OC Transpo

[Truenorth00]

This is just infuriating for the impact it will have on transit:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/urban-boundary-expansion-draws-fire-ottawa-1.5544652

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

Put all of the Rideau routes on the bridge so that there's a common transfer point for to and from all of them.

How would you have the routes that end at Rideau turn around? Just curious.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by roger1818

How would you have the routes that end at Rideau turn around? Just curious.

Around Desmarais?

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Around Desmarais?

Can buses make the sharp left turn from Nicholas onto Mackenzie King?

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by roger1818

Can buses make the sharp left turn from Nicholas onto Mackenzie King?

The intersection is huge, so I don't see why not. The STO's proposed downtown routing has such much more problematic turns as far as I can tell.


http://www.sto.ca/index.php?id=696

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by roger1818

Can buses make the sharp left turn from Nicholas onto Mackenzie King?

Yes. There have been regular routes using this turn in the past, and other routes when on detour, such as during The Great Sinkhole.

[J.OT13]

A video about challenges the transit agencies will face post- Covid-19. It's Vancouver based, but very much applies to Ottawa.

In addition to fears surrounding pandemics, layoffs and new work-from-home policies at many companies will amplify the drop in ridership.

I have very little faith in the City of Ottawa's ability to tackle what's coming. They will respond with massive service cuts which will result in continued overcrowding conditions, which will in tern result in more reduced ridership. A vicious circle.

The City should maintain service levels and current fares while searching for new revenue streams. Ask the Province for new legislation allowing cities to use parking revenue to bolster transit. Charge for park-and-rides (even if it's $2-$3 a day), implement a new general parking tax for parking garages and Power Centres (charge per spot, prompting them to be more efficient with their space).

• Video Link

[SidetrackedSue]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

A video about challenges the transit agencies will face post- Covid-19. It's Vancouver based, but very much applies to Ottawa.

In addition to fears surrounding pandemics, layoffs and new work-from-home policies at many companies will amplify the drop in ridership.

This is where data and decent contact tracing is so important, especially as we ease social distancing.

Who, in the community, got Cv-19? (not names: demographics of age, WFH or essential workers, MUH or single family home, isolating or doing the minimum requested to social isolate?)

What percent were transit users?

The bus drivers who tested positive - did they get it from work related contact? Or was it travel or contact at home with someone who was positive?

On the city OPH graphs they talk about sporadic cases. Those are people who have no direct connection with an outbreak (either LTC or identified community outbreak.) What percentage of those people were transit users?

Worldwide, what percentage of cases are traced back to transit use?

Will the city put in place a non-medical mask requirement for riders to limit potential asymptomatic spread?

These are all things that can make a difference in perception of risk. At this point, people are terrified of a jogger running past them so are sheltering inside. The danger level as presented by OPH is so high, those over 70 are not to leave their homes. Those in MUH are not to step outside except onto a balcony. No balcony? Tough. Fresh air is overrated. Sunlight is overrated. Seeing other human beings is overrated.

Personally, I think analysis of the data will show the risk from transmission outside will be virtually nil. (At this point there are few studies showing any transmission outdoors.)

I'm looking forward to data on risk with transit use.

As people start to move around they each have to balance their risk with their freedom or responsibilities. And the costs of moving around.

People being stuck in traffic again will remember why they used transit.

People with no parking spot near work will have to rethink having a car.

The cost of car ownership might be too much especially when people are recovering from the economic hit of lost income, or lost jobs.

More people will be working from home so the need for a car will be less. On the days when you go to the office, taking transit on off-peak hours will have little risk.

Of course, unless the transit commission meets, they can't be working on a recovery plan and will end up being reactive as usual instead of being proactive. They should be making sure they have the data to support a "back-to-work and school means back to transit" marketing campaign. Preferably also talking about the upgrades to the LRT while we were at home so it will be more reliable. With more trains all the time, crowding will be reduced, making transit better now than it was before (I know that is likely a stretch, I have no faith in RTM to fix anything and figure the lack of issues is because nothing is currently running at half capacity - or in te case of the next couple of weeks, at all.)

[TransitZilla]

Originally Posted by SidetrackedSue

Of course, unless the transit commission meets, they can't be working on a recovery plan and will end up being reactive as usual instead of being proactive. They should be making sure they have the data to support a "back-to-work and school means back to transit" marketing campaign. Preferably also talking about the upgrades to the LRT while we were at home so it will be more reliable. With more trains all the time, crowding will be reduced, making transit better now than it was before (I know that is likely a stretch, I have no faith in RTM to fix anything and figure the lack of issues is because nothing is currently running at half capacity - or in te case of the next couple of weeks, at all.)

I disagree with the transit commission meetings being cancelled, but in respect to this point- that is literally what they are doing right now- this weekend, and next weekend.

[SidetrackedSue]

I know. So there is a 'good news' story to be told but it won't get out if transit commission meetings aren't covered by the press and/or the transit commission works to market this as an improvement that needs to be experienced as restrictions ease.

In the meantime, stories about how the bus system is still running, how it continues to serve our essential workers, and other 'good news' stories, including ridership should be pushed as well. If we are 75% shut down (the goal and it wouldn't surprise me if this city is more than that since so many can work from home), then if ridership is 25% that's still 'full ridership.'

Although, I suppose they have no idea how many are riding because they've given up on taking fares.

[rocketphish]

The day OC Transpo tried to rent 150 buses

Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen
Publishing date: 4 minutes ago • 2 minute read

Last November, as OC Transpo planned to refurbish 40 older buses and buy 19 more to supplement its struggling LRT, the transit agency also hatched an ambitious and secret plan.

It put out an urgent call to Ontario Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney to find up to 150 buses — rentals to get Ottawa through to the end of 2019.

The city was willing to pay $1 million a week.

The loan never took place, but documents from an access to information request show how there was a flurry of activity as Transpo’s urgent call for help was put through to Metrolinx, the provincial rail and bus agency in the Toronto area.

By early November, Transpo was scrambling to get more buses on the road to back up LRT. Officials told the city’s transit commission at a Nov. 6 meeting that they had 40 buses scheduled for disposal that would instead be refurbished. And there was already a plan to buy 19 new buses.

But one week later, Transpo called for help from the province.

An email went out to top Metrolinx officials: “Below is an urgent and confidential request from MTO, inquiring whether Metrolinx is in a position to help the City of Ottawa with bus support at least until the end of December as they try and work through their LRT issues.

“The City of Ottawa has estimated that they need 150 buses at an estimated $1 M per week.”

The ministry asked whether Metrolinx had spare buses or buses “slated for sale or decommissioning.” It also asks about the costs and legal implications of shifting GO bus drivers from southern Ontario to Ottawa.

And the email, sent at 6 p.m., asked for at least a preliminary answer by 9 a.m. the next day.

That started the emails humming at Metrolinx. CEO Phil Verster wrote late that evening: “If ever there was a time to fix a lot of busses (sic) and ship these off, this is it.”

An email from the ministry called the request “an urgent request from the Minister’s Office. This is highly confidential for the time being, but we’ve been asked to look at options to provide emergency relief to Ottawa…”

Inside Metrolinx, there was talk about supplying up to 32 buses, not 150. One manager added that Metrolinx could send Ottawa some technical advisers “as OC Transpo have limited in-house rail expertise.”

In the end, Ottawa city hall confirmed Friday that Metrolinx never did send buses or advisers, and there was no cost to the city.

[email protected]
twitter.com/TomSpears1

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-new...cm/ba275341-1050-4c68-b69c-b2f1547c9e52/

[J.OT13]

Why does everything have to be done in secret? We knew Minister MacLeod offered us buses, and OC's narrative was that we wouldn't need to take that offer. So why were they behind the scenes trying to strike a secret deal? The they wonder why we don't trust OC or the City.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Why does everything have to be done in secret? We knew Minister MacLeod offered us buses, and OC's narrative was that we wouldn't need to take that offer. So why were they behind the scenes trying to strike a secret deal? The they wonder why we don't trust OC or the City.

OC Transpo has a number of Orion VII Hybrid buses that they have decommissioned, but have yet to be officially retired (based on what I could see back in March, not sure right now).

When I passed by Merivale Garage on two separate occasions (once in February, and one in early-March), there was a whole bunch of Hybrid buses parked at the back of the garage collecting snow and ice, and a few they couldn't fit at the back of the garage and was required to be parked at the Employee's parking lot, in very close proximity of Colonnade Road.

The Hybrids that are officially retired (i.e. the removal of OC Transpo logo/fleet number/licence plates, parts salvaged) are parked at Pinecrest Garage, which could be visible from Hwy 417.

If they are desperate for buses, they could simply reactivate as many decommissioned Hybrid buses as possible, provided they are still safe, roadworthy, and pass all MTO Inspections.

Keep in mind, the original intent was to retire all Hybrid buses by October 2019 when the post-October 6, 2019 went into effect due to high cost of maintaining the batteries and were deem as surplus.

One more thing: While OC Transpo has decommissioned a number of Hybrid buses awaiting for official retirement, there are still some that are still in revenue service today as I post this (May 2020).

[Catenary]

Originally Posted by JCL

OC Transpo has a number of Orion VII Hybrid buses that they have decommissioned, but have yet to be officially retired (based on what I could see back in March, not sure right now).

When I passed by Merivale Garage on two separate occasions (once in February, and one in early-March), there was a whole bunch of Hybrid buses parked at the back of the garage collecting snow and ice, and a few they couldn't fit at the back of the garage and was required to be parked at the Employee's parking lot, in very close proximity of Colonnade Road.

The Hybrids that are officially retired (i.e. the removal of OC Transpo logo/fleet number/licence plates, parts salvaged) are parked at Pinecrest Garage, which could be visible from Hwy 417.

If they are desperate for buses, they could simply reactivate as many decommissioned Hybrid buses as possible, provided they are still safe, roadworthy, and pass all MTO Inspections.

Keep in mind, the original intent was to retire all Hybrid buses by October 2019 when the post-October 6, 2019 went into effect due to high cost of maintaining the batteries and were deem as surplus.

One more thing: While OC Transpo has decommissioned a number of Hybrid buses awaiting for official retirement, there are still some that are still in revenue service today as I post this (May 2020).

They reactivated a significant number of Hybrids, but they don't need them anymore, which is why they're piling up at Pinecrest.

[OCCheetos]

https://twitter.com/JonathanWilling/status/1260924923117285378?s=19

I assume this is ATU 279? Dodging a transit strike is great news.

[DEWLine]

It is indeed ATU 279, so runs my informed suspicion. And yes, dodging a transit strike - especially in this context - is great news indeed.

[rocketphish]

OC Transpo passengers, staff will soon need to wear masks
New rules come into effect June 15

Joanne Chianello, Kate Porter · CBC News
Posted: May 28, 2020 3:40 PM ET | Last Updated: May 28



In a little more than two weeks, anyone entering an OC Transpo bus, train or station or a Para Transpo minibus or accessible taxi will be required to wear a mask, as the city adjusts to the realities of the COVID-19 era.

Starting June 15, passengers and staff alike will be required to wear non-medical masks, or some other sort of material that covers their face, to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The rules are being put in place as ridership slowly begins to increase, and will remain until the medical officer of health no longer believes widespread mask use is necessary, according to a report released Thursday.

The plan for returning to 95 per cent of normal summer service by June 28 will "coincide with the city's planning horizon for the end of the emergency measures on July 1," according the report.

OC Transpo staff warn that its progression to full service is a "rolling wave plan," and that it may be necessary to regress should COVID-19 cases increase too much.

Still, if the summer service goes well, OC Transpo plans to institute full fall service, including school routes, on Aug. 30.

Coun. Allan Hubley, who chairs the transit commission, said that while "enforcement is a concern," the city's immediate preoccupation is not with fining people.

"We hope that we have the co-operation of the users and certainly the employees," Hubley told CBC. "We're not doing this for any other reason than for their self-protection."

OC Transpo employees will be provided with masks, and a limited number will be handed out the week of June 15 to riders who've forgotten theirs.

The additional COVID-19 related measures for masks and other supplies come with a monthly cost of $950,000, on top of the one-time cost of $325,000 to install "soft barriers" in buses and sanitizer dispensers in stations.

That's a drop in the bucket when compared with the millions of lost revenue OC Transpo has experienced in the last few months. At last count, the transit department was forecast to be $85 million in the red by the end of the year, but an update is expected Monday.

"It's been bad," said Hubley of the financial hit transit is taking due to the pandemic. "We were tracking well for bringing in new riders and COVID pulled … the rug right out from under us."

At the end of March, transit ridership had plummeted to as low as 15 per cent of usual levels, creating enough room on many transit routes that passengers could distance themselves from each other.

But this month, ridership appears to have inched up to 30 per cent. When it increases to above 40 percent on buses — and above 20 per cent on trains — physical distancing will not be possible, which is why OC Transpo, in conjunction with Ottawa Public Health, is mandating the use of masks.

List of safety measures

Here are the measures OC Transpo says it's taking to "help keep transit as safe as possible for customers and employees":

• Making it mandatory for customers and staff to wear non-medical masks, beginning June 15.
• Installing hand sanitizer dispensers at stations.
• Controlling the flow of buses into busy transfer stations, including Blair, Hurdman and Tunney's Pasture.
• Increasing space on board buses and trains, by adding additional buses on busy routes, adding two more LRT trains and allowing the front of buses to be used again.
• Introducing enhanced daily cleaning of buses, trains and stations.
• Installing barrier shields around drivers on all buses.
• Putting up signs that remind riders to wear masks and assess their own symptoms.
• Implementing touch-free fare payment, with more frequent cleaning of ticket machines and PIN pads at stations.

OC Transpo management will present the plan to a special meeting of the transit commission Monday, before the strategy goes to full council for approval on June. 11.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/oc-transpo-covid-recovery-plan-1.5588728

[lrt's friend]

I need to wear a mask at my new job, which involves some physical work and is outside in various weather conditions. Wearing a mask can be very uncomfortable like it was on Wednesday when it was 35C and I was sweating profusely. In that environment, staff are constantly pulling masks up and down because of the discomfort. I have seen it every day since I started. It is hard to converse while wearing a mask. It really makes me sympathize with health care workers who have no choice under the present circumstances.

I will be avoiding transit as long as masks are a requirement. I will be avoiding any business where there is an expectation of wearing a mask, ie Whole Foods and the like. I don't like how we are moving towards the encouragement of more social enforcement of wearing masks and everybody is assumed to be a contagion, which will lead to confrontations between people. I want to avoid that environment.

[Requin]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

i need to wear a mask at my new job, which involves some physical work and is outside in various weather conditions. Wearing a mask can be very uncomfortable like it was on wednesday when it was 35c and i was sweating profusely. In that environment, staff are constantly pulling masks up and down because of the discomfort. I have seen it every day since i started. It is hard to converse while wearing a mask. It really makes me sympathize with health care workers who have no choice under the present circumstances.

I will be avoiding transit as long as masks are a requirement. I will be avoiding any business where there is an expectation of wearing a mask, ie whole foods and the like. I don't like how we are moving towards the encouragement of more social enforcement of wearing masks and everybody is assumed to be a contagion, which will lead to confrontations between people. I want to avoid that environment.

+1

[kwoldtimer]

I'm reminded of guys complaining about wearing condoms ....