tomsbuspage

Aside from the above Canadian agencies, I've seen the following in my travels in the US Northeast: Centro of Syracuse Past NovaBus RTS Orion V Present New Flyer C40LF Orion VII NFTA Metro Bus (Buffalo) Past Orion V Present NovaBus LFS Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority Past New Flyer C35LF & C40LF

Likewise, the bus signals on the eastbound Queensway offramp at St. Laurent Blvd. are always red, with only the white "candle" at the top changing when a bus arrives: https://www.google.com/maps/@45.4192654,-75.6346705,3a,38.1y,67.35h,89.45t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sZZA_w_kOkqMYnecoX7wLhA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I guess they're close enough to each other to cause confusion at a distance. I used to get my car serviced at Donnelly and I passed by those intersections quite frequently.

Anyone have pictures of those buses?

Yes, but keep in mind that city staff have already recommended against an electric bus pilot project for two main reasons: It is important to note that the opening of O-Train Line 1 and the subsequent Stage 2 extensions will bring significant environmental benefits. The upcoming opening of O-Train Line 1 will introduce 34 electric rail vehicles into our fleet, replacing approximately 180 diesel buses with zero-emission electric trains. This represents an estimated 15 to 20 per cent reduction in OC Transpo’s conventional vehicle emissions, an annual reduction of 94,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases (GHG), 4,500 tonnes of criteria air contaminants (CACs), 10 million litres of diesel fuel, and also 5,600 tonnes of roadway salt. (Councillor McKenney, Council Member Inquiry Form, 2019/02/20) The General Manager’s conclusion is that, “Conducting our own pilot project will simply replicate work and add costs with no added value.” This makes sense given the extensive testing done by other jurisdictions. (Councillor McKenney, Report to Transit Commission, 2019/06/10)

The Transit Commission will be discussing electric buses at their meeting on 06/19/2019: https://app05.ottawa.ca/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=7665&doctype=AGENDA https://app05.ottawa.ca/sirepub/cache/2/4zm2b2izxofdn3wrnbifpbce/58914006142019124057564.PDF https://app05.ottawa.ca/sirepub/cache/2/4zm2b2izxofdn3wrnbifpbce/5891410614201912405863.PDF

@MCIBUS's initial question was about OC Transpo, so I'd think this thread belongs here. Just my opinion, of course.

There's no #TBT tweet this week, but here's a Facebook post from Lost Ottawa:

I don't know about the LACMTA testing any RTS buses, but the SCRTD had hundreds of RTS buses in service: https://cptdb.ca/wiki/index.php/Southern_California_Rapid_Transit_District

Add St. Laurent Blvd. and Hemlock Road (northbound). They had been replaced by 2009 but are visible in the 2007 Google Streetview. When I was a kid, there was also a set on Montreal Road at St. Laurent Blvd. (westbound). They've long since been replaced by green arrows. Finally, also from when I was a kid, there were a set of flashing green lights on Rideau Street at King Edward Avenue (eastbound). However, these were delayed flashing green lights because they were activated after the westbound light changed to red.

There used to be similar signals on Albion Road at Lester Road near the airport, back when through traffic on Albion was prohibited in both directions around the 2005-2007 time frame. The prohibition started when Blossom Park residents complained about drivers from growing southern Ottawa communities cutting through their residential neighbourhood. However, these drivers would then turn left or right from Albion onto Lester, make a U-turn, and then turn left back onto Albion to continue on their way (I never understood this, as Bank Street is only a kilometre to the east of the intersection). Therefore, the city installed dozens of no U-turn signs along Lester in both directions heading away from Albion. Opposition by drivers against the ban was just as fierce as the support for the ban from the community, and the ban was lifted after a few years. There are no Google Street View images of the signals--the oldest appear to be from 2009--but the GeoOttawa screenshot from 2007 shows the lane markings on Albion Road, along with some of the shadows of the many no U-turn signs:

There are lots of old signals on Montreal Road east of St. Laurent Blvd.--and presumably west too, though I don't travel there as often. I especially highlight the intersection of Montreal Road and Elwood Street, as they still have lots of 8-8-8 and 12-8-8 incandescent signals: https://www.google.com/maps/@45.4461306,-75.6103627,3a,48.4y,143.23h,96.08t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1soGxK-gpXpkW1i-T7O88lRA!2e0!5s20180501T000000!7i13312!8i6656 I much prefer incandescent lights because LED lights do strange things in my glasses, shifting left to right as I turn my head to the point where I can see the green light can be floating in midair next to the traffic signal. The effect is even stronger with deep blue LED lights, but fortunately those are not used for traffic control. Yet. I usually keep an eye out for the old 8-8-8 signals because they are mostly not LEDified yet, and I hope that they stay in place as long as possible. I know the city has a mandate to improve traffic safety and save on energy costs, but I'm nostalgic when it comes to the old lights. I know these signals aren't in Ottawa, but there are some ancient traffic lights along King Street in Prescott. My favourite signals include some 6-6-6 signals on King Street West at George Street: https://www.google.com/maps/@44.7083847,-75.5161971,3a,75y,140.68h,66.25t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sqknNceMMSnMmj2I83hXo-A!2e0!5s20180701T000000!7i13312!8i6656

There is a right-turn arrow on northbound March Road at Herzberg Road in Kanata that never changes from green unless a bicycle is approaching, a pedestrian is crossing, or a car is turning left from southbound March Road: https://www.google.com/maps/@45.3321061,-75.8933144,3a,54.5y,326.15h,81.96t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1slTR_yNRRdFOBgd9P-WMs7w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Yup. New provincial legislation allows Ontario ambulances to use flashing red and blue lights to improve visibility: https://www.ottawamatters.com/local-news/ottawa-ambulance-lights-change-colour-1344949

Spotted 4444 on route 168 Bridlewood at the Hazeldean Mall at about 6:05 this evening.