Edmonton Public Transit

[feepa]

Century Park station now has secure bike storage. A one year pilot project with next to no campaigns to promote it. Doom to fail due to that, and likely just so ETS can say "but we tried and no one wanted it"

Use it if you can! This is what should be at all LRT stations, transit stations and a few central points

[stilicho]

Originally Posted by stilicho

When logging in to review my tap card transactions and load it up if necessary I found that their security default makes you change your password every 90 days. Very 2003 security if they're trying to manage unauthorised access.

It appears the junior developers responsible for the roll-out have never heard of two factor authentication for the device or app accessing the system. When you have that in place you should never need to change your password.

More problems with the tap card system. For the past half a day at least I have had an error message "Merchant Account Disabled" when trying to load my ARC card using my standard credit card that I use online and for groceries. Never had a problem with it with any other service.

Have logged a complaint and now need to wait up to three business days for them to respond. Imagine if I used this card daily.

[stilicho]

Originally Posted by stilicho

More problems with the tap card system. For the past half a day at least I have had an error message "Merchant Account Disabled" when trying to load my ARC card using my standard credit card that I use online and for groceries. Never had a problem with it with any other service.

Have logged a complaint and now need to wait up to three business days for them to respond. Imagine if I used this card daily.

They fixed the problem and called it "a glitch" in their email to me. A glitch is a momentary problem that disappears when you clear your cache or reboot. This was a mistake caused by someone or something and it persisted for at least half a day.

[Harrison]

Originally Posted by stilicho

More problems with the tap card system. For the past half a day at least I have had an error message "Merchant Account Disabled" when trying to load my ARC card using my standard credit card that I use online and for groceries. Never had a problem with it with any other service.

Have logged a complaint and now need to wait up to three business days for them to respond. Imagine if I used this card daily.

Just got back from a trip to Los Angeles and used their 'Tap' cards there. I encountered simliar card reading issues on some of the buses there where the operator just let us ride for free. It's not an Edmonton-only issue, but I do hope it gets fixed or becomes much less frequent here.

[Coldrsx]

Testing 1,2,3.....3924830482304328049382


BrettB on SRC
https://edmonton.skyrisecities.com/forum...-lrt-m-s-city-of-edmonton.24534/page-339

[Hardhatdan]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Testing 1,2,3.....3924830482304328049382


BrettB on SRC
https://edmonton.skyrisecities.com/forum...-lrt-m-s-city-of-edmonton.24534/page-339

They are busy adding more clap trap to the top of Connors Hill...didn't like 47 different sets of signals? How about 556 signs? HOW ABOUT SOME PLASTIC BOLLARDS?!!

Somehow they were out grouting post bases for signals, but can't come pick up the concrete manhole extensions that have been laying in a flower bed for two years.

[GenWhy?]

At least Blatchford is still opening in 2024?

[Edmontonguy]

God, that picture makes the DT look like some eastern European city where it's clear private sector investment is lacking. And, why, despite years of planning and open houses etc, did the city not call for decorative poles for the tram catenary infrastructure in the core. I suppose the ultilitarian grey goes well with the ugly library exterior. Even when city hall tries, it falls miserably...

[CMD UW]

Originally Posted by Edmontonguy

God, that picture makes the DT look like some eastern European city where it's clear private sector investment is lacking. And, why, despite years of planning and open houses etc, did the city not call for decorative poles for the tram catenary infrastructure in the core. I suppose the ultilitarian grey goes well with the ugly library exterior. Even when city hall tries, it falls miserably...

And yet we'd love to have the street-level activity and patios that exist in MAAAAAANY Eastern European cities DESPITE the quality of the public infrastructure. The type/style of utility posts doesn't really move the needle if we want to enhance the vibrancy of our streets - you know what does though - DENSITY! I've been saying this for years. More people + More retail and services = More vibrancy. Keep.Building.More.Residential.Units.Downtown...

[YEG-Urbanist]

Originally Posted by Edmontonguy

God, that picture makes the DT look like some eastern European city where it's clear private sector investment is lacking. And, why, despite years of planning and open houses etc, did the city not call for decorative poles for the tram catenary infrastructure in the core. I suppose the ultilitarian grey goes well with the ugly library exterior. Even when city hall tries, it falls miserably...

100% agree with your comments regarding the "ultilitarian grey". If you have read the city's own Winter Design Policy, one of the five key points is Use colour to enliven the cityscape

The city isn't at all interested in following its own planning guidelines. The Library is a great example of that. In fact, all you have to do is look at all the new residential high rises going up. They are all covered in some form of grey cladding. The Citizen on Jasper is a great example of that. I'm not saying we need to start building florescent pink buildings, but come on. Lets start demanding a little more creativity from developers and City Hall.

[s211]

Originally Posted by YEG-Urbanist

100% agree with your comments regarding the "ultilitarian grey". If you have read the city's own Winter Design Policy, one of the five key points is Use colour to enliven the cityscape

The city isn't at all interested in following its own planning guidelines. The Library is a great example of that. In fact, all you have to do is look at all the new residential high rises going up. They are all covered in some form of grey cladding. The Citizen on Jasper is a great example of that. I'm not saying we need to start building florescent pink buildings, but come on. Lets start demanding a little more creativity from developers and City Hall.

Can't recall the name of that atrocious project west of downtown (Venetian maybe?) but be careful what you wish for. That thing is a national joke.

[YEG-Urbanist]

Originally Posted by s211

Can't recall the name of that atrocious project west of downtown (Venetian maybe?) but be careful what you wish for. That thing is a national joke.

Hahaha, nope! But would enjoy my walks home if I could look at residential buildings like this:

I'm also a 100% sure if we had a library with similar vision to this, we would be attracting a lot more people downtown.



Sorry, getting off topic here.

[Coldrsx]

More of the same...
---

TransEd continues to look for opportunities to improve the LRT’s performance and strengthen its reliability for the benefit of passengers’ experience. Recent testing identified cables that need to be replaced to improve long-term system reliability. Replacing the cables now rather than during the operational phase will allow TransEd to operate Valley Line Southeast with more reliability once the line opens, while also reducing future operational impacts. The cables are easily accessible to crews, and train testing will continue concurrently. This work will be done at TransEd’s expense.

“To ensure future reliability, we have decided to replace and upgrade the cables now to ensure the system will perform to our high standards while we operate it over the next 30 years, and for many years beyond,” Mr. Joncas continues.

Concurrent with this upgrade, TransEd will finalize and submit the required documentation for review by the independent certifier needed for Service Commencement. We are working closely with the City and more information about a potential opening date for Valley Line Southeast will be provided as cable upgrades and independent certification nears completion later this summer.

[Hardhatdan]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

More of the same...
---

TransEd continues to look for opportunities to improve the LRT’s performance and strengthen its reliability for the benefit of passengers’ experience. Recent testing identified cables that need to be replaced to improve long-term system reliability. Replacing the cables now rather than during the operational phase will allow TransEd to operate Valley Line Southeast with more reliability once the line opens, while also reducing future operational impacts. The cables are easily accessible to crews, and train testing will continue concurrently. This work will be done at TransEd’s expense.

“To ensure future reliability, we have decided to replace and upgrade the cables now to ensure the system will perform to our high standards while we operate it over the next 30 years, and for many years beyond,” Mr. Joncas continues.

Concurrent with this upgrade, TransEd will finalize and submit the required documentation for review by the independent certifier needed for Service Commencement. We are working closely with the City and more information about a potential opening date for Valley Line Southeast will be provided as cable upgrades and independent certification nears completion later this summer.

They set up temp lunchrooms at every station and the signals contractor remobilized. Looks like they're pulling end to end.

[Coldrsx]

Well this sure isn't a home run.

[Hardhatdan]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Well this sure isn't a home run.

Imagine being the shareholder of the corporations funding it, they are all privately held.
The amount I can only speculate they are overbudget on the capital end plus the loss of operational payments. Ouch.

[RetiredGuy]

Disappointing. I was hoping that before some of the summer festivals that appear downtown, we would have the valley line operational. But it looks like it won't be until September now...and that is a maybe as who knows what nonsense will appear next.

[Coldrsx]

Given the recent rain, I wonder if this has to do with drainage, terminations and unexpected initial corrosion?

[Hardhatdan]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Given the recent rain, I wonder if this has to do with drainage, terminations and unexpected initial corrosion?

The control terminations aren't going to be done under ground and open to the weather, this isn't the 3rd world.
Typically the only thing in the track bed open to the weather is conductors connected to the rail.

They probably spec'd the wrong cable or damaged the fiber pulling it and are having communications issues. Considering they seemed to have people at every station, it's almost certainly a systemic issue, I'd guess an engineering muck up.

Unlike they inept self-performing of civil work with PME, they hired a reputable signals Contractor at least.

[stilicho]

Originally Posted by Hardhatdan

The control terminations aren't going to be done under ground and open to the weather, this isn't the 3rd world.
Typically the only thing in the track bed open to the weather is conductors connected to the rail.

They probably spec'd the wrong cable or damaged the fiber pulling it and are having communications issues. Considering they seemed to have people at every station, it's almost certainly a systemic issue, I'd guess an engineering muck up.

Unlike they inept self-performing of civil work with PME, they hired a reputable signals Contractor at least.

I am no gambler but I would wager a twoonie we're going to experience exactly these mundane performance issues on the fresh new partnership busily working on the Lewis Farms extension.

And we haven't even begun to experience the thrill of low-floor uncontrolled crossings intermingled downtown with secure gate controls.

“We are aware of pedestrians jaywalking across the LRT lines and not using the crosswalk. This is unsafe and dangerous behaviour that we noticed everywhere, especially in the downtown area. So please, if you see a track, expect a train and abide by the rules and regulation in place.”

https://canada.constructconnect.com/joc/...ey-line-lrt-pier-repairs-near-completion

The train emerges suddenly and unexpectedly from the River Valley right in the midst of Edmonton's homeless population who likely expect the vehicles will stop for them and their shopping carts.

What can possibly go wrong?