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Transit 20

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Why would it say Fairview Mall? ^_^

Probably UNIVERSITY-LAURIER and FOREST GLEN, as per the timetables.

Yes, that's what I meant; "FOREST GLEN" (Sorry)

Lets just hope people read the "full" sign, and in particular the Route number (200 or 201) and get on the right bus. Not just see "IXPRESS" and assume it's the "original" going to Ainslie, or Conestoga. Should be fun this week!

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Ohhhhh, wrong answer dude ! GRT planners plan the service and ask for the required number of buses/drivers etc to provide it through the budget process. Council rubber stamps it.

Thanks, but that is not correct. This year, staff asked for a 1.25% tax increase to pay for transit service, but council voted for 1.2% instead, along with a cut to the RTMP reserve fund.

In short, council gave GRT less funding than staff asked for.

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However, if the public service is not there because of poor planning, then can we bash them then? What would you tell a student that is late for class because their bus never came? How about a person going to work? Or a doctor appointment? Should we still call it a public service if the service is not there next week because of poor planning?

The answer is simple, but maybe too complicated for GRT to understand: order x amount of busses an year earlier that will allow you to expand services next year. The 2011 deliveries should have been for 2012 expansion, which allows for the real possibility of a late delivery. I don't understand why they would take the risk of promising new routes and service if they do not have the vehicles to make it happen. Very irresponsible, but expected from our dear GRT. One of the many stupidities they've become famous for.

Well the budget to buy these buses wasn't approved until May of this year so how can GRT order the buses earlier then that without funds? Transit provided the recommendations and council took their time to approve it. There's nothing GRT could do about that, and at the same time the region may not have had the required amount available to be able to grant it earlier then they did. Look at both sides of the coin instead of bashing GRT all the time over stuff they can't control. Why don't you try running the system and we'll see how well you do.

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Regarding the GRT bashing and supply of buses... Yes, Regional staff ("GRT") do all the grunt-work and the recommendations for what exactly the Region should be doing. They tailor it all so that it's something that the Council will go along with, as what staff think is the absolute best decision may very well not go through Council. Then Council makes some of its own changes and gives its own direction. Both are responsible for the outcome, but ultimately Council is more responsible.

But if after that it involves outside suppliers, neither staff nor Council have full control. They could try to require firm deadlines with large penalties in bids for providing buses, but that would likely mean that the bids would come in much higher. They can order for more than a year ahead - but that's difficult considering each year's budget is subject to Council approval, and with year-to-year economic variability. They could produce buses in-house, of course.

My point is simply that using late delivery of expansion buses by NovaBus as a reason to bash GRT is facile and not useful.

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Regarding the GRT bashing and supply of buses... Yes, Regional staff ("GRT") do all the grunt-work and the recommendations for what exactly the Region should be doing. They tailor it all so that it's something that the Council will go along with, as what staff think is the absolute best decision may very well not go through Council. Then Council makes some of its own changes and gives its own direction. Both are responsible for the outcome, but ultimately Council is more responsible.

But if after that it involves outside suppliers, neither staff nor Council have full control. They could try to require firm deadlines with large penalties in bids for providing buses, but that would likely mean that the bids would come in much higher. They can order for more than a year ahead - but that's difficult considering each year's budget is subject to Council approval, and with year-to-year economic variability. They could produce buses in-house, of course.

My point is simply that using late delivery of expansion buses by NovaBus as a reason to bash GRT is facile and not useful.

Very well said!

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Regarding the GRT bashing and supply of buses... Yes, Regional staff ("GRT") do all the grunt-work and the recommendations for what exactly the Region should be doing. They tailor it all so that it's something that the Council will go along with, as what staff think is the absolute best decision may very well not go through Council. Then Council makes some of its own changes and gives its own direction. Both are responsible for the outcome, but ultimately Council is more responsible.

But if after that it involves outside suppliers, neither staff nor Council have full control. They could try to require firm deadlines with large penalties in bids for providing buses, but that would likely mean that the bids would come in much higher. They can order for more than a year ahead - but that's difficult considering each year's budget is subject to Council approval, and with year-to-year economic variability. They could produce buses in-house, of course.

My point is simply that using late delivery of expansion buses by NovaBus as a reason to bash GRT is facile and not useful.

Well said, however there is always a solution. How about instead of major Fall service changes we have major Winter service changes in order to allow for the late deliveries that are expected in the Fall but may be late. Introducing the 201 and other service expansions in Winter 2012 instead of Fall 2011 would be much better for GRT. What use is a free 201 service in the first week if it does not arrive at certain promised times?

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While the "expansion" buses (19) may have been approved late in the game, 18 "replacements" were not. They were ordered about a year ago iirc. Simply flipping these two groups should have solved the problem (hanging onto the old stuff until the 2nd wave arrives later). Will it ? I dunno.

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  • 2 weeks later...
"An additional 37 buses will soon be outfitted with advanced technology including the automated display and announcement of bus stops for passengers."

Bear in mind that 25 of them will be new Novas yet to arrive. Not very likely will it be all 9400's and probably no 9200's.

But 23 remaining 9400s and 14 9200s add perfectly to 37 buses...

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Yes it does. So does 37 minus 25 retirements plus 25 Novas.

I'm actually thinking the 25 Novas are not included in the 37 buses, as they're assumed to get the INIT system anyway. :D

This link says "installation on 37 buses of the 57 buses that are not currently equipped". AFAIK the 57 buses not equipped are the 23 9400s, 14 9200s, and the 20 remaining high floors.

Hmm...

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