The Great Canadian Transit Thread

[TorontoDrew]

Originally Posted by Beedok

Isn't it only 2 cars long?

LOL, I wasn't going to say anything.

[caltrane74]

Originally Posted by Beedok

Isn't it only 2 cars long?

Some are 2, some are 3.

[gunnar777]

I think the biggest news out of the UPX announcement is that Weston now has a reasonable RER solution (and with less of an impact) Bloor West as well.

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by Beedok

BC just has two transit agencies right? BC Transit and then Translink?

Yep.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Yep.

There is also Coast Mountain Bus Company

[caltrane74]

Originally Posted by gunnar777

I think the biggest news out of the UPX announcement is that Weston now has a reasonable RER solution (and with less of an impact) Bloor West as well.

From Lawrence and Weston, a TTC Bus/Subway ride which would have taken about 55 minutes to an hour will now just take 15 minutes. 5 bucks.

I don't know how big a transit catch area it is, but it will likely really boost ridership on the line.

[MalcolmTucker]

And build a bit of a pre-market for RER/Smart Track.

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

There is also Coast Mountain Bus Company

Coast Mountain Bus Company is an operating company of Translink.

BC Rapid Transit Company is another operating company that functions under Translink, but is technically a crown corp, if I'm not mistaken.

[Beedok]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Yep.

I wonder if a similar model would be good or bad for other provinces.

[swimmer_spe]

In a few weeks, the Trudeau Government will announce new spending. We know that some of that will be for transit. Right now, most provinces cannot match the new money, unless they go deeper into debt. The cities are in no better shape either. Generally speaking, it is typical that the governments will only agree to a 1/3 matched funding. Too bad that i could not just be used without the matched funds. If it was given out without the required matched funds, that money could seriously help put a dent into the projects desperately needed throughout this country.

[jmt18325]

The government was looking at the formula as part of their consultations.

[SkahHigh]

Nice shot of an AMT train while crossing the river on the Candiac line

AMT 84 over the St-Lawrence river by Michael Berry, sur Flickr

[Rico Rommheim]

^That train looks about as old as that bridge.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

In a few weeks, the Trudeau Government will announce new spending. We know that some of that will be for transit. Right now, most provinces cannot match the new money, unless they go deeper into debt. The cities are in no better shape either. Generally speaking, it is typical that the governments will only agree to a 1/3 matched funding. Too bad that i could not just be used without the matched funds. If it was given out without the required matched funds, that money could seriously help put a dent into the projects desperately needed throughout this country.

Originally Posted by jmt18325

The government was looking at the formula as part of their consultations.

Yeah. Highways under the Harper government formula was eligible up to 50%, but 1/3rd was preferred. It sounds like the 50% will be allowed for transit.

Debt isn't bad. The federal government is taking on debt for these projects too. The federal government is also in the early stages of setting up an infrastructure bank. Alberta already has one of these, the Alberta Capital Finance Authority which on lends to local authorities of all kinds which reduces interest rates similar to a loan guarantee. If the local authority can't issue debt on their own, they could do this, or full on concession agreements for design, build, finance.

$2 billion a year for transit, with transit eligibility being downplayed in the old New Building Canada Fund mandate.

[CountryMike]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

^That train looks about as old as that bridge.

If it ain't broken, don't fix it.

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

And build a bit of a pre-market for RER/Smart Track.

For all RER routes, there will be service improvements a few years ahead of electrification. For example, on the GO route to Brampton, two-way midday service at hourly frequencies launched last year; this will be extended into evening and weekend periods over 2016 and 2017 before RER service begins in 2020.

All the lines where RER is funded will have two-way all day 30-60 minute service with current locomotives by 2020 at the latest; following this, RER itself (with 15 minute or better frequencies and electric trains) will open in phases between 2020 and 2024.

IIRC, the schedule for RER completion is 2020 on the Brampton line, 2022 on the Lakeshore & Markham lines, and 2024 for the Barrie line.

[caltrane74]

This changes the game, for me I live in Don Mills but close to Scarborough, right now it takes me about 35 to 45 minutes to get to Yorkville by BUS/Subway and about 45 minutes to 1 hour to get to Union Station via BUS/Subway, with RER I should be able to get to Union Station in about 25 to 30 minutes from Don Valley / York Mills Area depending on which station I use Leslie -GO/Ellesmere-RER Station.

[MolsonExport]

Sometimes I really hate my place of employment.

Light rail divides Western University officials and students

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by SkahHigh

Nice shot of an AMT train while crossing the river on the Candiac line

AMT 84 over the St-Lawrence river by Michael Berry, sur Flickr

Can we expect an expansion of AMT similar to what we're seeing with GO in Toronto? It's serving a smaller population but there are still 5.6 million people within 100km of downtown. That's substantial and higher than the corresponding figure for either Sydney or Melbourne.... which surprised me.

* There's a site where one can punch in one's parameters and it spits out the population contained within. It's on SSC somewhere.

[SkahHigh]

Originally Posted by isaidso

Can we expect an expansion of AMT similar to what we're seeing with GO in Toronto? It's serving a smaller population but there are still 5.6 million people within 100km of downtown. That's substantial and higher than the corresponding figure for either Sydney or Melbourne.... which surprised me.

* There's a site where one can punch in one's parameters and it spits out the population contained within. It's on SSC somewhere.

The system is still expanding a little (4-5 new stations to be added in the next three years) but what our commuter rail needs is more frequency, especially on the Candiac, Mascouche and Saint-Hilaire lines. It offers good rush-hour service but the off-peak service on these lines is almost non-existent, making it only useful to downtown commuters with 9 to 5 schedules.

The fares should be reviewed as well, as some people on the island need to pay an additional 60$ a month to get Downtown via commuter rail, in which case they usually choose to use the BMW formula (bus-metro-walk).

I use AMT commuter rail myself but my line is the busiest and most frequent (50 daily departures). I don't know if I would still consider using it with 16 daily departures. Frequency is key, as you can see with GO RER.