Calgary Public Transit II

[RyLucky]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

Should the city spend more for better placement? There is only so much that can be done. With the International terminal, anyone know whether they will put in a second stop or will they force everyone to schlep?

Perhaps off topic, but another thing yyc should address is congestion in their pick-up zone. It's already crazy now. Some other airports have separate lanes for taxis/transit... not sure what's feasible...

[holhm22]

Centre St chosen for North Central LRT alingment: http://www.calgarytransit.com/planning/north-central-lrt.php

[MasterG]

Originally Posted by holhm22

Centre St chosen for North Central LRT alingment: http://www.calgarytransit.com/planning/north-central-lrt.php

Excellent news, not unexpected. I hope they are able to do some really well integrated minimum stations like the trams in many European cities. No need for the big hulking NW or NE line station designs. My hope is that everything about this project will showcase to Calgary how efficient ground-level, low-floor, well-integrated transit can be.

They do this right and you it changes the dialogue on what transit means and saves billions from ideal - but ultra-expensive subway - construction in the future. Toronto cost themselves billions by creating a large portion of the public that can't contemplate a transit system that isn't a subway. We should avoid the same mistakes and go for a lighter but effective touch.

Barring Centre from becoming Younge Street in the next 50 years and Calgary ballooning to 5 million people in a high-density city from Nose Hill to the core, CT would be able to handle things just fine with a in street LRT scheme.

Spend the money to grade-separate where it is needed, in the core.

[milomilo]

Originally Posted by holhm22

Centre St chosen for North Central LRT alingment: http://www.calgarytransit.com/planning/north-central-lrt.php

Well that was out of the blue - as were the previous announcements. It always seemed fairly likely Centre St would be picked, and now it seems like tunnelled to 24th Ave is the front runner.

It's going to be tough squeezing LRT + 4 car lanes in north of that though. I think they're really going to have to have some courage and make compromises in the form of less roadway/prioritisation for motorists if this is to be a worthwhile endeavour.

[MalcolmTucker]

Tough without taking housing, but taking housing is cheaper than tunnels.

[Fuzz]

What Does This Mean?

This means the project continues to adhere to the Project Vision and Community Principles that were crafted in 2013 with input and support from Calgarians. It also responds to the public who overwhelmingly support Centre Street as the right place for the future LRT line. The Project Vision and Principles are shown below.

The narrow option maintains one traffic lane in each direction with the LRT running in the middle. The addition of the LRT will mostly occur within the existing width of Centre Street. This approach will still require some property purchases, but not to the extent that would be needed if the road was widened, reducing disruption to Calgarians who live and make a living along Centre Street.

I'm not sure I follow this part...does that mean the narrow option was chosen? What portion of the route? Over the bridge? Or is that part still up in the air?

[Fuzz]

If the do run it at grade, I'd think they would need to do it all at once. I can't imagine having it stop at 16th ave(like the long term plan said) for a number of years, at grade, and only 2 traffic lanes. Would all the buses squeeze in those lanes, or would everyone be forced to transfer?

[MalcolmTucker]

^ Politicians will choose the outcome. We don't live in a technocracy. But now they can choose from 3 options (tunnel, narrow, wide) instead of N.

[ByeByeBaby]

Originally Posted by milomilo

Well that was out of the blue - as were the previous announcements. It always seemed fairly likely Centre St would be picked, and now it seems like tunnelled to 24th Ave is the front runner.

It's going to be tough squeezing LRT + 4 car lanes in north of that though. I think they're really going to have to have some courage and make compromises in the form of less roadway/prioritisation for motorists if this is to be a worthwhile endeavour.

What does "out of the blue" mean, exactly? They say they had feedback from hundreds of public members both online and at different workshops, so it doesn't mean "without consultation". There have been studies for a couple of years, so it doesn't mean "without thinking". The only thing that makes sense to me is that you mean "without the months long tease of tweets and hints that the new Library has", which is totally fine by me.

[milomilo]

Originally Posted by ByeByeBaby

What does "out of the blue" mean, exactly? They say they had feedback from hundreds of public members both online and at different workshops, so it doesn't mean "without consultation". There have been studies for a couple of years, so it doesn't mean "without thinking". The only thing that makes sense to me is that you mean "without the months long tease of tweets and hints that the new Library has", which is totally fine by me.

It wasn't a criticism - just an observation, from me, that it took me by surprise. I'm glad that this is going forward, if quietly and unseen by most.

[DizzyEdge]

I'm a little concerned about it being on street between 24th and 32nd. Does that mean pedestrians have to travel several blocks to cross Centre?

[VIce]

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

I'm a little concerned about it being on street between 24th and 32nd. Does that mean pedestrians have to travel several blocks to cross Centre?

After leaving the tunneled section, what would people think of trenching several blocks to accommodate a large number of vehicle and pedestrian overpasses as ground level?

[milomilo]

Originally Posted by VIce

After leaving the tunneled section, what would people think of trenching several blocks to accommodate a large number of vehicle and pedestrian overpasses as ground level?

Digging a trench would be just as disruptive as a cut and cover tunnel, so if you've done that you might as well finish the job.

For this to be give good service for those at the end of the line (the purpose of this LRT is to move as many suburban commuters downtown as possible), then that means that the train must have priority and there be minimal crossing roads. I don't think pedestrian crossings every few blocks is so bad - Memorial hardly has any and it isn't a problem.

[MasterG]

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

I'm a little concerned about it being on street between 24th and 32nd. Does that mean pedestrians have to travel several blocks to cross Centre?

It absolutely doesn't have to, but it will be determined by how they implement it. Both of these can move the same number of people given the right conditions. One creates a giant barrier, one is significantly less:

This:



Versus:

[sim]

Originally Posted by MasterG

It absolutely doesn't have to, but it will be determined by how they implement it. Both of these can move the same number of people given the right conditions. One creates a giant barrier, one is significantly less:

This:



Versus:

Did you create the first pic, or was the TTC doing a little photoshopping of their own?

Is the TTC dreaming of Bordeaux and going for some ground level power supply?

[The Fisher Account]

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/North+central+down+Centre+Street/10151597/story.html

Coun. Sean Chu, who represents much of the route, said in March he preferred a train along Edmonton Trail, because its automobile traffic volumes are lighter.

“We should not disrupt people’s lives, as much as we can,” he said.

Chu wasn’t available for comment Tuesday evening. He tweeted that he was knocking on doors in his constituency.

Sean Chu defies common sense, facts and general logic once again. News at 11.

Worst. Councillor. Ever.

[MasterG]

Originally Posted by sim

Did you create the first pic, or was the TTC doing a little photoshopping of their own?

Is the TTC dreaming of Bordeaux and going for some ground level power supply?

Just found it randomly. Ground or pantograph(?) Power-supply or not, definitely no issues with centre street being a low-floor.

We would be so lucky to emulate Bordeaux on centre. I doubt the will or the finesse of the project engineers / planners will allow it but one can dream

[RyLucky]

Interesting that folks who showed up from general public opted for wide and tunnel format (where will the cars play?!), whereas community and advisory groups advocated narrow format south of McKnight.

[speedog]

Originally Posted by milomilo

Digging a trench would be just as disruptive as a cut and cover tunnel, so if you've done that you might as well finish the job.

For this to be give good service for those at the end of the line (the purpose of this LRT is to move as many suburban commuters downtown as possible), then that means that the train must have priority and there be minimal crossing roads. I don't think pedestrian crossings every few blocks is so bad - Memorial hardly has any and it isn't a problem.

Memorial Drive versus Centre Street - not really a fair comparison as the environment/development along the sides of these two roads is completely different in nature.

[H.E.Pennypacker]

Originally Posted by The Fisher Account

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/North+central+down+Centre+Street/10151597/story.html



Sean Chu defies common sense, facts and general logic once again. News at 11.

Worst. Councillor. Ever.

I... I ... I don't even know anymore

Glad they're going the Centre St route - makes the most sense .. Will be interesting to see how they integrate the LRT into it all .. The traffic patterns around the central north part of the city will be entirely changed