Calgary Public Transit - Discussion

[Bunk]

Chu criticizes city staff over Centre Street ‘Green Line’ notification, memo suggests otherwise

By Robson Fletcher
Metro

http://metronews.ca/news/calgary/113...-lawsuits-chu/

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Seriously though, I think they should just pony up the money if possible and make it one giant loop connected to Whitehorn via Country hills Boulevard, and pass through the airport as an official stop. But that's my pipe dream.

I always thought that connecting Somerset-Bridlewood to Seton would be a pretty nifty thing as well.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Chu criticizes city staff over Centre Street ‘Green Line’ notification, memo suggests otherwise

By Robson Fletcher
Metro

http://metronews.ca/news/calgary/113...-lawsuits-chu/

Haha, Chu is the WORST.

August 26: "Nobody informed us of this big decision!" -Chu

August 27: "Hey Sean, check the memo we sent ALL of city council August 12th." -Transit Director Morgan



For the love of whatever god or deity (or none) you worship Ward 4, boot this man out next election.

[temple5]

I figured I would put this in here...

Basic but very difficult subway planning game given its somewhat random nature and lack of any instruction or how-to manual.

Be aware, I lost 5 hours of my life last night after I discovered it (although I am sort of a Sim City nerd).

Its Free to play in Beta (not IOS yet).

http://dinopoloclub.com/minimetro/

Michael

[#-3]

Originally Posted by temple5

I figured I would put this in here...

Basic but very difficult subway planning game given its somewhat random nature and lack of any instruction or how-to manual.

Be aware, I lost 5 hours of my life last night after I discovered it (although I am sort of a Sim City nerd).

Its Free to play in Beta (not IOS yet).

http://dinopoloclub.com/minimetro/

Michael

Why would you make me start that.

Its so ######edly addictive.

[temple5]

Originally Posted by #-3

If this line were completed to the city limits in the north and the initial SE plan, I would have a 10 minute walk to each station at home and at work. It may be enough to get me out of my car. But I probably will not be in the same situation 35 years from now when that finally happens. So this is somewhat exciting news for me.

I've also started to wonder now that they basically have the plan for the green line hammered out, should they be working on a broader plan for what comes next in mass-transit. To me history has shown when governments come up with an initial Idea 30-50 years out they become implemented allot better/cheaper/easier.

Should the city be looking at how commuter rail from the suburb towns could work going forward.

Should they be looking a cross town route?
May sound a little crazy at first, but having a spur that goes from the NE to the Airport is on allot of peoples minds, and why not carry it to the N line too.
I personally think a Spur Line from the NE to the SE lines down 52nd would have great usage, lots of jobs in that area, good demographics for transit.
Any Rail access to all of the future communities south of the Tsu Tina would need a spur from the S line, so why no carry it to the SE line.
Is there a why that it would makes sense to have a line connecting the The two Universities, The Foothills, the Rocky View, and COP? That one might be a bit more of a stretch. But I could see a utility in all four of those, and they would cover 75% of the citys cross town route.

Another thing I think they should really look at i making transit more bicycle friendly during rush hour. It would expand the radius that train stations are useful for.

Maybe not time to start asking when for if any of this stuff could happen, but can, how and should some of this stuff happen. To become a truly transit orientated city they need to look at ways to make transit as seemless as driving for a huge percentage of the population.




I think most people see center street being a more walkable location for more people. Keep in mind there probably wont be much parking at any inner city stations. My biggest problem with Edm trail is the connection the Downtown and Harvest Hills Blvd, look like they would be less effective for surrounding communities. The Center Street options are better and make more sense. Either way, I think a Subway will be needed at 16th Ave, and a grade separation will be needed at the river.

With both options given how close the roads are to each other, and the different style of train they are looking at I don't think there is a vastly better choice. Edm Trail less impact on traffic, Center Street less impact on Communities. Neither option is perfect.

Alot of the things you have mentioned are being looked at. The City wouldnt extend the CTrain out but the province has been testing the idea of commuter train to downtown from the edges.

They have also thrown around the idea of more euro style tram stops down 17th ave etc.

I think they have a great 30 year plan pesonally and you could easily see how those BRT could be upgraded to tram/train if funding ever materialized.

[Ironhorse]

So are the connect cards working properly now? Need to buy my boy bus tickets starting next week, but would rather use the smart card.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

So are the connect cards working properly now? Need to buy my boy bus tickets starting next week, but would rather use the smart card.

It hasn't been rolled out yet.

[Bunk]

Just previewed the soon to launch new Calgary Transit website - will go from one of the worst on earth to, I think, one of the best. It's really good.

Soon to follow will be launching real time info for the entire system - that will be incredible.

Then of course, connect card early 2015.

It'll be a sea change for customer experience.

[woob]

I am SO excited about the connect card!! Can't wait!

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Soon to follow will be launching real time info for the entire system - that will be incredible.

What will be included in the real time info system? Will CT finally have an app for tracking buses?

[NuclearPizzaMan]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Just previewed the soon to launch new Calgary Transit website - will go from one of the worst on earth to, I think, one of the best. It's really good.

Soon to follow will be launching real time info for the entire system - that will be incredible.

Then of course, connect card early 2015.

It'll be a sea change for customer experience.

I heard this about the first website renovation a couple years ago, and it was terrible. I assume different people are working on this one.

Will the real-time system for the C-Train benefit from the new system? The current setup is a bad joke. Southbound in the morning, 3 trains are always 7 minutes away, northbound to home, the system can't even identify the what train is next, even though it was 2 blocks west.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

What will be included in the real time info system? Will CT finally have an app for tracking buses?

Yes, with a great interface.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by NuclearPizzaMan

I heard this about the first website renovation a couple years ago, and it was terrible. I assume different people are working on this one.

Will the real-time system for the C-Train benefit from the new system? The current setup is a bad joke. Southbound in the morning, 3 trains are always 7 minutes away, northbound to home, the system can't even identify the what train is next, even though it was 2 blocks west.

This is not a renovation of a terrible site to a slightly less terrible site. It is completely new. The designers are the firm that have done Translink's and some other major systems - but will be even better.

Yes, the C-Train will also benefit from the new real time system.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Yes, with a great interface.

Cool. I'm surprised such a system wasn't implemented sooner but I'm glad to hear that it is finally happening. I'm not a CT user anymore but when I was taking the bus I would have loved an app to check how far away the next bus was so I that could avoid standing in -30 windchills for half and hour.

[NuclearPizzaMan]

Originally Posted by Bunk

This is not a renovation of a terrible site to a slightly less terrible site. It is completely new. The designers are the firm that have done Translink's and some other major systems - but will be even better.

Yes, the C-Train will also benefit from the new real time system.

Nice! I was privy to some of the inside scoop on the build out for the first try on Connect, Real-Time, and the new ticket stations. My soul lacked sufficient charge to confront such atrocities.

Do you know if the real-time info will be available in an open capacity? I am worried that it will be locked onto Apple or Google platforms only. Web access would be good.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by NuclearPizzaMan

Nice! I was privy to some of the inside scoop on the build out for the first try on Connect, Real-Time, and the new ticket stations. My soul lacked sufficient charge to confront such atrocities.

Do you know if the real-time info will be available in an open capacity? I am worried that it will be locked onto Apple or Google platforms only. Web access would be good.

Calgary Transit will run a system (not sure the platform), but the intent is that the data is open source so developers can create apps in whatever format or platform.

The other huge benefit of this data of course is how Calgary Transit can (and intends to) use it to better plan and schedule service.

[ken0042]

If not an app or a mobile site, at least make the main site smartphone friendly. Nothing worse that trying to navigate the current site on a smartphone.

Also, why was Next Stop canned? Was it CT, or the software developer?

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by ken0042

If not an app or a mobile site, at least make the main site smartphone friendly. Nothing worse that trying to navigate the current site on a smartphone.

Also, why was Next Stop canned? Was it CT, or the software developer?

It's intentionally very adaptable to many screen sizes. Looked great on desktop, tablet and a couple different sized smart phones.

There will also be apps.

[NuclearPizzaMan]

This is all sounding excellent. A responsive web design for something like this is way better than an app that only gets released for 1 or 2 platforms.