[hfx_chris]

Just under 300, actually. And yes, 200 additional spaces.

Regarding location, I assume it will be built close to the 103 interchange. It's a good location, easy access to Bayers/Joe Howe for buses dead heading to Halifax, 102 access for Lower Sackville/Bedford.

[Wishblade]

Just under 300, actually. And yes, 200 additional spaces.

Regarding location, I assume it will be built close to the 103 interchange. It's a good location, easy access to Bayers/Joe Howe for buses dead heading to Halifax, 102 access for Lower Sackville/Bedford.

according to Wiki we have 315 buses.

[hfx_chris]

That's way off, it's actually 263 by my count.

[Dmajackson]

New website tells bus riders where to go

Halifax News Net


By Jon Tattrie – The Weekly News
A local software developer has built a website that lets Metro Transit users quickly work out how to get from where they are to where they want to go.
Bus riders who go to William Lachance’s hbus.ca simply plug in where they are, where they want to be and what time they want to leave and in a few seconds, the site provides a route. It says where to catch a bus, what number, and when it will next stop there.
Lachance arrived in Halifax from Montreal in 2007 and relies on public transportation to get around. He says the service is great, but finding out how to use it can be cumbersome.
“I saw a need and it seemed like an interesting problem to get my hands dirty with,” Lachance told The Weekly News. “The challenge was to create something people would really love and enjoy using. I tried to make it so you could figure out what you want to do in 30 seconds or less.”
He couldn’t get the information from Metro Transit, so he took to the streets with his bike and GPS. He says he biked every bus route on the peninsula, plus some of Dartmouth and Sackville, to build his information. Months of plugging away resulted in the beta version of hbus.ca online now.
“I’m very sensitive to the frustrations that go along with (riding the bus). Often with software like this, it’s written by people who drive to work every day and just can’t really emphasize with somebody who has to use the software,” Lachance said.
He’s now looking for public feedback on the site to fix any mistakes and suggest how to develop it.
“Public transit has the potential to reduce economic inequality and combat global warming, but to be widely adopted, it needs to be easy to use,” Lachance said.
“The software behind hbus.ca is designed to make taking public transit second nature. Finding the right bus to take can be as easy as hailing a cab.”
Metro Transit said it’s developing its own system with Google. Spokeswoman Lori Patterson said they have been working on Google Transit for two months and hope to roll it out this summer.
“It will make it convenient for passengers to punch in where they’re going, where they want to travel to by bus, and get the nearest departure and destination,” she said.
Responding to Lachance’s claim that her company wasn’t overly helpful to him, Patterson said Metro Transit gets “quite a few” requests for information and that the bus details change every month.
“If we let it out there and it’s wrong, we’re held accountable,” she said

Also I heard a rumor last night that the Spryfield/Clayton Park MetroLinks are now expected to start in 2011.

[Phalanx]

[I]New website tells bus riders where to go

...

Other transit systems have had this capability for awhile now. Ottawa, for example. I remember suggesting something like this when Metro Transit did the survey a few months back. There must have been enough demand for it...

[eastcoastal]

I feel like MetroTransit could benefit from reviewing the whole system.

I don't think a lot of the routes make sense to people who aren't already familiar with them. I know a few routes well... but stepping onto an unfamiliar bus is almost like disappearing into a black hole - I usually am not exactly sure where I'm going. It's probably because the routes accrued over time with bits and pieces added as they became viable or necessary.

In my opinion, the easiest transit systems to use are the ones where a bus (or trolley, or train) goes back and forth on one or two streets maximum, and to go another direction, you transfer. This tends to mean that buses are more frequent and can be spread out more evenly. Often, if there are a coupe routes to choose from to get me where I need to go here, they arrive at my stop close together, leading to situations where several buses show up within a few minutes, and then there are long stretches of time where nothing comes. You have to be schedule focused here (and the schedule is often wrong) in order not to miss a bus and spend 20minutes or half an hour waiting for the next.

When I go to other cities with better systems, I can usually feel more comfortable exploring the city there than here on transit.

I think it's a question of efficiency too. It can't be efficient to lump bus arrivals for routes that share portions of the territories they cover together.

I once asked Dave McCusker (sp) who is one of the municipality's transportation planners what the population density of an area needed to be in order to make running a route there worthwhile. He had no idea!

[Keith P.]

[I]New website tells bus riders where to go

Halifax News Net


By Jon Tattrie – The Weekly News
A local software developer has built a website that lets Metro Transit users quickly work out how to get from where they are to where they want to go.
Bus riders who go to William Lachance’s hbus.ca simply plug in where they are, where they want to be and what time they want to leave and in a few seconds, the site provides a route. It says where to catch a bus, what number, and when it will next stop there.


Just for laffs I tried it to see what I would do to get from Dartmouth to Bayers Lake.

I knew I was in trouble when it told me to get off the bus at the Dartmouth Sportsplex and walk to Chain Lake drive. :koko:

But it recovered somehow and then told me to catch the #52. In total (not including that long walk) it took over an hour and 10 minutes to get there, as compared to about 15 minutes by car.

That's why people don't want to use transit around here.

[hfx_chris]

Not a very fair comparison of times kp, when it tells you to walk, is it?

Anyway, I was talking with the developer, and he admits it still has a number of bugs, and incomplete data. Definitely not a finished product.

[Dmajackson]

Just for laffs I tried it to see what I would do to get from Dartmouth to Bayers Lake.

I knew I was in trouble when it told me to get off the bus at the Dartmouth Sportsplex and walk to Chain Lake drive. :koko:

But it recovered somehow and then told me to catch the #52. In total (not including that long walk) it took over an hour and 10 minutes to get there, as compared to about 15 minutes by car.

That's why people don't want to use transit around here.

Here's the reason (copied from the website);

"Currently only the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23, 41, 42, 52, 58, 80, and 81 are covered (service off the main Halifax peninsula may be limited to time point stops)."

[DigitalNinja]

What they need is a bus that takes people from the Sackville terminal to Bayerslake/dartmouth crossing. It could follow the highway stopping off at the sobeys in bedford or around there to pick up people from bedford and get on the highway again to Bayers lake. And this same bus could go to dartmouth crossing as well, stopping off at cobequid to pick up people who may want to come from bedford to dartmouth crossing as well. All it would take is 2-3 buses, so that 1 bus goes from sackville to DC, the other from Sackville to Bayers lake and a third just going along the same route to pick up any people for different times.

[Dmajackson]

Found this interesting. It's from Councillor Younger's website;

Transit Facts:
• It costs $3.69 per kilometer to operate a conventional Metro Transit bus
• It takes one year to plan and implement a new route, and costs $500,000
• 70,000 passengers ride Metro Transit each day
• Even if you don’t take the bus, each bus takes the place of 40 and 50 cars from the road, thus reducing traffic congestion• Metro Transit buses travel 40,000km per day – the equivalent of a trip around the world
• Accessible Low Floor (ALF) buses are now the only ones manufactured in North America. 50% of all HRM routes are now fully accessible to mobility impaired passengers
• The cost of a standard length bus is $350,000• The cost of an articulated, 60 foot, bus is $700,000
• The cost of one Access-A-Bus (AAB) is $90,000
• The harbour ferry began service in 1752 and is the oldest, continuous salt
water service in North America

[Dmajackson]

Council ponders expanding rural transit program

By MICHAEL LIGHTSTONE Staff Reporter
Wed. Apr 22 - 4:46 AM
Halifax city hall is considering expanding its rural transit program but municipal staff said Tuesday the city first needs a game plan.

Such a program, if approved by regional council, would go beyond rural express buses that are to bring rural and suburban commuters to downtown and back home again, staff told council’s meeting of committee of the whole.

Funding expanded rural transit is a question mark, the politicians heard, as the city does not have the money or the buses to develop a system that would tie into Metro Transit’s bus and ferry network.

Proposed expansion won’t come cheap, says a staff report. It says in addition to annual operating costs, $7.8 million in capital funds would be needed to buy buses, expand radio coverage and install about 435 bus stops in Halifax Regional Municipality.

Also, the province would need to be contacted regarding the stopping of buses on proposed rural routes, council heard.

The first rural express route for commuters is to be in service this fall. Two others have been planned for 2011-12, the report says.

Councillors are thinking of launching a one-year pilot project to test an expanded rural bus service. They’re considering using the Sambro loop in metro and would earmark money from an impending Metro Transit fare increase to bankroll the scheme.

A 25-cent fare hike is to take effect July 1. It is the first rate increase in more than four years and means an adult cash payment for buses and ferries will rise to $2.25 from $2 for a one-way trip.

The fare hike is expected to generate $2.6 million for Metro Transit.

No decision was made.

Tuesday’s meeting was suspended because council went behind closed doors to discuss a personnel issue, property matter and settlement of a claim against the city.

The debate is likely to resume next week.

In other business, council has taken another shot at revising the transit tax system but a vote won’t be held until next Tuesday.

Council decided on a general tax rate using property assessments. For most urban residents, that would result in a lower rate, but there are quite a few rural areas that would pay more, staff said.

Another option that councillors first approved and then defeated during two meetings last week was debated Tuesday morning. Council ended up voting against it.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

Any word on when the new Metro Transit garage will be under way?

[HaliStreaks]

Any word on when the new Metro Transit garage will be under way?

Same with the new terminal at the bridge... still waiting to hear word about that...

[alps]

Eh, I'm not too big on expanded rural service. Seems like a waste of money, it promotes sprawl to some degree, and these people don't take the bus, anyway.

[hfx_chris]

Eh, I'm not too big on expanded rural service. Seems like a waste of money, it promotes sprawl to some degree, and these people don't take the bus, anyway.

I think the folks who take the Beaver Bank and Porters Lake buses might disagree on your last point.

[phrenic]

Going off the comment that nobody in rural areas take the bus, does the city do any kind of marketing in the target area when they launch a new bus route?

I don't mean huge ad buys or anything like that, but it would make sense to me to even do a door-to-door information campaign that makes people aware that the service is available.

[Dmajackson]

A speedier bus plan

By TOM PETERS Staff Reporter
Tue. Jun 16 - 4:46 AM
Speedier bus service to downtown Halifax for people in western areas of the municipality is one of the initial projects in the city’s five-year transit plan.

Dave McCusker, manager of regional transportation for Halifax Regional Municipality, said Monday that the city is looking at a transit corridor that would feature "a series of priorities for buses that would allow them to get across the peninsula more quickly."

Mr. McCusker said the plan is to present a transit service from Spryfield, Clayton Park and Tantallon to downtown similar to the Lower Sackville and Dartmouth MetroLink express buses.

"On those corridors, we installed some queue-jumping lanes, signage priorities and things like that, and we will be doing similar things across the peninsula to help those buses."

The plan will initially focus on Gottingen Street and consideration for a transit lane in the existing street width.

With all current inbound bus services terminating at Scotia Square, the Gottingen Street route will be used for outbound buses. The MetroLink bus to Portland Hills in Dartmouth already uses that route.

I think its about time the city made some bus priority lanes/lights on the peninsula. Right now I can only think of one area with bus priorities (McDonald Bridge approaches) which isn't much help on the overall bus travel times. One thing I think the city should explore is creating a crosstown bus from Spyfield-Peninsula-Dartmouth which would use the North/Chebucto corridor on the peninsula.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

I think its about time the city made some bus priority lanes/lights on the peninsula. Right now I can only think of one area with bus priorities (McDonald Bridge approaches) which isn't much help on the overall bus travel times. One thing I think the city should explore is creating a crosstown bus from Spyfield-Peninsula-Dartmouth which would use the North/Chebucto corridor on the peninsula.

I agree completely. A bus lane for Bayers Road should also be a high priority, I don't see how the Link will be anywhere near fast if it gets caught in that mess.

[Dmajackson]

Found this on the Peninsula Community Council agenda for last Monday;

9.3.1 Peninsula Transit Corridor - David McCusker, Manager, HRM Regional Transportation (http://www.halifax.ca/commcoun/pcc/documents/PCCJune931.pdf)

[ScovaNotian]

There is a forward looking infosheet on MetroX at http://www.halifax.ca/MetroTransit/documents/MetroX.infosheet.June2009.pdf.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

Several questions: 1) Where is Geizer's Hill? 2) What route will those Link buses/MetroX be taking to get on the Peninsula? 3) Will Metro Transit team up with Ecology Action Centre to promote these new services like they did with the Link? That seemed to work pretty well.

The major problem I have with these services is how park-n-ride dependent they are. One stop only in the Clayton Park area - I'm sure Fairview would have quite high ridership, they could run the Link bus down Lacewood and pick up somewhere at the bottom of Fairview. I don't know Spryfield as well as Mainland North but I'm sure the same could be said for that area - another stop would serve a lot of people. A couple of more stops could really increase Link coverage.

Overall though MetroX and Link expansions will be an important improvement to the regional transportation network. Hopefully this moves ahead as planned.

[Dmajackson]

Several questions: 1) Where is Geizer's Hill? 2) What route will those Link buses/MetroX be taking to get on the Peninsula? 3) Will Metro Transit team up with Ecology Action Centre to promote these new services like they did with the Link? That seemed to work pretty well.

The major problem I have with these services is how park-n-ride dependent they are. One stop only in the Clayton Park area - I'm sure Fairview would have quite high ridership, they could run the Link bus down Lacewood and pick up somewhere at the bottom of Fairview. I don't know Spryfield as well as Mainland North but I'm sure the same could be said for that area - another stop would serve a lot of people. A couple of more stops could really increase Link coverage.

Overall though MetroX and Link expansions will be an important improvement to the regional transportation network. Hopefully this moves ahead as planned.

I'm guessing Geizer's Hill is around the 102/North-West Interchange. And well since the plans are to widen Bayers Road for a bus lane I would have to say the buses will go to the interchange and down Bayers to Robie.

One thing I've always thought should be explored is a ferry terminal in Burnside with shuttle connections through-out the park. With peak-hour service to Bedford and Downtown (and any other terminals that might come online). Off peak the ferries could be used to boost ridership elsewhere like Woodside or rented out for parties/festivals. Heck I even know where a terminal could be located (Just west of Akerley Blvd on Windmill Road on a peninsula or with some manipulation at the foot of Bancroft Drive adjacent to the Burnside MetroLinks).

One other thing that could be explored in relation to a potential Sunnyside MetroLink is converting the passing lane on Dartmouth Road (Drt-bound) into a bus lane and extending the merge lane on Magazine Hill down to the existing bus lane on Windmill Road.

[hfx_chris]

Geizers Hill is the hill at the top of Main Avenue, where the two large CBC towers are. You know the ones, they've got the white strobes, very recognizable..

I don't think MetroLink is the type of service where you could have multiple park and ride lots along the same route. The problem usually, or at least in the case of Portland Hills and Sackville, is that the buses pretty much fill up, if there was a second dedicated park and ride lot along its route they would probably never be able to fit everyone on.

Anyway, I've always hated maps like the one shown in that pdf. Great for getting the overall idea, but horrible for trying to figure out exactly where the bloody route is going, what streets etc.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

Geizers Hill is the hill at the top of Main Avenue, where the two large CBC towers are. You know the ones, they've got the white strobes, very recognizable..

I don't think MetroLink is the type of service where you could have multiple park and ride lots along the same route. The problem usually, or at least in the case of Portland Hills and Sackville, is that the buses pretty much fill up, if there was a second dedicated park and ride lot along its route they would probably never be able to fit everyone on.

Anyway, I've always hated maps like the one shown in that pdf. Great for getting the overall idea, but horrible for trying to figure out exactly where the bloody route is going, what streets etc.

So Geizer's Hill is the top of Fairview, very good to hear. I don't think there should necessarily be multiple park and rides, but more station with walk-up traffic. The top of Fairview would make sense for this with Mount Royal going in and decent bus ridership in the area already.

Isn't there plans to bring in atriculated buses to serve at least the Sackville Link? That would alleviate some of the over-crowding. You could also increase the frequency of buses.

I agree, that's a terrible map, although from a user point of view much better than trying to figure out what's happening on the regular Metro Transit map.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

I'm guessing Geizer's Hill is around the 102/North-West Interchange. And well since the plans are to widen Bayers Road for a bus lane I would have to say the buses will go to the interchange and down Bayers to Robie.

One thing I've always thought should be explored is a ferry terminal in Burnside with shuttle connections through-out the park. With peak-hour service to Bedford and Downtown (and any other terminals that might come online). Off peak the ferries could be used to boost ridership elsewhere like Woodside or rented out for parties/festivals. Heck I even know where a terminal could be located (Just west of Akerley Blvd on Windmill Road on a peninsula or with some manipulation at the foot of Bancroft Drive adjacent to the Burnside MetroLinks).

One other thing that could be explored in relation to a potential Sunnyside MetroLink is converting the passing lane on Dartmouth Road (Drt-bound) into a bus lane and extending the merge lane on Magazine Hill down to the existing bus lane on Windmill Road.

Interesting ideas. I don't know Bedford very well at all, it seems like a transit challenge, which is one reason I like the ferry idea so much.

Regardless of how it's done Burnside needs more transit coverage - the business park association has been vocal about this I believe. It's just very tough to service because although its a big employment hub its spread out with low employment densities. I think small, very frequent shuttles (every couple of minutes in rush hour) would be ideal but would be pretty expensive to run.

I think a ferry at Shannon Park might have some potential to tie into Burnside, plus provide an alternative to the MacKay Bridge. Plus the development potential is pretty huge, but unfortunately it doesn't look like anything will be happening there anytime soon.

[Dmajackson]

Interesting ideas. I don't know Bedford very well at all, it seems like a transit challenge, which is one reason I like the ferry idea so much.

Regardless of how it's done Burnside needs more transit coverage - the business park association has been vocal about this I believe. It's just very tough to service because although its a big employment hub its spread out with low employment densities. I think small, very frequent shuttles (every couple of minutes in rush hour) would be ideal but would be pretty expensive to run.

I think a ferry at Shannon Park might have some potential to tie into Burnside, plus provide an alternative to the MacKay Bridge. Plus the development potential is pretty huge, but unfortunately it doesn't look like anything will be happening there anytime soon.

Yes unfortunately Bedford is a traffic nightmare. The problem arises because there's only three main roads and only one of them is compeltely asseciable (Bedford Highway). The Bypass only has one entrance/exit and the Bi-Hi only has interchanges on either end of town and both are infamos for not being very efficient.

I love the ferry idea too but there are some councillors that think the problem is only local and nobody will use it (both points are bogus because Bedford traffic ties up every road in the city and people here want transportation thats at a reasonable travel time). What gets me is Bedford has no transit servicing the Bridge terminal (the busiest and most asseciable) and only has one bus going into Dartmouth with about six trips a day.

A ferry terminal in Shannon Park could also work but only as long as it has bus service to the majority of Burnside. I think the spot just west of Akerley Drive would work best since its just north of Wright's Cove (away from yacht club/islands), right on Magazine Hill/Windmill Road and at the most important stop-light in Burnside. From the terminal shuttles could run through all of Burnside and by using existing bus routes it could also service Bedford and Sackville.

[hfx_chris]

Isn't there plans to bring in atriculated buses to serve at least the Sackville Link? That would alleviate some of the over-crowding. You could also increase the frequency of buses. I've heard that a number of times, but who knows when.

I agree, that's a terrible map, although from a user point of view much better than trying to figure out what's happening on the regular Metro Transit map.You've got to be kidding me. At least the individual route maps include street names and landmarks... although I'll agree the system maps are a nightmare to parse.

...people here want transportation thats at a reasonable travel time...Exactly why the "fast" ferry will "sink" ;)

What gets me is Bedford has no transit servicing the Bridge terminal (the busiest and most asseciable) and only has one bus going into Dartmouth with about six trips a day.I wonder if there would be some sort of benefit to a loop around the basin, something along the lines of: Bedford Hwy, Dartmouth Road/bypass, Windmill, Victoria, Bridge Terminal, MacDonald, Gottingen, Young, Robie/Kempt, Bedford Hwy. Two routes running opposite each other. Downside is it would require a transfer to downtown Halifax though.
Also route 66 has 16 trips / day through Bedford.. :)

There was a push a couple years ago for what I believe HRM was calling community shuttles, which would be similar to the style of buses HRM is purchasing for the MetroX rural express service, and would basically loop around smaller areas. Burnside was a suggested area where service like that would make sense. And it makes sense to me too, I just hope they use real buses for the service...

[Dmajackson]

Exactly why the "fast" ferry will "sink" ;)

It will be fine.

The way I see it anything would faster than an average commute of 45mins or taking the bus (1:15 mins via the 80).

I wonder if there would be some sort of benefit to a loop around the basin, something along the lines of: Bedford Hwy, Dartmouth Road/bypass, Windmill, Victoria, Bridge Terminal, MacDonald, Gottingen, Young, Robie/Kempt, Bedford Hwy. Two routes running opposite each other. Downside is it would require a transfer to downtown Halifax though.
Also route 66 has 16 trips / day through Bedford.. :)

There was a push a couple years ago for what I believe HRM was calling community shuttles, which would be similar to the style of buses HRM is purchasing for the MetroX rural express service, and would basically loop around smaller areas. Burnside was a suggested area where service like that would make sense. And it makes sense to me too, I just hope they use real buses for the service...

I was actually going to suggest a "Basin Loop" route with a path something along those lines.

And well I checked you are correct about the 16 trips but the problem is the 66 doesn't go to the Bridge Terminal and its mainly on hour frequencies. I was reading some awile back and MT is has 30 min freuency scheduled for the 66 in the future along with some other ideas. I'll have to see if I can dig the information back up.

On another note I was out to Sackville today via the 66, 80 and 82 and I found the most disgusting, run-down terminal in all of HRM. The Cobequid Terminal is in crap shape, out-dated and despite handling thousands of people a day does not have an terminal building where people can wait out of the scorching heat (like I had to today for 20min). It is in worse shape than the Bridge Terminal and the place is pretty bad too.

[hfx_chris]

Plus the 66 gets horribly crowded during rush hour, and that scenic trip through Burnside is annoying.. it's always at least 10 minutes behind schedule, and I've heard it's most drivers' least favourite route, because there's very little layover time in the schedule, so there's almost no time for rest, especially if behind schedule.

Cobequid, Highfield, Penhorn, Bridge, Lacewood... they're all the same. I mean they were all built around the same time, they're all run down and in bad shape, and with the exception of some differences in layout they all look the same. Oh, and they all need to be replaced. But aside from the Bridge, only Penhorn and Lacewood have seriously been mentioned for replacement (in the case of Lacewood especially, since it was only ever meant to be a temporary terminal). With the exception of Sackville and Portland Hills, which are both new locations, the only terminals to be actually replaced in recent years is Mic Mac and Mumford - the old Mic Mac terminal was the same vintage as the others listed, and it was replaced with a simple platform and a couple of bays on the side of the road, at the edge of the parking lot (used to be located next to the doors by Winners, which of course used to be the old IGA).
I get the feeling if and when HRM ever replaces terminals like Penhorn, Cobequid or Highfield, don't expect much. Certainly don't expect a separate terminal building.

[Dmajackson]

Plus the 66 gets horribly crowded during rush hour, and that scenic trip through Burnside is annoying.. it's always at least 10 minutes behind schedule, and I've heard it's most drivers' least favourite route, because there's very little layover time in the schedule, so there's almost no time for rest, especially if behind schedule.

Yes unfortunately it does get crowded at rush hour. What will happen a lot is Downtown workers (I have family member on SGR who does this) will take the 84/85/87 to Cobequid Terminal then switch over to the 80 or 66. If you catch the 66 coming up Magazine Hill from Akerley you'll be lucky if you can get a seat in the evening.

Cobequid, Highfield, Penhorn, Bridge, Lacewood... they're all the same. I mean they were all built around the same time, they're all run down and in bad shape, and with the exception of some differences in layout they all look the same. Oh, and they all need to be replaced. But aside from the Bridge, only Penhorn and Lacewood have seriously been mentioned for replacement (in the case of Lacewood especially, since it was only ever meant to be a temporary terminal). With the exception of Sackville and Portland Hills, which are both new locations, the only terminals to be actually replaced in recent years is Mic Mac and Mumford - the old Mic Mac terminal was the same vintage as the others listed, and it was replaced with a simple platform and a couple of bays on the side of the road, at the edge of the parking lot (used to be located next to the doors by Winners, which of course used to be the old IGA).
I get the feeling if and when HRM ever replaces terminals like Penhorn, Cobequid or Highfield, don't expect much. Certainly don't expect a separate terminal building.

Well if the Clayton Park Link comes online I imagine the Lacewood Terminal would require an upgrade. Its unfortunate HRM is so cheap with the terminals since places like Cobequid serve some 40'000+ population areas (Lwr Sackville & Bedford) and what they have is just dispicable and is probably scaring people away.

On the note of Clayton Park I was reading a MT Document yesterday and apparently they will be building a park-'n-ride at Geizers Hill in addition to Lacewood and I imagine the Spryfield Link will be going to Geizer's Hill too.

[hfx_chris]

Right on.

You've got to remember too, back in the early 90's when a lot of those terminals were built, they looked a lot better and were definitely adequate for the ridership of the day (except Lacewood, which has been overcrowded since the day it opened..)

[someone123]

I love the ferry idea too but there are some councillors that think the problem is only local and nobody will use it (both points are bogus because Bedford traffic ties up every road in the city and people here want transportation thats at a reasonable travel time). What gets me is Bedford has no transit servicing the Bridge terminal (the busiest and most asseciable) and only has one bus going into Dartmouth with about six trips a day.

Well, it is fairly local in scope but it also has a small budget. Most councillors seem to want to find projects that are cheap and involve little or no disruption (they considered commuter rail, for example, but threw out the idea of all rail once it became clear that they couldn't do it by inheriting abandoned tracks and running used diesel cars...). Unfortunately, projects like that don't actually exist, and the real projects will become more and more difficult as the city grows and as fuel costs rise.

It feels like the HRM council is thinking on a scale an order of magnitude too small, which is really sad. Halifax is a real city now that requires real planning and spending, not half measures paid for with pocket change.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

It feels like the HRM council is thinking on a scale an order of magnitude too small, which is really sad. Halifax is a real city now that requires real planning and spending, not half measures paid for with pocket change.

Very well put. I think another problem is council hasn't been very involved in transit planning at the strategic level - its all been left to staff (which is a common theme in Halifax). My impression is council has little knowledge (or interest) in the regional transit plans. The ferry is a good example - potentially a big improvement for the entire region but getting little support because on the surface it won't improve transit service in every councillors ward.

[Dmajackson]

I was out to Dartmouth/Halifax via buses. Two problems I really noticed on the 66 were the buses were late and the last bus heading to Sackville leaves Mic Mac at 6:30 which is too early. To cheer things up on this thread though heres a little story of what happened to me today;

I had a new bus driver on the 66 heading home tonight and well at Highfield she accidently turned left instead of right. Thankfully someone pointed it out to here but she was already half way down the road so she asked me to help her. I had to stand behind the bus in the middle of the road (on Highfield Dr) directing her backwards while directing the other traffic around the bus. I was out there for like five minutes getting a bus to go backwards into a terminal during rush hour. It was the funniest bus experience I've ever had. :haha:

[Keith P.]

Right on.

You've got to remember too, back in the early 90's when a lot of those terminals were built, they looked a lot better and were definitely adequate for the ridership of the day (except Lacewood, which has been overcrowded since the day it opened..)

Exactly where on Lacewood is the terminal located? I can't picture it...

[-Harlington-]

Exactly where on Lacewood is the terminal located? I can't picture it...

the lacewood terminal is on the corner of lacewood dr. and willet st. its behind the game store in the plaza there with all the stores

[hfx_chris]

Exactly, it's literally split between the sidewalk on the edge of Willet behind part of the mall, and the driveway into the mall between the game store and I think a dollar store. It's particularly dangerous because a number of routes are required to actually drive through part of the parking lot to get to part of the terminal.

Speaking of liabilities...

I had a new bus driver on the 66 heading home tonight and well at Highfield she accidently turned left instead of right. Thankfully someone pointed it out to here but she was already half way down the road so she asked me to help her. I had to stand behind the bus in the middle of the road (on Highfield Dr) directing her backwards while directing the other traffic around the bus. I was out there for like five minutes getting a bus to go backwards into a terminal during rush hour. It was the funniest bus experience I've ever had. :haha:
Wow. She is really lucky a supervisor didn't drive by at that time, or another driver report that... she would be in a lot of shit.

[Nigel]

Hello Haligonians:

I'd like to ask what might seem like a very strange question. I was noticing in some of the pictures posted by Halifax forumers that the traffic lights hanging from posts are horizontal, and not vertical. I'm curious to know if this has always been like that or if that is a new thing Halifax is doing. If it is new, can someone explain to me why this is occuring? I know that Saskatchewan is changing many of their hanging traffic lights to the horizontal position aswell. Alberta has been like this for years. BC and Manitoba and Ontario are all vertical.

Thanks!

ps, I wasn't sure where to post this question, and apologize if it is in the wrong thread.

[Wishblade]

Im only 23, but there have been horizontal street lights here for as long as I can remember.

[hfx_chris]

They've pretty much always been horizontal here...as I recall.

[Nigel]

Hmm, maybe I was looking at pics in NB? I always thought that horizontal traffic lights was a western Canada thing. I also noticed that Quebec has horizontal lights, and also one red light on each end of the horizontal traffic light. Very different from what I'm used to.

[Dmajackson]

All of the one's I can think of here are vertical. There's usually two on the posts on the sides of the road and depending on the number of lanes/traffic flow one or more hanging vertically over the road.

[hfx_chris]

Bedford must be different from Dartmouth, because you'll find in Dartmouth almost all of the signals over the street are horizontal.
And in fact Nigel, Dartmouth also has a lot of those signals too, with the double red lights and the shapes (square-red, circle-green, diamond-yellow)

[Dmajackson]

Bedford must be different from Dartmouth, because you'll find in Dartmouth almost all of the signals over the street are horizontal.
And in fact Nigel, Dartmouth also has a lot of those signals too, with the double red lights and the shapes (square-red, circle-green, diamond-yellow)

Yah I've noticed a lot of the double red lights in Downtown Dartmouth before.

I imagine it has to do with them being put in place before amalgamation, back when the individual cities/towns chose the stoplights.

All of the new ones are vertical I believe (Tower @ Inglis, Windsor @ Kempt, Ridgevale @ Dartmouth, ect)

[Waye Mason]

They have the vertical ones at Almon and Connaught, for example, in Halifax. I don't think it was any more than a fad, really. A bit of Space 1999 style street lights from the 1970s era.

Does anyone know if they are going to keep installing the LED lights? I noticed in the blowing snow that they don't generate enough heat to melt the snow and become obscured. I am not sure they are the best idea given our climate. :)

[hfx_chris]

That's the plan. I also heard the city (or maybe NSP) wants to experiment with LED street lights as well.

[HaliStreaks]

That's the plan. I also heard the city (or maybe NSP) wants to experiment with LED street lights as well.

Yes they are, I was speaking with the son of the President of LED Roadway Lighting who is going to be providing our new roadway lighting fixtures.

http://www.ledroadwaylighting.com/

I am currently also speaking to City members of Phoenix and Tuscon AZ, enquiring about IDA (International Dark Sky Association) approved lighting as they are the only 2 north american cities which have an IDA classification (as is the entire state of Arizona)

The company making our LED streetlights have informed me that they are IDA approved and cut down bigtime on excess light reflection and light tresspass.

I don't know if this is a big deal for anyone else aside from me, as I'm into amateur astronomy and dark-sky photography.

If you want to know anything else about the features of this lamp, PM me and I can email you the PDF that the company has provided me.

[Dmajackson]

^Those LED lights look very nice and quite attractive really. And with them designed and made in NS would be a plus for more energy savings. I wonder when they'll start installing them?

Back on topic (since this is a MT thread), though, I was wondering if anybody knows if Metro Transit/HRM is planning to install more transit queue-jump lanes or thos special stoplights they use?

The reason I ask is because over the last month or so I've created a "Master Plan" of what I think should happen transit (road, cycling, bus/ferry) wise in Bedford. I've carefully looked over maps, walked and cycled to many areas, and used Explore HRM to see where my ideas could really work. One of the problems I found was the lack of transit infastructure in Bedford which I believe is leading to low ridership for the 6 routes out here. At a couple of stoplight intersections I found that with simple road work queue jump lanes (and associated stoplights) could easily be installed and at certain locations entire bus lanes could be installed for a couple of blocks without purchasing land.

I've emailed what I found to some contacts who work for the city but I thought I would ask here to see if anybody knew if making buses priorities was even on Metro Transit's plans for the future.

[HaliStreaks]

I've emailed what I found to some contacts who work for the city but I thought I would ask here to see if anybody knew if making buses priorities was even on Metro Transit's plans for the future.


I can't remember where I recall seeing it, but it was around February in some study or report :shrug: that part of the transit plan was for more jump lanes, not sure where exactly but I did read about it.

Wow, sounds like you're doing a lot of work, haha, sounds like my "HRM by me" I worked on for a couple months last year.

I think we should mutiny council and just let all our forumers here run the city. I bet we'd do a better job.. :tup:

[Dmajackson]

I can't remember where I recall seeing it, but it was around February in some study or report :shrug: that part of the transit plan was for more jump lanes, not sure where exactly but I did read about it.

Wow, sounds like you're doing a lot of work, haha, sounds like my "HRM by me" I worked on for a couple months last year.

I think we should mutiny council and just let all our forumers here run the city. I bet we'd do a better job.. :tup:

Must of missed that one. The only report that mentioned a bus lane I've seen recently was about Gottingen Street.

Yah well when I get bored and have nothing to do I start thinking and come up with these plans. I don't have much of them written down but I'm thinking of over the next few weeks typing a "report" up and emailing it to Councillor Outhit and a few others to see if any of its possible.

Lol. Yah seeing all the different ideas on this forum makes me think if we should all run for council in 2012. :haha:

[hfx_chris]

...we should all run for council in 2012. :haha:
Frig that. :sly:

[Dmajackson]

Does anybody know what the deal is with the Peninsula Transit Corridor?

Other than the Gottingen Street transit lane plan I cant seem to find anymore information on it.

[Barrington south]

They have to back out of the bays? That's horrible...

By far the coolest bus terminal I've ever seen is the Eglinton bus terminal in Toronto. Well, that is before they tore it down.
It had these surface level bus lanes each with its own platform and shelter on 3 sides (plus roof) and two staircases at each end descending down to the passenger waiting area underneath (which was of course connected to the Eglinton subway station). The bus would enter its lane and stop at the unloading area where passengers would get off and walk down a flight of stairs to the waiting area below. Then the bus would move ahead to the boarding area (the platform was divided by a fence) at which point a light would turn on downstairs to indicate the bus was at the platform, then passengers would go through the doors and up the other set of stairs to the boarding section of the platform. You couldn't enter the platform from outside, you had to go through the terminal and up the stairs to get to the platforms.

Retro? Yes. Cool? Yes. Impractical? Hell yes.

AHHH yes, Eglinton station,

I grew up within a stones trow from there,
and spent much of my miss spent youth in the subway section,
on my way to the nightlife of downtown.

Many times I used the bus section though, going to friends houses.
And yes, your right, you couldn't enter the platforms from the surface,
as they always had security monitoring the platforms by way of camera.....
I only heard of one guy who ever made it....never tried it my self..always had tickets...

Ohhh and across the street, there was a Chinese bakery that would sell 60 onces of American vodka to kids as young as 12....and American smokes too

[pnightingale]

Just noticed that Halifax now has Google Transit! http://maps.google.ca

It's about time!

[Keith P.]

Just noticed that Halifax now has Google Transit! http://maps.google.ca

It's about time!

Not getting what you are referring to...

[BravoZulu]

http://maps.google.com/help/maps/transit/index.html

This should explain it. Pretty cool, I always thought we should have this cause our system is so dysfunctional.

[hali_toones]

For all you tranisit planning types...http://www.careerbeacon.com/search/en/289/0/62/-1/0/-1/-1/-1/-1/0/3/MB0906304666

Bring on the Bedford MetroLink!!

[planarchy]

For those interested, from the HRM website:

Public Open House Sessions

Metro Transit and IBI Group Consultants will be holding Public Open House Sessions as part of the research and implementation phase of the five-year Transit Operating Plan, which will determine how best to meet demand and deliver future transit services to HRM as it continues to grow.

As part of this process, over 9,000 people responded to the “HRMListens” online survey, which asked for travel pattern information from existing and potential customers. Metro Transit & IBI Group will be presenting a draft plan during the sessions and will be asking for further input from the public.

We invite you to attend one of the following Public Open House Sessions to provide input into The Priority Plan for Metro Transit.

* Dartmouth – Monday, July 20, 2009, 7- 9 PM
Helen Creighton Room, Alderney Library, Alderney Gate
60 Alderney Drive, Dartmouth

* Lower Sackville – Tuesday, July 21, 2009, 7- 9 PM
Fenerty Room, Acadia School Library
636 Sackville Drive, Lower Sackville

* Halifax – Wednesday, July 22, 2009, 7- 9 PM
Halifax Hall, City Hall
1841 Argyle Street, Halifax

[Halifax Hillbilly]

Is the real-time, GPS-based GoTime system functional yet? It wasn't when I left town last spring, wondering if they got it running, and if so how it's working?

[hfx_chris]

The GPS functionality is, as I know for a fact the transit control centre has the ability to track the location of buses using GPS - however I don't think they've quite got it to work yet with the public side of the system, as every time I've ever called or looked up a departure time on one of the monitors, it always gives scheduled times not actual times.

[hfx_chris]

By the way, by the sounds of it big changes on the horizon for transit in Halifax, according to a friend who went to their open house on Monday. They're having another one at city hall tonight if anyone wants to go, I won't be able to make it because of prior commitments this week... but by the sounds of it they're completely redoing a lot of the system.

[planarchy]

“The Priority Plan”
2010-2014 Transit Service Strategy

[taken from a Metro Transit info sheet available here (http://www.halifax.ca/metrotransit/ssi/documents/MetroTransitPublicConsultationHandout.pdf)]
[open house presentation is also available here (http://www.halifax.ca/metrotransit/ssi/documents/TransitPresentationJuly222009.pdf)]

PLAN OBJECTIVES
1. First step towards Regional Goal of 23% transit modal split by 2031
2. Take Metro Transit to next level – more direct, more frequent services
3. Increase transit service levels by 24%
4. Increase ridership 18%; net cost increase +32% - over 5 years
5. Identify new strategies/sources for sustainable transit funding

PLAN PRINCIPLES
• Respond to Regional Transportation & community planning goals
• Increase System Capacity -> more buses, more service
• Improve Reliability & Quality of Experience – reduced travel times, increased customer amenities
• Expand Service to New Areas
• Support Community Mobility Objectives
• Increase Visibility of Transit

SERVICE ENHANCEMENT
To new growth areas
– Bedford, Sherwood Park, Woodside, Eastern Passage Portland and East Woodlawn, Russell Lake West

Better serve satellite employment centres
– Burnside, Ragged Lake employment centres

Enhance community circulator systems
– Halifax South End, Bedford, Sherwood Park, Dartmouth East End

Increase service levels in key corridors
– Bayers, Robie, Bell/Summer, Gottingen, Barrington, Portland

Introduce Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service on 1-Spring Garden route and on Portland/Cole Harbour corridor with services linked at Bridge Terminal
– BRT is high frequency service with transit priority measures and enhanced customer amenities and information features

Improve service to/from Burnside and Cole Harbour, Clayton Park, Bedford/Sackville

Upgrade Woodside ferry service to all day Monday to Saturday

Introduce more Urban Express routes

Introduce Rural Express service – Metro X
– From Tantallon Park and Ride to Scotia Square using #103 freeway

TRANSIT PRIORITY MEASURES
Key to reducing transit travel times
Greater emphasis on transit priority required
Wide range of measures can be used to shift priority to transit in support of faster travel time and increased reliability of service. Includes:
– Bus-Only Lanes
– Transit Only Roadway
– Transit Signals
– Queue Jumpers
– By-Pass Lanes
– Priority Turn Lanes
– Yield to Bus Legislation

HRM ON THE MOVE
With proposed service improvements the daily transit mode share in Halifax region is expected to increase from 12% to 14%
– Puts Halifax Region in league with Greater Vancouver

A higher mode share in the Halifax Region will:
– reduce greenhouse gas emissions & decrease the environmental footprint of growth
– contribute to the region’s attractiveness in terms of livability & economic development
– increase the quality and overall choice of mobility of all residents

[Halifax Hillbilly]

The GPS functionality is, as I know for a fact the transit control centre has the ability to track the location of buses using GPS - however I don't think they've quite got it to work yet with the public side of the system, as every time I've ever called or looked up a departure time on one of the monitors, it always gives scheduled times not actual times.

Fairly embarassing, I'm pretty sure that GoTime update was supposed to be ready fall 2007. Has the new GPS improved Metro Transit's ability to get buses to the stops on time?

[Halifax Hillbilly]

Fast ferries aren't in any part of that Metro Transit presentation. Are they moving down the priority list really fast?

Some interesting stuff in the 2010-2014 priority list, although I still don't think enough attention is being paid to customer service, ammenities, user-friendliness, etc. These kind of things shouldn't be looked at as "perks" or "luxuries" but rather the type of thing that people expect in transportation. The Link from Portland isn't all that much faster but the ridership sure surged - part of that is how the product is packaged and marketed. Metro Transit can do it, they just need to do it more consistently.

If you look at the projections it will cost 32% more to run the system, but ridership is only going to increase 18%. Considering the system is going to be expanding into rural/low denisty suburban areas that isn't surprising but those numbers should make council reconsider how fast and how much they push transit in areas that weren't really built for it and might not have the density to support. I'm the last person to argue transit should make money but this seems like a questionable use of resources.

Finally, I don't think there is any plan to really improve services to the hospitals. There are thousands of people working within a couple of blocks of University Avenue - it should definetly have Link service. I like the idea of the downtown shuttle but transferring adds time and complexity to a trip and IMO University Avenue is a very important and underserviced employment hub. The Link is a success downtown, it would also be successful at the hospitals/Dal.

[someone123]

Transit planning in Halifax seems dominated by politics rather than cost/benefit analysis.

Halifax service levels are not going to be in the same league as those of Vancouver, which has two SkyTrain lines and a subway line to the airport that will open next month.

How would the GPS system work? Could you text to get bus times for a given stop? That's currently supported here in Vancouver.

It seems pretty obvious that not everybody is enthusiastic about the fast ferry project, although I thought it already got some funding? Again this appears to be a symptom of a lack of leadership; rather than pushing things through quickly, the HRM tends to keep an excessive number of plans on the table without committing to anything in particular.

[Wishblade]

I've heard that Go Time is going to use the GPS system starting next month.

And I believe the service for phoning in will be the same as it is now, but rather just give the current location of the bus, and the expected time of arrival based on that location.

[Dmajackson]

How would the GPS system work? Could you text to get bus times for a given stop? That's currently supported here in Vancouver.

It seems pretty obvious that not everybody is enthusiastic about the fast ferry project, although I thought it already got some funding? Again this appears to be a symptom of a lack of leadership; rather than pushing things through quickly, the HRM tends to keep an excessive number of plans on the table without committing to anything in particular.

The GPS works by tracking the buses and using their speed to determine how long until they arrived. You call instead of text and an automated speaker says how long for the next two buses.

The ferry doesn't have money set aside yet that can only go towards it but HRM has spent millions on research and it shouldn't cancel it because councillors in other waterfront communities don't have the service yet. Logically Bedford is the best choice becuase of proximity, commutes, and the large population base.

[hfx_chris]

Fairly embarassing, I'm pretty sure that GoTime update was supposed to be ready fall 2007. Has the new GPS improved Metro Transit's ability to get buses to the stops on time?

I would hazard a yes guess. The previous generation GoTime system told drivers how far behind or ahead of schedule they were, but the new system is a lot more in your face and noticable for the driver.
I've also heard rumours that HRM is thinking about bringing automated next-stop announcements onto the buses, which is "neat" but I would hardly call it a priority. Maybe for blind people though.

[pnightingale]

I've also heard rumours that HRM is thinking about bringing automated next-stop announcements onto the buses, which is "neat" but I would hardly call it a priority. Maybe for blind people though.

There was a lawsuit last year, I think in Toronto, because drivers were not announcing stops on bus routes. The court ruled that the drivers had to announce all stops, to make service more accessible to the blind. Problem is, most of the drivers just didn't do it, so the court said they had to implement automated stop announcements. I would suspect that this is why Metro Transit would be implementing automated stop announcements, because it's only a matter of time before they are required to do it.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

I would hazard a yes guess. The previous generation GoTime system told drivers how far behind or ahead of schedule they were, but the new system is a lot more in your face and noticable for the driver.
I've also heard rumours that HRM is thinking about bringing automated next-stop announcements onto the buses, which is "neat" but I would hardly call it a priority. Maybe for blind people though.

Maybe not a priority for regular users but like others pointed out a big issue for the blind. If I was a casual user or new to the city maybe stop announcements would be very helpful, hard to say though.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

Transit planning in Halifax seems dominated by politics rather than cost/benefit analysis.

Probably the same in most cities, just a difference in degrees. The newest subway expansion in Montreal went off-island to suburban Montreal despite some pretty large areas of dense urban neighbourhoods being underserved. Similar situation in Toronto where the next subway expansions will be to Vaughn or York University.

The problem is a lot of the new rural services in HRM are easy to roll out but could be tough to cut/eliminate if they have poor ridership but aren't a total flop.

[Dmajackson]

Ragged Lake Transit Event - July 31, 2009

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Thursday, July 30, 2009 - The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defense and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, and Member of Parliament for Central Nova, the Honourable Ramona Jennex, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations, along with his worship, Peter Kelly, Mayor of Halifax Regional Municipality, will make an important infrastructure announcement for Halifax.


Date: Friday, July 31, 2009

Time: Rescheduled to 1 pm - 2 pm (rain or shine)

Location: Top of Ragged Lake Blvd. (through construction gates),
Ragged Lake Industrial Park, Halifax

Site tour will be available for individuals with hard hats and steel-toed boots following the ceremony.

[Dmajackson]

Introducing MetroX Commuter Transit Service to Tantallon!

Our new MetroX service, designed with the weekday commuter in mind, will bring express transit to Park & Ride lots along 100-series highways within HRM, beginning with service to Tantallon in September, 2009.

The MetroX buses are different than standard city buses; specifically built and designed with individual reclining seats and air conditioning. One wheelchair can be accommodated by a lift at the rear of the bus.

While MetroX provides its passengers with a worry-free and comfortable commute downtown, MetroX is also a great way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Riding your bike to the MetroX station can be an option as well. Each MetroX station will feature bike racks and lockers, with bike lanes available near of each station. Every MetroX bus will also be equipped with a bike rack.

Service begins on Monday, August 31, 2009!

•Providing one-way service inbound, beginning at 5:58 am, with 30 minute frequency until 8:03 am, to Downtown Halifax on Abermarle Street (formerly Market Street); with easy access to Scotia Square.

•Three two-directional afternoon trips beginning at 12:30 pm, 2 pm and 3:25 pm from Hubley Centre to downtown.

•Peak afternoon one-way service begins at Scotia Square at 4:15 pm, with 30 minute service outbound until 6:50 pm.

A Cost Effective Way to Travel!



MetroX fares reflect the premium service, with direct, limited-stop service to the downtown core.



Cash Fares

•Adult $3.25
•Child/Senior $2.50
•Student $3.25
Monthly Pass

•Adult $100
•Additional fare required with MetroPass, Upass or transfer $1
•Additional fare with MetroLink passes or transfers $0.50
MetroX passes are on sale at the following locations beginning August 20, 2009:

•Sobey’s Customer Service at Hubley Centre, Upper Tantallon
•Lawton’s Drug at Scotia Square
•Shopper’s Drug Mart at Spring Garden Road
For specific schedule information, please refer to page 83 of the Riders’ Guide, visit www.halifax.ca/metrotransit or call the HRM Call Centre at 490-4000.

[hfx_chris]

The MetroX buses are different than standard city buses...
Stupid

...30 minute frequency...
Stupid

...to Downtown Halifax on Abermarle Street (formerly Market Street)
Stupid, although understandable

[Dmajackson]

CANADA-NOVA SCOTIA GOVERNMENTS SUPPORT
IMPROVED TRANSIT SERVICE IN HALIFAX

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Friday, July 31, 2009 - The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, and the Member of Parliament for Central Nova, the Honourable Ramona Jennex, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations, along with his worship, Peter Kelly, Mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), gathered today to celebrate the official ground breaking ceremony for the new Ragged Lake Transit Centre in Ragged Lake Industrial Park. Minister MacKay was also pleased to announce the Government of Canada’s contribution of $16.6 million to the project.

“The Government of Canada, under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, understands that public transit plays an important role in strengthening the economy and contributing to a healthier, more sustainable environment,” said Minister MacKay. “For Halifax, this means increased transit services that will create jobs and improve the daily commute for residents and their families.”

“This facility will allow for future growth to meet the ongoing transit needs of HRM. It will also translate into more jobs and lifestyle choices for citizens, and represents another step in building a greener future for all," said Minister Jennex.

“We are pleased to finally break ground and begin construction on a new $28 million transit operations and maintenance facility,” said Mayor Kelly. “The building of this new transit centre will provide the key ingredient necessary in allowing HRM to move forward to expand our regional Metro Transit bus service. Infrastructure development is a priority for the Municipality as it has far reaching benefits for residents in our community.”

The new Ragged Lake Transit Centre is scheduled for completion by May 2010 and will complement the existing Metro Transit facility and a smaller garage, both located in Burnside Industrial Park, Dartmouth, which have currently reached capacity with over 280 buses.

Upon completion, the new Centre will allow for the operation of an additional 150 buses, with space ultimately for another 50 transit vehicles. The new Transit Centre will also help to cut down on operational costs, which presently must be incurred by running out? of?service buses back and forth across the harbour bridges. This will cut down on commuter traffic and result in less greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

When completed, this 176,000 square?foot complex on a16-acre site will feature two buildings: a 119,990 square-foot Operations Centre; and a 55,920 square foot Service Centre for bus maintenance.

Supporting public transit is a priority for the Government of Canada. Investments like this will stimulate the economy, create jobs and provide long-term community benefits. Above and beyond today’s announcement, Canada’s 2009 Economic Action Plan is accelerating and expanding the existing federal investment of $33 billion in infrastructure across Canada with almost $12 billion in new infrastructure stimulus funding over the next two years

[gm_scott]

Could someone outline the differences between MetroX and the link?

[spaustin]

Could someone outline the differences between MetroX and the link?

Could be wrong but my guess is MetroX is the name for the new rural commuter bus system that Metro Transit is working on... All well and fine, but I would have liked to have seen Clayton Park and Spryfield get a MetroLink routes before running off to serve the more farflung portions of the municipality... of course under the new tax rules, adding bus service where previously there was none brings new funds for Metro Transit so maybe that's part of it.

[DigitalNinja]

Metro X short stubby busses that they will have to upgrade in a year due to increased ridership.

Metrolink big busses with ignorant bus drivers.

[Dmajackson]

Metro X short stubby busses that they will have to upgrade in a year due to increased ridership.

Metrolink big busses with ignorant bus drivers.

How are the Link drivers ignorant?

[Keith P.]

I can't speak to the ignorant comment, but as a motorist I can say that the Link drivers seem to drive very aggressively in traffic and are not good to encounter. I have seen enough of this to believe that it is something they are being told to do.

[DigitalNinja]

Did anyone here about the new law they want to introduce to give busses the right of way?

[hfx_chris]

When pulling away from a bus stop, yes. It's been tossed around for a few years, but it looks like HRM and the province may actually be serious this time.

[Dmajackson]

^I already give buses the right-of-way at bus stops so the law won't really make a difference to me.

Man from driving quite a bit lately I can tell you that two projects really need to be condsidered;

- The bus lane for Gottingen.

- And a hell of a lot more bus infastructure needs to be placed on the Bedford Highway.

[jasonashhh]

i can see like the metro x buses they look something like the wheel chair buses that drive around only thing is they got seats in them like the link bus and are a little bit longer and the wheel chair pull at the end on it

[hfx_chris]

i can see like the metro x buses they look something like the wheel chair buses that drive around only thing is they got seats in them like the link bus and are a little bit longer and the wheel chair pull at the end on it

You got it

[Jonovision]

I don't know if anyone else has noticed this. But work has been happening in the little court yard off Market Street behind Scotia Square. I heard from a worker in there that they are putting in a new big bus shelter and will be rerouting some of the buses up duke to this new stop instead of going to the stop at Barrington.
Anyone else thing this might have something remotely to do with the impending construction of International Place?

[Doggard]

A tantalizing idea for sure. I suppose it could be any number of things though. Maybe planning for expanded service? Or maybe there will be some road resurfacing or harbour solutions project that will make the area temporarily unsuitable for Public transit?

[hfx_chris]

Anyone else thing this might have something remotely to do with the impending construction of International Place?
No, Market/Abermarle is to be the downtown terminus of the rural express service. That's what this would be for.

[Keith P.]

What/where is Abermarle?

[Jonovision]

Abermale is what they renamed Market in behind Scotia Square.

[hfx_chris]

Which I still don't understand why they did that.
Well, I do, because the MC cuts it into two streets, but still. Same with renaming the westen half of George to Carmichael.

[someone123]

On some level it makes sense. If you are looking for an address you should be able to find the street and then look for the number without having to search around.

It's also interesting to note that Albemarle predates Market as the name for that street; it's the name from when the city was first founded. I believe the name was changed to Market when the city market was built (at Duke probably?). It was torn down in the 60s. Not sure what the building was like, though I heard it was also the police HQ for a while.

[Dmajackson]

Community Transit Service to Sambro

Effective August 30, 2009, our Community Transit will introduce pilot service to the community of Sambro.

Transit will begin its two-directional service from the Ketch Harbour Fire Station, with stops at Ketch Harbour Rd., Old Sambro Rd., Dentith Rd., to terminate at South Centre Mall. Transit service will begin at 5:30 am, with interval service throughout the day, with the last trip leaving the fire station at 8:15 pm.

Community Transit service will be available from Monday to Friday only. Buses will be equipped with a bike rack, which can accommodate two bicycles.

During this pilot period, the route will not be accessible to wheelchairs.

Additional information will be posted or contact the HRM Call Centre at 490-4000.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some of changes coming into effect on August 30th;

Route 1 - Correcting the schedule on weekdays to ten minutes frequencies all day

Route 16 - No more Saturday service (Monday-Friday only)

Route 18 - Now Wheelchair Accessible

Route 19 - New addition of 6am bus inbound, 543am outbound

Route 33 - 527pm inbound now departs at 522pm

Route 59 - New evening rush-hour trips Summer-bound

Route 60 - Changes to departures times outbound (evening)

Route 66 - Evening trips to/from Cobequid Terminal (:D:D:D)

Route 80 - Changes to evening departures inbound

Route 82 - Now leaves on :30 on Sundays Cobequid-Sackville

Route 83 - Changes to departure times

Route 87 - Addition of 640am route on Sat. Bridge-Sackville

Route 89 - 651am now 649am (Lacewood-Cobequid)

Route 165 - Changes to morning departure times

And of course the addition on the MetroX and Sambro Routes

[hfx_chris]

Bike racks? Any reason why the Sambro service gets bike racks, but neither the Porters Lake or Beaver Bank services do?

Also, the new MetroX hwy 103 route has been designated route number 330.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

A good, incremental improvement to Metro Transit with better frequencies, additional trips, more low floor routes and new routes. Transit still has a long way to go in Halifax but there is no doubt the system has improved quite a bit in the last few years.

Very glad to see the 1 is ten minute frequencies - very key route that was almost always overcrowded. :banana:

Interested to see how successful the MetroX and Sambro routes will be. My prediction is MetroX will be overflowing and Sambro empty, but only time will tell.

[hfx_chris]

I've always had a problem with the route 1, it tries to do too much and be too many things to too many people. It's a primary Dartmouth-Halifax route, it's a Dal route, it's a Mumford-downtown-Dartmouth route.. I dunno, that's always why it's so freaking crowded. How many times have you heard somebody ask how to get from Dartmouth to Halifax Shopping Centre, and somebody says take the 1. Well frig, if you want to spend all day sure - nobody mentions the 52. Or a transfer downtown to the routes 2, 4 or 6.

[Keith P.]

I've always had a problem with the route 1, it tries to do too much and be too many things to too many people. It's a primary Dartmouth-Halifax route, it's a Dal route, it's a Mumford-downtown-Dartmouth route.. I dunno, that's always why it's so freaking crowded. How many times have you heard somebody ask how to get from Dartmouth to Halifax Shopping Centre, and somebody says take the 1. Well frig, if you want to spend all day sure - nobody mentions the 52. Or a transfer downtown to the routes 2, 4 or 6.

Actually the #1 is empty compared to the 10, which is a similar sort of multipurpose route that goes from Westphal all the way to Dal and SMU. It is always ridiculously overcrowded but unlike the 1 runs far less frequently. It is one of the worst routes on MT's schedule.

[hfx_chris]

Hah. Don't even get me started on the 10.

They're turning the 14/61 into a similar sort of beast, and I don't much care for it.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

Actually the #1 is empty compared to the 10, which is a similar sort of multipurpose route that goes from Westphal all the way to Dal and SMU. It is always ridiculously overcrowded but unlike the 1 runs far less frequently. It is one of the worst routes on MT's schedule.

I think they are both problematic but it all depends on the part of the route. I never rode the 10 in Dartmouth but have seen what you are talking about - overflowing accordian buses in Dartmouth. The 10 in Halifax is well used but not crowded - clearly in Dartmouth its a different storey. Same with the 1 - overcrowded along Coburg and down Oxford to North Street, reasonable everywhere else. Having such long routes makes it tough to add the right amount of service along the whole route, because some places need way more service than others.

Just to be clear, when I say jam-packed I mean a bus route where crowding is so bad that people are sometimes left at stops, even though the strap hangers are crushed in like sardines. Very few routes are like this in Halifax.

I've always had a problem with the route 1, it tries to do too much and be too many things to too many people. It's a primary Dartmouth-Halifax route, it's a Dal route, it's a Mumford-downtown-Dartmouth route.. I dunno, that's always why it's so freaking crowded.

I see your point for sure and I think it could be made for a lot of other routes. I think the most useful part of the 1 route is the Mumford to Downtown section, seems quite natural and is always well used. I think the frequency of the 1 (or the relative frequncy compared to other routes) is part of the issue with people choosing it over other routes. The 1 itself isn't necessarily faster but if you're waiting and it pulls up eight minutes before your bus it ends up being a comparable trip. Pretty much every other route is 30 minute frequency, except for the 52 which is every 15 in rush hour.

Hopefully Metro Transit will go for a more serious route review when the new garage opens. hfx_chris any chance this might happen?

Another bus that always struck me as overcrowded was the 20 between Spryfield and Mumford - consistently jam packed. Has this improved at all since the new route to Spryfield (19 Greystone) started service?