M. Parsons

Going to the Executive Committee is a recommendation to purchase 20 electric buses with a top up interest free loan from the Canadian Infrastructure Bank Zero Emisson Bus program. 60 buses is the maximum capacity of the existing infrastructure, anything beyond that would need infrastructure upgrades and additions.

Quite frankly, the last round was disappointing as well as the "fire side" around the end of the year. Really, they report on that nothing that casual observer wouldn't already know. Indeed, the first round of the livestreams was geared towards seniors. And since people don't ask questions live, they can cherry pick the questions they answer. So, they don't have to answer the tough or embarrassing questions. But, that is TransEd for you. They keep blaming a chunk of concrete in the river for delays, all the while their shitty concrete work which saw the spans for the Whitemud Bridge demolished and rebuilt, and they had to replace 3 elevated sections, and numerous track sections having to be redone, are arguably more significant causes of delays. These livesstreams do have some usefulness however. They do provide a measuring stick in some cases of how late or far behind TransEd has been. Case in point, from the September 30, 2020 TransEd Mill Woods Update: "it is important that you understand that these wires are about to go live, they are going to be energized in roughly 2 weeks. That will encompass the vast majority of the alignment between Whitemud all of the way to 28 Ave". - Dallas Lindskoog TransEd And since February when they announced they were going to energize this stretch it has not happened. As far I heard last, there was still a grounding cable north of 38 Ave and substation feeders are still not reconnected on 28 Ave after they fixed and tweaked various portions of the wire between the end of line and 66 St. The only energized section is the section between 34 Ave and 38 Ave. That was a full 6 months ago now that they said they would have energized this section.

To be clear, it's not Proterra holding the bus back. It's almost certainly at Andrews. Likely ETS is waiting to formally accept the bus and sign off on it. There are milestone payments in most large contracts, whether it's a signal system, an entire LRT line, or buses. As milestones are achieved, payments are made. No doubt, a big milestone payment for a bus purchase is going to be the acceptance of the final bus, but there could be additional payments for other deliverables that are part of the contract. Perhaps a parts supply, any special tools or software, documentation etc. In the case of the Proterra purchase, there's also Federal PTIF funding at play, which requires the Federal funds to be disbursed by sometime around May 2021.

I suspect 8024-8026 are 2020 units. I have a roster from Strathcona that I came across in November 2020 and those 3 are listed. No build dates or VIN's with the roster I'm afraid. 6011, 6015-6026 were active at the time, and from the conventional fleet, only 3003 and 3004 retired.

6025- CHH-0236

I suspect there will be some sort of a fanfare, depending upon the pandemic. Granted, the NLRT didn't receive much and it was under a cloud after being delayed due to the signal system. The SLRT to South Campus and Century Park had big events. SLRT to HSS was significantly less. The line started service in the early hours of January 1st, with a banner breaking a few days later.

Indeed, that does make more sense!

Quite frankly, if I was an employee/ owner of the storage lot, I wouldn't tell you if I have or do not have a specific vehicle owned by a customer in my lot, for the sake of the privacy of the owner, and my reputation.

"She knows" ?

Sounds like you lived very close to where I used to be. This has already happened, and was a part of the BNR. A few of the Mill Woods routes have gone from a North/ South, Mill Woods TC/ Millgate scheme to a East/ West, Meadows/ West Mill Woods scheme. 38 Ave will become a busy interchange point between routes: 503, 507 serving Southgate, 509 ring route, 508, and the LRT/ 510X. I don't believe the 507 will serve Davies once Millgate closes. Not sure about the 503. Lakewood, no. Technically it's been a major off road bus stop since MWTC opened. ETS never removed it from maps however. It grew in importance a bit when the 78 and 79 only operated to Lakewood, and the peak 66's that terminate there, and for some time, peak route 8's. About 75% of the bays will still be in used at Lakewood. Millgate is of course a stop gap until Davies opens. Leduc County pulled out as well. Not sure how that's going to work with local routes. And this is despite Beaumont, Leduc, and Devon all being apart of the EMTSC.

That's good to see they're that high. A more recent source gave 37 buses, but, it looks like it will be 45 buses, unless it ends up somewhere in between 37 and 45. As of Wednesday I only saw 1 bus outside of NAPA.

There isn't a lot of positive responses on social media to the new network. A big question is going to be what the "silent majority" think. It's entirely possible the vast majority are happy with the changes. I personally don't think that will be the case. And although I supported the overall concept, I am wondering if service to the "suburbs" has been cut too much. And what actually defines "suburbs" for Edmonton? Personally, I have some improvements during some time periods and it's worse and others, so I'm generally on the fence.

What's your point? It's a time point. Just like any others. So they have an on street time point instead of at a bus terminal or bus looo. It's not like the concept of a loop route is new to Transit.

Red Arrow and EBus shifted their South Edmonton stop to Southgate Transit Centre as of March 22, replacing the Ramada Hotel stop. As well on the 22nd they started stopping at Sorensen Station in Red Deer. Ebus 5728 departing Southgate today, although it used the wrong bay. This is the last week of the Camrose Connector after the Provincial government has ceased funding. Not sure what happened tot he regular unit, but there was a notice that it would be running with a Ebus unit, and that was indeed what was on it for the midday departure, seen here at University Transit Centre. And since I covered PWT buses serving Southgate and University... a recent shot of an Ebus starting it's trip at Kingsway/ RAH.

While this is for the West LRT, it is certainly relevant for the SELRT as the LRV's will be used end to end on Valley Line. 8 responses to the RFQ, 3 invited to respond, and Bombardier/ Alstom is not among the shortlisted. CAF Rotem Siemens No details yet on who will maintain and operate this equipment. There is a small maintenance/ staging facility planned for Lewis Farms (west end of the line). I would image it will be TransEd, but, I guess you never know. Quite surprised that Bomardier/ Alstom wasn't shortlisted. There were earlier negotiations with Bombardier before the RFQ to sole source the LRV's to them, but, talks were discontinued, among other reasons, due to Bombardier's proposed pricing. The procurement is expected to be for 40 cars. https://www.edmonton.ca/documents/transit/Industry_Bulletin_VLW_LRV_Procurement_Shortlist_March2021.pdf

Not yet. Of note though is some turmoil within Fleet and Facility Services, who maintain the bus fleet. ETS manager Eddie Robar is now the branch manager for Fleet and Facility Services. What happened to the previous branch manager is not clear. In particular however, a letter written by employees in December 2020, and which made it into the media in January 2020 specifically called out the lack of training and tools for new buses in the fleet. It didn't say what the "new" buses were but I can only imagine it was the Proterra's. ETS has had a significant XD40 fleet since 2018, and XD60's should have been along the same lines for maintenance and repair as the XD40's and artic buses in general are not new to the ETS fleet. In addition, into late 2020 there was still work being done to support the electric bus fleet at Andrews, including with software. And while rather vague we do have this from a recent Capital Budget update: "Knowledge transfer and program winddown is expected to be complete by May 2021, which aligns with the PTIF funding deadline of May 15, 2021." I guess we see what happens come May 2021.

4937 still retains it's "N".

TransEd said: February 5, 2021 – Starting on or about Monday, February 8, the overhead wires for the Valley Line Southeast LRT along 66 Street, between 51 Avenue and 28 Avenue, will be energized from now on. As construction progresses, the overhead wires are gradually being energized in each area of the 13-kilometre alignment beginning in Mill Woods and ending in Downtown. For your safety, overhead wires should always be considered energized when strung from power pole to power pole. The reality: We don't believe anything south of 51 Ave has been energized yet. There have been grounding cables observed along the entire right of way for all of February, along with manlifts and what not, that wouldn't be able to be used if the wires were energized. In particular has been 28 Ave. Work was progressing with Western Pacific Enterprise crews in the 95 Ave/ Connors Road area until their hi-rail platform line truck (which isn't insulated and cannot work under energized wires!) Since then WPE crews has been back to dicking around south of 51 Ave. 28 Ave has been a cluster for a long time. Wire was installed through the curve from 66 St to 28 Ave and then just left with signs of incompletion. A bit before the energization announcement, crews returned and modified and seemingly finished the wiring. Then they cut in additional section insulators near the crossovers after the energization announcement, but then most recently they have disconnected feeders from the substation to the overhead, and have removed the droppers between the messenger and contact wires for both tracks through the curve. As of today, the removed feeders now go back as far as the Mill Woods stop itself. The wire is also tied off with straps, and the south track has a come-along as well between the balance weight assembly and catenary. So much for energizing.... the Charlie foxtrot continues along the VLSE LRT. In more positive news, EPCOR has been involved in stringing overhead down Connors Hill to Downtown. Wiring is starting to look good Downtown. My image from a week ago in a prior post shows the sagging contact wire. This is tensioned now, and most hangers installed. The wire for the crossover is coming along. Ok, sure, this is simple contact wire, but EPCOR has managed to get this moving along, while at the same time last week their crews were rebuilding the catenary for the NB track through Stadium Station.

NLRT trains this week are now #51-56. 1094 is the first car I've found with the new hard shell antimicrobial seats. This project was first tendered years ago and retendered due to higher than expected responses to the tender. When it was tendered again, U2's were dropped from the requirement. That was awarded to AeroDesign Services. The tender closed in July 2019. I thought it might have died as well until in early 2021 the new seats finally started receive mention as being forthcoming. These seats do suck. I don't mind the seats on the first 7000's, but, these are a harder plastic.

It's about 6 years old, just the first time I caught it in use with transit.

Nope. Not with battery electric buses evolving.

And with the new signal system, apparently NLRT trains are now #151-155, formerly #31-36. Capital line trains remain as #1-6.

Overhead contact wire has returned to Edmonton's Downtown streets. For LRV's this time as opposed to trolleybuses mind you.

This is perhaps a long shot. Edmonton's has an SD160 in a Uber Eats wrap with what appears to be a MBTA logo on a door. Anyone know if a similar wrap has shown up on the MBTA?! Again, I figure it's a long shot, I've Googled with no luck, but, I did confirm that Uber Eats operates in Boston so there is at least a chance.

@Benton Harper, are the retired buses losing their license plates like regular ETS buses usually do? 5122 was on Big Blue III heading away from Percy Wickman. Assuming to scrap given it's a low numbered unit, but, it did still have it's license plate. An ex DATS bus might be a step up from a van for accommodations in the river valley for you sir.