Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[deasine]

Originally Posted by nname

Personally, now I'm only take bus that are either 60ft or have a/c. I would wait or choose alternate route if it doesn't

Don't you find the A/C a bit "too" cold? I mean if the bus driver needs to wear a fleece to drive the bus you know cranked up too high. For whatever reason, we can't seem to get the temperature right. It's either too hot in the winter, or too cold in the summer.

[ssiguy]

Toronto's GO transit system is becoming a RER/S-Bahn type system.

10 years ago it had 1100 train trips per week and it now has 1500. In just 4 short years that will increase to 2200 and by 2024 the 90% of the system will be electrified, will have all day/night service in both directions 7 days a week with 6000 weekly train trips.

The province has been getting rid of train crossings making much of the system grade separated and has been twinning all tracks. The system is already 450km and with future plans including expansions to Brantford, Niagara Falls, Uxbridge, Cambridge, and Peterborough which will function as a cross-town route in Toronto itself, the system will be at least 700 km in length by 2030 at the latest. The electrification of the system will greatly increase speed, reduce labour and fuel/power prices, and allows for single level EMU units.

What makes this possible is that Metrolinx has been buying the rail corridors from CN/CP and now owns 80% of it which means they take priority over freight. This will mean the introduction of both S-Bahn service for inner areas within approx. 40km of downtown and express service to further out areas like Kit/Ham.

Greater Vancouver certainly does not have the Golden Horseshoe's near 10 million inhabitants but it does have the advantage of it's cone shape which guides growth along relatively thin corridors.

[ssiguy]

There is a point where rapid transit like SkyTrain is simply not feasible. This is not only because the further out into the suburbs it goes it gets relatively fewer rider's per dollar spent on the infrastructure. Also the further SkyTrain goes, the less rapid it becomes.
When you have to travel much further on the train with more stops, the system starts to become slower for distance trips than commuter buses.............it looses the advantage of why it was built in the first place.

The WCE hasn't experienced any real growth in ridership in over a decade. Although the service itself is a good one it is hampered by slow speeds, priority to freight, and service that is only good for rush hour trips which greatly inhibits who can take it. Vancouver's highly decentralized employment nodes doesn't help.

The best option is to twin the entire Waterfront to Langley route along the cut, buy the tracks, electrify, and offer all day two way service.

When rapid transit starts to become such a long trip that it loses it's advantage then it, and transit in general, becomes not only less viable but also less attractive.

[jsbertram]

I just had a thought that Translink should buy the Arbutus line from CP.

Corridor is preserved for future rail transit.
CP gets to abandon it (and off its books)
CoV doesn't have to pay for the corridor.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by jsbertram

I just had a thought that Translink should buy the Arbutus line from CP.

With what? The plebiscite was voted down...

[ninjakafi_81]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

I don't know much about buses in Surrey. The only newer bus I can think of that TransLink runs in Surrey is the 640, which is a New Flyer and has air conditioning. I'm pretty sure the newer New Flyers and Nova Buses both have air conditioning:

What we got in Surrey are 1996, 1998, and 1999 NFI D40LF's, 1998 NFI D60LF's, 2001 Orion V's, 2006 NFI D40LFR's, and a bunch of shuttles. The only buses that operate out of STC with A/C would be the Orion V's, but those don't appear on the 640 as to they only appear on the 301, 394, 395 ( selected trips ), and on the 503.

[queetz@home]

Originally Posted by deasine

Don't you find the A/C a bit "too" cold? I mean if the bus driver needs to wear a fleece to drive the bus you know cranked up too high. For whatever reason, we can't seem to get the temperature right. It's either too hot in the winter, or too cold in the summer.

Its better to be too cold than too hot. At least with too cold, the driver can wear the fleece. Its not like he or the passengers can take their shirts off in the bus if its too hot...

[NewfBC]

Rumour has it Translink is dropping the 'zone' system, switching to a single fare system all day every day.

Ron.

[GlassCity]

^Yep:

TransLink introducing one-zone fare on buses

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Starting October 5th, there will be one-zone fare on all buses, all day, every day.

It’s part of the greater rollout of the beleaguered Compass Card program.

http://www.news1130.com/2015/08/06/translink-introducing-one-zone-fare-on-buses/

Anita Bathe ‏@anitabathe 9m9 minutes ago
.@TransLink is eliminating zones for buses & #HandyDART. Not for #SkyTrain. This is as it rolls out #CompassCards in the next few months.

NEWS 1130 ‏@NEWS1130 12m12 minutes ago
#BREAKING: @TransLink says one-zone fare on buses all day, every day starting Oct 5. Says Compass Card will move ahead this fall

Of course, our pal Jordan already has something to say about this:

Anita Bathe ‏@anitabathe 7m7 minutes ago
.@jordanbateman w/ Canadian Taxpayers' Federation thinks people will try to take bus over #SkyTrain b/c of fare zone elimination on buses.

I disagree with getting rid of zones, but I guess we'll see how it works out. I actually see where Jordan is coming from here, and I can't see this helping out with their financial problems.

[st7860]

http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2015/08/one-zone-bus-pass-will-be-all-you-need-starting-october-5/

[WarrenC12]

Makes sense for buses, most are only one zone anyway.

As for people taking buses over Skytrain, Bateman is showing he has no fucking clue.

[st7860]

so no more tapping off but $2.75 per fare instead of $2.10....

http://buzzer.translink.ca/2015/08/compass-card-is-on-its-way-bus-fare-changes-too/
"Ready, set, tap!

Come this fall, more TransLink customers will be making the move to the Compass Card!

Joining the 130,000 customers already tapping on the system, riders will continue to see Compass roll out in phases until the fall when everyone will start tapping.

Compass Vending Machines (CVMs) will be activated in August to prepare for the switch over. Working station-by-station, it will take approximately 8 weeks to get all the machines up and running!

When all CVMs are ready to go, riders will then be able to start buying single-use tickets from CVMs at SkyTrain and SeaBus terminals.

By late October, Compass Cards will be available to the general public to buy for use on all transit services — just in time for monthly pass holders to load November’s month pass on their Compass Card!

After this date, Compass Cards will be available from CVMs, by mail, online, phone request and in person at the Compass retailer network or Compass walk-in centres.

But Compass Card is not the only fare payment change in the works!

Starting October 5th, bus-only trips — no matter the time of the day— will only cost you a one-zone fare. So if you are an adult, your bus fare will cost you $2.75 no matter which bus you are on, the day, the time or number of zones travelled.

This change in bus fare is all in the name of helping our customers adjust to the tapping system. Trips made by bus will now only require one tap at the beginning of travel. In other words, you don’t have to tap off the bus!

This shift will ensure customers only pay for the travel they’ve taken, even if they forget to tap out as they exit the bus.

In case you’re wondering, fares will remain the same for SkyTrain, SeaBus, Canada Line and West Coast Express travel. Tapping requirements for trips made by these services will still require tapping at the beginning and end of travel.

If you think your tapping skills may need some work or if you have some Compass Card questions, don’t worry we got you covered.

As a part of our Compass public education program, staff will be out at stations later this month to support the switch to CVMs.

Staff will help customers learn how to use the new machines and understand the ins-and-outs of tapping as well as answer your questions and provide support. And don’t forget askcompass.ca!

Who’s ready to get tapping?"

[go_leafs_go02]

Makes sense - how many two zone buses are there anyway?

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by go_leafs_go02

Makes sense - how many two zone buses are there anyway?

I guess that's true. I was just looking at it from my perspective, where pretty much every time I get on a bus I'm paying 2 zones. This will make a big difference for me. I suppose for most people in the region they usually do just take one zone.

[go_leafs_go02]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

I guess that's true. I was just looking at it from my perspective, where pretty much every time I get on a bus I'm paying 2 zones. This will make a big difference for me. I suppose for most people in the region they usually do just take one zone.

And most, if not all two or three zone trips involve SkyTrain.

[nname]

Originally Posted by go_leafs_go02

Makes sense - how many two zone buses are there anyway?

2 Zones:
19, 22*, 25, 28, 49, 130, 135, 210, 211, 214*, 240, 241, 246, 247, 250, 253*, 254*, 257, 258*, 311, 340, 351, 352, 354, 388, 430, 480, 601, 602, 603, 604, 620

3 Zones:
160, 190*


* = limited service

[nname]

Originally Posted by st7860

so no more tapping off but $2.75 per fare instead of $2.10....

Still $2.10 for Compass stored value.

(Source, page 48)

[AverageJoe]

I didn't see anything about transfers. Will the 90 minute limit to transfer still exist, or will it charge $2.75 every single time you tap aboard a bus?

[nname]

Originally Posted by AverageJoe

I didn't see anything about transfers. Will the 90 minute limit to transfer still exist, or will it charge $2.75 every single time you tap aboard a bus?

Still the same 90 minutes transfer time + 120min in-system time.

[Xerx]

Originally Posted by nname

2 Zones:
22*, 25, 28, 49, 130, 135, 210, 211, 214, 240, 241, 246, 247, 250, 253, 254, 257, 258, 311, 351, 352, 354, 430, 480, 601, 602, 603, 604, 620

3 Zones:
160, 190


* = limited service

The 19 is also a 2 Zone bus route.