Urban_96 Posted December 25, 2018 Report Share Posted December 25, 2018 Hi! I believe that Fort Saskatchewan needs a better transportation network. Though it's a small town, public transportation should be improved and be more of a priority to the town. Right now, the only bus that gets you out of town is the ETS 580. Post your ideas for a better network and we can all possibly make a map and if we are lucky, talk to the town about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A. Wong Posted December 27, 2018 Report Share Posted December 27, 2018 I don't think it is bad currently. They are in a good state to have a service to Edmonton, the nearest large city, and it stops at a LRT station so it is a great connection point to ETS. I am not sure how locals view the local services within the city, but I am sure as it gains popularity they can make some improvements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urban_96 Posted December 27, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2018 57 minutes ago, A. Wong said: I don't think it is bad currently. They are in a good state to have a service to Edmonton, the nearest large city, and it stops at a LRT station so it is a great connection point to ETS. I am not sure how locals view the local services within the city, but I am sure as it gains popularity they can make some improvements. I know someone from there, and she knows someone who can't get to the nearest bus stop because of mobility issues. The least that needs to be done is A.More Stops and B. Make two way service instead of two routes, sometimes on the same roads, sometimes separate, which is what they have now. I also believe that on demand bus service may be needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T6H-5307N Posted December 27, 2018 Report Share Posted December 27, 2018 1 hour ago, Urban_Monkey Transit said: I know someone from there, and she knows someone who can't get to the nearest bus stop because of mobility issues. The least that needs to be done is A.More Stops and B. Make two way service instead of two routes, sometimes on the same roads, sometimes separate, which is what they have now. I also believe that on demand bus service may be needed. Fair point, but it sounds like your sample size is 1 person at this point... I'm sure if the system wasn't a success then we would at least be hearing about it in the media etc.! The problem is a classic scenario: build it and hope for ridership or wait until the demand merits the service. Have you looked into what their ridership is? It is easy to say that they need better service but perhaps it is meeting the needs of the community just fine in its current state. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Parsons Posted December 27, 2018 Report Share Posted December 27, 2018 On 12/25/2018 at 2:12 PM, Urban_Monkey Transit said: Hi! I believe that Fort Saskatchewan needs a better transportation network. Though it's a small town, public transportation should be improved and be more of a priority to the town. Right now, the only bus that gets you out of town is the ETS 580. Post your ideas for a better network and we can all possibly make a map and if we are lucky, talk to the town about it. Improved service will cost $$$$$$$$. How does Fort Saskatchewan fund increased service levels? Will taxpayers be willing to foot the bill for more transit through tax increases? "Right now, the only bus that gets you out of town is the ETS 580". What would you propose in addition too, or in place of the 580? 2 hours ago, Urban_Monkey Transit said: I know someone from there, and she knows someone who can't get to the nearest bus stop because of mobility issues. The least that needs to be done is A.More Stops and B. Make two way service instead of two routes, sometimes on the same roads, sometimes separate, which is what they have now. I also believe that on demand bus service may be needed. More stops along existing routes, maybe. The existing service however if quite smart. Maximum coverage, 30 minutes per loop. Extending the route to encompass both the West loop and Downtown loop would add time which would prevent convenient-for-scheduling 30 minute trip times. Transfer connections are timed and can be made at the DOW Centre or North Transfer point for those that need to reach the other portions of the routes that aren't duplicated. 8:25-13:25 service is covered by one bus and that service can perhaps be a bit funky, although, usable. The 580 covers another slice of Fort Saskatchewan and probably brings most residents to within a 400m walk of a bus stop. Without specific examples, I can't comment further, but it does look like transit coverage is deployed as effectively as possible with the available budget. On demand bus service would be a replacement for fix route service. Whether that's good or not is another conversation. It think the to meet the 580's you need fixed route service. Maybe in that 5 hour window with 1 bus you could use on demand bus service. For this "I know someone who knows someone" scenario, I suggest looking into Special Transportation Services Society. Watching the raise of transit operations around Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan has set up what seems to be a model scenario. Their service I was always concerned would vaporize one day. Contracted, minimal infrastructure. Over time it built up... more commuter runs, then contracted local service. Finally, City owned buses operated by a contractor with ETS contracted for the commuter service, and now some more permanent infrastructure (improved bus stops, transfer points and park and ride). It would be nice if the service could one day could demand additional buses, but, I suspect that could be some time aways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urban_96 Posted December 27, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2018 11 hours ago, M. Parsons said: Improved service will cost $$$$$$$$. How does Fort Saskatchewan fund increased service levels? Will taxpayers be willing to foot the bill for more transit through tax increases? "Right now, the only bus that gets you out of town is the ETS 580". What would you propose in addition too, or in place of the 580? More stops along existing routes, maybe. The existing service however if quite smart. Maximum coverage, 30 minutes per loop. Extending the route to encompass both the West loop and Downtown loop would add time which would prevent convenient-for-scheduling 30 minute trip times. Transfer connections are timed and can be made at the DOW Centre or North Transfer point for those that need to reach the other portions of the routes that aren't duplicated. 8:25-13:25 service is covered by one bus and that service can perhaps be a bit funky, although, usable. The 580 covers another slice of Fort Saskatchewan and probably brings most residents to within a 400m walk of a bus stop. Without specific examples, I can't comment further, but it does look like transit coverage is deployed as effectively as possible with the available budget. On demand bus service would be a replacement for fix route service. Whether that's good or not is another conversation. It think the to meet the 580's you need fixed route service. Maybe in that 5 hour window with 1 bus you could use on demand bus service. For this "I know someone who knows someone" scenario, I suggest looking into Special Transportation Services Society. Watching the raise of transit operations around Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan has set up what seems to be a model scenario. Their service I was always concerned would vaporize one day. Contracted, minimal infrastructure. Over time it built up... more commuter runs, then contracted local service. Finally, City owned buses operated by a contractor with ETS contracted for the commuter service, and now some more permanent infrastructure (improved bus stops, transfer points and park and ride). It would be nice if the service could one day could demand additional buses, but, I suspect that could be some time aways. A replacement of the 580 is one of my ideas. Maybe even service to DDowntown Edmonton and NAIT. 11 hours ago, T6H-5307N said: Fair point, but it sounds like your sample size is 1 person at this point... I'm sure if the system wasn't a success then we would at least be hearing about it in the media etc.! The problem is a classic scenario: build it and hope for ridership or wait until the demand merits the service. Have you looked into what their ridership is? It is easy to say that they need better service but perhaps it is meeting the needs of the community just fine in its current state. How do I look at the ridership level? Also, I don't know much about Fort Sask because I have never been there. Apparently, traffic is also an issue there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A. Wong Posted December 27, 2018 Report Share Posted December 27, 2018 5 hours ago, Urban_Monkey Transit said: A replacement of the 580 is one of my ideas. Maybe even service to DDowntown Edmonton and NAIT. How do I look at the ridership level? Also, I don't know much about Fort Sask because I have never been there. Apparently, traffic is also an issue there. Clareview LRT is the best link to downtown Edmonton and NAIT, and the 580 terminates there. It would not be a good choice to run a bus further into Edmonton than it already does - it would cost more and reduce frequency on the route, not to mention duplicate service and take longer than existing ETS services. I don't think traffic is as big of an issue as the City of Fort Saskatchewan isn't even that big. The major issue I can see is if the bridge towards Edmonton is blocked (as it is only one lane each direction). Yes, it has happened but is not a common occurrence and would affect everyone not just transit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Parsons Posted December 29, 2018 Report Share Posted December 29, 2018 On 12/27/2018 at 8:00 AM, Urban_Monkey Transit said: How do I look at the ridership level? Also, I don't know much about Fort Sask because I have never been there. Apparently, traffic is also an issue there. You would need to do some research. Start off with City Council meeting minutes and the City budget. You'll probably find something. Before soliciting for information, make sure you know what you're even talking. Your posts amount to: "this sucks, how can we fix it, but really, I know nothing about the City of the Region". On 12/27/2018 at 1:46 PM, A. Wong said: I don't think traffic is as big of an issue as the City of Fort Saskatchewan isn't even that big. The major issue I can see is if the bridge towards Edmonton is blocked (as it is only one lane each direction). Yes, it has happened but is not a common occurrence and would affect everyone not just transit. The bridge is a problem, but the end is insight. https://www.transportation.alberta.ca/6051.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urban_96 Posted December 31, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2018 On December 28, 2018 at 10:56 PM, M. Parsons said: You would need to do some research. Start off with City Council meeting minutes and the City budget. You'll probably find something. Before soliciting for information, make sure you know what you're even talking. Your posts amount to: "this sucks, how can we fix it, but really, I know nothing about the City of the Region". The bridge is a problem, but the end is insight. https://www.transportation.alberta.ca/6051.htm Good. Makes sense. Well, If none of you can think about needed changes, @A. Wong, burn this topic into flames. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrandeWest_B35G Posted December 31, 2018 Report Share Posted December 31, 2018 10 minutes ago, Urban_Monkey Transit said: Good. Makes sense. Well, If none of you can think about needed changes, @A. Wong, burn this topic into flames. Or you could wait for it to turn into Strathcona, the last post on this subforum. Hasn't been touched since 2006. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urban_96 Posted December 31, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2018 4 minutes ago, Jaymaud0804 said: Or you could wait for it to turn into Strathcona, the last post on this subforum. Hasn't been touched since 2006. Let's just delete it instead of letting it sit around for 12 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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