The Great Canadian Transit Thread

[rbt]

Originally Posted by VIce

Practically every other day I see a private vehicle rolling down 7th ave ruining everybody's day.

I'm not sure why 7th isn't gravel. Probably something to do with emergency vehicles but there is a curb lane for those.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by rbt

I'm not sure why 7th isn't gravel. Probably something to do with emergency vehicles but there is a curb lane for those.

Some bus routes use 7th as well. May change when 100m train operation starts, since less blocks will be able to fit both a bus and a train.

[harls]

I checked out the new Ottawa LRT car at TD place last weekend, during my grueling 5K polar bear run. That thing is spacious.

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by harls

I checked out the new Ottawa LRT car at TD place last weekend, during my grueling 5K polar bear run. That thing is spacious.

I plan on heading over there tonight again and taking a video. I'll post it here

[harls]

There was also an old 60's bus there that my kids really enjoyed. Holy high floors.

[hipster duck]

If a subway were to be built in downtown Calgary, would they still tunnel under 7th? It seems like 6th is a little more centrally located.

Regardless, they should still keep the transitway along 7th. It's good to have some redundancy/expansion room and it could also be used for future surface rail, like a downtown streetcar loop, or whatever.

[1overcosc]

^ Subway is planned under 8th

[hipster duck]

^Really? What's the reasoning there? Growth potential?

I think Canadian cities sometimes put too much stock in transit for the sake of real estate development instead of transit for the sake of meeting travel needs.

[MalcolmTucker]

And one line will stay on 7th, which may have the necessary capacity to last another 50 years above ground.

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

^Really? What's the reasoning there? Growth potential?

I think Canadian cities sometimes put too much stock in transit for the sake of real estate development instead of transit for the sake of meeting travel needs.

No question about it. I think it's one of the biggest problems transit is facing right now.

[GreatTallNorth2]

A big meeting in little London, Ontario tonight. "Shift London" is holding an event that has Hazel McCallion speaking, along with Michael Roshlau (Urban Transit Association) and a planning prof from UWaterloo. Although we are well behind other cities in planning rapid transit, it seems like our new mayor and council are "shifting" into high gear. For the past several years we have been told by London Transit's planning department that BRT is the only solution in London, but now city staff and council are saying LRT is definately an option for London. To say this is big for London, is a total understatement - we never talk about big projects and now we have the potential to have a decent transit system.

[hipster duck]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

And one line will stay on 7th, which may have the necessary capacity to last another 50 years above ground.

Okay, I think this is actually a poorly thought decision on the part of CT.

This forces a long, outdoor transfer for people changing trains. It also eliminates the possibility of future interlining alternatives, like a West LRT that continues south, rather than heading NE.

An interlined tunnel with stations with Spanish solutions (so, tracks with platforms on either sides) would probably be able to handle capacity for the foreseeable future. The side platforms would be to facilitate exits and the middle platform would be to facilitate transfers between lines.

[TorontoDrew]

When will Hamilton change it's transportation name or at least get some streetcars? It's still called Hamilton Street Railway and it hasn't had any street rail since 1951!!!

[Beedok]

Originally Posted by TorontoDrew

When will Hamilton change it's transportation name or at least get some streetcars? It's still called Hamilton Street Railway and it hasn't had any street rail since 1951!!!

Well if the BLAST network is built and given to the HSR it will be accurate again.

[VIce]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

Okay, I think this is actually a poorly thought decision on the part of CT.

This forces a long, outdoor transfer for people changing trains. It also eliminates the possibility of future interlining alternatives, like a West LRT that continues south, rather than heading NE.

An interlined tunnel with stations with Spanish solutions (so, tracks with platforms on either sides) would probably be able to handle capacity for the foreseeable future. The side platforms would be to facilitate exits and the middle platform would be to facilitate transfers between lines.

If the two lines were to share the tunnel, capacity would only increase marginally. Very, very slightly. Right now the interlined portion the CTrain network is headway limited during rush hour, at the manufacturer's specified 120s: no additional trains can be put on 7th ave. You grade separate them, put them in three platform stations, you get some boost in capacity, but you're back to capacity problems in a few years. That turns a multi-billion dollar investment into a band-aid.

Removing the interlining completely allows both lines to essentially double their carrying capacity - room to grow for years. Transfer stations would likely be through City Hall or the largest mall in downtown - a 100m indoor transfer through a pretty nice space, all-round. The 7th ave portal to the south line is due to stay open, allowing some trains to transfer from the Red to the Blue lines. Removing the interlining has downsides, but its really the only option that makes sense.

[Nouvellecosse]

Don't the overwhelming majority of people use the C-train to get to and from downtown? It would be such a small number of crosstown riders who would benefit from an easier transit between lines relative to the complexity and cost involved that it would not likely be worth it.

[miketoronto]

Kingston is getting ready to unveil two more express routes in May.
With the introduction of these two new routes, most of Kingston will be served by limited stop express service every 15 minutes during peak periods.
Great for such a small city.

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by miketoronto

Kingston is getting ready to unveil two more express routes in May.
With the introduction of these two new routes, most of Kingston will be served by limited stop express service every 15 minutes during peak periods.
Great for such a small city.

One of the two new express routes (601/602 travelling Queens-Downtown-East End) will be running 15 minutes all day. That was an unexpected upgrade that was announced last summer. This route is getting this special treatment because the East End only has one local bus route so alternative local transit is limited (as opposed to the area covered by the other two express routes where there's lots of local routes).

With this completed, when local routes that run between Express trips are factored in, it means Kingston will now have 15 minute service in many areas throughout the day.

All of these areas will be connected by 15-minute frequency service throughout the entire day starting this May:
-Downtown
-Queen's University
-St. Lawrence College
-Kingston Centre mall
-Cataraqui Centre mall
-Kings Crossing retail area by 401

The following areas will have 15-minute connectivity only 6AM-7PM Monday-Saturday (30 minutes evening & Sundays)
-RMC
-Kingston General Hospital
-Innovation Business Park
-Hwy 15 institutional corridor
-Bath Rd retail corridor
-Gardiners Rd retail corridor
-Princess Street mixed use corridor

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

I plan on heading over there tonight again and taking a video. I'll post it here

As promised. Apologies for the crappy video quality, my phone is shit.

• Video Link

[Chadillaccc]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

Okay, I think this is actually a poorly thought decision on the part of CT.

This forces a long, outdoor transfer for people changing trains. It also eliminates the possibility of future interlining alternatives, like a West LRT that continues south, rather than heading NE.

An interlined tunnel with stations with Spanish solutions (so, tracks with platforms on either sides) would probably be able to handle capacity for the foreseeable future. The side platforms would be to facilitate exits and the middle platform would be to facilitate transfers between lines.

I agree with almost all of this except for the lengthy transfer walk. The already-built underground city hall station will be virtually connected directly with the at grade city hall station which is the only dual platform station on the interconnected section of the downtown free fare zone.