleground ridings, which looks more than a little suspicious.

The best option, IMO, is to reduce the role of the feds and provinces in providing funding for these projects, putting more onus on cities, but this is only fair if cities have the agency for plebiscite or tax freely. The way the world is going (more urban, more multinational, etc), I think this way is only fair.

It helps if you are in a swing riding. It also helps if cities actually existed constitutionally and are respected enough to run their own house.

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by MasterG

It helps if you are in a swing riding. It also helps if cities actually existed constitutionally and are respected enough to run their own house.

Are you saying you didn't know funding transit is against democracy??

[sim]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

So the chart says "BRT, in mixed traffic" So if it's in mixed traffic, what sets it apart as being BRT as compared to a regular express-bus route? Or is it just in mixed-traffic for a short stretch?

Nothing. It's not BRT in any which way. This isn't the first time this has been brought up, but I have no qualms in bringing it up each and every time it needs to be. It's a complete and utter disservice to what BRT is suppose to be and it completely undermines the BRT brand. What happens when we actually get true BRT? How is the average user supposed to differentiate between this and, well, basically a normal bus. They more or less won't, and instead of a 'BRT' system that approaches LOS (both perceived or real) of that of rail tranist, we essentially have people regarding it just as a somewhat "special" bus (nominally).

It is so completely and utterly disingenuous and erroneous, that I really have to wonder who keeps perpetuating this wayward labelling of a service. The ITDP (arguably the authority on BRT) does not recognize Calgary as having BRT so why keep pretending that that is what is offered. Brand it differently if you're so adamant in distinguishing it from regular service. LSB (limited stop bus), FB (Fast Bus) or whatever.

Don't tarnish the BRT brand and standard.

BRT in mixed traffic.... so a normal one at that... wait, a sub-par normal one at that.

My god we have a long way to go.

[frinkprof]

Spring Service Revisions -March 10th

The service revisions for spring can be found at this link:

http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/spring_service_revisions_2014.html

Service increases for routes 306, 301, 19/119 (which will eventually turn into a BRT route, as per above announcements), 92, 96, 36, 41, 8, 1 and 6.

Also, some ramping up of service in new communities:

421 Panatella - slight increase in service

429 Sherwood - pretty much brings it up to a full outlay of service as seen in an established community

445 Skyview - increased service and route gets extended to serve community of Redstone

Routes 420 and 425 get altered so that 425 serves Kincora and 420 no longer does.

Also, routes 151 and 153 have their routes extended to serve east Copperfield.

These changes reflect the recent addition of service hours to the budget, and possibly the last such increase you'll see for awhile.

[pulkit10]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Spring Service Revisions -March 10th

The service revisions for spring can be found at this link:

http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/spring_service_revisions_2014.html

Service increases for routes 306, 301, 19/119 (which will eventually turn into a BRT route, as per above announcements), 92, 96, 36, 41, 8, 1 and 6.

Also, some ramping up of service in new communities:

421 Panatella - slight increase in service

429 Sherwood - pretty much brings it up to a full outlay of service as seen in an established community

445 Skyview - increased service and route gets extended to serve community of Redstone

Routes 420 and 425 get altered so that 425 serves Kincora and 420 no longer does.

Also, routes 151 and 153 have their routes extended to serve east Copperfield.

These changes reflect the recent addition of service hours to the budget, and possibly the last such increase you'll see for awhile.

One thing I don't get about the 151 changes - why don't they just reroute them (all the morning and evening ones) so they go EB 17th (1A) and take SB Stoney Trail instead?

It would go something like this: (from Downtown)
5th Ave EB => Center St SB => 9th Ave EB => 17th Ave EB => Stoney Trail SB => 52nd St NB => McIvor Blvd EB => Copperfield => New Brighton

https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zKuJoi1N_Kak.kBkN4E7S6pSU

And vice-versa for the morning trips to downtown.

Makes more sense to use a freely moving, under-utilized highway like Stoney as opposed to using the already awfully packed Deerfoot or using a bunch of inner streets like Ogden Rd and Douglasglen Blvd.

I think Stoney will be faster too as only the downtown/17th Ave portions are busy - should take between 30/40 minutes from Copperfield to downtown (as opposed to the 50 minutes/1 hour it usually takes navigating that maze.

[Full Mountain]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Spring Service Revisions -March 10th

The service revisions for spring can be found at this link:

http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/spring_service_revisions_2014.html

Service increases for routes 306, 301, 19/119 (which will eventually turn into a BRT route, as per above announcements), 92, 96, 36, 41, 8, 1 and 6.

Also, some ramping up of service in new communities:

421 Panatella - slight increase in service

429 Sherwood - pretty much brings it up to a full outlay of service as seen in an established community

445 Skyview - increased service and route gets extended to serve community of Redstone

Routes 420 and 425 get altered so that 425 serves Kincora and 420 no longer does.

Also, routes 151 and 153 have their routes extended to serve east Copperfield.

These changes reflect the recent addition of service hours to the budget, and possibly the last such increase you'll see for awhile.

Why do you say that?

[Wigs]

I know this is a pipedream, but I think it would be awesome if we could implement a temporary 5% Calgary transit tax on retail sales to jumpstart transit projects such as LRT or BRT expansions ASAP.

Calgary retail sales are ~$25.7 Billion/year (source: Calgary Economic Development), so that would mean ~$1.28 Billion a year to devote towards transit projects.
Once the NC and SE LRT are complete they could eliminate the tax.

one can dream, right

[Full Mountain]

Originally Posted by WIGS

I know this is a pipedream, but I think it would be awesome if we could implement a temporary 5% Calgary transit tax on retail sales to jumpstart transit projects such as LRT or BRT expansions ASAP.

Calgary retail sales are ~$25.7 Billion/year (source: Calgary Economic Development), so that would mean ~$1.28 Billion a year to devote towards transit projects.
Once the NC and SE LRT are complete they could eliminate the tax.

one can dream, right

Complete the RouteAhead plan and you have something alot of the voters in this city could get behind

[MalcolmTucker]

On a city scale retail taxes wouldn't be the best thing, especially since a 1/4 of those sales are autos, where it is easy to jurisdiction shop. Another 1/4 is food which would be a hard sell. Other goods - do we want a super cross iron mills on every out of town road? Also, trying to fix the regressiveness, and the broad base would eat up a point or so in administration costs. You're down to $560 million a year before business asks for the business tax to be cut due to accounting costs.

[DizzyEdge]

Trial bus stop heaters. Man, the luxury

Jan 1965


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