The Great Canadian Transit Thread

[Chadillaccc]

The entire existing, UC, and approved primary transit network of Calgary. Only things that aren't on there are the East and West BRT lines (approved).

[logan5]

I like the idea of adding another layer to the transportation system to compliment buses and trains, as this is a good last mile solution, but the cost for this service is way too high to be practical as a commuting option. Just going to a bus stop or train station will cost you 3 or 4 dollars.

Car2Go costs less than this service.

I would definitely use this service to go short distance or get to a car share, but at a reduced cost. Like say 15 cents a minute. It's not even close to cost competitive with a bus.

A company backed by Toronto Raptors founder John Bitove says it will bring e-scooter rentals to Calgary and Edmonton in early July.

Newly founded Bird Canada says Alberta will be the launching point for its line of dockless electric-powered scooters, but it plans to expand to eventually offer scooter-sharing and other "commuter solutions" across the country.

He says customers will be able to use the machines at a cost of $1.15 to start and 35 cents a minute after, a rate which he says makes the service competitive with public transit.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/b...ooters-target-calgary-edmonton-1.5192024

[p_xavier]

It's great to see that autonomous vehicles are getting here. It's a more thorough pilot this year.

https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/watch-gazette-tests-self-driving-shuttles-in-montreal

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by d_jeffrey

It's great to see that autonomous vehicles are getting here. It's a more thorough pilot this year.

https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/watch-gazette-tests-self-driving-shuttles-in-montreal

Many say that autonomous vehicles will kill public transit except on heavily used routes. This tells us that public transit could also use autonomous vehicles and still deliver a service that is more economical than privately owned vehicles. If 10 people could ride a public transit autonomous mini-bus, it will be cheaper than one or two in a private vehicle whether owned by you or I or offered by a ride-share service.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Many say that autonomous vehicles will kill public transit except on heavily used routes. This tells us that public transit could also use autonomous vehicles and still deliver a service that is more economical than privately owned vehicles. If 10 people could ride a public transit autonomous mini-bus, it will be cheaper than one or two in a private vehicle whether owned by you or I or offered by a ride-share service.

I agree. Neighbourhood circulators feeding trunk lines being automated can be the largest boon to public transit in North America since the second world war.

[p_xavier]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Many say that autonomous vehicles will kill public transit except on heavily used routes. This tells us that public transit could also use autonomous vehicles and still deliver a service that is more economical than privately owned vehicles. If 10 people could ride a public transit autonomous mini-bus, it will be cheaper than one or two in a private vehicle whether owned by you or I or offered by a ride-share service.

The QC govenrment said that autonomous vehicles will only be for public transit, for now.

[logan5]

Originally Posted by d_jeffrey

It's great to see that autonomous vehicles are getting here. It's a more thorough pilot this year.

https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/watch-gazette-tests-self-driving-shuttles-in-montreal

That's great but it doesn't come close to demonstrating what driverless cars are capable of. GM is testing in San Francisco, one of the most densely populated cities in the U.S.

• Video Link

[paulwillyjean]

Originally Posted by logan5

That's great but it doesn't come close to demonstrating what driverless cars are capable of. GM is testing in San Francisco, one of the most densely populated cities in the U.S.

• Video Link

I feel the need to point out this would be considered terrible city driving my most standards. Between the many illegal wrong ways, the badly executed zip merge and its tendency to stop whenever the vehicle turns at more than a 45 degree angle, I'm surprised no one rear-ended it.

[lrt's friend]

It may be necessary to cross the centre line in those traffic conditions but I am surprised how often it did cross over to the opposing lane. I noticed that no comments were allowed in the video. I am sure many would have commented on the questionable driving behaviour. I was scared just watching it, especially when turning left in front of the bus with opposing traffic moving straight through in the other lane. It was an almost blind situation.

[p_xavier]

Originally Posted by logan5

That's great but it doesn't come close to demonstrating what driverless cars are capable of. GM is testing in San Francisco, one of the most densely populated cities in the U.S.

• Video Link

To survive Montreal potholes and construction sites is the best demonstration of driverless vehicles, next, Winter weather.

[milomilo]

Originally Posted by paulwillyjean

I feel the need to point out this would be considered terrible city driving my most standards. Between the many illegal wrong ways, the badly executed zip merge and its tendency to stop whenever the vehicle turns at more than a 45 degree angle, I'm surprised no one rear-ended it.

Yeah wtf?! That driving was atrocious, I was actually scared watching that. Although it looks like San Francisco is not a good place to drive regardless, all those delivery drivers with flashers on wherever they please.

[ToxiK]

There were not that many pedestrians in that video, and even less cyclists. I wonder how that car would do with more cyclists.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

The entire existing, UC, and approved primary transit network of Calgary. Only things that aren't on there are the East and West BRT lines (approved).

That's an impressive system!

[J.OT13]

New rendering of Ottawa's Airport Station, expected to open in 2022.


https://www.otrainfans.ca/trillium-stations/airport-link/airport

[milomilo]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

That's an impressive system!

It's an impressive map, but much of what is on there is just regular buses and the Green Line is on shaky ground right now.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by milomilo

It's an impressive map, but much of what is on there is just regular buses and the Green Line is on shaky ground right now.

Darn, what's going on with the Green Line? The first phase or the extensions?

[milomilo]

https://globalnews.ca/news/5430501/city-...ion-waves-red-flag-at-green-line-tunnel/

The downtown tunnel is more expensive than they thought.

[J.OT13]

Little late to come to that realization. Ottawa figured that out well before tenders went out and we modified the tunnel (and line) to fit the budget. Platforms were cut from 180 to 150 then down to 120 meters (with surface platforms always 20 meters less then the tunnel). The tunnel was shortened from 3 kms, 4 stations to 2.5 kms, 3 stations. Then re-aligned from a deep "cross-country" alignment to a straighter Queen Street route, cutting the depth in half, and finally, Rideau Station was moved from angled under the canal further east to under Rideau Street.

I hope Calgary doesn't give up on the tunnel completely and instead re-visits the alignment, length and depth. Run it elevated or surface in Victoria Park, cut-and-cover instead of bored, cross the Bow with a bridge instead of a tunnel....

[Reecemartin]

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

GO bus service. Oops I forgot to mention that.

GO Bus service isn't being drastically cut system wise. They were planning on cancelling 1 highly underutilized route to make better use of the buses on busier routes, which isn't even happening.

[Nouvellecosse]

So can someone fill me in on these "transit cuts"? I'm having a hard time imagining how cuts to transit in the GTA could possibly be warranted. Are the cuts just being made as part of a re-organization to eliminate redundant service? If so, wouldn't the money saved be better re-invested into other transit services rather than cut?