1604

New signs, new station name.....but why the old wayfinding design?

Some more pics!

The new platforms have been built, the station canopies are going up, and the new ground level crossing at the south end is taking shape.

Looking at the new canopy for the new southbound platform.

It partially overhangs the current temporary northbound platform.

Current south end ground level crossing with the new, red concrete one further down. The BMO Centre expansion is huge and visible from a long way down 17th Ave.

Looking south and north from the new crossing.

Other shots of the new platforms and canopies.

New track segments at the north end.

Some other info from the Fare Innovations report I found interesting:

Airport boarding pass for route 300 at the airport is recommended to be discontinued

"This pass was implemented when the Route 300 – Airport BRT was inaugurated on 2011 June 27. Initially, the airport boarding pass was introduced as the Route 300 was seen as an enhanced service targeted at air travellers. [...] Today, the improved route using 96 Avenue NE can better serve local trips and airport workers. . .

Calgary Transit has also heard from airport workers the airport boarding pass is an extra expense to them based on the location of their work. Because the airport boarding pass is only required at the two transit stops at the airport terminal, some workers are walking to the next closest transit stop on Barlow Trail NE.

Because the initial reasons for implementing the airport boarding pass (routing on Deerfoot Trail, enhanced service targeted at air travelers) have changed, the boarding pass no longer meets our guiding principles for our fare structure, use of the pass causes confusion for customers and exasperation for Calgary Transit operators, and to support mobility in the workforce (airport workers travelling to/from their jobs) Calgary Transit recommends discontinuing the airport boarding pass and accepting regular fares at all stops on Route 300."

Usage info on the new weekend group day pass

"On the first weekend, 112 passes were sold, on the weekend of April 22/23, 190 passes were sold, and on the weekend of April 29/30, 314 passes were sold. A marketing campaign is being developed by Calgary Transit to further promote the pass to customers and non-customers."

The report also discusses the idea of extending the free fare zone by 1-2 stations in each direction, coming to the conclusion it's not worth exploring further.

Lots of interesting info about MyFare in the 'Calgary Transit Fare Innovations' report (also attached for posterity) going to the Infrastructure and Planning committee this week.

Some stats:

"Adoption of the My Fare app by Calgary Transit’s customers has been rapid with approximately 40 per cent of fare revenue collected using the My Fare app in 2022.

Even with adoption of the My Fare app and tap payments enabled at ticket vending machines (TVMs), cash payments continue to be an important option for customers. [...] Eight percent of customers use cash when paying on the transit system [...]. This figure does not count transactions at customer service centres, vendors, or City Hall Cashiers that have also been made with cash."

"The data shows rapid adoption of the My Fare mobile fare payment app since 2020, and the Transit trip planning and fare payment app since 2022. However, this shift to mobile app fare payments does not appear to be at the expense of ticket vending machine market share. [...] This trend indicates the rapid adoption of the My Fare and Transit mobile apps reduced the market share of ‘Convenience/grocery stores’ fare product sales. The mobile apps provided customers with a more convenient method of purchasing their fares directly on their phones, reducing the need to make a trip to an outlet at the end of each month."

Future plans:

TVM replacement: "Calgary Transit [is] in the midst of this evolution as. . . . the years-long procurement process for new ticket vending machines beginning."

Ticket validators at CTrain stations: "Additional onboard validators for Calgary Transit Access vehicles and validators on platforms at CTrain stations are items that should be funded as part of the technology roadmap to ensure customers can scan their tickets/passes when boarding all aspects of Calgary Transit’s service."

Potential new features:

-Account based ticketing, with mention of linking the account to a contactless credit card or smartphone as well as the MyFare app

-Account based ticketing with stored value to support other fares like low-incomes passes and UPass, and allow customers without credit cards or bank accounts to load cash onto their account

-Fare caps

-Open loop payments to allow customers to pay with contactless credit cards or smartphones without having an account (this is listed as "2027+" on the roadmap)

-Paper barcode tickets for single ride tickets - ridership data can be collected

-Period passes, e.g. weekly passes or monthly passes that work for 31 days, not a calendar month

Lots more info in the report - it's definitely worth checking out if you're interested!

Attach 2-Calgary transit Far Innovations-IP2023-0369.pdf

Glad to see new decals going up on CTrains and buses prominently advertising the 74100 text line.

The real time sign at North Pointe is working(?) again. This afternoon it was displaying arrival times for the 738 and 739.

Nice window stickers at Brentwood. Paint has been stripped off some upper parts of the canopy.

I used the new weekend group pass in the MyFare app today. Awesome idea and it certainly saved a few bucks.

Using it onboard buses could be better though. It scans as a completely "Regular" fare, so I kept having to explain and show the operator it was in fact the new group day pass and not actually a "regular" single ticket.

Note the expiry is even shorter than the regular mobile tickets - you can only activate the pass the day you buy it. I bought it today (Saturday) and the unactivated expiration date was at the end of service tonight (01:59 Sunday).

Great idea though and I look forward to using it again.

On a different but related note, the bottom portion of the doors at Brentwood have ads for MyFare. Probably other stations too?

Quote

Starting in summer 2023 and through 2024, The City will begin construction of remaining short-term North Central BRT projects along the BRT (Centre Street MAX) corridor on Centre Street N. and Harvest Hills Boulevard N. Project areas will be located between 28 Avenue N.W. to Country Hills Boulevard N.E.

Construction at the first project area, the Beddington Trail N.W. bus trap, is expected to begin in July 2023. Remaining projects are expected to begin construction in 2024, however additional project areas may be added in 2023, subject to contractor availability.

Detailed design on medium-term projects is expected to begin in 2024, upon completion of the short-term projects.

https://www.calgary.ca/planning/projects/transit-north-central-brt.html

There are some preliminary drawings of the reconfigured streets/intersections/MAX stations.

Looks to be a really nice upgrade for transit!

Over three hours into this disruption and the platform displays don't have any information shown about it. Haven't heard any PAs either.

Where is the communication?

https://www.calgarytransit.com/content/transit/en/home/news/looking-good-brentwood-.html

Looks nice!

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/as-calgary-prepares-to-name-green-line-builder-lessons-from-ottawa-factored-in-1.6810168

As Calgary prepares to name Green Line builder, lessons from Ottawa factored in - CBC Calgary

https://newsroom.calgary.ca/calgarys-light-rail-transit-system-past-present-and-future/

11 April 2023
Calgary’s Light Rail Transit system: Past, Present and Future

A new display in the Calgary Municipal Building is bringing life to the history and future of Calgary’s CTrain system. The display, located on the west side of Council Chambers, showcases historical artifacts, photos, and maps of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) system since its inception in 1981.

The display cases also feature models of three different Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs), including Calgary Transit’s original LRVs, which are still in use today, and new low-floor LRVs for the Green Line. Notably, the Green Line LRV model is made of LEGO®, built by two City of Calgary firefighters who were recently contestants on the popular TV show LEGO® Masters.

Citizens are encouraged to check out the display and see how our CTrain system has grown since its humble beginnings in 1981, when there was just one train line (Anderson to Downtown), 10.9 kilometres of track and 16 stations.  Plans for future extensions to the Red and Blue Lines, plus the addition of the Green Line, will eventually see our system grow to over 80 stations and more than 100 kilometres of track.

...

The display will be in the atrium of the Municipal Building (800 Macleod Trail SE) from April through August 2023. Stop by for a visit and see how our Light Rail Transit system has grown and will continue to expand in the future.

https://newsroom.calgary.ca/calgary-transit-introduces-new-weekend-group-day-pass/

11 April 2023
Calgary Transit introduces new weekend group day pass

Beginning this weekend, Calgary Transit will be offering a new weekend group day pass for customers.

This new pass is targeted to groups and families traveling together, who don’t use transit regularly, but could benefit from discounted transit fares to attend events and activities on weekends. The price of the weekend group day pass is $15 and it is valid for unlimited travel on a weekend day for groups of up to five people including up to two adults.

“We know that for a lot of families or groups traveling together, the price to get around can really add up,” says Councillor Kourtney Penner. “This discounted fare will make it easier for them to choose transit to get where they’re going.”

The price of this pass offers savings versus the cost if the individuals were to buy single ride tickets or multiple day passes at the regular rates. And unlike a single ride ticket, the group pass is valid all day – until the end of service.

“There’s always so much happening in Calgary on weekends and this pass is a great opportunity for groups to save on regular transit costs, or on the cost and hassle of driving, parking and navigating through traffic,” Penner says.

After April 15, the weekend group day pass will be available every weekend on My Fare, the Transit trip planning app, or from ticket vending machines at CTrain stations.

https://www.calgarytransit.com/content/transit/en/home/news/7th-avenue-lighting-upgrades-.html

Quote

 

7th Avenue Lighting Upgrades – Improved visibility for our customers
Calgary Transit has recently upgraded the lighting on all CTrain platforms from Downtown West/Kerby to City Hall, to improve visibility for customers and security staff.

This important upgrade is one of many measures that we are implementing to fulfill our commitment to customer safety. Enhanced lighting allows security cameras to capture clearer footage of platform activity and enables greater visibility across and within platforms

As part of a coordinated, multi-faceted approach to safety, Calgary Transit is prioritizing increased transit patrols, enhanced surveillance and coordinated response. The improvement of the lighting on all CTrain platforms from Downtown West/Kerby to City Hall aids in enhanced surveillance and is an important step to activating system-wide changes for the safety of Calgarians.

In addition to significantly improving visibility, the upgraded fixtures use highly efficient LED lights which will serve to reduce overall energy consumption and minimize maintenance costs for the next 10 years.

“Calgarians and customers will notice the drastic difference in the increased lighting levels" says Sharon Fleming, Director of Calgary Transit. "As we continue to take steps to improve transit riders' safety and customer comfort, increased visibility is key to helping our team investigate situations and dispatch personnel as quickly as possible.”

 

7th Avenue LED lighting upgrade looks complete - I think all station lighting has now been swapped as well as the streetlights and sidewalk lighting in between stations.

No TD free fare zone signage yet.

Station names have already been updated online.

https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/calgary-council-transit-priorities-route-ahead-report

The report notes that transit is planning a “strategic shift to focus investment on frequency over coverage” as it works to implement a primary transit network. It says this change means “some customers may have to travel farther to a transit stop, but service will come more often.”

Link to the documents on the city's website: https://pub-calgary.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=8873da23-c7d4-4882-9639-7027ec4fb48a&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English&Item=21&Tab=attachments

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/youth-ctrain-safety-engagement-1.6625894

City asks young people what would make them feel safer on CTrains

Some pics!

Looking south along the SB platform.

South ground level crossing, with the BMO centre expansion really taking shape.

Old track at the south end.

What's left on the east side.

Looking north along the NB platform.

New signage covering up the old direction.

The old NB track.

The new NB track.

https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/calgary-council-to-review-491m-electric-bus-proposal

Calgary council to review $491M electric bus proposal

Link to the report and attached PDFs: https://pub-calgary.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=19a89f02-f550-4fc5-833b-40b4130b9ecb&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English&Item=31&Tab=attachments

I love this.

Noticed On Demand trip planning and mobile fare payments are now available in Transit App.

Does leave me wondering why they're running a gigantic ad campaign right now for the standalone MyFare app, though.

"The City of Calgary is deploying battery-electric public transit buses and associated rapid-charging infrastructure as part of a $13.9 million project supported by $7 million in funding support from ERA. As part of the project, Calgary Transit is conducting operations and maintenance staff training. It is also re-designing and re-scheduling transit routes in a large section of the city to accommodate electrification. In addition to the immediate GHG reductions through a one-time replacement of diesel buses, the project will also build capacity to continue and transition electric buses into the transit fleet on an ongoing basis. The lessons learned from the project will be actively shared with Alberta municipalities, transit organizations, and other Canadian municipalities. The project secured funding through ERA's BEST Challenge—a $100 million funding opportunity for biotechnology, electricity, and sustainable transportation innovations."

8043 has the new seats.