Regina Construction III

[Kegger]

Originally Posted by one_brick_at_a_time

Very sad, especially with how much she donated to Arts and Culture projects in Regina.

https://leaderpost.com/entertainment/local-arts/regina-philanthropist-jacqui-shumiatcher-has-died

For sure. The amount of things with the Schumiatcher name attached to it in this city is impressive.

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by StealthGirl

I'd heard Beer Bros was trying Asian fusion.

Yep, and the menu looks really good - haven't tried it yet, but I plan to.

[HomeInMyShoes]

RIP Jacqui Shumiatcher.

Regina Transit has a pretty long survey (about 10 minutes) if anyone wants to put in their views and comments. Quite a few pertaining to 11th Avenue. Be warned though, the rate these things questions are irritating to sort out. You can only use a number once and rejigging your answers is painful.

Regina Transit Master Plan Survey

[caveat.doctor]

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

Regina Transit has a pretty long survey (about 10 minutes) if anyone wants to put in their views and comments. Quite a few pertaining to 11th Avenue. Be warned though, the rate these things questions are irritating to sort out. You can only use a number once and rejigging your answers is painful.

Regina Transit Master Plan Survey

There's also a section on the consultation to share and "like" ideas for transit, How could we improve your daily transit experience? Quick and easy way to throw some ideas to the planning team - was an opportunity to resurrect a suggestion for a grid network I brought up over 10 years ago in this thread!

Originally Posted by caveat.doctor

Me, I was talking earlier about switching the current loopy routes to a simpler grid layout - from this



to something like this



The existing system does ensure that most residents aren't more than a few blocks from a bus stop, but it means that routes are long and circuitous and indirect, which means it takes extra long to get around. Plus they all force you to go Downtown, ostensibly to boost business/traffic there, but the point of transit is to help people get across the entire city, as a viable alternative to cars, no matter where they want to go.

The grid offers simpler routes, so no confusing maps to remember - if you know the major streets in Regina, you know the system. Easy-peasy. The routes just go up and down the streets, so you don't have to guess where the bus stops are; and the routes are shorter, so they can run more frequently without having to increase the number of buses or drivers. Just by not having to stop and turn so often makes the routes run more efficiently.

Potentially more transfers to get across town - but since the buses would run so much more quickly and frequently, if you needed a transfer the overall transfer+transit time would still beat the current layout. The transfer points are logical (wherever major streets cross), and naturally are "centres" for the neighbourhoods they're in, and can become focuses for transit-oriented development, eg dense residential/retail/community amenities like parks. It's like every area has its "station". Plus most destinations in the city (eg businesses, schools, workplaces) are along those major streets anyway.

You may also have to walk more, but the distances are in keeping with other systems in Canada with similar layouts - and higher ridership. Plus more walking is good for you (my medical opinion). Though I did keep some local loop routes in there too, eg the Central for all the retirement homes (like the current Heritage line), as well as North, South and South-East loops that connect suburban residential with their respective commercial strips.

I mentioned on the consultation that Edmonton recently decided to revamp their bus network starting this April from really loopy routes that maximised coverage (just like Regina) to a mix of frequent straight routes on major roads in the core, with suburban routes that leverage frequency in peak periods. I think Regina would be amenable to that now.

[one_brick_at_a_time]

The blue Grid system would be great!

[StealthGirl]

I wanted to bang my head against the screen when I read the question about bus service to White City and Pilot Butte. We can't even get to the airport on the bus.

I think city transit should go to free transit high school and younger. Get these kids on the buses and into the habit before they are indoctrinated fully into city culture. High school bus passes are expensive.

[TMB14]

Originally Posted by one_brick_at_a_time

The blue Grid system would be great!

100% agree. I think we could bolster paratransit by adding more buses to help those who cannot safely walk to major streets.

I think we need 24/7 service as well. I have a bus stop 50ft from my front door but can't use it to get to work since I work at 6:30 AM and the first bus doesn't drive by until 6:38. With a grid system, I could easily walk to a street with service and zip to work. In fact, I'd likely welcome that walk as a great way to get the blood flowing at the crack of dawn.

[PhotoJim]

Originally Posted by StealthGirl

I wanted to bang my head against the screen when I read the question about bus service to White City and Pilot Butte. We can't even get to the airport on the bus.

We can have that. But that's up to the towns of White City and Pilot Butte to provide. They could provide a route that had a connection to the Regina Transit grid. They could probably even negotiate a combined fare that would include service in Regina. But Regina doesn't have any financial reasons to be providing taxpayer-paid services to bedroom communities, especially when many people choose to live in those communities because of the lower level of taxation. (In other words, if you choose not to pay for services, you don't get the services.)

[Draftsman]

Originally Posted by PhotoJim

We can have that. But that's up to the towns of White City and Pilot Butte to provide. They could provide a route that had a connection to the Regina Transit grid. They could probably even negotiate a combined fare that would include service in Regina. But Regina doesn't have any financial reasons to be providing taxpayer-paid services to bedroom communities, especially when many people choose to live in those communities because of the lower level of taxation. (In other words, if you choose not to pay for services, you don't get the services.)

Agree 100%!

[one_brick_at_a_time]

Ps. With the 2 new Shell gas stations proposed for Regina, I think every new-build gas station (and a plan for old ones) should ALL have electric car charge stations. Period.

[PhotoJim]

Originally Posted by one_brick_at_a_time

Ps. With the 2 new Shell gas stations proposed for Regina, I think every new-build gas station (and a plan for old ones) should ALL have electric car charge stations. Period.

If there is enough profit to be made from them, gas stations will build them. It's that simple.

[Kegger]

Originally Posted by one_brick_at_a_time

Ps. With the 2 new Shell gas stations proposed for Regina, I think every new-build gas station (and a plan for old ones) should ALL have electric car charge stations. Period.

I get what you are saying, but electric chargers don't have nearly the same environmental issues to install that a gas station would. I am not concerned that they can't scale up the charging infrastructure pretty fast when the market is there.

Plus, is charging infrastructure really going to be a direct replacement of the fossil fuel stations. For example, does charging make more sense at grocery stores (Co-Op is installing them) and other stores (Peavy Mart) where you can charge and do something else? Also keeping in mind electric cars will be charged at home 90%+ of the time... will there even need to be that many chargers in the city and not on highways?

Just some thoughts of mine, feel free to critique.

edit: You got me thinking a bit more about this too, and I have a question on the zoning side. I am assuming you don't need any city zoning type changes to add a charger to a parking lot, but you would need something to add a gas station?

[Festivus]

Originally Posted by Kegger

I get what you are saying, but electric chargers don't have nearly the same environmental issues to install that a gas station would. I am not concerned that they can't scale up the charging infrastructure pretty fast when the market is there.

Plus, is charging infrastructure really going to be a direct replacement of the fossil fuel stations. For example, does charging make more sense at grocery stores (Co-Op is installing them) and other stores (Peavy Mart) where you can charge and do something else? Also keeping in mind electric cars will be charged at home 90%+ of the time... will there even need to be that many chargers in the city and not on highways?

Just some thoughts of mine, feel free to critique.

edit: You got me thinking a bit more about this too, and I have a question on the zoning side. I am assuming you don't need any city zoning type changes to add a charger to a parking lot, but you would need something to add a gas station?

There will still definitely need to be charging stations for the large number of people who do not have access to an outlet at home. Think of everyone who has on-street parking in Cathedral, North Central, etc, or the thousands of apartment units in the city, etc.

[Kegger]

Originally Posted by Festivus

There will still definitely need to be charging stations for the large number of people who do not have access to an outlet at home. Think of everyone who has on-street parking in Cathedral, North Central, etc, or the thousands of apartment units in the city, etc.

For sure. But would that look more like on street charging like some other cities are doing? I guess my ultimate thing is, I believe charging infrastructure will look different, and be used differently than fossil fuel infrastructure. People will charge when the car isn't in use... and on a long road trip.

https://driving.ca/nissan/auto-news/news...-charging-stations-for-street-parked-evs

[BrutallyDishonest2]

I think most people are thinking about this wrong overall. Only these issues of charging are going to be short term. Most people won't need to charge every night.

And within a decade or I think people are going to be shocked by the battery breakthroughs that happen enabling fantastic stuff.

[UrbanClimate]

Originally Posted by one_brick_at_a_time

Any updates/photos of the new builds (Mixed Use on Elphinstone/Sobey’s Liquor) on 13th Avenue?

Here's a couple photos from yesterday.

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[one_brick_at_a_time]

Thank you, UrbanClimate! So exciting to have these two projects happening on 13th. I hope more infill on the north side happens as a continuation to truly make 13th Avenue more of a walkable destination for shopping, eating and street events. Is the lot next to Groovy Mama still dirt?

[LittleBoy]

Originally Posted by one_brick_at_a_time

Thank you, UrbanClimate! So exciting to have these two projects happening on 13th. I hope more infill on the north side happens as a continuation to truly make 13th Avenue more of a walkable destination for shopping, eating and street events. Is the lot next to Groovy Mama still dirt?

Yes it is. That spot is on the short list of places along 13th that really need development. The most urgent in my mind is replacing the parking lot at NE corner of 13th and Angus with a building similar 13th and Ephinstone. Unfortunately I think purchasing some of these parking lots from their current owners could prove to be cost prohibitive for future development

[one_brick_at_a_time]

Originally Posted by LittleBoy

Yes it is. That spot is on the short list of places along 13th that really need development. The most urgent in my mind is replacing the parking lot at NE corner of 13th and Angus with a building similar 13th and Ephinstone. Unfortunately I think purchasing some of these parking lots from their current owners could prove to be cost prohibitive for future development

Yeah. I am guessing some of the owners might not want to develop. I was wondering who owns the Gales Florist block. Would love that restored or updated while keeping the facade features. Even a paint job would help.

[skphc08]

Originally Posted by BrutallyDishonest2

I think most people are thinking about this wrong overall. Only these issues of charging are going to be short term. Most people won't need to charge every night.

And within a decade or I think people are going to be shocked by the battery breakthroughs that happen enabling fantastic stuff.

Great opinion. Nothing to support it though, as usual, except a giant ego and a misplaced sense of importance.