Oakville Transit

[Bus_Medic]

On 3/20/2020 at 7:20 PM, ORION said:

56 drivers have been sent home, including myself, with pay for the next two weeks. We are emergency spares "on-call" 24/7. Most of the senior drivers chose this during our emergency board sign up today.

We have also implemented rear door boarding/exiting on all buses effective yesterday.

In other fleet news, XD40 #1104 has returned from New Flyer, freshly refurbished. We have also begun new presto device installations on buses, trying to get two a day completed going forward. Plan group is doing the installs, once again.

Five days later, and not even a basic attempt from my property to assemble a backup pool of staff to draw from, or any thought  given to mitigating unnecessary exposure by ordering surplus garage personnel to isolate off site.

I’m absolutely livid.

[Vekoma]

It would appear that one of oakvilles old D40LF buses is hung up at mermaid luxury limousine in stoney creek

 

[newflyerinvero]

On 5/1/2020 at 6:55 PM, Vekoma said:

It would appear that one of oakvilles old D40LF buses is hung up at mermaid luxury limousine in stoney creek

 

Man the D40LFs and LFRs for Oakville Transit looked a hell of alot better without those silly ad racks.

Oakville Transit will be introducing a bit more service, on 30 minute frequencies during peak periods, beginning Monday, May 18th (although the official date says May 17th).

https://www.oakvilletransit.ca/docs/ot-covid19-schedules-effective-20may17.pdf

With the pandemic happening, has the delivery dates for the 2020 Novas changed at all? Lastly, with OT participating in the CUTRIC proram, what progress, if there has been made?

[TechSpotlight]

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-other/brantford/2013-diesel-bus-low-kms/1497511716

1323 was just recently listed on Kijiji for $6,900.

[map.man (Darrin)]

The fact that someone effectively jumped the fence and did what they did to the bus was a story in itself.

Too bad, especially in these times. 

[Bus_Medic]

Definitely more to that story than the Kijiji ad is letting on.

[ORION]

On 5/7/2020 at 3:37 PM, Bus_Medic said:

Definitely more to that story than the Kijiji ad is letting on.

No kidding. That guy is trying to scam buyers. That bus was retired last year after suffering a blown engine. It was stripped for parts before it was sold off, to be used in the other ones to keep them running. This guy just made up a story. Total loser.

On 5/4/2020 at 4:50 PM, newflyerinvero said:

With the pandemic happening, has the delivery dates for the 2020 Novas changed at all? Lastly, with OT participating in the CUTRIC proram, what progress, if there has been made?

E-Bus program is not going forward. We have no money obviously. No news about the delivery schedule for the last 7 Novas. We have also suspended our refurb program with New Flyer for the Xcelsior buses due to the financial situation the town is experiencing. Its gonna be awhile until things get back to normal around here and everywhere obviously. Waiting for 1103 to return and that's it for now. The engine rebuilds will continue as they are needed.

3 more 61xx buses will be retired at the end of this month. Presto installs are still continuing.

Edited May 10, 2020 by ORION

[ORION]

Nova LFS 1911 is the Bio Barrier Prototype bus. Pending council approval, installations will begin hopefully next week. Costing about $1000 per bus. 

102 buses to receive this. I’m told the Vicinity buses will be last on the list as they are not in service anymore.

[GTAmissions1]

Oakville Transit plans on purchasing more than 70 electric buses over six years.

57 are for replacements and 16 are expansion units. To accommodate, they are planning to build 32 charging stations. A total cost of just over $66 million dollars.

https://electricautonomy.ca/2020/08/12/oakville-purchase-electric-buses/?fbclid=IwAR0bPrx0sTGD9-5yU2EG3GKDcY76bbBlROgrObkg61Xsv7Pr-RtffNNdenQ

[doug_oak]

Oakville Transit has announced some service improvements effective September 6 here - 

https://www.oakvilletransit.ca/tsu-20aug17.html

These represent a partial move towards the pre-COVID service levels, with upgrades to 30 minute service midday Mon-Fri on routes 3 and 4, Mon-Sat on route 5/5A, and Mon-Sun on routes 14 and 24.  Some routes will also have extended evening service hours Mon-Sat.

The 26-Falgarwood returns with Mon-Fri peak service only, while the 190-River Oaks Express has not yet returned.  There will be 30 minute service during peak hours Mon-Fri on all routes except for 11-Linbrook and 15-Bridge.  Prior to COVID, there was 15 minute peak service on routes 3, 4, 13, 14, 19/20 and 24.

High school trippers will return on September 8, scheduled for the shortened school day - departures are between 11:15 and 11:30 am, versus the 2:45 to 3:00 pm departures previously.

  

 

[newflyerinvero]

On 8/13/2020 at 9:34 PM, GTAmissions1 said:

Oakville Transit plans on purchasing more than 70 electric buses over six years.

57 are for replacements and 16 are expansion units. To accommodate, they are planning to build 32 charging stations. A total cost of just over $66 million dollars.

https://electricautonomy.ca/2020/08/12/oakville-purchase-electric-buses/?fbclid=IwAR0bPrx0sTGD9-5yU2EG3GKDcY76bbBlROgrObkg61Xsv7Pr-RtffNNdenQ

Considering the history of not very strong budgets for Oakville Transit to use, this could be a case where there'd be more expansion buses but yet, not as much new service to have them on. As far as I understand, pre-pandemic, about 68-70 buses are used with the total fleet of 100+. It's a very healthy spare ratio, but there'd be room for more service for a few more buses, had these budgets for OT been more flexible. I have my doubts this'd change the outlook of a stronger network going forward over the next few years.

I was in contact with OT last week and I was informed that the seat restrictions will be lifted come September 6th. I"m speculating here, but I'm curious whether or not this would include having the Vicinities coming back into service for the first time since late March?


 

On 8/22/2020 at 11:15 AM, doug_oak said:

Oakville Transit has announced some service improvements effective September 6 here - 

https://www.oakvilletransit.ca/tsu-20aug17.html

These represent a partial move towards the pre-COVID service levels, with upgrades to 30 minute service midday Mon-Fri on routes 3 and 4, Mon-Sat on route 5/5A, and Mon-Sun on routes 14 and 24.  Some routes will also have extended evening service hours Mon-Sat.

The 26-Falgarwood returns with Mon-Fri peak service only, while the 190-River Oaks Express has not yet returned.  There will be 30 minute service during peak hours Mon-Fri on all routes except for 11-Linbrook and 15-Bridge.  Prior to COVID, there was 15 minute peak service on routes 3, 4, 13, 14, 19/20 and 24.

High school trippers will return on September 8, scheduled for the shortened school day - departures are between 11:15 and 11:30 am, versus the 2:45 to 3:00 pm departures previously.

  

 

This is a good partial return to pre-covid levels, although not all the way back, but a good start. The later service levels close to midnight Monday-Saturday tells me that for the time being, there are still not any need for Late Night Service. I suppose that could change later on depending on covid and further demand increases.

[doug_oak]

Several of the Grande West Vicinity 30 footers are out today (Sunday).   They are the first I've seen in six months, although there may have been some in service previously.  Here are the assignments - 

3-Third Line    1803

 * 4-Speers-Cornwall / 6-Upper Middle   1610, 1708, 1806

5-Dundas   1801

*  Routes 4 and 6 are interlined at Bronte GO station on Sundays.

 

[newflyerinvero]

3 hours ago, doug_oak said:

Several of the Grande West Vicinity 30 footers are out today (Sunday).   They are the first I've seen in six months, although there may have been some in service previously.  Here are the assignments - 

3-Third Line    1803

 * 4-Speers-Cornwall / 6-Upper Middle   1610, 1708, 1806

5-Dundas   1801

*  Routes 4 and 6 are interlined at Bronte GO station on Sundays.

 

The Grande West Vicinities have been in service since this past Tuesday.

I've also noticed that also on Saturdays that Routes 4 and 6 interline at Bronte GO Station, given that frequencies on both routes on weekends thus far are hourly.

[ORION]

Fleet Update as of November 2020,

All 2006 New Flyer D40LFR buses, with the exception of #6110 have now retired from service. This lone unit should be gone by end of year but there is a possibility it will stick around and we will start to retire some of the 2007 units first.

The remaining two 2011 New Flyer XD40s #1105-1106 are currently in Arnprior at NFI getting an overhaul. #1105 should return by Monday afternoon and #1201 should be sent out.

[Chris W]

20 hours ago, ORION said:

Fleet Update as of November 2020,

All 2006 New Flyer D40LFR buses, with the exception of #6110 have now retired from service. This lone unit should be gone by end of year but there is a possibility it will stick around and we will start to retire some of the 2007 units first.

The remaining two 2011 New Flyer XD40s #1105-1106 are currently in Arnprior at NFI getting an overhaul. #1105 should return by Monday afternoon and #1201 should be sent out.

Well it was good that I got 6107 a couple weeks ago.

[ORION]

#1105 is here, #1201 has left.

[newflyerinvero]

Are 1302 and 1305 getting their engines/transmissions refurbed in the same way that the 11's, 12's did prior to their complete rebuilds?

[ORION]

23 hours ago, newflyerinvero said:

Are 1302 and 1305 getting their engines/transmissions refurbed in the same way that the 11's, 12's did prior to their complete rebuilds?

Yes all buses get engine refurb before body.

[AnalogPentium]

There's an Oakville D40LFR for sale at the moment on... eBay and not GovDeals for some reason.

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/2006-NEW-FLYER-D-40-TRANSIT-BUS/184574996328?hash=item2af986ef68:g:Y3kAAOSwmU5f0mp0

 

[Michel]

23 hours ago, AnalogPentium said:

There's an Oakville D40LFR for sale at the moment on... eBay and not GovDeals for some reason.

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/2006-NEW-FLYER-D-40-TRANSIT-BUS/184574996328?hash=item2af986ef68:g:Y3kAAOSwmU5f0mp0

 

The seller is not the Town of Oakville.  Chances are the bus was already purchased direct and is being resold.

[AnalogPentium]

1 hour ago, Michel said:

The seller is not the Town of Oakville.  Chances are the bus was already purchased direct and is being resold.

Took a closer look and it appears so since the bus is coming from Kitchener. Good catch.

[newflyerinvero]

I was browsing through Transsee yesterday at around 5:30 and to my surprise, Arboc #1623 was in service on Route 3 -Third Line. Very rare.

[doug_oak]

A couple of interesting items noted from the 2021 Town of Oakville operating and capital budgets:

*  Total Oakville Transit ridership for 2020 is projected at 1.09 million (boardings, which exclude transfers), compared to 2.97 million in 2019, a 63.3% decrease.  Not surprising given the COVID impact, particularly for a system that has a reasonably high dependence on GO train traffic.

*   A significant capital budget ask for 10 conventional electric buses (7 replacement, 3 expansion) at at cost of $10.4 million, one expansion specialized electric bus costing $0.5 million, and electric bus charging infrastructure $2.5 million.

Not sure as to the status of the 7 diesel NovaBus LFS that were scheduled to arrive in 2020 to replace the 7 D40LFR from 2007.  Perhaps a more knowledgeable person on this Board can advise.

 

[doug_oak]

The provincial lockdown effective December 26 has again resulted in a significant reduction in Oakville service levels effective Sunday, January 3.  These reductions are from the September service levels, which were already well below pre-COVID levels.

Starting January 3, all routes will operate on 60 minute headways at all times during the week.  As a result, peak Mon-Fri requirements will be 23 buses, and off-peak requirements at all other times will be 17 buses (the difference results from the six routes that provide only Mon-Fri peak hour service:  10, 11, 12, 26, 34 and 120).   Operating a fleet of 100 conventional buses, the spare ratio is approx. 75% - clearly a sign of these difficult times.

 

[newflyerinvero]

The only difference is that the 1 and 26 stay around compared to before September changes.

The 26 is also the only route which, despite operating during peak hours, would be operating every 30 minutes.

 

I'm anticipating that the operating service hours for this year would be the same budgeted amount as the same as per covid. I'd imagine as things improve, that the  service levels would gradually return.