The Great Canadian Transit Thread - Page 255

1overcosc · #**5081** Posted **Sep 24, 2014, 3:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by travis3000

I did a count of how much I spend a year owning a car. The numbers are staggering and would have many running to get a TTC pass opposed to owning a car. My insurance is $1450 a year, gas is $3500 a year, maintenance is $1000 a year which includes minor repairs/oil changes, air filters, oiling, snow tire removal/installation, etc. Then there's my actual car payment of $300 a month ($3600 a year). Add it all up and I am spending $9500 a year just for my right to own a car. A TTC pass at $1000 a year doesn't sound so bad all of a sudden for people living downtown. Hell if I lived down there, getting rid of my car might become a whole lot more appealing.

It's not that a TTC monthly pass is expensive per se, its more than the ratio of monthly pass to one-time fares is highly skewed. Generally cities should aim for a monthly pass to be the cost of between 30-40 rides in my opinion. Enough so that way its worth it for people who only take transit twice a work day to buy it.

1overcosc · #**5082** Posted **Sep 24, 2014, 3:23 PM**

I like the way GO Transit has done monthly fares with the Presto card. There, instead of having to choose between buying a monthly pass or a one time fare, you simply pay a one-time fare every time, and then once you've bought a certain number of fares each month, it simply stops charging you for the remainder of the month. I wish Ottawa would implement that, its so much simpler.

rbt · #**5083** Posted **Sep 24, 2014, 4:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

It's not that a TTC monthly pass is expensive per se, its more than the ratio of monthly pass to one-time fares is highly skewed. Generally cities should aim for a monthly pass to be the cost of between 30-40 rides in my opinion. Enough so that way its worth it for people who only take transit twice a work day to buy it.

So your saying the cash fare should be closer to $4 and tokens around $3.50?

Taeolas · #**5084** Posted **Sep 24, 2014, 7:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by travis3000

I did a count of how much I spend a year owning a car. The numbers are staggering and would have many running to get a TTC pass opposed to owning a car. My insurance is $1450 a year, gas is $3500 a year, maintenance is $1000 a year which includes minor repairs/oil changes, air filters, oiling, snow tire removal/installation, etc. Then there's my actual car payment of $300 a month ($3600 a year). Add it all up and I am spending $9500 a year just for my right to own a car. A TTC pass at $1000 a year doesn't sound so bad all of a sudden for people living downtown. Hell if I lived down there, getting rid of my car might become a whole lot more appealing.

Here in Fredericton, as bad as our system is, the monthly passes are bang on.

Currently it is 2.50$ for a cash ride, or 22.50$ for 10 tickets, or 70$ for a monthly pass.

So a monthly pass is covered after 28 trips. For people using the bus for work, it means the pass is covered after 3 5-day weeks and the 4th week of the month is 'free', not to mention side trips you might take.

In January, the prices are going up to 2.75$ cash, 80$ monthly, so it still stays very reasonable. (On the other hand, they are losing money hand over fist with their YEARLY 50$ senior 65+ pass)

Freddy Transit has ads on some of the buses (that are a bit out of date) comparing bus vs car-ownership costs, and the amounts are very similar to what you saw. Of course the convenience of having a car and being able to GO is another major factor to consider too.

One thing you didn't take into account, is that monthly transit tickets are tax deductable. I can't remember the exact deduction, but you basically get a tax credit for a month or a month and a half worth of your monthly tickets (assuming you bought 12 months worth)

1overcosc · #**5085** Posted **Sep 24, 2014, 7:11 PM**

^ The transit tax credit, in most cases, effectively subsidizes transit fares by 15%. So a $100 monthly pass becomes $85 when the tax credit is factored in.

Taeolas · #**5086** Posted **Sep 24, 2014, 8:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

^ The transit tax credit, in most cases, effectively subsidizes transit fares by 15%. So a $100 monthly pass becomes $85 when the tax credit is factored in.

So it almost becomes "Buy 10 months get 2 free". (Ok technically it is "Buy 10.2 months, get 1.8 months free" ) As long as you claim it on your taxes.

caltrane74 · #**5087** Posted **Sep 24, 2014, 8:59 PM**

Metrolinx buys 53 KM of track from Georgetown to Kitchener

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-...on-touts-kitchener-go-upgrades-1.2776715

Quote:

Provincial transportation agency Metrolinx has purchased a 53-kilometre section of CN rail track from Kitchener to Georgetown, as well as land in Kitchener for a future layover facility.

The purchase is the next step towards building two-way, all-day GO train service between Kitchener and Toronto.

The section in question runs from Georgetown to Kitchener and is used by GO trains on the Kitchener line. CN Rail said in a release it sold the track for $76 million.

MPP Daiene Vernile said the purchase allows the Metrolinx to make upgrades to the existing track and control operations.

kwoldtimer · #**5088** Posted **Sep 24, 2014, 9:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by caltrane74

Metrolinx buys 53 KM of track from Georgetown to Kitchener

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-...on-touts-kitchener-go-upgrades-1.2776715

One is still not holding one's breath for GO to get one between Kitchener and Toronto in under 90 minutes.

caltrane74 · #**5089** Posted **Sep 24, 2014, 10:54 PM**

It will take some time for upgrades to the track, signalling, layovers and holding facilities before you will likely see any improvements. The biggest improvement will of course be the electrification of the line.

caltrane74 · #**5090** Posted **Sep 24, 2014, 10:56 PM**

Wrong thread.

1overcosc · #**5091** Posted **Sep 24, 2014, 11:05 PM**

Latest pictures from the Confederation Line subway tunnel in Ottawa:

CREDIT: City of Ottawa Rail Implementation Office (www.confederationline.ca)
Track at Parliament Station eastbound platform. This is about 17 metres below Queen Street at the intersection of O'Connor.

CREDIT: City of Ottawa Rail Implementation Office (www.confederationline.ca)
The running tunnel, about 15 metres below the intersection of Waller & Stewart.

caltrane74 · #**5092** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 12:54 AM**

From the Metrolinx flickr page

BretttheRiderFan · #**5093** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 5:48 AM**

Really stoked for that Confederation Line in Ottawa.

Innsertnamehere · #**5094** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 5:53 AM**

90 minutes will be pretty close if you can make the Kitchener trains express trains after Georgetown South is finished. If such a trip can be created, it should drop into the 90-100 minute range. Its already dropped from 124 minutes a year ago to 116 minutes today, and most of the new trackage on Georgetown South isn't operational yet (Weston tunnel most specifically).

Upgrading the entire corridor to Toronto - Montreal style 90mph trackage would mean a travel time between 70 and 80 minutes.

red-paladin · #**5095** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 7:35 AM**

Are they going to replace all the nasty old lower sheds too?

caltrane74 · #**5096** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 1:07 PM**

Yes, they are replacing the shed, with a green roof.

caltrane74 · #**5097** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 1:16 PM**

Tunnel Boring Machines Arrive at Brentcliffe for the eastern leg of the Eglinton LRT

From Metrolinx

Martin Mtl · #**5098** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 1:45 PM**

I didn't know about that huge green roof over the tracks. This is impressive.

OTSkyline · #**5099** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 2:29 PM**

Theys should turn that large green roof into a large downtown public park..

1overcosc · #**5100** Posted **Sep 26, 2014, 6:36 PM**

Official draft of Ottawa's future metro map. This shows Phase 1 of the Confederation Line to be complete by 2018. It's getting complaints over a lack of colour blind compliance.