MiWay

[Gil]

Finally made it to the Kipling Terminal tonight, didn't get the chance to do a thorough look around the terminal.  Noticed a few of the automatic doors weren't working, which is probably frustrating for those who rely on them.  The facility is only a few month old and I'm hoping they were simply turned off (why?) rather than broken.  There were also a few screens within the terminal that were off.  I presume these would be the ones displaying ALL of the departures which would be useful given their location.  Without that screen in operation you have to go to the actual platform and consult the individual screen there if you're not consulting an online schedule.  Which led me to discover another terminal without wifi.  Given its location outside of Mississauga I'm not sure if municipal wifi would be a consideration.  Once GO starts their bus service maybe they can provide the wifi?

I was trying to catch the 35 EGLINTON and consulting the terminal map I knew it was at the southwest end.  However the interior of the terminal doesn't go all the way to that end, so what I thought was the door to Platform 15 was actually Platform 14 and missed my bus.  There are the movable signs at each set of doors, but the text identifying the route should be larger to be seen at a distance.  Hopefully more permanent signage over the door like what the TTC does at their stations is coming.  I'm torn between mounting them either immediately over the door or perpendicular to the door for better visibility (as long as it's big enough).

[ttcbusdude]

On ‎3‎/‎22‎/‎2021 at 1:29 PM, Eren Jaeger said:

Seems not everyone is following the movements and retirements recently. I have seen the posts off from a Facebook group. To summarize:

• #1357-#1360 were transferred to Malton.
• #0876, #0878 and #0884 have been retired with #0858, #0861, #0865, #0875 and #0881 scrapped.

0332,0549,0572,0729,0803,1119 and 1751 are at Malton. 

We all know that all the 0601-0653s are at Malton

0301-0302 at Malton

0501-16 at Malton

1301-1310 not including 1303 are at Malton

1351-1357 is at Malton

0851s that are not retired at Malton

The rest are at Central. Please feel free to update my list if there are more at Malton.

[curlingteam333]

18 hours ago, ttcbusdude said:

0332,0549,0572,0729,0803,1119 and 1751 are at Malton. 

We all know that all the 0601-0653s are at Malton

0301-0302 at Malton

0501-16 at Malton

1301-1310 not including 1303 are at Malton

1351-1357 is at Malton

0851s that are not retired at Malton

The rest are at Central. Please feel free to update my list if there are more at Malton.

0851 already retired and already sold to Niagara Region Transit.

D60LFR 1070 already repainted to MiLocal livery. Just saw it today while on 66. Unfortunately I did not have a chance to take a photos as bus was moving fast. 

[drum118]

Got to ride 2056 today for the first ride on the new buses as well seeing 2 more on Dundas today with no camera on me at the time.

https://pub-mississauga.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=10781https://pub-mississauga.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=10782https://pub-mississauga.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=10783https://pub-mississauga.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=10784

[soo8513]

Is it a rare sighting for 1032 to operate on a weekend? Transit55 shows it on 61 this morning.

also 1904 on 90 today. 

[transitfan100]

4 hours ago, soo8513 said:

Is it a rare sighting for 1032 to operate on a weekend? Transit55 shows it on 61 this morning.

also 1904 on 90 today. 

I noticed that too seeing lots of local hybrids out on a Saturday today

[soo8513]

and most of the 1031-class are working today. So CX is now a 7-day garage or has been merged into CP.

[bus_7246]

4 minutes ago, soo8513 said:

and most of the 1031-class are working today. So CX is now a 7-day garage or has been merged into CP.

For the out-of-towner that I am, what is CX?

[Articulated]

1 hour ago, bus_7246 said:

For the out-of-towner that I am, what is CX?

MiWay's Central Parkway garage has two separate buildings on the same property. The original building is referred to as "CP", while the second (annex) building, opened in 2009, is referred to as "CX".

Despite being on the same property, they tend to be run mostly independently from one another, which is why a distinction is typically made between the two buildings.

More info: MiWay Central Parkway Garage

Edited March 28, 2021 by Articulated

[MiExpress]

While there are seperate names for the two garage buildings (CP and CX), as well as distinction between drivers reporting to CP or CX at the start of their shift, that's about as far as it goes. There is no separate seniority/driver crewing for CP vs CX, no specific routes assigned to each, or specific buses assigned to each*. In fact it is possible for a driver (and bus) to start at CX garage and end at CP garage, and vice versa. 

*The one exception is hybrids which are currently parked in the CX garage. This is probably for consistency as the Orion VII hybrids can only be parked at CX due to height restrictions. 

As for CX garage being open on the weekend and the use of hybrids, at this point it should be considered temporary only and not a permanent arrangement going forward. 

[newflyerinvero]

Personally I don't think is temporary for CX to be a 7 day operation. Consideing that Mississauga is in a Climate Emegecy, much less everywhere in the province and elsewhere, with every order onwards either hybrid or eventually, full electric, weekends with just diesel buses would eventually run out of fleet. 
I'm speaking more of the MiLocal fleet compared to the MiExpress fleet. If it's going to be another couple of years where the only buses that are out on weekends aren't the newer equipment at CX, just seems odd. I'm not sure when the next order of new hybrids are goingto be ordered, but eventually those 05s and 06s aren't getting younger, lol.
But seeing this is a nice chnage adn I hope hat MiWay continues this trend.
I wasn't aware that there were height restrictions for the 2010 Orion Hybrids compared to their BRT counterparts. Visually they look just as tall, if not the same. Then again, it could be the eyes doing their thing.

[Gil]

On 3/25/2021 at 6:47 PM, drum118 said:

Got to ride 2056 today for the first ride on the new buses as well seeing 2 more on Dundas today with no camera on me at the time.

https://pub-mississauga.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=10781https://pub-mississauga.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=10782https://pub-mississauga.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=10783https://pub-mississauga.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=10784

The first two links are reports on the MiWay Infrastructure Growth Plan, while the last two are the following Appendix graphics:

Possibly in conjunction with the City's Reimagining the Mall, Meadowvale Town Centre and Erin Mills Town Centre are slated for enhanced amenities.  I've always wondered what the long-term transit plan for Erin Mills Town Centre was as they seemed to be shifting the focus to the Erin Mills Transitway station but the mall still remains a focal point and potentially moreso with whatever plans they have.  Westwood isn't listed, but it is one of the Reimagining malls and the recent announcement of Walmart closing the location there could spur further redevelopments.

Dixie Outlet Mall wasn't part of the Reimagining the Mall, but it is still being redeveloped in conjunction with the QEW/Dixie interchange reconfiguration.  Depending on whether or not the MiWay5 plan of adding new routes to Dixie Outlet Mall actually happens they will definitely need improved infrastructure.  The "terminal" is at least closer to the mall here than at Erin Mills.

As for the enhanced shelters along the Eglinton corridor are there plans for improving service or is it just a result of the combined/duplicated services along the corridor?  Most of the enhanced shelters are stops for the 87 MEADOWVALE-SKYMARK except for the stops west of Creditview.  Speaking of which, which of stops at Creditview and Eglinton will be enhanced, the nearside or farside?

Found this (Page 5) from the second link, the MiWay Infrastructure Growth Plan Executive Summary interesting:

The new-ish "lollipop" stops should ideally have a blue topper for stops served by express routes, while the regular orange ones should be used for routes served by local routes only.  The 87 MEADOWVALE-SKYMARK should really be definitively put in either the local or express category of services.  It's currently the last hybrid limited-stop service.  The 71 SHERIDAN-SUBWAY is slated for an eventual upgrade to express service.  The 70 KEATON could probably be upgraded as well.  The 108 MEADOWVALE BUSINESS EXPRESS serves as precedent with express service stops between Kipling the highway and then local service after coming off the highway at the other end of the route.

[TransitfanJW]

It appears that the 13xx XD60s are moving back to Central and that the 17xx LFS Artics, up to about 1782, are moving up to Malton to replace them. Can anyone confirm?

[drum118]

miWay new bus..................haaaaaaa

[Gil]

1 hour ago, drum118 said:

miWay new bus..................haaaaaaa

That would effectively double the number of bicycles a bus could carry.  If they could figure out a way to ensure the security of the bikes on the rear rack and how a driver can tell when it's safe to drive when a bike is being loaded or unloaded from the rear rack then we may be onto something here.  I know GO drivers are hesitant to take more than the 2 bikes in the rack as they would have to be stored in the luggage bins underneath or on board a double decker.  Municipal transit buses don't come with the extra storage option underneath and are likely just as wary of taking additional bikes especially on a popular route where space us at a premium.  I don't see them going the way of TTC streetcars and adding bike racks inside (tradeoff for not being able to mount them in the front) any time soon. 

[bus_7246]

12 hours ago, Gil said:

That would effectively double the number of bicycles a bus could carry.  If they could figure out a way to ensure the security of the bikes on the rear rack and how a driver can tell when it's safe to drive when a bike is being loaded or unloaded from the rear rack then we may be onto something here.  I know GO drivers are hesitant to take more than the 2 bikes in the rack as they would have to be stored in the luggage bins underneath or on board a double decker.  Municipal transit buses don't come with the extra storage option underneath and are likely just as wary of taking additional bikes especially on a popular route where space us at a premium.  I don't see them going the way of TTC streetcars and adding bike racks inside (tradeoff for not being able to mount them in the front) any time soon. 

Someone missed the fact that it was April fool’s day yesterday lol

[Gil]

16 hours ago, bus_7246 said:

Someone missed the fact that it was April fool’s day yesterday lol

I know the image was an April Fool's gag, but I was serious about a rear bike rack on a bus.  I don't know if they're a better solution than larger front-mounted racks to accommodate more bikes.  I've also wondered, what measures would a driver take if someone other than the owner attempted to remove a bike from the rack, say when the bus is stopped or stuck in traffic? 

[Bus_Medic]

25 minutes ago, Gil said:

I know the image was an April Fool's gag, but I was serious about a rear bike rack on a bus.  I don't know if they're a better solution than larger front-mounted racks to accommodate more bikes.  I've also wondered, what measures would a driver take if someone other than the owner attempted to remove a bike from the rack, say when the bus is stopped or stuck in traffic? 

Two things make it a non starter. 
1. it impedes access for maintenance.

2. It’s not in the operator’s direct line of sight.

[2044]

Interestingly, the private coaches in Silicon Valley have bike racks on the rear. Dunno how that’s been working out, though.

[Gil]

I saw a notice on Britannia for a road closure on the evening of April 6 between Erin Mills and Winston Churchill but no explanation as what it's for.  The Service Update reported at MiWay.ca and Transit Toronto are just as vague with a Forensic Investigation cited as the reason for the closure.

Looking at the detour map, with the 87 MEADOWVALE-SKYMARK already at reduced frequency, would it be possible to run it along Windwood and Oka?  The only stop that would really be missed would be the Britannia and Winston Churchill one.  By 8pm you'd likely only catch the last run or two with the closure.  Either transfer to the 45 WINSTON CHURCHILL at Oka or the 39 BRITANNIA on the common section before the detour.  The 39 BRITANNIA being more frequent and running later into the closure, so the detour along Thomas seems appropriate.

Alternate detour?

[Gil]

I guess with all of the confusion (the Britannia closure was revised to Wednesday night) not all of the drivers got the message.  I was following on Transit55 and missed a few screenshots but you can see what happened:

   

The 39 BRITANNIA buses had no problem with the detour, but it did delay them.  The 87 MEADOWVALE-SKYMARK (0820) came upon the closure and waited while dispatch advised them of the detour routing.  It was probably in the right lane and needed to make the left onto Erin Mills.  Meanwhile the 13 GLEN ERIN (0805) got all the way up to Britannia and could not cross it and radioed dispatch.  It then turned around, and used Castlebridge Dr. to get to Winston Churchill and continued all the way to Battled before resuming regular routing.  Other 13 GLEN ERIN buses seemed to follow the prescribed detour later in the night.

In other detour news, the temporary detour on the 26 BURNHAMTHORPE at Kipling announced in March will become permanent with the next Service Change on April 26.  The Kipling-bound (as the eastbound route is currently running westbound on Bloor at this point) routing will continue to Kipling Ave., turn left and then right onto Dundas St. and continue to Subway Ct. to access Kipling Terminal.  While the South Common-bound routing will follow the original routing along Dundas St. through Six Points to Bloor St. and on to Islington Station. 

Aside from the schedule changes resulting in the routing changes already discussed here, the following routes also see their schedules modified: 2 HURONTARIO, 5 DIXIE, 7 AIRPORT, 16/16A MALTON, 17 HURONTARIO, 22 FINCH, 26 BURNHAMTHORPE, 35 EGLINTON, 42 DERRY (which includes "new late-night, Saturday, and Sunday trips"), 43 MATHESON-ARGENTIA, 46 TENTH LINE-OSPREY, 49 McDOWELL, 53 KENNEDY, 66 McLAUGHLIN, 68 TERRY FOX, 71 SHERIDAN-SUBWAY, 87 MEADOWVALE-SKYMARK, 90 TERRAGAR-COPENHAGEN and 103 HURONTARIO EXPRESS.

[MiExpress]

I did an update to the wiki pages to reflect buses that have been decommissioned over the last few months.

To provide a summary of decommissioned in the last few months by fleet:

2003 D40LF: 0324 is the most recent retirement from this series. This leaves 20/44 buses still active.

2005 D40LF: 0512, 0520, 0527, 0540, 0565, 0570 

2006 D40LFR: 0602, 0603, 0620 (collision), 0632, 0653

2008 D40LFR: 0831 

2008 D60LFR: 0866, 0876 and 0878 have been retired. This leaves 0862, 0880, 0883 and 0884 as the final 4 remaining buses from this series. There is no guarantee they will remain until the 5 XDE60 buses arrive in the fall.

MiWay applied for federal infrastructure funding (ICIP program) which included funding to replace a large portion of the fleet but the funding still has not been approved almost 2 years after the fact which has put a wrench into bus replacement plans. It appears from here on out buses will be decommissioned based on condition, with both structural and mechanical issues being determining factors. Also, with MiWay's approach to doing major mechanical and structural work on an as needed basis rather than a scheduled rebuild/refurb the condition of buses in a subfleet can vary widely, especially structurally. Corrosion is a issue on many of the New Flyer LF/LFR buses. 

Finally, there was some discussion of the MiWay Infrastructure Growth Plan on the last page and while the city council report only included the executive summary and some maps, the full report with all appendixes has been posted on the website (large 500+ page pdf): https://www7.mississauga.ca/documents/miway/servicechange/MIGP_FINAL_with_Appendices_2020.pdf

[mikenoza]

4 hours ago, MiExpress said:

I did an update to the wiki pages to reflect buses that have been decommissioned over the last few months.

To provide a summary of decommissioned in the last few months by fleet:

2003 D40LF: 0324 is the most recent retirement from this series. This leaves 20/44 buses still active.

2005 D40LF: 0512, 0520, 0527, 0540, 0565, 0570 

2006 D40LFR: 0602, 0603, 0620 (collision), 0632, 0653

2008 D40LFR: 0831 

2008 D60LFR: 0866, 0876 and 0878 have been retired. This leaves 0862, 0880, 0883 and 0884 as the final 4 remaining buses from this series. There is no guarantee they will remain until the 5 XDE60 buses arrive in the fall.

MiWay applied for federal infrastructure funding (ICIP program) which included funding to replace a large portion of the fleet but the funding still has not been approved almost 2 years after the fact which has put a wrench into bus replacement plans. It appears from here on out buses will be decommissioned based on condition, with both structural and mechanical issues being determining factors. Also, with MiWay's approach to doing major mechanical and structural work on an as needed basis rather than a scheduled rebuild/refurb the condition of buses in a subfleet can vary widely, especially structurally. Corrosion is a issue on many of the New Flyer LF/LFR buses. 

Finally, there was some discussion of the MiWay Infrastructure Growth Plan on the last page and while the city council report only included the executive summary and some maps, the full report with all appendixes has been posted on the website (large 500+ page pdf): https://www7.mississauga.ca/documents/miway/servicechange/MIGP_FINAL_with_Appendices_2020.pdf

Wait hold on... What happened to 0831?

[drum118]

I am surprise that there are still 2008 60's on the road today given the fact that most 60's use to make 11 years with a number only hitting 10. Those 4 60's are entering their 13 years. Then you got 2003 entering their 18th years and 3 years past retirement.

miWay staff and personnel are nearing the point of what to do and thank COVID-19 for delaying what to do if ridership keep growing to put service on the road when there are no buses to do so.

Council still think with their feet as if you have access to a car you can get around your safe and we can keep your taxes low while those who don't, deal with the crush load or start walking.

Council hasn't change much since 2000 when I started to deal with then on transit as they still want low density that does not support transit nor help to fund it in the first place.

Getting expansion buses and more service 7 days a week been a joke as well not increasing the model split for transit in that same time frame which is about 3% more than 2001 before COVID-19 hit.

Council knew a few years before ICIP came out that they had a huge bus order coming as well moving to the HEV buses in place of diesel that will become E buses in the coming years that will cost more than the past.

We should be receiving 2003 bus replacement now starting late last year if council had open wallet than lets wait another year or two. Almost have to say Hazel was running council and her close purse for buying buses.

You got to thank the people who can keep putting old buses on the road to service riders that should be working on new ones.

At this stage, 2003-2008 will remain in service until it too costly to do so as well meet the standards to be on the road in the first place.

[Orion V]

23 hours ago, drum118 said:

I am surprise that there are still 2008 60's on the road today given the fact that most 60's use to make 11 years with a number only hitting 10. Those 4 60's are entering their 13 years. Then you got 2003 entering their 18th years and 3 years past retirement.

miWay staff and personnel are nearing the point of what to do and thank COVID-19 for delaying what to do if ridership keep growing to put service on the road when there are no buses to do so.

Council still think with their feet as if you have access to a car you can get around your safe and we can keep your taxes low while those who don't, deal with the crush load or start walking.

Council hasn't change much since 2000 when I started to deal with then on transit as they still want low density that does not support transit nor help to fund it in the first place.

Getting expansion buses and more service 7 days a week been a joke as well not increasing the model split for transit in that same time frame which is about 3% more than 2001 before COVID-19 hit.

Council knew a few years before ICIP came out that they had a huge bus order coming as well moving to the HEV buses in place of diesel that will become E buses in the coming years that will cost more than the past.

We should be receiving 2003 bus replacement now starting late last year if council had open wallet than lets wait another year or two. Almost have to say Hazel was running council and her close purse for buying buses.

You got to thank the people who can keep putting old buses on the road to service riders that should be working on new ones.

At this stage, 2003-2008 will remain in service until it too costly to do so as well meet the standards to be on the road in the first place.

Maybe the 03 and 08s artics were just built really well? lol

Brampton still has their 02/03s active.