Quote:
Originally Posted by ssiguy
I appreciate the rapid transit chart and know that it was stated that these are subway and LRT only but for many BRT is a far superior choice and can be considerably faster and more reliable than than wither subways or LRT.
Look at Mississauga's new BRT which is grade separated for most of it's length. It is as fast as any LRT or subway but gives the advantage of being able to run semi-express and total express lines along it and can also used by feeder routes getting rid of the dreaded "last mile" which inhibits the attractiveness of transit for many "choice" riders. These are 2 attributes that neither LRT or subway offer. They can also be more reliable as a any rail vehicle that breaks down blocks all the other vehicles from passing it and hence can bring an entire system to a halt while replacement buses are far more easily deployed and can be routed around.
I knew the chart was not meant to denigrate BRT and as I stated I very much appreciate the comparison chart which God knows I could never do but I think in Canada we tend to look down on effective BRT as a consolation prize as opposed to the exceptional transit system that they have proven to be worldwide.
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30 years ago, a BRT was created and it has undergone a major transformation that had, and still has some major growing pains.
It has proven that BRT done right can be a success, but after a few decades should be upgraded to LRT or higher order. Right now, we have several BRT corridors in Canada. Give them 10-25 years and they will need to upgrade. All LRTs, even the Ion LRVs hold more than a bendy bus or a double decker.
Express buses makes more sense for short term ridership growth. For example, if they had put the BLAST network in Hamilton as an express service, it would have show the city council and the province that there is a demand for higher order service.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker
About 1 km. Once the roads are done at some point in the next 10 years. Important to remember that for Edmonton VIA Rail is more like a cruise ship terminal where no one is leaving for excursions than a transit option. I don’t know the O&D stats versus people passing through but in my experience using it once, maybe a single train may have had 40 people getting on, and 40 getting off on the cheapest way to get from Saskatoon to Edmonton at the end of the Thanksgiving weekend (probably one of the busiest O&D times of the year).
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So, not walkable. Too bad the city didn't make it a station. It may be underused, but at least it would show the federal government that they are ready for more VIA service.
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