Misc. OC Transpo & STO Questions & Discussion

[tomsbuspage]

Both OC Transpo and the STO still print paper system maps, as I just got updated copies from both agencies.  However, the STO's User's Guide timetable book is no more and it looks as if OC Transpo paper timetables have come to an end too.

[MCIBUS]

MASKS On OC Buses?

 

How long do you think it will be before OC re-induces masks mandate on OC Buses?

 

I suspect by the end of DEC or early JAN Doug Ford will re-induce a mask mandate. With rates sky rocking with Flu & Covid in Hospitals especially CHEO, I can't seeing a mask mandate not going into effect. I don't see shut downs or other restrictions, but I do see mask mandate coming back?

Any thoughts?

[Dexter249]

2 hours ago, MCIBUS said:

MASKS On OC Buses?

 

How long do you think it will be before OC re-induces masks mandate on OC Buses?

 

I suspect by the end of DEC or early JAN Doug Ford will re-induce a mask mandate. With rates sky rocking with Flu & Covid in Hospitals especially CHEO, I can't seeing a mask mandate not going into effect. I don't see shut downs or other restrictions, but I do see mask mandate coming back?

Any thoughts?

COVID wastewater levels are going down, s the Flu and RSV are the main forces, considering Doug Ford is "in" with "those people" it won't happen any time soon unless Suttcliffe puts it in place.

[Waiting for 30 Minutes]

23 hours ago, Dexter249 said:

COVID wastewater levels are going down, s the Flu and RSV are the main forces, considering Doug Ford is "in" with "those people" it won't happen any time soon unless Suttcliffe puts it in place.

Sutcliffe doesn't have that power.

OC can enact its own policy enforced by SCU, but any direction of a mandate comes from the province.

[Loud-Invero]

Hard to say @MCIBUS. There's no political incentive to issue a mandate. His base hates it, and people who do want mandates won't vote for him anyways . On that note I forget the name but that NDP doctor who won as a school board trustee will bring a mask mandate to a vote within the English Public Board. I'd expect if that passes and actually sanctions students and staff for not wearing a mask, I would assume you would see more masked people on the bus by default for the kids who take OC to school.

[GTAmissions1]

8 hours ago, Loud-Invero said:

Hard to say @MCIBUS. There's no political incentive to issue a mandate. His base hates it, and people who do want mandates won't vote for him anyways . On that note I forget the name but that NDP doctor who won as a school board trustee will bring a mask mandate to a vote within the English Public Board. I'd expect if that passes and actually sanctions students and staff for not wearing a mask, I would assume you would see more masked people on the bus by default for the kids who take OC to school.

Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth is the one you are referring to. I have seen her tweets and I would say "don't even look at it." 

Especially when she has disputed with people over mask mandates. 

[whistler]

Good luck enforcing a mask mandate at this point. There would be little compliance and I doubt the operators or special constables would even care anymore.

[MCIBUS]

OC got a new ad theme going pretty catchy song.

 

 

[JCL]

I've decided to post this on this thread. 

Transit YouTube Vlogger RMTransit (Reece Martin) did this video discussing the transit system here in Ottawa and Gatineau.

 

[Loud-Invero]

So I gave it some thought, but I decided I'm going to trial test the cost for me to get to work using 3 methods of transport. Starting January, I'm going to start recording data in regards cost and trip duration to get to everywhere I go.

For the month of January, I'm going to drive everywhere by car only (as I currently do). I will record all types of data including "miliage", gas cost/expenses, time to travel, wait times, etc.

February I will be only taking transit, which means I will be buying the overpriced transit pass. I understand February is short 3 days than Jan or March, so I will calculate averages based on the end of months values for those 3 days

March, I will try a hybrid option of Park & Ride where I drive to Eagleson or Baseline and take the bus/train to work, return in the night and drive home. I feel this will cost the most but will be interesting to see how much I could theoretically save in maintenance and liability while on the stroad road. I do my own car work, so I don't think it'd be that much cheaper, but still pretty cool to see.

 

 

[Loud-Invero]

Looks like they'll have to reduce the winter storm threshold to 5cm. Lincoln Fields Station entrance is filled with jacklifted artics.

[GTAmissions1]

24 minutes ago, Loud-Invero said:

Looks like they'll have to reduce the winter storm threshold to 5cm. Lincoln Fields Station entrance is filled with jacklifted artics.

Checking the OC Transpo Live Twitter account (the one that posts service alerts tied to route cancellations), there has been a lot of cancellations reported on a Sunday.

One N57 to Rideau from Bayshore and a N75 Rideau from Minto Recreation Complex. Both this morning (around 7 AM). 

Next 57 from Bayshore was in 15 minutes only connecting to Tunney's into Line 1. The next 75 from Minto is another hour assuming it shows up. If waiting at Barrhaven Town Centre, then it would be another half hour.

I can't imagine if relying on a route that only operates hourly and it gets cancelled having to try and figure out an alternative way especially if needing to get to work on-time. 

[ZümmyZüm]

Worst part is it’s a Sunday and majority of st Laurent runs could have been issued a 40ft. Merivale is a little hindered due to its small size and indy could use DD as well vs 60s

[MCIBUS]

I suspect lot of the runs(not sure how buses are schedfuled)but I'm only guessing(could be mistaken) a lot has to do with "Christmas Shopping".

[MCIBUS]

Christmas Buses

 

I found this vid on You Tube showing some buses done up in  a "Christmas Theme Paint Scheme"

I surprised OC doesn't do this anymore. Back in the I think it was late 1960's or Early 1970's OC or I think it was OTC at the time had a Old Look painted all red with snow flakes on it promoting the Rideau Street Shopping(this was before the Rideau Center was built).

 

 

Christmas Buses From Several US Transit Agencies

 

 

 

 

I knew I had a pic not sure when it was taken or who took it?

 

 

[Centralsmt]

This morning my wife had to be at a meeting Downtown at 9.30.

She left home at 8.30 to get a 15, we live in Vanier close to Montreal Rd, at 9.20 she rang me in a panic to come pick her up as no bus had came for 45 minutes, fortunately I was working from home, in that time no less than 5 15’s has passed in the opposite direction heading for Blair! We passed another 2 as we headed down Rideau Street. I can accept one bus being missing, but in 45 minutes at that time in the morning that is at least 3 buses in a row not showing, which really isn’t acceptable on a major route, or any route for that matter.

Is it any wonder that riders have absolutely no confidence in OC?

The main point is that, to an occasional rider which she is, experiences like this leave a sour taste and do not encourage someone to use public transit, she’ll now be more likely to drive or take an Uber.

[Loud-Invero]

It's quite possible bus bunching occurred in downtown. Usually at the time, alot buses are held up by students trying to get to La Cité in either direction and the 15 goes to and from Gatineau during peaks and sure enough, your story is not the exception to most users experience.

That's what happens when they split the 12 into the 12/15. I hate how long it takes to serve Jasmine crescent, but really they should combine the 12/15 back into one frequent route and keep the 15 as peak only as it's wasting alot of buses which could be used to relieve drivers and runs they can't make it on time. Isn't the Montreal expansion done anyways?

[Mark Walton]

Once a month I use the 111 to get from Carleton to the Hellenic Center on Prince of Wales Drive. Last night a 111 left just as my 10 from downtown was pulling in. The next one, due in 15 minutes, didn't show; the next one after was about 10 minutes late, and I just barely made the 6:30 PM start of my event. Bad enough that the route starts at Carleton, goes to Billings, thence heads west, instead of Billings>Carleton>west.

[JCL]

3 hours ago, Centralsmt said:

This morning my wife had to be at a meeting Downtown at 9.30.

She left home at 8.30 to get a 15, we live in Vanier close to Montreal Rd, at 9.20 she rang me in a panic to come pick her up as no bus had came for 45 minutes, fortunately I was working from home, in that time no less than 5 15’s has passed in the opposite direction heading for Blair! We passed another 2 as we headed down Rideau Street. I can accept one bus being missing, but in 45 minutes at that time in the morning that is at least 3 buses in a row not showing, which really isn’t acceptable on a major route, or any route for that matter.

Is it any wonder that riders have absolutely no confidence in OC?

The main point is that, to an occasional rider which she is, experiences like this leave a sour taste and do not encourage someone to use public transit, she’ll now be more likely to drive or take an Uber.

I'm stating the obvious, but there are two possibilities

a) The runs on those scheduled Route 15 trips westbound were likely late from their previous trips in the eastbound direction, causing the trips in question to run very late. 

b) The runs on those scheduled Route 15 trips westbound were pulled from its regular assignment in order to cover other bus routes to avoid a trip cancellation due to the lack of Extras (109-xx runs). Transit Supervisors do target mainline routes (and previously Transitway routes) for reassignment to other routes whenever there aren't enough Extras available. 

I can tell you that on November 28, 2022, during the afternoon rush hour, run 15-11 was pulled from its Route 15 (see OC's cancellation alert on Twitter) in order to cover a roundtrip on Route 33 Portobello (my local route) at 16:30 from Blair. The very same run was again pulled from the same trip on Route 15 last week to cover a roundtrip on Route 28 Blackburn Hamlet at 16:36 from Blair (the regular run that does the trip on Route 28 was run 28-3, electric bus run). This adjustment was the action of the Transit Supervisor at Blair Station. The scheduled for run 15-11 is here on Transee (via Open Data provided by the City)

[ZümmyZüm]

4 hours ago, Centralsmt said:

This morning my wife had to be at a meeting Downtown at 9.30.

She left home at 8.30 to get a 15, we live in Vanier close to Montreal Rd, at 9.20 she rang me in a panic to come pick her up as no bus had came for 45 minutes, fortunately I was working from home, in that time no less than 5 15’s has passed in the opposite direction heading for Blair! We passed another 2 as we headed down Rideau Street. I can accept one bus being missing, but in 45 minutes at that time in the morning that is at least 3 buses in a row not showing, which really isn’t acceptable on a major route, or any route for that matter.

Is it any wonder that riders have absolutely no confidence in OC?

The main point is that, to an occasional rider which she is, experiences like this leave a sour taste and do not encourage someone to use public transit, she’ll now be more likely to drive or take an Uber.

And that’s the problem, OC has the students hostage to take the bus, they have no options but a rider like your wife who doesn’t need to take it everyday should be able to rely on it with ease.. especially the 15.
 

First, the new Montreal rd alignment just causes so much gridlock headed EB to Blair.. sure everyone gets their bike lanes I guess but to make that road a 2+1 makes no sense. 

secondly, like JCL mentioned; they pull the 15 to cover so much crap it’s ridiculous.. the logic is there’s another one soon by but that doesn’t matter. People needed that 15. 
 

and then the worst which annoys me to no end is the schedule for the 15 is ridiculous, so much time to do a trip that doesn’t require it so you have drivers leaving 10+ late just to not right hot. 50-1Hr to go full trip one way.. 

 

From 7:42-9:39 there are 12 trips, only 2 of which are interlined from other routes. There is no excuse for cancelled/missing trips. Doesn’t help that control doesn’t do line management like the TTC either, but that’s an entire other story 

[Loud-Invero]

So out of the bloom in Ottawa apparently the federal government is now telling all of its branches to come into the office 2 or 3 days a week (not sure if Gatineau is included, but probably them too?) but wow, what poor time and considering the current council was most likely banking on cutting most connexion routes to boost local service.

Yeah now I can see Council will have their hands tied behind their back now that the federal government basically said they're going to throw a monkey wrench into the city's plans by basically being unpredictable when employees come in to work and what days during the weekday they will come in. I'm just hoping the council have some kind of a epiphany and realize they actually need to invest instead of doing the death by a thousand cuts treatment, especially now that the federal government will now be on the city council's ass on why their workers will be constantly late or no shows at their gov. Jobs.

Personally I think the move by the government is asinine and is just textbook definition of government and Commerical Real Estate Corp. collusion - no worker is asking for this... Not all departments are classified/secretive and have been doing online work for the last two years with no to minimal problems. The announcement just puts a burden on everyone including the city of Ottawa Transit Masterplan being crafted for September.

[OCCheetos]

1 hour ago, Loud-Invero said:

what poor time and considering the current council was most likely banking on cutting most connexion routes to boost local service.

Bold of you to assume there'd be enough money left over to boost any service.

1 hour ago, Loud-Invero said:

Yeah now I can see Council will have their hands tied behind their back now that the federal government basically said they're going to throw a monkey wrench into the city's plans by basically being unpredictable when employees come in to work and what days during the weekday they will come in.

On the scale of an annual budget, it won't strictly matter what days they come in. The costs/revenues are amortized.

1 hour ago, Loud-Invero said:

I'm just hoping the council have some kind of a epiphany and realize they actually need to invest instead of doing the death by a thousand cuts treatment

Again, I admire the optimism. Sadly I don't think it'll happen.

[Loud-Invero]

On OCs route map, but it says Early morning trips don't serve Southgate but since Oct 2019, ALL trips serve Southgate, even at 4am as the bus stop outside Greenboro park and ride that used to be for Route 1/6 for the early morning service has been taken down in 2020/1 I think. How how come they still say it doesn't serve Southgate in the morning on their map still when that's clearly false? Same with 66 Innovation trips, they never actually operate.

[GTAmissions1]

42 minutes ago, Loud-Invero said:

On OCs route map, but it says Early morning trips don't serve Southgate but since Oct 2019, ALL trips serve Southgate, even at 4am as the bus stop outside Greenboro park and ride that used to be for Route 1/6 for the early morning service has been taken down in 2020/1 I think. How how come they still say it doesn't serve Southgate in the morning on their map still when that's clearly false? Same with 66 Innovation trips, they never actually operate.

Most likely forgotten when the service changes indicated that x section is discontinued or service in all periods for y section and the adjustment on those individual route maps are not made.

Unless someone brings it up, then it doesn't get fixed. I know the 294 Findlay Creek, the map shows that after South Keys, it makes a right onto Hunt Club when it is actually looping into Hunt Club Loop, then a right into Bridle Path, then Albion towards Findlay Creek.

[ZümmyZüm]

3 hours ago, Loud-Invero said:

On OCs route map, but it says Early morning trips don't serve Southgate but since Oct 2019, ALL trips serve Southgate, even at 4am as the bus stop outside Greenboro park and ride that used to be for Route 1/6 for the early morning service has been taken down in 2020/1 I think. How how come they still say it doesn't serve Southgate in the morning on their map still when that's clearly false? Same with 66 Innovation trips, they never actually operate.

Tons of little Easter eggs of things wrong with our schedules, maps and flags… it’s a fun little game