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J. Bullock

J. Bullock

Posted
Posted
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.

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Gamer Studios

Gamer Studios

Posted
Posted
On 1/30/2022 at 11:37 PM, pccstreetcar4549 said:

Probably auctioned off (the accident one will be probably auctioned off for salvage) 

Nothing is said at the moment since the whole pilot project is still at a standstill

20220131_162121.jpg20220131_162006.jpg20220131_170156.jpg20220131_161939.jpg20220131_161947.jpg

 

Managed to get one of the scarce D40LFs at DRT yesterday. Also some buses seem to be equipped with the #ACCESSIBLETRANSITMATTERS public relations message 

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J. Hollingsworth

J. Hollingsworth

Posted
Posted

Who's ready for an underwhelming budget? Not to say it's not interesting, but they're still being cryptically vague about specific service enhancements, because... you know.

So. What do we have then? (https://calendar.durham.ca/meetings/Detail/2022-02-02-1330-Transit-Executive-Committee-Meeting/a25d30bc-bbe8-4c74-9e62-ae2b01536abe)

Metrics:

- 4.4 Million Passenger Rides in 2021, 40% of pre-pandemic and 82% of 2020 ridership.

- 96% of trips taken were are conventional buses, 3% OnDemand Trips and 1% Specialized Services.

- December was the first month since march 2020 that ridership had surpassed 50% of pre-pandemic ridership, this got destroyed by Omicron again. 

- DRT anticipated for 2021, farebox revenues of $14.9 Million, but only reached 93% of this total at $13.9 Million

- PRESTO adoption up from below 40% pre-pandemic to now 80% thanks to suspension of paper fare media, introduction of fare incentives and the electronic PRESTO Ticket u-pass.

Budget Amount

DRT annual budget amount is $117.3 million from all sources, $69.2 million from property taxes.

DRT operating and capital is divided among these departments.

- Administration

- Operations

- Maintenance

- Specialized Services

- Northern Services

- Facilities Management

- 551,075 2022 Service Hours, increase of 2.3% and 12,398 service hours in 2021.

- 486,153 Conventional Service Hours, 64,922 OnDemand Hours.

Service Highlights

There are very few noted service related changes, this is due to the fact that the covid pandemic still adds uncertainty to if and when specific routes will return. This is year one of "The Route Ahead" 2022-2025 Service Plan, so here's what that definitely entails, 

- Introduction of more frequent service on existing routes to support ridership recovery. including,

- 901 PULSE Simcoe,

- 902 King

- 915 PULSE Taunton, with 15 minute minimum daytime service level, 7 days per week. (who remembers when it was hourly...)

- 920, with an extension to Harmony Terminal from Durham College.

- 302 Brock/Baldwin, additional two way service between Brooklin and Durham College.

- 917z will have additional trips, in 2021, the service ran every two hours, so perhaps this year it may be hourly.

While these are the only listed service enhancements coming in 2022, this represents $0.4 Million of the 2022 $1.5 Million service plan, with the other $1.1 Million for "returning Service" but no details are available as to which routes or services may be restored.

2022 Capital investments

- $16.1 Million in capital investments

- 2 additional PULSE replacements (likely 7123-7124) ($1.4m)

- 4 replacements specialized buses ($0.8m)

- Raleigh Admin Building Design ($0.6m)

- Bus Stop Infrastructure improvements ($3.1m)

- Planning, Design and engineering of 2400 Thornton Road North Indoor Facility ($2.5m)

- E-bus charging infrastructure ($3.1m)

- Westney Fuel Tank Replacement ($0.8m)

And then there's this

"As a result of network realignment, scheduling efficiencies and delivery of demand responsive services in rural and low demand urban areas, DRT will be reducing the size of its fleet from 188 buses at the beginning of 2022 to 157 buses. This will allow for the retirement of 31 buses at end of life and savings from repair costs to keep these vehicles in operation (-$0.5 million). These buses will be replaced when required through enhanced frequency of service and as demand increases in lower demand areas over the next three to five years as included in the capital forecast."

Essentially, DRT doesn't want to pay the price to maintain the D40LFs anymore as parts are becoming increasingly expensive and hard to find, while letting the issue of not having enough busses be a future them problem. 

Staff

- Five new Full Time Positions

- three new "DRT Ambassadors" which are essentially the roaming customer service reps like TTC, and YRT have.

 

 

 

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J. Hollingsworth

J. Hollingsworth

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, J. Bullock said:

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.

The initial route for Cornell will be standalone, not a 915 extension.

The route will travel from Pickering Parkway Terminal, Kingston, Brock, Taunton, Whites, Highway 7.

it’s currently planned as a “base” route at 30 minute service at least Monday - Friday

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Gamer Studios

Gamer Studios

Posted
Posted
On 2/1/2022 at 9:34 AM, 110B West Pickering said:

Who's ready for an underwhelming budget? Not to say it's not interesting, but they're still being cryptically vague about specific service enhancements, because... you know.

So. What do we have then? (https://calendar.durham.ca/meetings/Detail/2022-02-02-1330-Transit-Executive-Committee-Meeting/a25d30bc-bbe8-4c74-9e62-ae2b01536abe)

Metrics:

- 4.4 Million Passenger Rides in 2021, 40% of pre-pandemic and 82% of 2020 ridership.

- 96% of trips taken were are conventional buses, 3% OnDemand Trips and 1% Specialized Services.

- December was the first month since march 2020 that ridership had surpassed 50% of pre-pandemic ridership, this got destroyed by Omicron again. 

- DRT anticipated for 2021, farebox revenues of $14.9 Million, but only reached 93% of this total at $13.9 Million

- PRESTO adoption up from below 40% pre-pandemic to now 80% thanks to suspension of paper fare media, introduction of fare incentives and the electronic PRESTO Ticket u-pass.

Budget Amount

DRT annual budget amount is $117.3 million from all sources, $69.2 million from property taxes.

DRT operating and capital is divided among these departments.

- Administration

- Operations

- Maintenance

- Specialized Services

- Northern Services

- Facilities Management

- 551,075 2022 Service Hours, increase of 2.3% and 12,398 service hours in 2021.

- 486,153 Conventional Service Hours, 64,922 OnDemand Hours.

Service Highlights

There are very few noted service related changes, this is due to the fact that the covid pandemic still adds uncertainty to if and when specific routes will return. This is year one of "The Route Ahead" 2022-2025 Service Plan, so here's what that definitely entails, 

- Introduction of more frequent service on existing routes to support ridership recovery. including,

- 901 PULSE Simcoe,

- 902 King

- 915 PULSE Taunton, with 15 minute minimum daytime service level, 7 days per week. (who remembers when it was hourly...)

- 920, with an extension to Harmony Terminal from Durham College.

- 302 Brock/Baldwin, additional two way service between Brooklin and Durham College.

- 917z will have additional trips, in 2021, the service ran every two hours, so perhaps this year it may be hourly.

While these are the only listed service enhancements coming in 2022, this represents $0.4 Million of the 2022 $1.5 Million service plan, with the other $1.1 Million for "returning Service" but no details are available as to which routes or services may be restored.

2022 Capital investments

- $16.1 Million in capital investments

- 2 additional PULSE replacements (likely 7123-7124) ($1.4m)

- 4 replacements specialized buses ($0.8m)

- Raleigh Admin Building Design ($0.6m)

- Bus Stop Infrastructure improvements ($3.1m)

- Planning, Design and engineering of 2400 Thornton Road North Indoor Facility ($2.5m)

- E-bus charging infrastructure ($3.1m)

- Westney Fuel Tank Replacement ($0.8m)

And then there's this

"As a result of network realignment, scheduling efficiencies and delivery of demand responsive services in rural and low demand urban areas, DRT will be reducing the size of its fleet from 188 buses at the beginning of 2022 to 157 buses. This will allow for the retirement of 31 buses at end of life and savings from repair costs to keep these vehicles in operation (-$0.5 million). These buses will be replaced when required through enhanced frequency of service and as demand increases in lower demand areas over the next three to five years as included in the capital forecast."

Essentially, DRT doesn't want to pay the price to maintain the D40LFs anymore as parts are becoming increasingly expensive and hard to find, while letting the issue of not having enough busses be a future them problem. 

Staff

- Five new Full Time Positions

- three new "DRT Ambassadors" which are essentially the roaming customer service reps like TTC, and YRT have.

 

 

 

Meanwhile YRT on the other hand can still run D40LFs built in 2003 and 2004...let alone run VanHools (parts for those are a pain...)

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newflyerinvero

newflyerinvero

Posted
Posted
On 2/1/2022 at 9:34 AM, 110B West Pickering said:

Who's ready for an underwhelming budget? Not to say it's not interesting, but they're still being cryptically vague about specific service enhancements, because... you know.

So. What do we have then? (https://calendar.durham.ca/meetings/Detail/2022-02-02-1330-Transit-Executive-Committee-Meeting/a25d30bc-bbe8-4c74-9e62-ae2b01536abe)

Metrics:

- 4.4 Million Passenger Rides in 2021, 40% of pre-pandemic and 82% of 2020 ridership.

- 96% of trips taken were are conventional buses, 3% OnDemand Trips and 1% Specialized Services.

- December was the first month since march 2020 that ridership had surpassed 50% of pre-pandemic ridership, this got destroyed by Omicron again. 

- DRT anticipated for 2021, farebox revenues of $14.9 Million, but only reached 93% of this total at $13.9 Million

- PRESTO adoption up from below 40% pre-pandemic to now 80% thanks to suspension of paper fare media, introduction of fare incentives and the electronic PRESTO Ticket u-pass.

Budget Amount

DRT annual budget amount is $117.3 million from all sources, $69.2 million from property taxes.

DRT operating and capital is divided among these departments.

- Administration

- Operations

- Maintenance

- Specialized Services

- Northern Services

- Facilities Management

- 551,075 2022 Service Hours, increase of 2.3% and 12,398 service hours in 2021.

- 486,153 Conventional Service Hours, 64,922 OnDemand Hours.

Service Highlights

There are very few noted service related changes, this is due to the fact that the covid pandemic still adds uncertainty to if and when specific routes will return. This is year one of "The Route Ahead" 2022-2025 Service Plan, so here's what that definitely entails, 

- Introduction of more frequent service on existing routes to support ridership recovery. including,

- 901 PULSE Simcoe,

- 902 King

- 915 PULSE Taunton, with 15 minute minimum daytime service level, 7 days per week. (who remembers when it was hourly...)

- 920, with an extension to Harmony Terminal from Durham College.

- 302 Brock/Baldwin, additional two way service between Brooklin and Durham College.

- 917z will have additional trips, in 2021, the service ran every two hours, so perhaps this year it may be hourly.

While these are the only listed service enhancements coming in 2022, this represents $0.4 Million of the 2022 $1.5 Million service plan, with the other $1.1 Million for "returning Service" but no details are available as to which routes or services may be restored.

2022 Capital investments

- $16.1 Million in capital investments

- 2 additional PULSE replacements (likely 7123-7124) ($1.4m)

- 4 replacements specialized buses ($0.8m)

- Raleigh Admin Building Design ($0.6m)

- Bus Stop Infrastructure improvements ($3.1m)

- Planning, Design and engineering of 2400 Thornton Road North Indoor Facility ($2.5m)

- E-bus charging infrastructure ($3.1m)

- Westney Fuel Tank Replacement ($0.8m)

And then there's this

"As a result of network realignment, scheduling efficiencies and delivery of demand responsive services in rural and low demand urban areas, DRT will be reducing the size of its fleet from 188 buses at the beginning of 2022 to 157 buses. This will allow for the retirement of 31 buses at end of life and savings from repair costs to keep these vehicles in operation (-$0.5 million). These buses will be replaced when required through enhanced frequency of service and as demand increases in lower demand areas over the next three to five years as included in the capital forecast."

Essentially, DRT doesn't want to pay the price to maintain the D40LFs anymore as parts are becoming increasingly expensive and hard to find, while letting the issue of not having enough busses be a future them problem. 

Staff

- Five new Full Time Positions

- three new "DRT Ambassadors" which are essentially the roaming customer service reps like TTC, and YRT have.

 

 

 

I can see how retiring D40LFs now would save a whole bunch of money. But I think I may have misread something. With the arrival of the Nova LFS HEVs, would they help replenish the fleet and allow DRT to further be prepared for future reinstatment of services or the introduction of new services? And would the electric buses also be future expansions? Overall though I am pleased with the fleet management.

Are the two Pulse replacements meaning to replace two current Pulose XD40s into local conventional scheme?

I also like the fact that the 302 would be the route that would be stended along Winchester to Simcoe to the Durham college North Campus. Would this kill the 310 again?
Would the possible extension of the 920 replace the 905 going to Harmarny Terminal, thus, making the 905 terminate at the Durham College North Campus?


 

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Gil

Gil

Posted
Posted

From a discussion in the YRT thread, does DRT produce or use terminal maps?  I know Metrolinx has a wayfinding program which was piloted at Pickering.  Can DRT piggyback on that if they're not able to produce their own?  Aside from the GO Train stations (I don't know if the terminal at Pickering Pkwy./Town Centre is included in the Pickering GO maps) the only terminals that would need depicting would be at Durham College/OTU, Harmony Terminal, Oshawa Centre and possibly Centennial College (both campuses).  A search only gave me this one from Transit Toronto for Durham College/UOIT (as it was known at the time in 2017):

Durham College/UOIT Loop 2016 - Map

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J. Hollingsworth

J. Hollingsworth

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, Gil said:

From a discussion in the YRT thread, does DRT produce or use terminal maps?  I know Metrolinx has a wayfinding program which was piloted at Pickering.  Can DRT piggyback on that if they're not able to produce their own?  Aside from the GO Train stations (I don't know if the terminal at Pickering Pkwy./Town Centre is included in the Pickering GO maps) the only terminals that would need depicting would be at Durham College/OTU, Harmony Terminal, Oshawa Centre and possibly Centennial College (both campuses).  A search only gave me this one from Transit Toronto for Durham College/UOIT (as it was known at the time in 2017):

Durham College/UOIT Loop 2016 - Map

DRT Doesn’t produce terminal maps.

Metrolinx has been rolling out forms of the wayfinding system at other stations such as Ajax, Exhibition, Union and West Harbour, and are open  to working with other agencies on implementing this as a wayfinding standard across the GTHA agencies, Durham has expressed support for this, and is in discussions with MX about how it can be further implemented, Perhaps this will be a consideration when constructing the new Harmony Terminal in the coming five years. 

Also, yes. Pickering Parkway Terminal is on the station wayfinding maps for Pickering GO, and is labeled as “Pickering Station Bus Terminal B” with terminal A being the bus loop at the station.

 

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Gil

Gil

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, BrandonC said:

Really? Could you share more details and ideally a link or two?

I’ve been complaining to GO for years about station maps

Here's the Metrolinx wayfinding Design Standard as of 2019, it's a huge .pdf file as it's 300 pages long!  Since Pickering was one of the pilot stations, the graphics in the manual use Pickering GO as an example.  Unfortunately the graphics aren't in very much detail, but you can clearly tell the examples are Pickering.  See pages 48-51 of the file.  I'm attaching a screenshot of page 51 which has the most legible details (but not enough to actually identify the various bus platforms).

image.thumb.png.0fc4af92d8d62de9bf592292518fa955.png

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J. Hollingsworth

J. Hollingsworth

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, 2044 said:

I noticed on the new Pulse LFS buses with perimeter seats at the rear, the two seats next to the rear door over the wheels are chained off. Anyone know why? I've only seen it from the outside. Have yet to catch a ride on one.

Good question, it’s been something I’ve been trying to figure out for some time now, but DRT hasn’t provided an answer yet to me.

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