Calgary Public Transit - Discussion

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

I admit, that's pretty damn cool.

That is pretty cool. Airdrie has only 3 buses?

[para transit fellow]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

That is pretty cool. Airdrie has only 3 buses?

About a dozen buses in total

[Envitro]

Honestly, would a smartphone app not solve this problem?

Buy single trip, daily or monthly passes right from your phone. You have it on you the whole time anyway...

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Envitro

Honestly, would a smartphone app not solve this problem?

Buy single trip, daily or monthly passes right from your phone. You have it on you the whole time anyway...

A lot of people who ride public transit do so because they don't have the money for things like smart phones and cars.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by getbak

A lot of people who ride public transit do so because they don't have the money for things like smart phones and cars.

Market penetration of a smart phone has to be over 80% in a place like Calgary. That should be critical mass enough to build an app.

CT actually has some talented developers and pretty good execution; this shouldn't be that hard to put together if they really wanted to.

[NuclearPizzaMan]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

CT actually has some talented developers and pretty good execution; this shouldn't be that hard to put together if they really wanted to.

This is the funniest thing I've ever read.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by NuclearPizzaMan

This is the funniest thing I've ever read.

Why? I used to work with some of them.

[RW99]

So it sounds like Calgary Transit wanted customers to be able to buy online and that was the biggest technical issue. And it seems a lot of other transit systems dont have this option. If that is the case, then maybe CT just made an error in trying to force it from the get go with an all-in-one option that maybe wasn't feasable. They could have gone with something more off the shelf that didn't offer online right away and just implement it later? As for me, buying online would be very important to decide on using the system.

[NuclearPizzaMan]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Why? I used to work with some of them.

It's likely that your relationship with them is clouding your judgement then. No one in the history of the universe would look at any of the features CT has rolled out over the last 10 years and say to themselves "yes, these guys are good".

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by NuclearPizzaMan

It's likely that your relationship with them is clouding your judgement then. No one in the history of the universe would look at any of the features CT has rolled out over the last 10 years and say to themselves "yes, these guys are good".

Ok then, it's your opinion. I've worked in a few big companies in the last 10 years in development and there were some creative, talented guys working at the City and at CT.

I guess everyone who hasn't impacted your life positively sucks as well?

[Addick]

Originally Posted by RW99

So it sounds like Calgary Transit wanted customers to be able to buy online and that was the biggest technical issue. And it seems a lot of other transit systems dont have this option. If that is the case, then maybe CT just made an error in trying to force it from the get go with an all-in-one option that maybe wasn't feasable. They could have gone with something more off the shelf that didn't offer online right away and just implement it later? As for me, buying online would be very important to decide on using the system.

Aside from eventually going paperless, what are the benefits of going with EFC rather than spending the funds on other small projects? I think the functionality of online payment is what made the project worthwhile for CT.

[para transit fellow]

The challenge with buying another transit property's e-card system is that most of them are trying to upgrade to what Calgary transit was aspiring to implement.

[You Need a Thneed]

Green Line funding announcement by the federal government is happening right now.

Check out Calgary.ca/live

[getbak]

Construction to start in 2017 and complete as soon as 2024. Wow. I didn't expect to see this actually up and running in my lifetime.

I guess the election campaign starts today.

[getbak]

$1.5 billion commitment from the federal government to cover one third of the total cost of the Green Line construction.

City of Calgary ‏@cityofcalgary

Mayor @nenshi - This is the largest single investment in public transportation infrastructure in Alberta. #GreenLine

[bizaro86]

I missed the start and now they're asking him about ISIS

Is this funding for the green line as LRT, or are we starting with the busway plan?

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

I missed the start and now they're asking him about ISIS

Is this funding for the green line as LRT, or are we starting with the busway plan?

LRT. Complete line.

[bizaro86]

In the questions for Nenshi, sounds like they're going all train, and not surface through downtown. He said "elevated is the Nenshi plan, but I'm not a transportation engineer"

[getbak]

http://www.calgarycitynews.com/2015/...ard-green.html

The Green Line was initially planned to be constructed over 30+ years, starting as a bus-only Transitway, and later converting to LRT. This announcement from the Federal Government means that Calgarians in the north and southeast areas of the city will be able to enjoy faster, more reliable, light rail service ahead of schedule. Currently, 290,000 Calgarians are estimated to live along the Green Line corridor, with thousands more working and visiting the newly developing employment hubs and community activity centres on the route. The Green Line will not only bring transit into communities, but will connect neighbourhoods where Calgarians can live, work and play close to transit.

Wow, from a 30+ year plan to a 9 year plan. That's crazy.

[MrMastodonFarm]

2017 sounds like a really ambitious start date, the whole thing sounds insanely ambitious actually. Nenshi mentioned they still have some land deals to do before they start.

Exciting though, regardless. Glad they're skipping the busway, just get right to the LRT.