Calgary Public Transit - Discussion

[ken0042]

Looking at Google maps; it looks like the only overpass in on Southland Drive.

[Magnum PEI]

Originally Posted by RW99

Does Southland station have a pedestrian overpass at the south side of the station that goes both West and East towards Superstore? I was on a packed train one day going down there and barely noticed something. There's a house I'm thinking of renting in the area and being able to walk over to the C-Train and Superstore would be nice

There is a new pedestrian bridge South of the station. I'm not sure if its open yet and I've never seen anybody use it, but it is there.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Magnum PEI

There is a new pedestrian bridge South of the station. I'm not sure if its open yet and I've never seen anybody use it, but it is there.

Overpass taking you where? (Not to sound dickish, but I didn't know of this project). Can't really see the need for an overpass taking you to the parking lot that you can already walk to; so I'll assume its an overpass up the hill to Superstore.

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Overpass taking you where? (Not to sound dickish, but I didn't know of this project). Can't really see the need for an overpass taking you to the parking lot that you can already walk to; so I'll assume its an overpass up the hill to Superstore.

In the summer I worked in southport, the set of twin buildings right beside the station. There is an overpass that takes you over the tracks, and from there its a short walk to superstore

[RW99]

Sweet, I knew I wasn't going crazy

[frinkprof]

Another good and thorough article in today's Herald about the future of the C-Train. I guess they must be doing some sort of series on it.

Six-legged LRT with 45 new stations slated for Calgary

70-km addition in next 30 years to offer airport, southeast links

By Jason Markusoff, Calgary Herald January 16, 2011 7:34 AM

In its first three decades, the C-Train has spread out its light-rail tendrils 46 kilometres.

With three more decades' worth of expansions essentially mapped out, it stands to stretch out more than 70 additional kilometres, becoming a six-legged monster with more than 45 new stations.

And yes, that includes an airport LRT stop.

Most plans are still many years, engineering studies and billions of dollars away.

"As much as we love the C-Train -- and we do -- there are two drawbacks with C-Train: it's very expensive and it's very inflexible, so we have to be really darn sure when we lay those tracks that's exactly the right thing to do," Mayor Naheed Nenshi says.

"And we have to weigh that against other public transit priorities."

[...]

But with the fullest year of West LRT construction ahead, as well as an imminent council decision on how fast the southeast line gets built and a major consultation on where another train route should go, the C-Train's 30th-anniversary year will be a pivotal one in its history. Here's a look at the C-Train now and into the future:

[...]

Until recently, the city deemed the subway line a necessity this decade, a priority before even the southeast LRT.

McKendrick now says the shift to four-car trains will greatly forestall the plan, although a north-central alignment along Nose Creek would also use the 7th Avenue corridor and hasten the subway dig's timeline.

[...]

LRT Advances

Mid-2011 -¦ Digital displays will be erected at C-Train stations alerting riders when the next three trains will arrive;

-¦ Fare machines at stations that allow credit-card use.

2012 - -Smart-card fare payment begins;

-¦ West LRT opens to 69th Street.

2014 -¦ Four-car trains on Tuscany-Somerset line.

Link to rest of the article

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

McKendrick now says the shift to four-car trains will greatly forestall the plan, although a north-central alignment along Nose Creek would also use the 7th Avenue corridor and hasten the subway dig's timeline

Man I hope they don't put the LRT up Nose Creek. I understand that it would be easier/cheaper, but I think we'd still be getting worse value for money, since it's signicantly inferior to going up around Centre Street/Edmonton Trail.

My preferred option for personal reasons would be Edmonton Trail, but I suspect the best option for the most number of people would be up Centre Street to Beddington and then across to the airport.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Man I hope they don't put the LRT up Nose Creek. I understand that it would be easier/cheaper, but I think we'd still be getting worse value for money, since it's signicantly inferior to going up around Centre Street/Edmonton Trail.

My preferred option for personal reasons would be Edmonton Trail, but I suspect the best option for the most number of people would be up Centre Street to Beddington and then across to the airport.

The sad irony of the North Central line (via Centre Street) is that they've got the right of way set aside for it North of Beddington Trail, but between there and downtown it will be an expensive build. Nearly exclusively elevated or underground. It would be the best option, IMO.

Nose Creek would be a waste. Barely anyone lives or works along there, and luckily, Nenshi has mentioned that as well.

[Jimmy Stang]

And regarding the airport, I like the idea of a spur line from an existing LRT line. Diverting the NE or the NC line to the airport wouldn't be the most efficient way to do it however. It would be cool to have a hub station either on the NC or NE line and then have a separate sput that goes back and forth to the airport. Maybe the airport authority would even want to be on board with funding.

[mykalberta]

As someone who lives up centre street I much prefer Nenshi quasi euro street car suggestion for Centre street rather than LRT. Convert 2 lanes of traffic into a street car/train.

With all the hills etc I dont see a full lrt/subway working up centre street.

[You Need a Thneed]

Check out the city's BRT network plan. You can find it on the council agenda and minutes page, on the agenda for the Jan 19 SPC on land use, planning, and transportation.

I would link, but the links expire quickly.

Highlights:
Short term:
301 enhancements
302 enhancements and extension to South Health Campus
305 extension and enhancements
Airport BRT down centre street
SW crosstown from Westbrook station to Quarry Park (serves MRU) - phase 1 only to Heritage Station
SW woodbine to downtown phase 1

Medium Term:
Brentwood to Saddletowne - serving 16th ave and 52nd street NE
Saddletowne to South Health Campus
SW Westbrook to Quarry Park phase 2
305 enhancements - 17th ave SE corridor enhancements
Downtown to woodbine phase 2

Long Term:
Airport BRT phase 2 - terminal to NE LRT
Sage Hill to Brentwood and to 96th ave NE (connections to NW and NC LRT lines)
Somerset Bridlewood to South Health Campus
162nd Ave SW BRT

[fundmark19]

not happy about extension of 302. I am never going to get a seat now once the bus comes to new brighton drive at 52nd stop

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

not happy about extension of 302. I am never going to get a seat now once the bus comes to new brighton drive at 52nd stop

If people have a hard time getting seats there, Calgary Tranit will increase the frequency.

[fundmark19]

I doubt it. It is all ready once every 10 mins they wont increase it untill bus' don't stop because they are packed. mckenzie towne and new brighton need a legit express bus feature not a 302 wannabee route and run it more often since the current express bus' are always full and take a near identical route to the 302

[SeoulFire]

I am sorry if I missed it but is there any talk of pro-rating the fares? This is very easily done with both bus and train tickets if/when the switch is made to smart cards. Scan in and then scan out - if you miss on the way out it charges the full fee.

[RW99]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

not happy about extension of 302. I am never going to get a seat now once the bus comes to new brighton drive at 52nd stop

Having to take transit that never provides me with a seat (including when I lived in Country Hills 301 to downtown), I don't think I'll shed a tear for you

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

As someone who lives up centre street I much prefer Nenshi quasi euro street car suggestion for Centre street rather than LRT. Convert 2 lanes of traffic into a street car/train.

With all the hills etc I dont see a full lrt/subway working up centre street.

I don't think Nenshi has ever proposed this. If you were looking at the long-term airport service plan, there was a proposal for a tram in there, and that was a hastily put together document by Calgary Transit, so that proposal may be a bit spurious.

It's not an uncommon sentiment though.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by SeoulFire

I am sorry if I missed it but is there any talk of pro-rating the fares? This is very easily done with both bus and train tickets if/when the switch is made to smart cards. Scan in and then scan out - if you miss on the way out it charges the full fee.

There's been some discussion, but nothing official. I doubt we'll see it when the smart cards roll out.

Personally, I'm a bit wary of dynamic zone fare systems, and absolutely against discrete ones (hard-defined zone lines, when you pass one, the fare goes up). They have to be done right.

[frinkprof]

For anyone who rides the south LRT line, keep an eye out for the latest delivery of a new LRT car. It is just south of Heritage Station, on the east side of the LRT tracks. It is on a rail car under a blue tarp. Should be there for at least tomorrow and maybe a couple days after that.

This is what an LRT car looks like when it gets delivered to Calgary after making the long journey from Sacramento, California:



Photo by mersar on SSP.

[getbak]

Heh-heh..."Do not hump".

I know some people are train enthusiasts, but that's a little ridiculous.