Calgary Public Transit - Discussion

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Is there a reason the C-Train displays are constantly wrong about which train is coming next? The one at 4th St SW station displays either "Crowfoot" or "10th St West" and seems to be only slightly more accurate in which train is coming next than someone flipping a coin. Do they really change the dispatching of where the trains are going on short notice very regularly, or is it just bad info?

My guess is a little from column A and a little from column B. The order of trains actually does switch from what is otherwise planned sometimes at either the City Hall interlocking or O'Neill interlocking (where trains enter/exit 7th Avenue). If one train is a little later than scheduled (say the 201), the 202 will get the clearance ahead of it if it is ready to go and vice versa.

Also apparently there are still some bugs to work out along 7th Avenue. This area is the most problematic for (I can assume) a couple reasons. First is that there is more train traffic along the avenue producing lots of "ifs" and possibilities in the software. Secondly, the urban canyon effect would nullify the reliable use of the GPS data and the RFID component would would have to fully take over.

Originally Posted by Rathji

AFAIK those displays are still running on the scheduled times, and not on GPS yet. As such, you can probably expect as much accuracy with them as with a paper schedule I am afraid.

I don't think that's the case. I think the realtime data is being used, it is just buggy in this area.

[frinkprof]

Just a reminder about the two events this week.

Human Transit Lecture on April 12th



"Better Transit in Calgary" Panel Discussion and Event on April 14th

The poster is a few posts up so I won't reproduce it here. Unfortunately we're all sold out of reservations, but if you're still really interested and haven't registered, I'll see what can be done. It looks like attendance will be 150+ people.

[Sr. Mints]

What is the City's goal bringing in all these urban planners and 'transportation specialists' lately?

I get that Mia Birk was brought in to promote bike share . . . But there was urban planner Michael Ronkin last month, who closed his talk advocating 'road diets.' Tonight it's Andreas Rohl and his 'Bring Copenhagen to Calgary' lecture, then the two Jarrett Walker events later in the week.

What's the transportation dept cooking up, frinkprof?

[frinkprof]

^Not sure if I can speak to all of that, but the upcoming transit events with Jarrett Walker were 100% organized by Transit Camp, not the City.

We wanted to bring in someone who could do a speech/lecture/keynote address and be part of our event. A few names were identified, but Jarrett was near the top of the list. We contacted him and made arrangements.

The City's involvement is welcomed, but came after and wasn't on an organizational level. It's kind of how a lot of City people ended up showing up to the Civic Camp events that were put on before and after the 2010 municipal election. Their presence is welcomed and encouraged, but part of the idea is that the event is spearheaded by engaged citizens who are volunteers.

The City did manage to get us a bit of funding as part of one of the innovation project funds (which is why they are listed as a sponsor). Overall costs for this thing aren't very high though. Mainly just the venue cost and Jarrett's expenses (appearance fee, travel and accommodations).

[frinkprof]

Sunnyside LRT Station Extension

Looks like Sunnyside will be the next station to be extended to 4-LRV length, plus some other upgrades.

Beginning on April 16, the Sunnyside LRT Station will be under major construction. The construction activities are necessary in order to prepare the station for future operation of four car LRT trains.



Changes to the Station area include:

• An extended platform to accommodate four car trains
• Construction of a new traction power substation for increased power demands
• Improved pedestrian flow and access to the station
• Improved lighting and station furniture
• Upgraded park areas

http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/s...struction.html

[Sr. Mints]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

^Not sure if I can speak to all of that, but the upcoming transit events with Jarrett Walker were 100% organized by Transit Camp, not the City.

We wanted to bring in someone who could do a speech/lecture/keynote address and be part of our event. A few names were identified, but Jarrett was near the top of the list. We contacted him and made arrangements.

(. . .)

I'm not sure what led me to the conclusion that you were with the Trans Dept., but I apologize for making the false assumption.

Thanks for the info! See you Thursday or Saturday, perhaps . . .

[frinkprof]

^I won't be able to attend, unfortunately.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Sunnyside LRT Station Extension

Looks like Sunnyside will be the next station to be extended to 4-LRV length, plus some other upgrades.

[/LIST]http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/s...struction.html

I'm really curious as to how this is going to be done. I'm guessing they're just pushing the crossing down to 2nd Ave only?

[nik-]

Now that I look at the ARP's, and considering they levelled that Warehouse looking building (what the hell was that thing anyway) I'm assuming they're shifting the whole thing south to 2nd?

Ie: Option 2 here? http://www.calgary.ca/DocGallery/BU/...lrt_option.pdf

[Jimmy Stang]

I was just looking at the list of stations that still need to be extended (http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/l...struction.html), and completion is further away than I expected. It looks like it'll be two full years before 4-car trains are running.

I wonder what the rationale was to doing stations on both lines simultaneously instead of getting the NE line done first (as it will be paired with the West line, which will be built with 4-car platforms anyway). That way at least the NE-W line would benefit from the added capacity. Or, if the NW-S line needs the extra capacity sooner, prioritize those ones and do the NE after.

And a random question: When they extend the Victoria Park platform, is it in the plans to extend that strange little "Platform C" or whatever it is called? I don't know the last time that it was even used, but I have heard stories (probably on here) about how it would be used after Flames games to help with the higher volume of passengers. If they don't extend it, will they just tear it out?

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

Or, if the NW-S line needs the extra capacity sooner, prioritize those ones and do the NE after.

Not sure if this is why they chose to do it this way, but looking at the trains leaving downtown, it's seems obvious that the above statement is the reason. Those trains are just silly packed.

[SebC]

I believe that finishing NE-W will allow them to run fewer trains on that line and more trains on NW-S.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by SebC

I believe that finishing NE-W will allow them to run fewer trains on that line and more trains on NW-S.

This assumes that there will be new LRVs coming online in time for when the NE line would be 4-LRV operational so that they could make extra trips on the South-NW line. Budgeted transit hours too (which have been cut).

[Addick]

Originally Posted by SebC

I believe that finishing NE-W will allow them to run fewer trains on that line and more trains on NW-S.

That would reduce the frequency of trains on the 202 and, subsequently, reduce the service quality. It's an area where addition by subtraction might not be the best idea.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Addick

That would reduce the frequency of trains on the 202 and, subsequently, reduce the service quality. It's an area where addition by subtraction might not be the best idea.

Yes, it would reduce 202 frequency, but if 201 needs the capacity and 202 doesn't, I think it should be done.

[Reaper]

All I want to know is when "Silverado Station" will be built.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Reaper

All I want to know is when "Silverado Station" will be built.

Hopefully, after the SE-N and 8th Ave Subway.

[frinkprof]

Here's an article from yesterday.

Anyone go to this last night? How was it?

Unfortunately I couldn't attend. Couldn't get time off.

International transit expert praises Calgary's high parking rates




By Sherri Zickefoose, Calgary Herald April 12, 2012

Calgary's notoriety for having one of the costliest parking rates in the world is "courageous" for promoting commuters to use transit.
An international transit design and policy expert is applauding the city's costly downtown parking rates.


"It's a courageous decision for a city of your size, and I applaud it. Lots of other cities of your size are nowhere near being politically ready to do that," said Jarrett Walker, a Portland-based public transit design and policy expert.


Walker is speaking at a free lecture tonight at the John Dutton Theatre in the W.R. Castell Central Library, 616 Macleod Trail S.E. It starts at 7 p.m.

[...]

Walker will lecture on how the geometry of transit shapes successful systems, and the local choices that lead to transit-friendly development.


"A lot of my work is about how we talk about transit and how we're encouraged to think about transit. It should be less about technology and more about maximizing people's ability to get where they want to go."

Link to the rest of the article

[Bunk]

I saw him today at the City of Calgary staff lecture. Jarrett was great - some really brilliant insights into the functioning of a transit network. Definitely need to read his book.

Looking forward to the session at SAIT saturday.

[SebC]

It's great that we're encouraging people to use transit... except now our transit is at capacity, and driving downtown sucks as an alternative.