Calgary Public Transit II - Page 444

Cage · #**8861** Posted **Sep 24, 2014, 11:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wooster

Then of course, connect card early 2015.

How will the connect card be purchased and reloaded?

I ask cause current system provides extra employment for my wife. My wife works at Calgary Coop and they call in extra customer service clerks to handle the transit crush during month end. I'm kind of concerned the connect card will put this job responsibility out of business.

Calgarian · #**8862** Posted **Sep 24, 2014, 11:20 PM**

Very much looking forward to the real time train info being updated. There are so many times I'll go to the station, see the next train is 10+ minutes away so I start walking home instead, then get passed by that train within 2 minutes lol

Full Mountain · #**8863** Posted **Sep 24, 2014, 11:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wooster

A few weeks. Real time a few weeks after (with very interesting user interfaces for real time soon after again). Connect early in the new year if things go well. So a quick succession of big technological changes.

In my personal opinion, real time will have a transformative impact on the customer experience and how people use the system.

They are opening the real time data up to developers correct?

joe498 · #**8864** Posted **Sep 24, 2014, 11:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wooster

Just previewed the soon to launch new Calgary Transit website - will go from one of the worst on earth to, I think, one of the best. It's really good.

Soon to follow will be launching real time info for the entire system - that will be incredible.

Then of course, connect card early 2015.

It'll be a sea change for customer experience.

Was just thinking about the new CT website the other day. Really excited for this, I usually just use google maps for route info as the current CT website is often non functioning / not user friendly. Googles new maps service is bulky and messy so hopefully this will be superior.

Chadillaccc · #**8865** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 12:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterG

Good on CT! Exciting times ahead

(although I still am more excited for 4th Street Bus-lanes).

4th Street is getting bus lanes? You mean like 4th NW? Through Mount Pleasant?

VIce · #**8866** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 12:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WaitWhat?

These are fantastic upgrades and very needed. I hope eventually we can also upgrade the Ctrain real time info at the platforms. It seems to be wrong almost as often as it is right. This includes which train is next, the time for next arrival and the announcer will often tell you the train is arriving and "please stand behind the yellow line" about 10 seconds after the train leaves.

Misinformation is worse than no information.

Is this more common during rush hour? I mean, the system is based off of both scheduling at the signalling blocks, so I imagine it's more prone to error when the train spacing is small. I'm an off-peak commuter, and I rarely see errors.

andasen · #**8867** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 12:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

4th Street is getting bus lanes? You mean like 4th NW? Through Mount Pleasant?

4th Street SW down through Mission.

fusili · #**8868** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 1:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cage

How will the connect card be purchased and reloaded?

I ask cause current system provides extra employment for my wife. My wife works at Calgary Coop and they call in extra customer service clerks to handle the transit crush during month end. I'm kind of concerned the connect card will put this job responsibility out of business.

"Oh I never knew this was a jobs program. In that case, give the workers spoons."

Wooster · #**8869** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 2:40 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Full Mountain

They are opening the real time data up to developers correct?

Last I heard, yes.

Wooster · #**8870** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 2:42 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe498

Was just thinking about the new CT website the other day. Really excited for this, I usually just use google maps for route info as the current CT website is often non functioning / not user friendly. Googles new maps service is bulky and messy so hopefully this will be superior.

Calgary transit's trip planner and google transit will both be offered on the site.

DizzyEdge · #**8871** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 3:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wooster

Just previewed the soon to launch new Calgary Transit website - will go from one of the worst on earth to, I think, one of the best. It's really good.

Soon to follow will be launching real time info for the entire system - that will be incredible.

Then of course, connect card early 2015.

It'll be a sea change for customer experience.

Now we just need night bus and we'll be all big city

Any movement on that?

MasterG · #**8872** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 3:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

4th Street is getting bus lanes? You mean like 4th NW? Through Mount Pleasant?

No the real "4th Street" not this northsider imitator of 4th Street NW

4th Street SW will always be the "4th Street" in my books

fusili · #**8873** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 4:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

Now we just need night bus and we'll be all big city

Any movement on that?

Yup. Not sure where it is at, but Calgary Transit should be initiating one soon. My last conversation with them indicated they would basically have trunk lines out to the burbs and a downtown loop for 17th avenue/Stephan avenue. They would roughly follow the LRT lines.

Chadillaccc · #**8874** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 4:30 PM**

That is bad friggin ass!

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterG

No the real "4th Street" not this northsider imitator of 4th Street NW

4th Street SW will always be the "4th Street" in my books

Yeah same here. I wasn't thinking when I asked

DizzyEdge · #**8875** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 4:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fusili

Yup. Not sure where it is at, but Calgary Transit should be initiating one soon. My last conversation with them indicated they would basically have trunk lines out to the burbs and a downtown loop for 17th avenue/Stephan avenue. They would roughly follow the LRT lines.

Perfect! I would suggest they also run the BRT lines in addition to the rough LRT route.

YYCguys · #**8876** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 5:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fusili

..They would roughly follow the LRT lines.

Similar to the TTC in Toronto then! What a good idea!

fusili · #**8877** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 5:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

Perfect! I would suggest they also run the BRT lines in addition to the rough LRT route.

They will. Sorry, didn't clarify that. I think it will follow the 301 and 302 for sure, and likely the 305 as well IIRC.

DizzyEdge · #**8878** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 6:08 PM**

Providing night transit could possibly fix our cab issue. I know I'd take a 301 home to mount pleasant from downtown rather than bothering with a cab.

WaitWhat? · #**8879** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 8:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by VIce

Is this more common during rush hour? I mean, the system is based off of both scheduling at the signalling blocks, so I imagine it's more prone to error when the train spacing is small. I'm an off-peak commuter, and I rarely see errors.

That might be it - I'm mostly a rush hour commuter. I have seen errors on the weekend as well but I don't take transit as often outside of rush hour. And there seem to be more errors downtown than at the suburban stations.

Cage · #**8880** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 10:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fusili

"Oh I never knew this was a jobs program.

Its not a jobs program. However my point is that some people will be negatively affected unless Calgary Transit continues to have methods for numerous retailers to purchase and reload the Connect card.

As an aside a few years ago cigarettes got punted from the grocery store customer service counter because the pharmacists wanted smoking removed from the same facility where pharmacies were located. The grocery store just moved the cigarettes out to the gas bar. Cigarette sales did not decrease, only difference was reduction of 1 good paying job from Customer Service counter. Moderate hour increase to minimum wage gas bar attendant.