J. Bullock

TTC 3755 doing the WB 22:11 54 Lawrence E. from Starspray. When did these units start seeing regular service outside of rush hour?

1 minute ago, CJ. said:

Just saw a DRT D40LF without a bike rack at STC with lots of paint chipped off displaying TRAINING BUS. Didn’t appear to even have a fleet number is this bus retired?

8436. It was used previously in the Mobile COVID Clinic program. It is relegated to training runs now as the seats removed were never returned.

Just caught the tail end of a CP24 interview with Stuart Green. He had mentioned in his closing remarks that “a couple cars” will be sent to Halton. Not sure if I’m late to the party and this is old news or not, but thought I’d throw it out there.

2 hours ago, ngdvd said:

Service reliability refers to adherence to the schedule, nothing more or less.

A semantic issue then, as this is not what I am referring to in terms of "service reliability". I understand your definition but you're missing the point.

13 hours ago, J. Bullock said:

Late night service needs to be reliable and predictable for passengers to consider using it. Anything north of 30 minutes is a barrier to access. One of the sole reasons DRT's Blue Night service has been so successful is it's frequencies.

DRT launched their Blue Night service at 30 minute frequencies. Any additions to this network should follow the same framework. This was my point.

3 hours ago, ngdvd said:

A bus that doesn’t come at all carries less riders? That's a very nice way of putting it. I would say that a bus that doesn't come at all carries zero riders. And of course zero riders also means zero fare revenue. 

This is a roundabout way of saying the exact same thing, but wanting it in your own words.

3 hours ago, ngdvd said:

The number one most important factor for successful transit is walking distance. That is why there is something called "transit-oriented development". The entire point of TOD is to reduce walking distance and thus improve access to transit. Cancelling routes and leaving neighbourhoods and corridors without service is completely contrary to the concept of TOD.

You can cite any factor to successful transit and call it the most important, it's not about just any given one, it's about all of them working together. That includes frequency.

3 hours ago, ngdvd said:

DRT provides much less service than it should be providing.

6 hours ago, brianc1981 said:

Part of this is because they lost 19 buses in the fire. 10 are on loan from the TTC, so they are still 9 short.

I'll agree to disagree, because it seems silly to argue over 5 or 10 minutes. Sure, they could do that, depending on runtime, but they should be striving for 30 or better. My original point only pertains to expansion of overnight service and overnight service only.

3 hours ago, ngdvd said:

Reliable and predictable refer only to the ability of transit to stay on schedule. They have nothing to do with frequency. If anything, high frequency routes tend to be less reliable (e.g. bunching of buses).

Fact is, MiWay and Brampton Transit are far more successful than DRT without adhering to a 30 minute standard. A bus that comes every 45 minutes is always going to carry more riders than a bus that never comes at all. A bus route that doesn't operate is always going to be bigger barrier to access than low frequency.

The matter at hand is service reliability, which most definitely includes frequency. The first thing a potential rider asks themselves is “Can I rely on this service?” “Is it convenient for me?”.

Fact is, you’re comparing two vastly different transit systems, to another vastly different transit system with their own respective needs in terms of service. Apples to oranges to peaches.

What is your measuring stick of success? Anything more than a 30 minute wait at any time in an urban setting is a failure.

You don’t have to look very far for an example of >30min frequencies being detrimental to service, *cough* *cough* York Region.

Sure, a bus that doesn’t come at all carries less riders than one every 45 minutes, but one every 30 carries more.

15 hours ago, MRD10 said:

Will this service pick up Toronto riders going Westbound?

If not, then I presume it will after fare integration happens in Feburary?

Only in the Region of Durham, DRT has never picked up W/B inside City Limits.

8 hours ago, ngdvd said:

If they want to add more late night service in Pickering, they will have to start with 40 to 60 minute frequencies. Since they set the minimum at 30 minutes, they cannot add any late night service.

Late night service needs to be reliable and predictable for passengers to consider using it. Anything north of 30 minutes is a barrier to access. One of the sole reasons DRT's Blue Night service has been so successful is it's frequencies.

There are service standards for a reason, 30 minute maximums are a pragmatic approach. 

9 hours ago, York Transit said:

How is there no service to the casino? Isn't that facility like a major employer with hundreds of casino employees

IIRC, the 211 was supposed to provide service, but they opted for a routing via Notion. I believe it's still in the plans to have service in the near future. It's worth noting too that the casino complex is still under construction.

15 hours ago, MorningsideExpress said:

Garden and Anderson have never generated steady ridership. 

The 304 pulled riders when it served Brooklin and UOIT. Give a route more than one major destination and watch the people roll in. Having the 304 provide local service in Brooklin and the 302 offer a more direct service seemed like a no-brainer.

303 service always had reliability issues, as most trips interlined with the 301, or were fully operated by the 318. Runs would consistently lose time on the Otter Creek portion and struggle to make it up on the Garden and Whitby Shores legs.

7107 involved in a MVC with a utility truck a few days ago.

Route 499 - Amazon Shuttle launched this weekend.

Quote

Beginning November 25, 2023, a temporary route will operate in the area of Conlin Road and Garrard Road on Saturdays and Sundays. Service on Route 499 will operate both ways between North Campus Terminal and Taunton Road and Garrard Road during busy periods of the day. On Demand will not operate to/from Conlin Road and Garrard Road when Route 499 is operating.

You can find the news release here.

And the schedule here.

TTC 9066 doing an 86C run this afternoon. RAD run or is this part of a recent service change? I don’t follow too closely anymore!

On 10/4/2023 at 8:42 PM, Tom1122 said:

Where would the best place to see/ride them be?

removed!

13 hours ago, G.A said:

8659 is back at Eglinton garage. Seems the TTC lease is up. Could explain why I have only seen three in service yesterday and four at the yard.

Those four in the yard were probably not required for service.

Is this plan still current?

35 minutes ago, Gamer Studios said:

Gonna look weird...accessibility lights...red and blue interior, etc...

You’d be surprised at how little the general public notices these things. Sure a red bus instead of a green one but as long as a passenger has a seat, there’s little to question.

It’s worth mentioning to your point that when DRT was formed, most to all of the buses in the fleet had different paint schemes and seating designs.

19 hours ago, Ultimate said:

From what Ive been told they are at Westney to be “DRT Converted” then will be transferred to Raleigh for service. Aiming for Monday.

TTC units will remain at Westney, and will not see service until September 5th, as per news release.

17 hours ago, Ultimate said:

Raleigh to full the missing gap.

They’re stationed at Westney currently.

VIVA 2282 spotted WB @ Kennedy/401 this afternoon.

49 minutes ago, Young said:

Why would TTC give buses that they are currently using if anything they would send the retiring OG Orions or the OG hybrids 

59 minutes ago, J. Bullock said:

Durham mechanics are already well versed with Nova Bus.

1 hour ago, Young said:

obviously not any Novas or Artics or Flyers  

Why obviously? Durham mechanics are already well versed with Nova Bus. It would be advantageous of the region to solicit these buses specifically from the TTC in any hypothetical deal.

8 hours ago, G.A said:

Just wait for a full report..

People are allowed to make comments..

13 minutes ago, Shaun said:

But this is still cheaper than $48 per day parking at the airport. A week would costs you a small fortune vs $20 to take the GO Bus.  Even if it costs you $20 more in cab fare it makes More sense to take the bus. 

Plus kids Ride free. 

Sure, it’s cheaper, I’m all for taking transit, especially as a car owner.

But people like convenience. Driving to the station is more reliable and convenient than local transit. One walks to their bus stop, luggage in tow, which may be far from their home, to wait upwards of 60 minutes, potentially transfer buses and then, hop aboard the 34/94 at their respective station. This omits any time spent at Pearson. Airport passengers want the path of least resistance to make it to the gate. Hence why people drive to the airport in the first place.
 

24 minutes ago, Shaun said:

Taking a cab or uber to the GO station is much cheaper than taking it to the airport. 

You are probably saving $100 by taking the GO bus to the airport. 

 

What's wrong with the schedule? It probably requires 6 buses to make that route work. 

Exactly my point. But the service enhancement is billed as a replacement to *driving* to the airport. It’s geared towards people who already drive, it’s not inconceivable to imagine most would want to drive to the station to use this service.

Bearing schedule inconveniences, most of Durham is 1-2 buses from Pickering GO. I couldn’t think of a five-transfer destination in Durham, although I haven’t been a resident for quite some time. 

Re: https://www.durhamregion.com/news/from-pickering-to-pearson-airport-for-10-new-go-transit-bus-route-runs-hourly/article_3df94ee4-df8f-59f0-bdb5-e4c809cb6dca.html

Expanded 94 service makes headlines here in Durham Region this weekend. Reading through the comments I’ve noticed a few about GO’s 48hr parking policy at stations. Many have complained about this in the comment section. 

While I suspect my initial reply of “take public transit or ride share” going over like a lead balloon, it’s made me question the feasibility of being purchasing a longer-term parking pass, >48hrs and separate from a reserved spot. Renting on a consecutive, 7 or 14-day period for Airport passengers.

Both Oakville and Pickering feature parking structures, I wonder if setting x-amount of spots on each level of the garage could be a possibility.

Wracking my brain on a rate schedule too, open to input.

On 1/28/2022 at 10:03 PM, Gil said:

Fingers crossed the Cornell Terminal actually opens this spring as expected, how far down the priority list is getting DRT service to it?  GO is currently the only option for people commuting by public transit between York and Durham. 

Not much of a priority at this point. Seaton development needs to build up more before DRT could feasibly start serving the terminal. Rumours of the 915 serving Cornell have been circulating ever since the terminal was planned, but I can't see that happening before Seaton development. The 915 is better suited to extend to Markham and Steeles before Cornell. That being said, there was a proposal of a DRT route along Highway 7, but with GO service along that corridor, I can't say for sure how much of a priority that is either.

On 12/16/2021 at 8:58 PM, Articulated said:

I think the only thing more concerning to me than the fact that one of these crashed (so quickly into the pilot, mind you) is that the on-board operator was unable to stop it before it left the roadway and collided with the tree. There's gonna need to be a lot of questions surrounding how even the "fail-safe" couldn't prevent the accident from occurring.

I suspect the high winds, poor road conditions, and the overall design of the bus contributed to the crash, as opposed to some sort of technological flaw. 

On 12/17/2021 at 1:05 AM, Someguy3071 said:

This thing drives what, 20km/h? 

Yes, 40km/h in manual mode.

On 11/13/2021 at 11:40 AM, Bus_Medic said:

Autonomous….but with an attendant. Cool.

Gotta find childcare arrangements for grocery shopping too. What a disaster.

The attendant isn't permanent, just temporary until the trial run is done, this is to ensure safety and reliability, in case the vehicle malfunctions and manual control is required.

The child limitation also has to do with liability. The Region doesn't want the onus on them, and rightfully so. Children on public transport can sometimes be a handful... I'm sure these regulations will be dropped when the trial period is over.