The Great Canadian Transit Thread

[Chadillaccc]

Originally Posted by milomilo

I suspect we'll have to wait for Calgary's economy to get back on track and the Red Line trains be totally full before it becomes a priority. I pray when the time comes they do it right and completely eliminate grade crossings for the red line downtown.

The Red Line eventually needs to be put underground as the 7th Avenue Transit Mall is reaching its maximum capacity. The Red Line already carries 60% of CTrain traffic. One of the goals Calgary transit has is to extend all Red Line platforms to accommodate 5-car trains, something that the length of downtown city blocks do not allow. Therefor it has to go underground.


This is the most updated version of the city's 30-year 'Route Ahead' transportation masterplan. The only things that have changed is the Green Line has been unified and is separated into phases now, along with both the SE and SW transitways now being complete, and all the BRTs except for the 52 Street east one and the west one. We are about 6 years into the 30-year plan. The plan goes by population targets, and we passing into the short-term/medium-term (1.3 million to 1.5 million) this year or next as the municipal population passes 1.3 million.





This is the extended/longer term vision.






The design of the Marda Loop BRT station has also been released...








Also, the design for the imminent redevelopment of Victoria Park Station has been released. The reason this is significant is that it brings the station to a grade crossing, allowing for the enormous amount of traffic the station sees during Stampede and before and after Flames games and concerts. In addition to facilitating greater flows of pedestrian traffic, it is being done in order to allow for 17th Avenue to punch through the Ctrain tracks and into Stampede Park.

[Coldrsx]

Track bed being prepared in Downtown Edmonton.

[milomilo]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Where did this image come from? I thought the Green Line alignment was set in stone for some time now, and what's with the 'ideal' and 'worst' descriptors?

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by milomilo

Where did this image come from? I thought the Green Line alignment was set in stone for some time now, and what's with the 'ideal' and 'worst' descriptors?

I thought the alignment was finalized as well. As for the "ideal" vs "worse", I assume "ideal" is labeled this way for its central location within the park, hence proximity to the high transit generators such as the arena(s) and BMO. The other option would be cheaper, but not as accessible to patrons/riders.

What's the time line for the demolition and construction of the new Victoria Park Station? Will the Green Line be built first to offer an alternative transit option or will the Park be left without a station for a set amount of time?

I understand that the limiting factor in terms of capacity for the Red Line is train length due to city blocks downtown, and I'm sure they will build the new V.P. Station to accommodate 6 cars eventually, but it seems to me that adding level crossings for cars and pedestrians is a step backwards, especially at such a busy station. When you have 20,0000 drunk fans pouring out of the Saddledome (or replacement), they might might block the tracks, causing delays to the Red Line.

[milomilo]

I'd prefer moving to eliminate at grade interactions too, but it is what it is and that is not the opinion of the administration and modern urban think. In their eyes, having the railway as fully integrated with pedestrians as possible is a good thing.

That said though, bringing 17th into the Stampede grounds is a great thing and it would be highly expensive to leave the tracks grade separated, so there isn't really an option.

[Chadillaccc]

Not sure if this is the right place to post it, but I am happy to say I just bought my first tickets on Calgary's new Regional Transit System, the On-It. Learned just the other day that tickets to Banff and back are only $10 each way! Amazing. Just bought me n my boyfriend a hiking trip to Banff for $40 for his birthday. That's luxury level, since we're both on student budgets

It's really cool, the bus has three stops in the City of Calgary; Somerset Ctrain, Downtown, and Crowfoot Ctrain. We will be hopping on at Crowfoot, since I live at University Station and it's just three stops away, plus it cuts like 25 minutes off the bus travel time! The tickets I bought are on the express, but the On-It also services Okotoks, Cochrane, and Canmore.



https://dailyhive.com/calgary/calgary-banff-transit-service-starts-june-17-2017

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Not sure if this is the right place to post it, but I am happy to say I just bought my first tickets on Calgary's new Regional Transit System, the On-It. Learned just the other day that tickets to Banff and back are only $10 each way! Amazing. Just bought me n my boyfriend a hiking trip to Banff for $40 for his birthday. That's luxury level, since we're both on student budgets

It's really cool, the bus has three stops in the City of Calgary; Somerset Ctrain, Downtown, and Crowfoot Ctrain. We will be hopping on at Crowfoot, since I live at University Station and it's just three stops away, plus it cuts like 25 minutes off the bus travel time! The tickets I bought are on the express, but the On-It also services Okotoks, Cochrane, and Canmore.



https://dailyhive.com/calgary/calgary-banff-transit-service-starts-june-17-2017

That is a great thing to see. Maybe one day something like GO or EXO will happen in Calgary. It's not like they don't have the rail lines.

[Chadillaccc]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

That is a great thing to see. Maybe one day something like GO or EXO will happen in Calgary. It's not like they don't have the rail lines.

You got that right man! Actually there is a regional rail proposal that is gaining serious momentum. It appears that the first phase would connect to the mountain cities via the historic neighbourhood of Bowness and then on to Cochrane, and the 2nd phase (and/or 3rd phase) would have it continuing through the city, with the north line going to Airdrie with a stop at YYC (connecting to the proposed airport Ctrain), and the south line going to Okotoks with a stop at Anderson Ctrain Ctrain.

The first phase would of course be primarily for mountain tourism, and obviously having a fixed link in the city would boost tourism here as well, as it would make transport between the two much less of a hassle. However, once the later phases are online, it would be a full-fledged heavy rail commuter network. The city is putting a lot of investment into our tourism industry lately, and Banff and Canmore are pushing hard for a fixed link, so I wouldn't be surprised to see the first phase online within a decade or so. It should have been a decade ago... but Ralph Klein happened and we're still paying the price for his defunding of infrastructure projects.


There was actually a story about it in the Calgary Herald recently...

Calgary to Banff passenger rail service 'feasible', new report says, but carries $660M price tag
A passenger rail link between Calgary and Banff National Park is "feasible," according to a new study, though the federal and provincial governments would likely have to step in to pick up part of the estimated $660 million price tag.
AMANDA STEPHENSON | CALGARY HERALD | February 27, 2019

Full story: https://calgaryherald.com/business/local...w-report-says-but-carries-660m-price-tag


and an infographic promoting the proposal. It's just a wee bit out of date in that the region it covers is over 1.6 million now.


https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/west-coast-express-expansion-opinion-2019

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

You got that right man! Actually there is a regional rail proposal that is gaining serious momentum. It appears that the first phase would connect to the mountain cities via Cochrane, and the 2nd phase (and/or 3rd phase) would have it continuing through the city, with the north line going to Airdrie with a stop at YYC (connecting to the proposed airport Ctrain), and the south line going to Okotoks with a stop at Somerset Ctrain.

The first phase would of course be primarily for mountain tourism, and obviously having a fixed link in the city would boost tourism here as well, as it would make transport between the two much less of a hassle. However, once the later phases are online, it would be a full-fledged heavy rail commuter network. The city is putting a lot of investment into our tourism industry lately, and Banff and Canmore are pushing hard for a fixed link, so I wouldn't be surprised to see the first phase online within a decade or so. It should have been a decade ago... but Ralph Klein happened and we're still paying the price for his defunding of infrastructure projects.


There was actually a story about it in the Calgary Herald recently...

Calgary to Banff passenger rail service 'feasible', new report says, but carries $660M price tag
A passenger rail link between Calgary and Banff National Park is "feasible," according to a new study, though the federal and provincial governments would likely have to step in to pick up part of the estimated $660 million price tag.
AMANDA STEPHENSON | CALGARY HERALD | February 27, 2019

Full story: https://calgaryherald.com/business/local...w-report-says-but-carries-660m-price-tag

It is sad that there is no passenger train between Vancouver - Calgary - Regina - Winnipeg. It almost feels we are in a rail renaissance.

[Coldrsx]

Downtown trackbed in the heart of Edmonton.


https://twitter.com/uptown_one/status/1131653115667595264
@uptown_one

[Doady]

It seems the new "24 hour" service in Mississauga isn't all it was cracked up to be. No service on Sunday after 12am on 1, 3, and 7. Some short-turned trips on the 19. So there some 2-3 hour gaps in the schedules on Sunday evening which is probably too much to be true 24 hours, or at least not 24/7.

[Nouvellecosse]

How many 24 hr routes are there supposed to be?

[WhipperSnapper]

It sounds cosmopolitan but is it worthwhile to have 24 hour service in Mississauga? How is ride sharing there? I remember back in the day the only alternative to driving home after last call was not to drink or for some unfortunate soul not to drink in a group which, in my opinion, is like teaching safe sex to teenagers with abstinence.

How many adults that don't live within the few walkable areas don't have cars in Mississauga? The large senior population aren't likely to require 24 hour service.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

It sounds cosmopolitan but is it worthwhile to have 24 hour service in Mississauga? How is ride sharing there? I remember back in the day the only alternative to driving home after last call was not to drink or for some unfortunate soul not to drink in a group which, in my opinion, is like teaching safe sex to teenagers with abstinence.

How many adults that don't live within the few walkable areas don't have cars in Mississauga? The large senior population aren't likely to require 24 hour service.

If the suburbs want to create a strong transit ridership, it cannot be just for the 9 to 5ers. Toronto learned this. With how Mississauga wants to grow, night service makes sense.

[Doady]

The major routes in Mississauga were already 21 hours. 1 Dundas was already 22 to 23 hours on weekdays: the last westbound trip started at 3am and the first eastbound trip started at 4am. So it's only adding 2 or 3 trips in each direction for each route to make it full 24 hours. The only surprising thing is it took them so long.

It's four 24 hour routes to start: 1 Dundas, 3 Bloor, 7 Airport, and 19 Hurontario. I just realized there no 24 hour service for Saturdays either. It's just weekdays.

I think it's not too ambitious to have 24 hour service in Mississauga. TTC already have some 24 hour routes cross the border. And there is the airport as well.

It's time for Mississauga to grow up, become a real city, and of course that means having 24 hour bus service.

[TorontoDrew]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

If the suburbs want to create a strong transit ridership, it cannot be just for the 9 to 5ers. Toronto learned this. With how Mississauga wants to grow, night service makes sense.

Agreed, while it may not have high usage for a-b trips within the Sausage, I'm sure many shift workers will find it helpful who will be able to connect to the TTC night service routes.

[Innsertnamehere]

The best way to drive ridership is to create captive riders - i.e. car free households. To do this you have to allow people to get by without a car at all times of the day, not just during rush hour. Otherwise you will forever only compete when taking the car is really unmatractive.. in rush hour.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by Doady

The major routes in Mississauga were already 21 hours. 1 Dundas was already 22 to 23 hours on weekdays: the last westbound trip started at 3am and the first eastbound trip started at 4am. So it's only adding 2 or 3 trips in each direction for each route to make it full 24 hours. The only surprising thing is it took them so long.

It's four 24 hour routes to start: 1 Dundas, 3 Bloor, 7 Airport, and 19 Hurontario. I just realized there no 24 hour service for Saturdays either. It's just weekdays.

I think it's not too ambitious to have 24 hour service in Mississauga. TTC already have some 24 hour routes cross the border. And there is the airport as well.

It's time for Mississauga to grow up, become a real city, and of course that means having 24 hour bus service.

Makes sense then.

There's a huge middle area between rush hour service and 24 hour service and only so much money to go around. It's about generating new ridership for the least amount of funds which sometimes flies in the face of real cities have 24 hour service rhetoric.

I grew up in urban utopias that closed their doors at 6PM and on the weekends.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Downtown trackbed in the heart of Edmonton.


https://twitter.com/uptown_one/status/1131653115667595264
@uptown_one

What really strikes me about that picture is how it's such a huge area in a central part of the city taken out of public use - for what looks like a good while.

[WhipperSnapper]

Good point.