Flames to announce plans to announce arena plans in the... future...

[JBR]

Originally Posted by AltaGuy

Maybe it's just me, but the one building in Calgary that I stare at and think it should be a rad museum, whether a replacement for the glenbow or a contemporary art museum, is the old brewery in Inglewood. Beautiful grounds, historic, and as far as I know just sitting there as a storage place or something.

I'm not sure there's much interest in a museum for defunct roller hockey teams.

[mhsyyc]

Originally Posted by Tyler

I'm not saying it wouldn't be nice, but it's not as critical in a smaller city like Calgary.

As mentioned above, the Canada Line in Vancouver was built with Olympic money, and probably wouldn't have been completed had they not won the bid for the games. Toronto (a city 5 times bigger than Calgary) is only just getting rail to Pearson now.

Calgary will extend the NE line to the airport at some point in the future. Is it critical now or even in the next 5-10 years? I'm doubtful. Hell, we only got a direct downtown to the airport BRT shuttle a year or two ago. Walk before you run and all that..

Just to further highjack this thread, we need a train to the airport because waiting for a cab for three hours after you land here really sucks.

[getbak]

Have things really gotten bad for taxis at the airport recently? I haven't flown anywhere in almost a year, but I don't think I've ever waited more than a minute. If there isn't one waiting as I walked up, there's usually one about to pull in.

[EYE_Overstand]

The last few times I arrived back home, the taxi situation was crazy and took so long. At the very least 45minutes.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by nik-

I've never been arriving at the airport and wanted to jump on a C-Train or any public transit. It's definitely taxi for me. I can see why ridership wouldn't be great. You get off the plane, get on the train to head downtown and then you're walking around downtown with your luggage to get to your hotel? Naw.

Take the taxi from the subway station. I've done it in a bunch of cities world wide. While on the train you call the cab. You tell them where you are, and they have a cab waiting for you.

Calgary is long overdue for a train to the airport.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Calgary is long overdue for a train to the airport.

We're really not

[sun]

The line out to the Vancouver airport and back is outstanding. So quick and easy.

Best part, bar none though, is no more rides to and fro the airport for deadbeats! Friend has to catch their 7am international flight tomorrow? Just point them to the nearest station and "see ya later!". Don't wake me up on your way out the door!

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

As much as I would personally like the train to go to the airport, Calgarians as a whole struggle to embrace using the LRT to get them to work in the mornings, I doubt many would be jazzed about using it to get them to the airport for vacations.

[Mr.Coffee]

Not anymore, I actually prefer the train to driving now because of all the struggling drivers too afraid to go the speed limit. I bitch and moan about the train often in the GMG thread, in fact just tonight there was a 25 min delay and a solid 5-6 Saddletowne trains in a row when I needed a Somerset. But it's still better in cold weather like these days. Overall it does seem to be getting better and better.

I think it's because Calgary actually is slowly making it functional, like you don't have to squish on every train like it's the last train to survival and they send more than one every 5 hours (usually). When they get to that 4 car train, that'll be the dream.

So I guess what I'm saying is if you make it efficient, people will use it. You just can't half ass it and build a #### train and think it'll work.

Also my wife and I went to Toronto early in January. When we were taking the bus to the train from the airport, I couldn't help but think how embarrassing that a city like Toronto didn't have direct access to the train line. It was actually quite ridiculous. They truly should be embarrassed. That city is enormous.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

As much as I would personally like the train to go to the airport, Calgarians as a whole struggle to embrace using the LRT to get them to work in the mornings, I doubt many would be jazzed about using it to get them to the airport for vacations.

The cost of a taxi or the cost of long term parking would make the train a very attractive option to Calgarians.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Dion

The cost of a taxi or the cost of long term parking would make the train a very attractive option to Calgarians.

I would suggest that Calgarians have shown they aren't into making cost effective choices when it comes to transport. You'd think the cost of parking downtown would make the LRT much more appealing for the daily commute, but it doesn't.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

I would suggest that Calgarians have shown they aren't into making cost effective choices when it comes to transport. You'd think the cost of parking downtown would make the LRT much more appealing for the daily commute, but it doesn't.

To be fair, the LRT is really awesome for some people, but there are large segments of the city that aren't served adequately by it.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

I would suggest that Calgarians have shown they aren't into making cost effective choices when it comes to transport. You'd think the cost of parking downtown would make the LRT much more appealing for the daily commute, but it doesn't.

Doesn't the train commute like 200,000+ people a day? Not bad for a system that doesn't cover large swaths of the city.

When I stand on the platform or get on the train, particularly during rush hour which is what you're talking about, the thing is quite full a lot of the time.

I think people use the train. Quite a lot of people.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

I completely agree with this. The target audience isn't the "Me and my 4 kids are going to an all inclusive for a week with 26 suitcases" its the "I'm in town for a business trip for 2 nights" and the "I'm heading with my wife directly from work downtown for a long weekend out of town"

Naw.... most people in town for business have this thing called an expense account and could care less whether they pay $7.00 for a train or $70.00 for a cab. Unless its to beat traffic.

[CliffFletcher]

LRT ridership in Calgary is among the highest per capita in North America. But that has more to do with a compact and built-up downtown than any love of public transportation. Even most people who commute to work on the LRT wouldn't think of using it to go out for dinner or to the bar.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

As much as I would personally like the train to go to the airport, Calgarians as a whole struggle to embrace using the LRT to get them to work in the mornings, I doubt many would be jazzed about using it to get them to the airport for vacations.

That's truly unfortunate.

I'd rather pay $8-$10 for public transit to the airport than $50 (not including tip) for a cab ride. It would take generally the same time as a cab too, if you go by Vancouver's train line. Likely a lot faster, actually.

Not sure how anyone could be against a train to the airport. So convenient, so much cheaper. If you've been around the world and have ridden a train from the airport to downtown, you'll instantly understand the luxury that it is.

[sun]

Yeah, the train from my area to YVR is about twice as fast as driving and a good 8x cheaper than a cab. Plus you don't have to drive. No brainer.

[browna]

It's one thing to go to a city like Vancouver (or Seattle, where I took the train from the airport to the stadium), if you're staying for a couple days in the downtown (or reside there and live dt) and don't need a car. It's ideal. Same for visitors here.

It's a whole other thing to do it leaving from here (or even a place like Van or Seattle if you don't live on a train line), even if there was a direct train. It takes me 25-30 minutes via train to get downtown when I commute that way in the morning. If I went with the family, trains would be either jammed or not as frequent, it would then be crossing the street with luggage to wait and catch an NE train and another 20+ minutes to the airport.

Of course, we'd have to get to a train station as well...and leave the car there multiple days? Not possible. Get a ride? May as well get a ride from a friend or family to the airport, only another 20 minutes. Take the bus? Sure. Add another 20 minute ride to the station for our once every 30 minute bus. So that's pushing over an hour if you line everything up perfectly...once you get to the station.

Hopefully you arrive back at a decent hour....do the trip in reverse, switch downtown again after 25 minutes. Then another 25 minutes down south. Our bus runs every 45 mins after 6pm, so now its as long as 1h45.

There's a lot of ifs and buts in there as well...winter weather, not making bus or train connections etc.

It takes just under 30 minutes, sans signficant traffic, for us to get to (and from) the airport long term parking. It will cost $65 or so for 3 days away parking at YYC vs $18 for a family of 3 round trip. So a $50 saving for at least 2, maybe closer to 3 hours of my time with ideal timing working out, and a lot of hassle along the way.

IMO, a train from the airport to dt would be good for the business travelers and weekenders coming into town and staying DT (for the Flames game at the old or new arena...lets get this back on track) or Motel Village. Saves cab fare and hassle. But the majority of locals not living directly downtown or on a train line will continue to drive, take cabs, or gets friends or family to take them to or from the airport...and the majority of airport LRT users will be Airdrie/far NE commuters.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

As much as I would personally like the train to go to the airport, Calgarians as a whole struggle to embrace using the LRT to get them to work in the mornings, I doubt many would be jazzed about using it to get them to the airport for vacations.

Calgarians struggle to embrace the LRT for morning commute?
What are basing this upon? Ridership is down?
Or are you saying, nobody is enthused to be taking the loser cruiser?

[DionTheDman]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

As much as I would personally like the train to go to the airport, Calgarians as a whole struggle to embrace using the LRT to get them to work in the mornings, I doubt many would be jazzed about using it to get them to the airport for vacations.

Probably because of reliability issues -- too prone to delays from weather, stupid people trying to beat the train crossing, etc. etc.