Quote:
Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes
Regina Transit asking for more input on their Transit Master Plan
Regina Transit Master Plan
Apparently it is further exploring the topics. It's pretty light on the questions, but there's a place to give feedback on things.
|
Wow! Pretty big changes proposed. For reference, the current:
And the proposed (
full version):
Quick notes on first glance:
- really glad to see the
recommendations under consideration. It looks like they took much of the
feedback seriously
- pretty significant reductions in coverage area by the fixed routes, in favour of frequency and expanded hours
- in particular, the four "main routes" would be at 10 min (weekday peak) to 15 min (week daytime) frequency: I don't think Regina has seen transit frequency like that since the streetcars!
- "main routes" generally run along major roads (Albert, Victoria, Gordon) that are close/easy enough to walk to within the community. Victoria helpfully goes into the Quance St row of big box stores in the east end - don't need to cross into the ditch!
- But the Arcola "main route" though will be a challenge - walking from any of the south-east neighbourhoods to Arcola is not convenient at all. Those subdivisions love those surrounding concrete walls - so no short cuts to walk to Arcola, you have to go the long way around. Say going from Woodland Grove to Arcola/Prince of Wales - no way to get through the wall, best you can do is cut across that church parking lot and through the ditch.
Can totally see how this is a tougher area to service - you could use any of the parallel roads to Arcola that actually go through the neighbourhood (e.g. Assiniboine Av through University Park/Varsity Park) but then you make it worse for the ones on the other side of Arcola. Maybe if you had two routes, one via Assiniboine Av/Wascana Cir (below, blue), the other via Truesdale Dr/Woodhams Dr/Woodland Grove Dr (below, red), every other bus alternating between the two (so, 20 min frequency on those segments). Like this:
- downtown transfer hub is eliminated, in favour of transfers at the major intersections where the routes cross over (e.g. Albert/Victoria, Broad/Victoria). They include mockups of improved shelters for these hub stops. Assuming the frequencies work out, at peak times that isn't bad, and also assuming you're able to walk without difficulty across downtown (winter?)
- "local routes" generally much less winding and more direct along desire-lines: will run faster, seem to facilitate getting to the nearest mall/shopping better than status quo, but will mean more walking to the closest arterial road for most
- the on-demand areas in the north west and south east (and the north east industrial) seem like a good idea for these suburban areas with windy loops crescents that are hard to serve with frequent transit. An admission I guess that these neighbourhoods were not very well planned
- airport service! Most useful for airport workers but will be handy for some air travellers too
Overall looks like a positive direction. Many years ago I mocked up a grid route system, seems to have had some common ideas with this new proposal!