Confederation Line (Stage 1) | In Service 1.0

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by kmcamp

I'm not sure I understand your complaint about the 4 digit stops. I can't say I've ever had issue finding it.

- There are some stations where it is very hard to find, or hard to find at a location where you actually wait for the bus and wait to be seen by the bus.

- At Transitway bus stations, with a handful of exceptions usually related to temporary detours, none of the bus-stop flag signs have the four-digit stop sign on them.

- Even when and where the four-digit number is found, it's in a low-point-size font and often with poor contrast.

- There is nowhere where you can quickly visually verify the four-digit number from aboard the bus. Why, you might ask, would that ever matter? Well, it matters a great deal in making a short-deadline decision about whether to stay aboard Bus A, or get off and transfer to Bus B.

Just make the damn numbers bigger, prominently located in places where passengers actually spend most of their time in a station, and consistently located as per "design language" so that it's second nature.

OC Transpo is really really awful at providing its customers with the information they need to use the system, and to use it well. It is such an easy and relatively cheap investment, and the issue of bad stop-ID placement has been on their radar since at least five or six years ago, which means, naturally, that OC Transpo has done nothing to fix its own self-inflicted stupidity.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

- There are some stations where it is very hard to find, or hard to find at a location where you actually wait for the bus and wait to be seen by the bus.

- At Transitway bus stations, with a handful of exceptions usually related to temporary detours, none of the bus-stop flag signs have the four-digit stop sign on them.

- Even when and where the four-digit number is found, it's in a low-point-size font and often with poor contrast.

- There is nowhere where you can quickly visually verify the four-digit number from aboard the bus. Why, you might ask, would that ever matter? Well, it matters a great deal in making a short-deadline decision about whether to stay aboard Bus A, or get off and transfer to Bus B.

Just make the damn numbers bigger, prominently located in places where passengers actually spend most of their time in a station, and consistently located as per "design language" so that it's second nature.

OC Transpo is really really awful at providing its customers with the information they need to use the system, and to use it well. It is such an easy and relatively cheap investment, and the issue of bad stop-ID placement has been on their radar since at least five or six years ago, which means, naturally, that OC Transpo has done nothing to fix its own self-inflicted stupidity.

You need a thicker set of goggles Seriously, I am noticing that some of the new bus stop signs are fading out, particularly for Connexion routes. The colour on some signs are already fading to light pink, making them difficult to read. i also saw another sign for a regular route that had faded to a grey blue colour. I never saw this kind of fading on the old signs even after years .

[kmcamp]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

- There are some stations where it is very hard to find, or hard to find at a location where you actually wait for the bus and wait to be seen by the bus.

- At Transitway bus stations, with a handful of exceptions usually related to temporary detours, none of the bus-stop flag signs have the four-digit stop sign on them.

- Even when and where the four-digit number is found, it's in a low-point-size font and often with poor contrast.

- There is nowhere where you can quickly visually verify the four-digit number from aboard the bus. Why, you might ask, would that ever matter? Well, it matters a great deal in making a short-deadline decision about whether to stay aboard Bus A, or get off and transfer to Bus B.

Just make the damn numbers bigger, prominently located in places where passengers actually spend most of their time in a station, and consistently located as per "design language" so that it's second nature.

OC Transpo is really really awful at providing its customers with the information they need to use the system, and to use it well. It is such an easy and relatively cheap investment, and the issue of bad stop-ID placement has been on their radar since at least five or six years ago, which means, naturally, that OC Transpo has done nothing to fix its own self-inflicted stupidity.

Ah. At least at Hurdman (and I assume all Confed line stations) the 4 digit code is on a sign at eye level at each bus stop flag

[Norman Bates]

Originally Posted by bradnixon

Everything old is new again!

(The original Transitway signage from the 80's was white letters on a black background, albeit with a plainer font).

To be truthful, the Transitway launched with large, ~20cm white vinyl letters individually affixed to the shelter glass at stations. Stations at that time included Campus, Train and Parliament - that were later renamed. Those original white letters were easy to vandalize and were almost invisible at night.

The smaller 15cm white letters on black rectangle backgrounds were the second iteration and proved much more visible day and night as well as more resistant to vandalism.

[kmcamp]

Originally Posted by Norman Bates

To be truthful, the Transitway launched with large, ~20cm white vinyl letters individually affixed to the shelter glass at stations. Stations at that time included Campus, Train and Parliament - that were later renamed. Those original white letters were easy to vandalize and were almost invisible at night.

The smaller 15cm white letters on black rectangle backgrounds were the second iteration and proved much more visible day and night as well as more resistant to vandalism.

I glad they went back to white on black. I really disliked the pastel colour signs they started using in the early 2000s. It was much less legible from a distance.

[caveat.doctor]

Originally Posted by Norman Bates

The smaller 15cm white letters on black rectangle backgrounds were the second iteration and proved much more visible day and night as well as more resistant to vandalism.

White-on-black provides the most contrast so it's a good step forward for usability. Hopefully the stickers will stay in place though - as you can see, the new ones already show some peeling in the corners:

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

Curious to see how the Transitway stations will fit into the branding in the future. Lollipops without the train icon cube below it? O-train type lanterns without the lollipops?

Originally Posted by Acajack

Or perhaps a red T in the same font as the O?

I think the "O" is the new system wide brand, regardless of whether a stop/route is served by rail or bus, with lollipops at both rail and Transitway stations. (It looks like there was a professional design consultant hired to guide the brand, and there's a 399-page report you could ATIP.)

I don't think there's any need for a separate Transitway brand anymore. There might have been when it was first built, as the concept was novel at the time. For stations, the lollipop with a bus icon cube would be the most consistent and clear. When the time comes, paint over all the red tubing and window frames in black, like the new/old white-on-black signs, and things will be fairly clean and consistent.

[Catenary]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

- There are some stations where it is very hard to find, or hard to find at a location where you actually wait for the bus and wait to be seen by the bus.

- At Transitway bus stations, with a handful of exceptions usually related to temporary detours, none of the bus-stop flag signs have the four-digit stop sign on them.

- Even when and where the four-digit number is found, it's in a low-point-size font and often with poor contrast.

- There is nowhere where you can quickly visually verify the four-digit number from aboard the bus. Why, you might ask, would that ever matter? Well, it matters a great deal in making a short-deadline decision about whether to stay aboard Bus A, or get off and transfer to Bus B.

Just make the damn numbers bigger, prominently located in places where passengers actually spend most of their time in a station, and consistently located as per "design language" so that it's second nature.

OC Transpo is really really awful at providing its customers with the information they need to use the system, and to use it well. It is such an easy and relatively cheap investment, and the issue of bad stop-ID placement has been on their radar since at least five or six years ago, which means, naturally, that OC Transpo has done nothing to fix its own self-inflicted stupidity.

The difficulty finding the 560 number at a Transitway stop might be the first thing I agree with Uhuniau on. I'm happy to see it on the new poles at chest height now for accessibility, but I wish it was always on the flag, especially the old red ones.

[kmcamp]

Originally Posted by caveat.doctor

White-on-black provides the most contrast so it's a good step forward for usability. Hopefully the stickers will stay in place though - as you can see, the new ones already show some peeling in the corners:







I think the "O" is the new system wide brand, regardless of whether a stop/route is served by rail or bus, with lollipops at both rail and Transitway stations. (It looks like there was a professional design consultant hired to guide the brand, and there's a 399-page report you could ATIP.)

I don't think there's any need for a separate Transitway brand anymore. There might have been when it was first built, as the concept was novel at the time. For stations, the lollipop with a bus icon cube would be the most consistent and clear. When the time comes, paint over all the red tubing and window frames in black, like the new/old white-on-black signs, and things will be fairly clean and consistent.

Consistent is good, and is proven to work well in places like Boston where their famous T logo graces all forms of transit stations

[rocketphish]

City is open to the idea of a free LRT day. But not this weekend

Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen
Updated: September 10, 2019

OC Transpo seems willing to give people a free ride on the new LRT system, just not on the opening weekend.

John Manconi, the city’s general manager of transportation, told the finance and economic development committee on Tuesday that Transpo is considering a free day sometime this fall, maybe in October, but there’s no date confirmed.

For now, Transpo is trying to get the LRT system ready for the public, and then adjust the bus network for the LRT era, before working on plans for a free day.

Coun. Riley Brockington said he’s been talking with Transpo on options to give people a free ride on LRT since he sees it as a golden opportunity to market the new transit system.

Former city councillor Alex Cullen appeared as a public delegate at the committee and complimented the city for the LRT preparations, but he urged politicians to give people a chance to ride the Confederation Line at least once free of charge.

Manconi has been consistently apprehensive to the idea of opening up the fare gates for a day.

“We want to be very careful not to overwhelm the system,” Manconi said after the committee meeting. “The first experience for the customers has to be a very positive one.”

Manconi said his team looked around the world at other cities’ launches of transit systems and noticed there were times when the systems were overwhelmed and trains were delayed.

“That’s just not the experience we want to leave for people,” Manconi said, adding that September is Transpo’s busiest month.

One group not getting a free ride from city hall is the LRT builder.

The city was set to deliver the final milestone payment to the Rideau Transit Group on Tuesday.

The milestone payment is $202 million, but the city is holding back $59 million attributed to costs the city has had to swallow during the delay, which stretches back to May 2018. There are other costs the city will pursue through clauses in the contract, Manconi said.

A reporter asked Manconi what RTG thinks about not getting $59 million it expected to receive when it achieved the LRT handover.

“I don’t care what RTG thinks about that,” Manconi responded. “We have clear direction from the city manager and our customers. We have a $2.1-billion contract with them. That was the action we were taking, so that’s what we’re doing.”

There has been an assumption at city hall that a payment dispute between the city and RTG will eventually end up in court.

Manconi also offered a bit more information about last Wednesday’s 10-hour LRT shutdown.

He said RTG on Friday communicated its belief that a lightning storm affected the service that day. The storm rolled through downtown around the same time three data transmitters in the tunnel turned off. RTG engineers, who reviewed surveillance footage, saw a breaker that was tripped and they continue to investigate the root cause, Manconi said.

Transpo is ready to roll with LRT. The transit agency had almost 600 people last Saturday test the system and it ran several drills mimicking various scenarios, like multiple injuries on a train and a lost child at a station.

“Four days until the biggest milestone in Ottawa’s transit history,” read the first slide in Manconi’s presentation to the mayor and councillors.

The city is still waiting to hear from STO about when it will activate its bus route plan to bring people to Lyon Station for the bus-to-LRT transfer.

Most interprovincial STO buses will end at Lyon Station after Oct. 6, when the LRT-era Transpo network comes into full effect, but some will still traverse the downtown. Manconi seemed sympathetic to STO since the Gatineau transit agency is also undergoing a big change thanks to Ottawa’s LRT ambitions.

The LRT system opens Saturday but Transpo staff have their eyes on Monday, the first day thousands of rush-hour commuters will board the trains. Transpo staff at all LRT stations will be wearing red vests to help people.

“We are there every step of the way,” Manconi said. “If there’s any doubt, any question … look for the red vests. We’re there.”

[email protected]
twitter.com/JonathanWilling

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-new...a-of-a-free-lrt-day-but-not-this-weekend

[Horus]

Originally Posted by Acajack

This might wait under Albert-Slater is done, but in the interest of offering the best service to riders, I can't see why they would.

All they really need to make the switch is for the bus stops and signage around Lyon Station and also east of Rideau (Besserer, Waller, etc.) to be done.

Albert-Slater as they are now are pretty darn good bus corridors with dedicated lane signage and stops already in place. All STO would need to do is install bus stop flags and some maps and info in the shelters and... presto.

Are you saying STO should install Presto?

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by Horus

Are you saying STO should install Presto?

Why not? If Ottawa is using it, then why not STO? (Don't use the other province argument.)

[Kitchissippi]

Originally Posted by Horus

Are you saying STO should install Presto?

Maybe STO should rebrand its Multi card as "Voilà", and presto, it means the same thing

[Prometheus188]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

- At Transitway bus stations, with a handful of exceptions usually related to temporary detours, none of the bus-stop flag signs have the four-digit stop sign on them.

- Even when and where the four-digit number is found, it's in a low-point-size font and often with poor contrast.

Why would you ever need to find a 4 digit stop number at a transitway station? I can't imagine ever needing to know that. You only need those numbers to check 560 560 or an app. But you already know what station you're at. If you're at Rideau, just look for "Rideau" in your app, or type in "Rideau" for 560 560. When texting, you can just type in the name of the transitway station, no need for 4 digit stop numbers at any transitway station.

For example, if you want to catch the 94 westbound to downtown/Riverview from Orleans (Innes/Provence), you'd type in "0571 94 1". If you're at Rideau station, just type in "Rideau 94 2". There's absolutely no reason to ever seek out a 4 digit stop number at any station.

[Corvulpes]

Originally Posted by Prometheus188

Why would you ever need to find a 4 digit stop number at a transitway station? I can't imagine ever needing to know that. You only need those numbers to check 560 560 or an app. But you already know what station you're at. If you're at Rideau, just look for "Rideau" in your app, or type in "Rideau" for 560 560. When texting, you can just type in the name of the transitway station, no need for 4 digit stop numbers at any transitway station.

For example, if you want to catch the 94 westbound to downtown/Riverview from Orleans (Innes/Provence), you'd type in "0571 94 1". If you're at Rideau station, just type in "Rideau 94 2". There's absolutely no reason to ever seek out a 4 digit stop number at any station.

Texting 560 costs me money, calling does not. Need the number. Also with some apps is easier with the number.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by caveat.doctor

a professional design consultant hired to guide the brand

"The idea is, someone would look down the street, see the big red O and recognize that there’s a transit connection and have a warm and fuzzy feeling about it, knowing it’s connected to the state-of-the-art LRT line."

If bus service is also linked to the big red "O", I won't get that same warm and fuzzy feeling.

[kmcamp]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

"The idea is, someone would look down the street, see the big red O and recognize that there’s a transit connection and have a warm and fuzzy feeling about it, knowing it’s connected to the state-of-the-art LRT line."

If bus service is also linked to the big red "O", I won't get that same warm and fuzzy feeling.

While hope is faint, maybe OC Transpo will realize you need a great bus system in addition to a train system, and the purpose of a bus isn't merely a shuttle to the nearest train station. Maybe we'll get a real grid system like Toronto, though our street layout complicates things

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

Originally Posted by Corvulpes

Texting 560 costs me money, calling does not. Need the number. Also with some apps is easier with the number.

plus ,believe it or not--some people do not carry a smart phone with them. I do not snd do not want to--i like to travel very light.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by kmcamp

While hope is faint, maybe OC Transpo will realize you need a great bus system in addition to a train system, and the purpose of a bus isn't merely a shuttle to the nearest train station. Maybe we'll get a real grid system like Toronto, though our street layout complicates things

As you allude to, Ottawa is not built on a grid, which creates a challenge. Ottawa is often based around old forced roads running on angles and curving routes, including Bank Street, Montreal, Richmond and Merivale Roads, and others follow rivers such as Riverside and Prince of Wales Drives. Some of our grid roads have even been deliberately broken up including Boyer and Belcourt in Orleans. Then we have the Greenbelt with its many irregularities. It will be almost impossible to set up a TTC grid and offer both coverage and efficiency. In my neighbourhood, because of the Greenbelt, following the grid will mean much worse service and lower ridership.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

Maybe STO should rebrand its Multi card as "Voilà", and presto, it means the same thing

Does anyone seriously think STO will adopt Presto anytime in the near future?

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by kmcamp

Consistent is good, and is proven to work well in places like Boston where their famous T logo graces all forms of transit stations

Kind of unrelated and on a tangent, but I've always liked how in German-speaking cities, they have the U-Bahn for urban rail, and the S-Bahn for suburban rail.