Calgary Public Transit - Discussion

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

^No unfortunately I can't lay claim to that.

It was done by a guy named Andrew Duff. Here's a link to the rest of his LEGO C-Train creations:

http://www.mocpages.com/home.php/12929

Hopefully someone from the City and or Lego get a hold of this and have him set up his stuff in or around the Lego Store in Chinook, it's really cool stuff.

[stevinder]

This guy had his LEGO CTrain displayed in the LEGO Store last year.


IMG_0010 by srp775, on Flickr

[frinkprof]

Reservable parking stalls at LRT lots opposed


By Lea Storry, Calgary Herald February 13, 2011 7:12 AM

Some aldermen are criticizing a proposal to make up to half of the parking spots at LRT park-and-ride lots reservable while charging $70 for the service.

The proposal, to be discussed by city council Monday, comes in the wake of the December decision to axe the daily $3 parking fee. The changes are slated to take effect in April.

[...]

Ward 5 Ald. Ray Jones voted to get rid of the daily fee, but said keeping up to 50 per cent of spots for reservations is too high.

"I think we should start with 25 per cent . . . and see how it works," said Jones. "We should at least experiment with it."

[...]

A survey done this past January by the transportation department found 23 per cent of current and former park-and-ride users would be interested in paying for reserved parking spaces with the average willing to cough up $70 a month.

[...]

Will Stach takes the LRT to get to his classes at the University of Calgary. The 20-year-old used to park at the Southland LRT Station, but stopped after the fee was introduced. He added he won't be shelling out 70 bucks for a primo parking spot either.

"It's not really in my budget to do that," said Stach. "I'm used to taking the bus now to the train. It's a habit."

[...]

"People want more transit," noted Pincott. "I think Calgarians are saying, and have been saying for years, if you give us an efficient transit system that works, then I will use it."

Link to the rest of the article

[frinkprof]

I should note that the headline is a bit misleading I think. Sounds like the aldermen in question aren't opposed to the idea, and are warm to a modified version of the idea with less reserved spots.

[frinkprof]

City approves park-and-ride reserved spots

Last Updated: Tuesday, February 15, 2011 | 8:20 AM MT


Commuters who want to reserve a parking spot at Calgary's LRT lots will soon get that chance.

The current $3-a-day fee will be done away with on April 1.

However, the city will move to a system where commuters can pay $70 a month to reserve a spot in the park-and-ride lots.

Up to half of the spots in each lot will be designated as reserved, starting in April.

City administration is also going to study the feasibility of offering free or reduced-price spaces for carpoolers.

City council voted 10-5 to kill the park-and-ride fee in December. The fee has been used to improve security and conditions in the parking lots since being introduced in 2009, but many see it as a nuisance.

[...]

Link to the rest of the article

[yads]

Judging by how full most of the lots are, I'm pretty sure they'll sell out the reserved spots. BTW are they also axing the short term sports too? Because I can definitely see that as a problem for people who need to go downtown in the middle of the day.

[frinkprof]

More information on the Park and Ride paid reservation system.

On April 4, Calgary Transit will implement a reserved parking program at some LRT park and ride lots. The cost to reserve a space will be $70 per month. The number of parking spaces set aside for reserved parking in each lot will be based on customer demand for each month up to a maximum of 50% of the spaces in each lot.
Calgary Transit was directed to begin implementation of this new service on the following schedule:

Lots at terminal stations - Crowfoot, McKnight West Winds, and Somerset Bridlewood, plus continuation of reserved parking at Fish Creek Lacombe.
Lots that currently have the highest usage (in addition to the above) – Dalhousie, Brentwood, Barlow-Max Bell, Shawnessy, Southland, Chinook, and 39 Ave S.
Remaining LRT station lots (depending on demand).
Reserved parking will not be available in parking lots that serve bus routes at this time but may be added to the program at a later date, based on customer demand.

It is anticipated that it may take approximately two months to fully establish the reserved areas in all of the lots and this too will be based on customer demand.

If you would like to be notified about when we will begin accepting reservations and how the program will work please sign up for Calgary Transit Email Alerts for park and ride, starting Wednesday, February 23. You will be able to specify which lots you are interested in learning about. When you have signed up, we will automatically email you the information as soon as it is available.

http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/p...e_changes.html

[Barnes]

They've tried this before and it was a failure. Why are they trying it again?

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by Barnes

They've tried this before and it was a failure. Why are they trying it again?

The only place a version of this has been tried is at Fish Creek/Lacombe Station. From what I know that has been successful.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

The only place a version of this has been tried is at Fish Creek/Lacombe Station. From what I know that has been successful.

They tried it at Somerset and 39th ave about 4 years ago. Areas in both the west lots where paid/reserved spots. Pretty much always empty.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by Barnes

They tried it at Somerset and 39th ave about 4 years ago. Areas in both the west lots where paid/reserved spots. Pretty much always empty.

Ah yeah I had forgotten about that.

[shermanator]

If I moved to the suburbs, I would gladly pay to reserve a spot at the park n ride.

[Russic]

I have to drop my kid off at a daycare by fishcreek every morning around 7:30. For this reason I would never find a parking spot at the lot unless I paid. I recall when I was a student and used to drive in from (dun dun dunnnnn) DeWinton I paid for a spot because I'd get there around 8:00. It was glorious but I was also living with my parents and had a lot more affordable income than I do now. For the time being it's still easier to just park in a residential area and walk.

[frinkprof]

Here's a new announcement. The 2011 Calgary Transit Service Improvement Priorities

There was an increase of 140 000 transit hours approved for 2011, so this is just showing how those will be spent. Lots of routes affected, so you may want to check it to see if the route you take is seeing a service increase.

Of note - the new route 100 Airport Express from McKnight-Westwinds to the airport starts in March, frequency is being increased on the C-Train routes during weekend peak times, and a lot of the busier trunk bus routes are getting improved service (routes 3, 4, 5, 301).

[RW99]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Here's a new announcement. The 2011 Calgary Transit Service Improvement Priorities

There was an increase of 140 000 transit hours approved for 2011, so this is just showing how those will be spent. Lots of routes affected, so you may want to check it to see if the route you take is seeing a service increase.

Of note - the new route 100 Airport Express from McKnight-Westwinds to the airport starts in March, frequency is being increased on the C-Train routes during weekend peak times, and a lot of the busier truck bus routes are getting improved service (routes 3, 4, 5, 301).

I was excited when I saw 4/5 in your post, then I was disappoint when I clicked on it. 1 extra bus from SAIT going north during afternoon rush hour? I've had to wait up to 30 minutes for a #4 at Kensington Safeway on the way home

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Here's a new announcement. The 2011 Calgary Transit Service Improvement Priorities

There was an increase of 140 000 transit hours approved for 2011, so this is just showing how those will be spent. Lots of routes affected, so you may want to check it to see if the route you take is seeing a service increase.

Of note - the new route 100 Airport Express from McKnight-Westwinds to the airport starts in March, frequency is being increased on the C-Train routes during weekend peak times, and a lot of the busier trunk bus routes are getting improved service (routes 3, 4, 5, 301).

I guess "C-Train" is a little too obscure a route to get a few more minutes a day. I guess nobody noticed all those people standing on platforms in the south watching "out of service" trains roll by at 8:40 a.m.

Rush hour is over!

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

I guess "C-Train" is a little too obscure a route to get a few more minutes a day. I guess nobody noticed all those people standing on platforms in the south watching "out of service" trains roll by at 8:40 a.m.

Rush hour is over!

Been awhile since I've caught the train in the south during that time of day. The out-of-service trains are usually going south right?

EDIT: If you're North of Anderson and/or Heritage, otherwise the out of service trains are usually going northbound?

[TurnedTheCorner]

I'd go with worthless and greedy as possible answers.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Been awhile since I've caught the train in the south during that time of day. The out-of-service trains are usually going south right?

Nope. Going downtown.

It would make sense if it was the southbound ones because they are completely empty.

The trains going north roll past a lot of people who would be downtown by 9am.

[frinkprof]

^So they are out-of-service with people on them or without? Which station do you usually board at?