[St. John's] Transport development (Highways, Airport, and Public Transit) - Page 19

mrjanejacobs · #**361** Posted **May 8, 2013, 2:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnUrbanLife

Interesting, thanks. I wonder how that percentage was arrived at. If it was a simple question, I wonder what the exact wording was, it can hugely affect the outcome.

Also MRJaneJ all of your transit points were appreciated, well done.

I am pretty sure this research was conducted about 10 years ago and I am pretty sure It was done in the US.

If I remember correctly (my prof just mentioned it in passing), it was a series of questions tacked on to a state census.

I imagine the question was, at the base, "Would you use transit if a better service was provided in your area?"

Guesses. haha

mrjanejacobs · #**362** Posted **May 8, 2013, 3:04 PM**

Total Catch22.

People will never use it unless we invest. That's one thing we know for sure. So we have to ask ourselves - is the risk of investment without strong ridership worth it? I think so.

It's also how we invest. St.John's has also been increasing funding but it hasn't been working. It's not just about money. That's what is being completely missed. Like offering wifi on the buses... I can't imagine how much that cost to install. But it's totally misguided and it just shows how out of touch the planners are with how to attract prospective riders. Wifi is nice, for sure, but it's not going to convince anyone to begin using transit, haha (in my opinion). I also find that it's not about a little bit of money here, and a little bit of money there, it's about a large infusion of investment. Because we really are starting at nothing (or next to nothing with Metrobus).

If we can design a long-term strategy with what we wish to do with transit and we propose these plans to the province and feds, we can get huge amounts of money. But we need a plan first.

Re varying bus-sizes. It's really not a huge inefficiency. It's better to have buses that can handle larger occupancies than to be stuck with a fleet of small buses that have a limited capacity. I see that as going backwards. The goal should always be how we're going to attract riders, not how we're going to downsize our buses for the few riders we have.

I wouldn't say there are huge inefficiencies. The entire MetroBus strategy is the problem. We need foundational changes. Not modest corrections in inefficiencies.

PoscStudent · #**363** Posted **May 8, 2013, 11:49 PM**

Well if Metrobus needs to be fundamental changes then it must be ineffiecnet.

mrjanejacobs · #**364** Posted **May 9, 2013, 1:18 AM**

haha touché

SignalHillHiker · #**365** Posted **May 9, 2013, 5:07 PM**

Imagine one of these with the Metrobus logo on the side.

• Video Link

No, really. Do it. It's great entertainment.

Architype · #**366** Posted **May 10, 2013, 1:22 AM**

The concept of "shared space", could it be useful here?

• Video Link

Full article: http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute...ffic-signs-or-lights-chaos-or-calm/5152/

ed0797 · #**367** Posted **May 10, 2013, 1:26 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

Imagine one of these with the Metrobus logo on the side.

• Video Link

Imagine how cool these would be on the TCH going into downtown from CBS! The germans and japanese would have nothin on us!

mrjanejacobs · #**368** Posted **May 10, 2013, 1:08 PM**

Wow!!! Cool videos.

Signal's - holy shit. That train (can you even call it that?) is legendary.

Architype's - also really cool! AND more realistic! haha I would like to see us being more progressive in problem solving such situations in Newfoundland. The status quo for too long has been to adopt old ideas from the mainland that don't work. Hopefully we will see more of this kind of problem solving in the future. Awesome.

mrjanejacobs · #**369** Posted **May 10, 2013, 1:41 PM**

I don't know if anyone has read this yet, but this is the GTHA's (Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area) 25 year transit vision ("The Big Move").

http://www.metrolinx.com/thebigmove/Docs/big_move/TheBigMove_020109.pdf

Some excerpt images (they are at the end, haha):

It's a really inspiring document. The current estimation is $35 billion to implement this plan.

The vision integrates most of the things I envision for GSJ (Greater St.John's) / SJM (St.John's Metro) - (I can't decide which abbreviation I want to personally adopt as neither roll off the tongue that easily).

It's pretty remarkable though - they are proposing 15 projects (from new subway lines to new regional rail lines to express airport rail lines to BRT routes).

I think, in this case, it's about proportions. The GTHA is obviously more than 30x bigger than the GSJ. BUT let's say their plan is going to cost $35 billion + the many, many billions they have already poured in.

GSJ could have a regional rail line plus a couple streetcar lines for less than 1 billion, and that's not expansion, that's going from nothing. Proportionately speaking, it's not that crazy.

mrjanejacobs · #**370** Posted **May 10, 2013, 1:54 PM**

Straight up - we could use the same 9 Big Moves that the GTHA is using as a base-point for planning our own transit system.

SignalHillHiker · #**371** Posted **May 10, 2013, 2:08 PM**

Wow, even including goods movement. Brilliant stuff! I'm impressed.

tch1005 · #**372** Posted **Jun 3, 2013, 1:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrjanejacobs

...
The vision integrates most of the things I envision for GSJ (Greater St.John's) / SJM (St.John's Metro) - (I can't decide which abbreviation I want to personally adopt as neither roll off the tongue that easily).

Why not just North East Avalon Region {NEAR}
It can be called NEAR Transit

mrjanejacobs · #**373** Posted **Jun 3, 2013, 1:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tch1005

Why not just North East Avalon Region {NEAR}
It can be called NEAR Transit

BRILLIANT! THE NEAR Region (ignoring the redundant NEA Region Region).

The Big Move = The NEAR Move

Transit Authority = NEAR Transit

..

Cool - the NEAR. Sounds great.

J_Murphy · #**374** Posted **Jun 3, 2013, 1:59 PM**

Anyone aware of the status of the Route 3 extention (sorry, I hate calling it the Team Gushue Highway). Doesn't appear to be any progress going on....

PoscStudent · #**375** Posted **Jun 3, 2013, 2:09 PM**

Denis Mahoney had a great article on public transit in the weekend telegram for his Board of Trade column. It discussed how it needs to be expanded, with more simplified routes, and how useful it can be for business people and others.

I have thought for a while Metrobus needs to be completely rebranded.

jeddy1989 · #**376** Posted **Jun 3, 2013, 2:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tch1005

Why not just North East Avalon Region {NEAR}
It can be called NEAR Transit

I love love love that idea... even if it starts with revamping the system in the city but calling it NEAR Transit with the intention of expanding it and calling it "Transit" instead of "bus" will help with the branding and allow other methods of transportation to be included in the future. brilliant

Marty_Mcfly · #**377** Posted **Jun 3, 2013, 2:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeddy1989

I love love love that idea... even if it starts with revamping the system in the city but calling it NEAR Transit with the intention of expanding it and calling it "Transit" instead of "bus" will help with the branding and allow other methods of transportation to be included in the future. brilliant

True. Also "transit" invokes less negative images than "bus". Many people may think of fast trains and subway systems when hearing the term transit, whereas the bus is well.....the bus.

AllBlack · #**378** Posted **Jun 3, 2013, 2:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty_Mcfly

True. Also "transit" invokes less negative images than "bus". Many people may think of fast trains and subway systems when hearing the term transit, whereas the bus is well.....the bus.

Agree that there's a negative connotation and "transit" sounds so much better, yet Metrobus centred an entire ad campaign around "taking the bus". Go figure...

Marty_Mcfly · #**379** Posted **Jun 3, 2013, 3:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllBlack

Agree that there's a negative connotation and "transit" sounds so much better, yet Metrobus centred an entire ad campaign around "taking the bus". Go figure...

I can't take anything that Metrobus does as serious. They really have no idea how to market themselves properly. Metrobus is probably unfixable as it is, which is all the more reason for its dissolution, followed by its replacement by NEAR Transit

jeddy1989 · #**380** Posted **Jun 3, 2013, 3:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty_Mcfly

I can't take anything that Metrobus does as serious. They really have no idea how to market themselves properly. Metrobus is probably unfixable as it is, which is all the more reason for its dissolution, followed by its replacement by NEAR Transit

yeah That's probably not going to happen, but I'm sure a new council can lobby them to make major changes and seeing how they provide a subsidy, they probably have a lot of clout if they want to

Metrobus is kind of a weird set up being owned (I believe) and subsidized by the city but controlled in a corporate structure with a CEO etc. WHICH DOES say no to council's suggestions.