Calgary Public Transit - Discussion

[shermanator]

I think this is the best place to put this. The City held another community engagement about the 14th street SW bus way. Naturally the group that opposes the project got the spotlight, and based on the quotes from the article below, I don't think they come across looking very bright. Included in the article:

The project has since been discussed repeatedly at city council, covered in the local news, approved as part of the city budget, and awarded $26.7 million in funding from the provincial government, but numerous area residents continue to say the city failed to adequately inform them about what's going on.
"We were not engaged properly whatsoever," said Don Hughes. "The city is trampling this through."

and

Tom Spenceley said city officials didn't advertise the earlier engagement sessions well enough and once he got a look at the plans he had serious concerns over a lack of parking for people who want to drive to rapid-transit stations and catch the bus.
"The response is from the city that all people are expected to use the nature trails and the pathway systems to get there," Spenceley said.
"So what have you done? You've just eliminated half the planet from ever getting on that bus, because no woman – self-respecting or otherwise – is going to get on a nature trail to go to a bus."

and

City transportation spokesman Sean Somers, who at one point during the meeting was yelled and sworn at by an older man who said people along the southwest route won't use public transit because they can afford to drive Mercedes-Benz vehicles, acknowledged the mood of the crowd was, at times, hostile.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgar...ting-1.3461754

[CliffFletcher]

Like I said before, the people who live along the 14th street SW corridor are the most entitled NIMBYs in the city. They're also rich, which means the city usually caves in to their squawking. I really hope they don't this time.

[Looch City]

people along the southwest route won't use public transit because they can afford to drive Mercedes-Benz vehicles

Hahaha that is just gold.

[shermanator]

Here's the rant caught on video. My ears....

https://www.facebook.com/cbccalgary/...3971827738000/

[Jimmy Stang]

Some nice folks by the sound of it...

The city planned to hold five more public information sessions on the southwest transitway in March but Mayor Naheed Nenshi announced Wednesday afternoon those would be cancelled due to verbal assaults and death threats against city staff at the meeting on Tuesday night.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgar...ting-1.3461754

[CliffFletcher]

^^^

This is the problem with public consultation. Many of the people who show up to these things are like our friend here. And if they're loud and persistent enough, they can kibosh a project that benefits thousands.

[mrkajz44]

Not to turn this into a political debate, but isn't this why we have elections? We get to elect people to represent us for a certain term, and then they should just make the decisions. Why is there public consultation at all on most things? The elected officials should make the best decision they can, avoid the public, and just get things done.

[Fuzz]

Because politicians don't always know best? People in the area where these projects happen should be consulted, because they may be more aware of issues than a councillor in another ward. The issue is the public tends to ignore these consultations until the city has made a plan and is presenting the implementation. This was consulted and planned, I think 5 or 6 years ago?

[SebC]

I think we need to be very clear that consultations are not plebiscites. They are there to catch things that may have been missed. The consultation process seems to have led to a rise in misplaced entitlement and while it certainly has positive effects, reinforcing the purpose of consultation is becoming necessary to keep the process in 'net positive' territory.

[Amethyst]

Originally Posted by shermanator

Here's the rant caught on video. My ears....

https://www.facebook.com/cbccalgary/...3971827738000/

Now I want them to build a bus stop right in front of this guy's house!

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by SebC

I think we need to be very clear than consultations are not plebiscites.

Yeah, do we really want projects that will benefit thousands put on hold because a dozen crankly old retirees who have nothing better to do raise a stink at a couple public meetings, while the people who would benefit are too busy living their lives to show up?

The guys complaining about this are embarrassingly out to lunch. No, there probably aren't a lot of public transit users in Bayview and Pump Hill. But the BRT will go into Oakridge, Braeside, Cedarbrae, and Woodbine, where there are a lot more. These guys may be retired rich dudes, but there are lots of students and less affluent Calgarians living in the less upscale neighbourhoods that will be serviced by the BRT. Shockingly, many of them don't even have cars.

[shermanator]

Looks like the city has shut down all further public consultants on the 14th Street busway because of the actions of the group, which include death threats. (WTF):

https://www.facebook.com/NaheedNensh...11211872240766

[para transit fellow]

For the Transit fans, Armchair transit planners and even the anti-transit types:

Did anyone notice the Provincial Transit engagement?

http://www.alberta.ca/provincial-transit-engagement.cfm

"The Alberta government is committed to hearing about the transportation needs of Albertans living in rural and urban communities across the province. This information will help provide a better understanding of the varying public transportation issues, challenges and opportunities. Feedback will be accepted until April 29, 2016."

[Addick]

Making the leeches pay.

Calgary Officials Looking At How To Cash In On Outsiders Use Of City Services

17 March 2016
Metro Calgary
Helen Pike

Green Line talks have spurred a city conversation on how to better cash in on outsiders who use city services – they're looking at you Okotoks and Airdrie.

On Wednesday, city councillors toyed with the idea of having a mechanism in place to charge those who may use the Green Line from outside city limits. The idea being with key connections between Airdrie and Okotoks transit systems, there may be more commuters who don't help subsidize hitching rides.

"One of our challenges when we start looking at the city providing transit to people who live outside of the city is that essentially our tax-base is subsidizing someone else," said Coun. Brian Pincott during the transportation meeting. "We are the only province where the government doesn't participate in supporting the operation of transit."

Complete Story

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Addick

Making the leeches pay.

About time. Riders from outlying communities not only enjoy subsidized transit without paying, they get on at the stations at the end of the lines, which means they get all the seats too.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

About time. Riders from outlying communities not only enjoy subsidized transit without paying, they get on at the stations at the end of the lines, which means they get all the seats too.

That is why I thought it was a bad idea to get rid of the pay lots at the ctrain stations. I don't know how feasible it is but they should change them back to pay and have the monthly pay parking discounted with a confirmed city address.

[Russic]

Any idea when the new trains will start being used? I see them daily, but they're never actually moving people.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

About time. Riders from outlying communities not only enjoy subsidized transit without paying, they get on at the stations at the end of the lines, which means they get all the seats too.

Toll booths would be doubly effective, reducing both traffic congestion in the city and adding a revenue stream.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Russic

Any idea when the new trains will start being used? I see them daily, but they're never actually moving people.

Don't think so.

Originally Posted by frinkprof

^No. The commissioning process will take some time, especially since this is a new model and the first unit in the order. There also needs to be a critical mass of them delivered and commissioned so that a consist can be made, with a couple of spares in the shop in case there is a need for substitution.

I believe toward the end of the order, the delivery to commission process typically takes 3 or 4 weeks.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Robbob

I don't know how feasible it is but they should change them back to pay and have the monthly pay parking discounted with a confirmed city address.

I know many years ago I talked about this with Ric McIver- when he was an alderman. He said they had discussed this in council, and one of the challenges was enforcement. All it would take is somebody registering their vehicle at a friend's house in Calgary, and that would circumvent the process.