[Halifax Hillbilly]

It's time for a thread to discuss our mass transit system.

How widespread is over-crowding? The last couple of months have to be the worst I've ever seen in Halifax. The 1, 7, 20, and 52 are all consistently full during rush hour, and many routes are leaving people behind because there is no space. What other routes are busy, and how long until we get some service upgrades to deal with this? I can't remember the last time there was an upgrade on the 1 but this route has been overcapacity for years.

[hfx_chris]

Anybody could tell you why buses are getting more crowded in the last couple of months: school. Routes 1 and 7 are both university routes, the 52 services an NSCC campus in Bayers Lake (and a call centre near Burnside) both of which can be busy at peak times. And of course it only makes sense that routes like the 20 would get busier; all of those univeristy students have to get home.

As far as how Metro Transit is dealing with it, they took delivery of 25 new buses earlier this year and are currently taking delivery of 25 more. Of course that means some of them are for replacements. I know at least 9 buses were retired when the 25 came earlier this year, and I'm expecting at least another 5-10 to be taken out of service in the next few months.
That's still a lot of new buses, so expect some service improvements in the coming months. The next scheduled service improvement is in late November, so if they're going to increase frequency on any routes it would happen then.
I know last August they created a new route 16 Parkland, which goes from the Dartmouth bridge terminal (Sportsplex) to Mount Saint Vincent (and Clayton Park West beyond that) via the MacKay Bridge, something I know a number of people have been asking for for years.

Edit: I forgot to mention there's also rumours of additional MetroLink buses being ordered, with a few possibly being articulated ("bendy" buses). I know they've been pushing for that in Sackville due to heavy loads, and Metro Transit also wants to add MetroLink service to other areas.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

Anybody could tell you why buses are getting more crowded in the last couple of months: school. Routes 1 and 7 are both university routes, the 52 services an NSCC campus in Bayers Lake (and a call centre near Burnside) both of which can be busy at peak times. And of course it only makes sense that routes like the 20 would get busier; all of those univeristy students have to get home.

As far as how Metro Transit is dealing with it, they took delivery of 25 new buses earlier this year and are currently taking delivery of 25 more. Of course that means some of them are for replacements. I know at least 9 buses were retired when the 25 came earlier this year, and I'm expecting at least another 5-10 to be taken out of service in the next few months.
That's still a lot of new buses, so expect some service improvements in the coming months. The next scheduled service improvement is in late November, so if they're going to increase frequency on any routes it would happen then.
I know last August they created a new route 16 Parkland, which goes from the Dartmouth bridge terminal (Sportsplex) to Mount Saint Vincent (and Clayton Park West beyond that) via the MacKay Bridge, something I know a number of people have been asking for for years.

Edit: I forgot to mention there's also rumours of additional MetroLink buses being ordered, with a few possibly being articulated ("bendy" buses). I know they've been pushing for that in Sackville due to heavy loads, and Metro Transit also wants to add MetroLink service to other areas.

Dave McCusker (head of transportation planning) in HRM spoke at my transportation planning course. New MetroLink routes are not likely within the next year or two the way he was talking. Articulated buses on the MetroLink would be great as ridership continues to grow.

The crowding on the 1 is definetly university students, but I'm not sure it's the major factor on other routes. The 7 is packed with Citadel High students, and the 20 is busiest between Mumford Terminal and Spryfield. There's sometimes 30-40 people getting on the 20 at Mumford. These are only the routes that I know get crowded but there are definetly some peak hour buses coming in from the suburbs that are full up with commuters. Ridership is up across the board.

I'm interested in what they'll do in November. Service upgrades would be great but they've had problems on the 1 for at least a couple of years now but haven't put more capacity on the route. I'm not too optimistic, I think it could be months before they catch up with the capacity problems. Hopefully they stop expanding service for a while to catch up with the problems on their busiest routes.

[Keith P.]

I find it hard to believe the #1 is overcrowded because it seems to run every 5 minutes or so. Back when I lived downtown it was never very busy because it ran so (I felt TOO) frequently.

By far the worst route in terms of overcrowding over the years has to be the #10, which is simply a torture test for the regular rider. It also serves the universities int he south end, then loops downtown to pick up workers, then heads to Dartmouth and is the only route that serves the area north and east of the Sportsplex such as Woodland, MicMac Mall, and Main street. It is simply ridiculous both in terms of undercapacity and in terms of route design.

[Wishblade]

MetroLink is so successful, there should be more routes added to different parts of the city. I use the one to and from Portland Hills everyday and ridership is excellent. They aren't to the point of overcrowding yet, but that can change in the near future.

I think a MetroLink terminal in Bedford or Hammonds Plains might be worth the city looking into. But to be honest, it isnt an urgent need. Other issues need more attention right now like adding more busses to the busiest routes.

[someone123]

Has there been any news related to the new ferries? A high speed ferry, if it worked properly, would be the next best thing to commuter rail from Bedford. I think there would be high demand if they connected it properly to buses running out to Hammonds Plains on one side and Sackville/Fall River on the other.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

I find it hard to believe the #1 is overcrowded because it seems to run every 5 minutes or so. Back when I lived downtown it was never very busy because it ran so (I felt TOO) frequently.

By far the worst route in terms of overcrowding over the years has to be the #10, which is simply a torture test for the regular rider. It also serves the universities int he south end, then loops downtown to pick up workers, then heads to Dartmouth and is the only route that serves the area north and east of the Sportsplex such as Woodland, MicMac Mall, and Main street. It is simply ridiculous both in terms of undercapacity and in terms of route design.

The 1 runs every ten minutes in peak times, and every 15 minutes most of the rest of the day. And yes it's definetly overcrowded during peak times. People are consistently left behind most rush hours on the section along Coburg Rd. near Dal. It's really bad if it's low-floor buses, but people are still sometimes left behind on the older buses. The 1 is the only bus route in the city that covers it's costs.

Haven't ridden the 10 before but if it serves that large an area it makes sense it's crowded. That's a long way to go on a packed bus from downtown or the universities.

[skyscraper_1]

10 Westphal is definitely packed between 3:30-6pm. I usually catch the #1 past peek hours so it is usually never too full when I get on. # 52 runs frequently during the evening rushhour, so the only time it is really full is when Converges has a major change in shifts.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

Has there been any news related to the new ferries? A high speed ferry, if it worked properly, would be the next best thing to commuter rail from Bedford. I think there would be high demand if they connected it properly to buses running out to Hammonds Plains on one side and Sackville/Fall River on the other.

I think a high speed ferry would be better than commuter rail: similar speeds on a more direct route.

The city is trying to get a higher level of government to partner with them to help cover the initial costs. I wouldn't expect anything soon.

[worldlyhaligonian]

I created a thread for the fast ferry.

[hfx_chris]

Yes but ferries are limited to servicing certain areas, namely areas adjacent to water. Ferries can't serve Timberlea, Beaver Bank, Windsor Junction/Fall River or Hammonds Plains.

[worldlyhaligonian]

I'm all for rail that would support the whole HRM, the city would seem alot more accessible... and living in Amsterdam, I could really see it work the way it does here. I basically get to school that would be as far away as bedford from my place in the peninsula in halifax, except its a 25 minute metro here that mostly winds outside of the city. In halifax, good luck doing that on a bus in any time close to that.

[worldlyhaligonian]

And almost all of it is above ground, a likely solution for Halifax. How many years away do you think this kind of thing is for Halifax??

[Halifax Hillbilly]

And almost all of it is above ground, a likely solution for Halifax. How many years away do you think this kind of thing is for Halifax??

We're a long ways from any LRT at this point. We still don't even have a BRT system, just two suburban routes that have very limited BRT capabilites.

We should start reserving corridors for BRT routes connecting off the peninsula. If we start using dedicated right of ways where possible and transit priority signals and queue jumping lanes than we can get decent speed out of buses and avoid congestion, which are the major advantages that rail has over buses.

After that we wait thirty years until the population densities can support rails along our transit corridors. I really don't see Halifax with rail anytime soon.

[terrynorthend]

I'd love to see a rail system in Halifax. A simple above ground Metro type of system, like what I think WorldyHaligonian describes in Amsterdam. Most stations need not be expensive; they can be simple central platforms with a bit of shelter. Then we could get a few of those nice Bombardier trains, just 2 cars apiece. Maybe we could get a deal on them if we bought them in Maine and then shipped them across the border ;)

[hfx_chris]

We're a long ways from any LRT at this point. We still don't even have a BRT system, just two suburban routes that have very limited BRT capabilites.

We should start reserving corridors for BRT routes connecting off the peninsula. If we start using dedicated right of ways where possible and transit priority signals and queue jumping lanes than we can get decent speed out of buses and avoid congestion, which are the major advantages that rail has over buses.

Our BRT system (and yes it is a BRT system) does in fact have bus-only and queue jumping lanes, as well as transit priority lights. Not many, but they're there. Dedicated right-of-ways, now that would be a treat which would never happen, there just isn't enough room. We don't have the space for something like, say Ottawa's Transitway.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

Our BRT system (and yes it is a BRT system) does in fact have bus-only and queue jumping lanes, as well as transit priority lights. Not many, but they're there. Dedicated right-of-ways, now that would be a treat which would never happen, there just isn't enough room. We don't have the space for something like, say Ottawa's Transitway.

We have two "BRT" lines that don't even bring you to all the major employment areas on the peninsula (no dockyards, no hospitals, no universities). The Portland Hills line relies very heavily on park-and-ride, and almost all trips are from Portland Hills to Downtown. It's great the MetroLink is so popular but it really only helps a small percentage of transit users.

In my mind the Link is an express service packaged as BRT. I realize that dedicated ROWs aren't possible in this city, however the Link only has a couple of queue-jump lanes and some priority intersections. That's pretty low on the BRT scale. It saves about six minutes on the trip from Portland Hills.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

I'd love to see a rail system in Halifax. A simple above ground Metro type of system, like what I think WorldyHaligonian describes in Amsterdam. Most stations need not be expensive; they can be simple central platforms with a bit of shelter. Then we could get a few of those nice Bombardier trains, just 2 cars apiece. Maybe we could get a deal on them if we bought them in Maine and then shipped them across the border ;)

Personally if I'm building an expensive light rail system it's going to have killer stations. The biggest benefit of LRT to me is it's ability to direct development. Many cities have had tremendous success creating redevelopment along LRT corridors, whether development takes place near stations on grade seperated lines, or along street level LRT lines. For a city of Halifax I don't see huge speed benefits to LRT over because most rail-lines couldn't be on seperate right of ways, so I would put lots of money into making a statement with the physical infrastructure. You'd get the money back in new investment along the routes.

[someone123]

Why can't a rail line have its own ROW? The city owns the streets, and a single lane dedicated to rail can move far more people than one lane for car traffic, not to mention the fact that the rail line makes it possible to remove buses, making everything flow much better.

Like I said, I've never seen any evidence that adequate thought has gone into this, despite the number of studies that the regional council likes to commission.

Streetcars and electrified buses should also be considered. What about running a streetcar out to the universities and hospitals from the downtown or along Robie Street? A streetcar along Brunswick/Gottingen? An electrified route for the 1?

[hfx_chris]

Ah, how I love your ideas of having electric trolliecoaches and/or trams running in Halifax again... but I think just getting an LRT line would be enough of an accomplishment. I doubt however we'll see any overhead lines or power poles any time soon, probably everything would be diesel anyway.
Oh, except that Metro Transit has ordered (or will be ordering) two diesel-electric hybrid buses supposedly for a new downtown shuttle route (not free like FRED) that would link the ferry terminal with places like Spring Garden, SMU & Dal and the hospitals.

But I think what Hillbilly was referring to with rail right-of-ways is that the rail line that comes into Halifax around the basin and through the west end is only one set of tracks, and would need special sidings built so trains could pass each other at certain locations, not to mention how would you work it around existing CN and VIA rail traffic. They would basically need to build a second line parallel to the first... would have been a lot easier had the city not let CN tear the second line up a few years back.
Ottawa's O-Train is one set of tracks the entire way except for the middle station at Carleton University, where the trains are timed to pass each other.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

But I think what Hillbilly was referring to with rail right-of-ways is that the rail line that comes into Halifax around the basin and through the west end is only one set of tracks, and would need special sidings built so trains could pass each other at certain locations, not to mention how would you work it around existing CN and VIA rail traffic. They would basically need to build a second line parallel to the first... would have been a lot easier had the city not let CN tear the second line up a few years back.
Ottawa's O-Train is one set of tracks the entire way except for the middle station at Carleton University, where the trains are timed to pass each other.

The biggest problem I have with that route is that it runs near everything but not really directly by anything. It is close to Dal but any station would be a couple of hundred metres from the main campus, ditto for SMU. It's not really close to hospitals and the station is on the edge of downtown. It's a very peripheral route I wouldn't put a lot of money into trying to make this a rail corridor.

[hfx_chris]

Again, you keep talking about the Via Rail station, but I don't see what that has to do with anything... build the LRT station IN downtown, like the lands to be vacated when they (hopefully, eventually) demolish the Cogswell interchange.

[Jonovision]

It's all well and good to build a station right in the heart of downtown, but where would you run the track to connect the rail cut and the new station?!

[hfx_chris]

What do you mean where would you run it? Halifax does have streets that run in a north-south direction.
Hollis, Lower Water or Brunswick Streets all jump out at me, and would require little (as I see it) in the way of alterations (aside of course for laying the actual track). Hell, Brunswick is wide enough for the north-bound leg, and Hollis could work for the south-bound. The beauty of using Brunswick is you could service Spring Garden with it as well, including a nice new terminal built-in to whatever redevelopment takes place at Queen and Spring Garden.

[reddog794]

What about a serious look at putting tram lines in the streets again? Have a like 4 routes spider out from DT, and have another go down Robie, and another go down Quinpool, down Cogswell, into the DT. LRT just doesn't make sense here because of the amount of work/money it would take to put in. Either that or take a page from Bogota, a city in Colombia, with ten times the pop. but no rail, just buses, and they have a 70% ridership. Economics aside, it's cheaper to start off, and can be designed with more freedom.

[hfx_chris]

If light rail doesn't make sense, how would tram cars isolated to the peninsula make any more sense? Don't get me wrong, I love rail transit and tram cars, but they are very limited in what you can do with them. You can't easily change a route without ripping up streets and laying new track, if there's an accident or major incident you can't do detours, tracks have to be replaced after X number of years. And add to that the price of building a new car barn/maintenance facility somewhere in Halifax, because I don't think either of their Burnside bus garages have the space to accommodate trams and perform maintenence on them; plus I don't know how keep the Bridge Commission would be on the idea of laying track across their bridges.
It's a shame the tore up all of the track and switched to trolley coaches... If anything, all this would be now is an expensive touristy gimmick. Just buy a bunch of new articulated buses, run them on the busy routes (which they should be doing, not buying more conventional 40-foot buses) which are already experiencing overcrowding.

[someone123]

Tram lines have disadvantages compared to buses but they're also more comfortable, cleaner, and the rail infrastructure itself is much more permanent. Building a streetcar or LRT line through an urban neighbourhood where previously there were only buses and where cars can be difficult immediately makes it much more attractive. I think some kind of improved transit line to the North End, for example, could be used to encourage much more infill than would otherwise happen.

Development and transportation projects go hand in hand.

[reddog794]

You said it someone. Connect the core of the city better.

You could put the Tram shed up north end, near the bridge, close to the bedford hwy. Make a station there too, to shorten the Link travel time from Bedford.

I'm sorry if you got the idea I was implying to put tracks on the bridges, because that wasn't where I was going with it. I don't know how much the bridges are designed to carry, but it would be tempting fate if you did install a line on either bridge. Improve the ferry times to make up for the former.

I was walking around Dartmouth Crossings today a came to realize it needs it's own FRED. It's a very vehicle minded design, isn't it? You'd figure with all this climate talk, you'd want less cars on the roads. Not more reasons to to use them.

Other than that, the bus service to it has deffinately improved. An idea struck to have a link route run from Sunnyside Mall, down to Woodside ferry, and have Dartmouth Crossings, Burnside, MicMac, Alderney Gate, Penhorn, as stops. It would also lead to less cars on the Circ.

sorry for the long post, I'm not sure when I'm going to have a stable net connection again

[Halifax Hillbilly]

Other than that, the bus service to it has deffinately improved. An idea struck to have a link route run from Sunnyside Mall, down to Woodside ferry, and have Dartmouth Crossings, Burnside, MicMac, Alderney Gate, Penhorn, as stops. It would also lead to less cars on the Circ.

I like that route idea. The crosstown bus service in this city needs to improve a lot. With Burnside/Dartmouth Crossing and Bayer's Lake as major employment and shopping hubs you are going to need more routes connecting suburban centres.

I would also suggest routes from Spryfield heading towards Bayer's Lake, and a route from Clayton Park going over the bridge to Burnside.

[hfx_chris]

Clayton Park to Burnside service is already provided by the route 52. I know one thing that was mentioned is that the city wants to improve service between Lower Sackville and Bayers Lake, which right now is very difficult to get between.

Interesting you mentioned Dartmouth Crossing reddog - it was touted as being very pedestrian friendly, the developers kept saying they've learned from the mistakes of Bayers Lake... but... I find it very pedestrian un-friendly. There's no crosswalks where you need them, and walking from either Wal-Mart, Canadian Tire or Home Depot to the bus stops is difficult at best. I see the only thing they've learned from Bayers Lake, is that you can't build on either side of a major, heavily used and busy road like Chain Lake Drive. Getting across that street is deadly. At least the streets in DC are easier to cross (even without crosswalks)

[Halifax Hillbilly]

Clayton Park to Burnside service is already provided by the route 52. I know one thing that was mentioned is that the city wants to improve service between Lower Sackville and Bayers Lake, which right now is very difficult to get between.

The 52 from Lacewood Terminal to Burnside takes about 45 minutes vs. fifteen minutes by car. I realize that buses are generally slower than autos but a bus trip can't be three times longer if you want to attract any choice riders. I think Metor Transit will have to look at offering more service across the MacKay Bridge to better serve Burnside.

Lower Sackville to Bayer's Lake sounds like a very good idea.

How much new routes can be expected from Metro Transit?? New buses are on the way but they will still have to deal with overcrowding on some of the core routes. It might be a while before we see expanded bus service.

[hfx_chris]

Don't hold your breath on new routes. Yes new buses are coming into service (and have been for a little while), but a lot of those are already earmarked for replacements. I can think of at least 10 buses which have been retired in the last couple of months. Plus as you said, some of the core routes are experiencing overcrowding, so they'll have to also deal with increasing trip frequency to alleviate those problems first, before thinking about many new routes.

The MacKay bridge was without a doubt one of the most under-utilized corridors around. They finally started making use of it during off-peak times with the route 16 Parkland, connecting Lacewood with Highfield and the Bridge terminal. I suppose that's one quicker way to get from Clayton Park to Burnside, via the route 16, but by the looks of the schedules it would involve about a 20 minute stopover at Highfield to catch either the 52 or 64 into Burnside.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

Don't hold your breath on new routes. Yes new buses are coming into service (and have been for a little while), but a lot of those are already earmarked for replacements. I can think of at least 10 buses which have been retired in the last couple of months. Plus as you said, some of the core routes are experiencing overcrowding, so they'll have to also deal with increasing trip frequency to alleviate those problems first, before thinking about many new routes.

I've been hoping for them to deal with the overcrowding on the 1 since I came back into the city three years ago. I guess I shouldn't hold my breath on that one either, as Metro Transit has put in several new routes in that time but not once has done anything about the problems on the 1 or other routes. I think this time though they are getting near the breaking point on a couple of routes and they have no choice but to increase capacity.

[reddog794]

One point that makes me wonder is why isn't there an intensification of routes during peak times? With more buses on the roads wouldn't it push cars off. Not literally, but where people would be more inclined to ride the buses, because it's harder for a car to get around all the buses, i.e. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

I still believe in a DC FRED, as well as a BL FRED. Have dedicated buses for your major shopping/business areas. I'd also love to see FRED expanded downtown. An alternative to trams, DT... for now.

HillBilly you raise a good point, shouldn't the drive of any mass transit, be to have shorter travel times than cars?

[Halifax Hillbilly]

One point that makes me wonder is why isn't there an intensification of routes during peak times? With more buses on the roads wouldn't it push cars off. Not literally, but where people would be more inclined to ride the buses, because it's harder for a car to get around all the buses, i.e. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

I still believe in a DC FRED, as well as a BL FRED. Have dedicated buses for your major shopping/business areas. I'd also love to see FRED expanded downtown. An alternative to trams, DT... for now.

HillBilly you raise a good point, shouldn't the drive of any mass transit, be to have shorter travel times than cars?

I'm not sure Halifax can really put too many more peak time buses on the road with the way the routes are structured right now. Almost every route in the city goes down Barrington or Spring Garden and the bus stops are already congested. I think the routes should be restructured to get rid of all the duplicates and run articulated buses on express routes connecting downtown to the suburbs.

I agree that there is lots of potential for shuttles around downtown, universities, hospitals, and the business parks. If it's easier to get around throughout the day to run errands and other trips people could be more likely to leave the car behind for the commute.

[someone123]

I think Halifax's bus system would be much better if it were structured more around a few high frequency express routes plus transfers instead of the current system where there are a bunch of minor "complete" routes that serve random parts of the city. Eventually these high frequency routes would be the ones that I suggested earlier as being good candidates for replacement by rail or whatever else.

The current system is extremely frustrating for anybody coming in from the suburbs. A lot of the suburban routes also serve random parts of the city (e.g. your downtown bus might also add 10 mins to your trip by going to SMU) and they tend to stop every two blocks. As a result of this setup my morning commute took about 40 mins instead of 15 by car or 50 minutes walking, which is pretty pathetic. And that's not counting the many times the bus arrived late or not at all.

The other fundamental problem with transit service in Halifax is that suburbs are not designed for good service. They do things like plan for space for buses to stop but they do not plan for bus lanes or even decent road access (as opposed to cul-de-sac setups, which aren't even permitted in some cities anymore). Partly the city's terrain makes this kind of planning difficult but even so there's a lot of room for improvement.

[hfx_chris]

I know there are plans in the works for a full-time downtown "shuttle" (not free like FRED) that'll run from the ferry terminal, up Spring Garden to the hospitals and universities. Not sure when that's going to become a reality though.

I can't see Metro Transit providing a dedicated shuttle service within Dartmouth Crossing. However, they do need an additional route (I've suggested before a route connecting the Bridge Terminal, a major transfer point, with DC via Highfield Park and Commodore Drive), and this route should be setup to provide service in the opposite direction within Dartmouth Crossing that the existing route 56 does. If you notice, the route 56 enters DC via the Wright Avenue/Hwy 118 interchange, so it hits the theatres and restaurants up that end, then goes south to where Wal-Mart/Home Depot are. From there it gets back onto highway 118 via a second ramp at that end. That's great if you're watching a movie at the theatre then want to pop in Wal-Mart, but not the other way around if you're in Wal-Mart and have to catch a movie. No buses head north in there. A second bus route coming from the Bridge needs to enter via Commodore, turn right in front of Canadian Tire, do the little loop in front of Wal-Mart/Home Depot/Best Buy, then head north towards the theatre and restaurants. Now you've got northbound and southbound service, provided by two routes. It's like a dedicated shuttle service running every 30 minutes.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

I know there are plans in the works for a full-time downtown "shuttle" (not free like FRED) that'll run from the ferry terminal, up Spring Garden to the hospitals and universities. Not sure when that's going to become a reality though.

I believe Metro Transit is looking to make use hybrid buses for this route. It would definitely be a great help as right now the connections from the ferry terminal to the rest of the system are terrible.

Personally I wouldn't mind seeing a dedicated FREE downtown shuttle running very frequently. Make it very convenient to use the bus for quick errands downtown and you might get a lot of people trying the bus who otherwise wouldn't. Other than the Link bus there isn't a lot of Metro Transit services that appeal to choice riders and the majority of people dismiss public transit without ever trying the service.

[hfx_chris]

I believe Metro Transit is looking to make use hybrid buses for this route.
Correct. I think they're ordering two..but they could take a while to arrive.

[reddog794]

I was just looking around, and I can't seem to find a "set in stone" transit plan for Halifax, little more than a "written in smoke" plan. So I ask, what is the 25 year vision for MetroTransit? Where are we putting our money towards? I might just not be able to find it, HFX_chris, what do you know? You seem to have a good ear for transit plans here.

[hfx_chris]

Unfortunately I don't, because I don't believe HRM has ever made anything public. Sadly to me it looks like they're just bumping along.

If there is a transit plan, only the transit planners seem to have it.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

Transit share is up in Halifax according to the 2006 census! :cheers:

Between 2001 and 2006 transit share increased from 9.9% to 11.9% of work trips.

75.8% of commutes were made in a vehicle, down from 77.6%.

Walking and biking stayed virtually the same at around 11% combined.

They're pretty modest gains but not too shabby considering employment in the downtown is more or less stagnant and there hasn't been any huge investment in the system. I would imagine the Link routes had the most to do with the increase.

[Bedford_DJ]

Yah the Link was defenitely the major help in this increase but other routes are on the increase as well. Both parking lots are overflowing. Another help was probably the insane number of people using #80 and #81 from Hemlock Ravine.

I was just on the Metro Transit site and they want people to name the new highway bus routes. I picked the Rural Express (REX).

[hfx_chris]

No no no, pick Community Link! I'll copy and paste my rationale from another forum:


My thoughts: Since the BRT is named MetroLINK, and I know it was mentioned they wanted to name the (potential) future high-speed ferry MetroLINK, I think they should stay with the -LINK suffix. I picked Community Link, or C-Link as it may be known (but for goodness sakes, put CommunityLINK on the buses, not C-Link.

Metro Express and Rural Express both sound too much like descriptions of the service, and less like actual names.
Metro Dash is questionable, as I doubt the drive in from Sheet Harbour (or however far out it's going) could be called a 'dash'.

Oh, and Metro Liner? That one just makes me laugh. Might make a decent name for a rail transit system, but not buses.

So, everybody vote for the C-Link!

[Bedford_DJ]

They're actually planning to name the fast ferry HarbourLink but your point still works. I decided C-Link was smarter so i cancelled out my vote for now.

[kwajo]

I don't live in Halifax, but I put my vote in for the "Quick Hick Stick"

[Halifax Hillbilly]

I was just on the Metro Transit site and they want people to name the new highway bus routes. I picked the Rural Express (REX).

When is this service supposed to start?

And what kind of service might it have to the airport?

[Bedford_DJ]

I don't know much about the Express service but what i do know is that it would service highways 102, 103, and 107 along three corridors; Enfield, Musquodoboit, and Tantallon.

I was searching and i found the proposed future transit map for HRM which shows the rural express path and yes it looks like it will service the airport. :) There is no timeline that i can find but the map can be found at http://www.halifax.ca/regionalplanning/FinalRegPlan.html just scroll down and click Future Transit and Transportation.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

Here we go - rural express service is expected to start this fall to Tantallon.

I like the idea - many of HRMs transit plans aren't bad they just take so long to roll out.

Rural express will make quick trip from Upper Tantallon

By AMY PUGSLEY FRASER City Hall Reporter
The Chronicle Herald
Thu. Mar 20 - 5:20 AM

An upcoming rural express bus service will help make the route from Hammonds Plains a road less travelled, says the area councillor.

A new Tantallon commuter route, which will originate at the Hubley Centre Mall in Upper Tantallon and make only two stops along Highway 103 at exits 4 and 3, will hopefully be launched this fall, says Coun. Gary Meade (Hammonds Plains-St. Margarets).

"It’s going to be a very important service," Mr. Meade said of the direct route that would have buses running every 15 or 30 minutes during peak morning and afternoon travel times.

Currently, a bus runs twice daily to downtown Halifax from the shopping centre but it makes stops all along the way, he said.

"It’s the milk route and it takes an hour and 15 minutes to get downtown."

The new half-hour service will entice more riders, Mr. Meade said.

A park ’n’ ride for about 200 cars would be located either in the Sobeys parking lot or at the nearby St. Margaret’s Centre.

"We’re negotiating with Sobeys right now."

There is no set cost for the service, but it will likely be higher than the $2 that MetroLink commuters are charged to go from Portland Hills or Lower Sackville into downtown, Mr. Meade said.

However, it will be well worth the saving in gas and parking costs in downtown Halifax, he said.

A report on the service will come before council in the next few weeks.

The new bus route folds perfectly into a new study released Wednesday by GPI Atlantic Inc.

The study reveals that even though 71 per cent of Halifax’s residents live in Metro Transit’s service area — and 90 per cent of those in urban and suburban areas live within 500 metres of a transit stop — the vast majority don’t use public transit.

In fact, 76 per cent of commuters use private vehicles, while only 12 per cent ride buses and 11 per cent walk or cycle.

However, the report notes that the popularity of Metro Transit’s new express bus services shows that many commuters are willing and ready to switch to mass transit if it is fast and convenient.

Mr. Meade says those elements will be key in winning over new ridership from his district.

"And I imagine after awhile that people who live in Hubbards and Chester will come in and park their cars and go into town that way too," he said.

Other express routes are also in the works, Mr. Meade said.

Those include express transit services between the downtown core and communities along the Highway 107 and Highway 102 corridors.

Like the service to Upper Tantallon, the other routes would provide regional transit express services designed for the commuter market from local stops and park ’n’ ride lots in the highway corridors.

They include the Musquodoboit Harbour corridor, including Porters Lake, Lake Echo, East Preston and Minesville, and the Enfield corridor that includes Fall River.

[Bedford_DJ]

Hopefully this service is as popular as the Link in Sackville. Those buses really helped to relieve congestion in Burnside. I heard they are planning to use a different type of bus for this service. Does anyone know if its like the Link buses or something else entirely?

[Wishblade]

I don't know much about the Express service but what i do know is that it would service highways 102, 103, and 107 along three corridors; Enfield, Musquodoboit, and Tantallon.

I was searching and i found the proposed future transit map for HRM which shows the rural express path and yes it looks like it will service the airport. :) There is no timeline that i can find but the map can be found at http://www.halifax.ca/regionalplanning/FinalRegPlan.html just scroll down and click Future Transit and Transportation.

Now Im probably not alone in thinking this, but is that route to out past sheet harbour and back even financially feasible? It seems like an incredibly long route with what would be a very small passenger volume.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

Now Im probably not alone in thinking this, but is that route to out past sheet harbour and back even financially feasible? It seems like an incredibly long route with what would be a very small passenger volume.

It's a good question. We'll see what the proposed fares are to go that far out of town.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

Hopefully this service is as popular as the Link in Sackville. Those buses really helped to relieve congestion in Burnside. I heard they are planning to use a different type of bus for this service. Does anyone know if its like the Link buses or something else entirely?

They need buses that can operate safely at highway speeds so it will be something entirely different.

[Bedford_DJ]

Now Im probably not alone in thinking this, but is that route to out past sheet harbour and back even financially feasible? It seems like an incredibly long route with what would be a very small passenger volume.

The rural bus routes do seem unfeasible of all those ones i can only see the Peggy's Cove area one being possible and that one would only make money in the summer unless the fares were very high (at least $5.00 or more).

[gm_scott]

I hope they quickly add some new routes, like the proposed. I would really use a bus a lot if it came into Fall River frequently.

[Bedford_DJ]

Being a student on the SMU campus i commonly take the 18 "Universities". To me though this title is somewhat misleading. It directy services SMU and MSVU but not Dal. In my opinion they should create a route that really services all the universities along a route something like this: Inglis Street (with a loop near Tower Road), Robie St, University Ave (up to Dal terminal), Coburg Rd, Oxford St, Jubilee, Connaught, Windsor, and out to MSVU via Bedford Highway. From there it could go up to Lacewood. This is a simple route and would only operate during the university calender year. To make it more effect they could try to fit it around class times, if possible.

Does anyone else think is a good idea. I would like some feedback before i attempt to email either Uteck or Metro Transit.

[someone123]

I'm not sure it makes sense since the number of people trying to travel between universities is small and making the trip to all of them would simply add unnecessary time.

The current Dal/SMU routes are also packed as it is and Metro Transit doesn't have much of an incentive to improve them because of the passes.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

I'm not sure it makes sense since the number of people trying to travel between universities is small and making the trip to all of them would simply add unnecessary time.

The current Dal/SMU routes are also packed as it is and Metro Transit doesn't have much of an incentive to improve them because of the passes.

Agreed. I would rather see higher frequencies on the 1 and other buses to deal with the universities than chaning the routes around. IMO the university routes (17,18) are some of the most sensible right now. If I was to write Metro Transit about anything it would be the over-crowding, not the route design.

What is lacking is fast service between the universities/hospitals and the ferry terminal. Apparently this will be addressed by Metro Transit with downtown shuttles shortly.

[Bedford_DJ]

Agreed. I would rather see higher frequencies on the 1 and other buses to deal with the universities than chaning the routes around. IMO the university routes (17,18) are some of the most sensible right now. If I was to write Metro Transit about anything it would be the over-crowding, not the route design.

What is lacking is fast service between the universities/hospitals and the ferry terminal. Apparently this will be addressed by Metro Transit with downtown shuttles shortly.

For this route it wouldn't alter the 17 or 18 at all it would just add a new route ("19" probably). Depending on travel time this could solve overcrowding on these partciular routes.

As for route 1 i dont see what everyone is complaining about. That route has buses every 10 minutes during peak and from looking in it while it passes me multiple times a day i've never seen it overly crowded. If it was up to me route 1 would be one of the last i would upgrade i woud rather spend the money on possible bus lanes, better waiting areas for major stops, or upgrading the really busy routes.

I do agree with the shuttle thing though. Only 2 full-time routes go to the Halifax ferry terminal (five including peak routes).

[Halifax Hillbilly]

For this route it wouldn't alter the 17 or 18 at all it would just add a new route ("19" probably). Depending on travel time this could solve overcrowding on these partciular routes.

As for route 1 i dont see what everyone is complaining about. That route has buses every 10 minutes during peak and from looking in it while it passes me multiple times a day i've never seen it overly crowded. If it was up to me route 1 would be one of the last i would upgrade i woud rather spend the money on possible bus lanes, better waiting areas for major stops, or upgrading the really busy routes.

I do agree with the shuttle thing though. Only 2 full-time routes go to the Halifax ferry terminal (five including peak routes).

I just feel we have so many long winding routes already in this city, that adding another bus route that is similar to two others would confuse the problem.

As for the 1 the worst crowding happens along Coburg near Dal and Oxford between Coburg and Quinpool. I take the bus a lot and it can get very crowded. I've been on full-sized buses that had to stop picking up passengers near Dal. Coming into the city in the morning during peak hours the bus gets extremely full along the same stretch. It's not just standing room only, sometimes it's full to the doors.

10 minutes frequencies only seem high because the other routes come so infrequently (generally 30 minutes). I really believe the 1 needs a service upgrade because it's consistently overcrowded. Ideally I think Metro Transit would put in a short-turn route from Barrington to Quinpool Rd. on the 1 running a couple of times an hour in rush hour just to get some more capacity on the section that needs it.

There may be more crowded routes on the system but this is the worst one I ride. People who have the choice won't ride the bus if it's unreliable (too full to get on) and uncomfortable (too crowded). Better service is needed to attract new riders, or just to properly serve the existing ones.

[Bedford_DJ]

I just feel we have so many long winding routes already in this city, that adding another bus route that is similar to two others would confuse the problem.

As for the 1 the worst crowding happens along Coburg near Dal and Oxford between Coburg and Quinpool. I take the bus a lot and it can get very crowded. I've been on full-sized buses that had to stop picking up passengers near Dal. Coming into the city in the morning during peak hours the bus gets extremely full along the same stretch. It's not just standing room only, sometimes it's full to the doors.

10 minutes frequencies only seem high because the other routes come so infrequently (generally 30 minutes). I really believe the 1 needs a service upgrade because it's consistently overcrowded. Ideally I think Metro Transit would put in a short-turn route from Barrington to Quinpool Rd. on the 1 running a couple of times an hour in rush hour just to get some more capacity on the section that needs it.

There may be more crowded routes on the system but this is the worst one I ride. People who have the choice won't ride the bus if it's unreliable (too full to get on) and uncomfortable (too crowded). Better service is needed to attract new riders, or just to properly serve the existing ones.

Okay yah i see the #1 on Spring Garden so it might be less crowded there. I do agree with the winding routes though. The #80 for example makes a somewhat pointless path through Bayers Road. We never pick people up there outbound we jut drop people at an area with a bunch of routes from downtown already. In my opinion the #80 should go up Windsor or another route that doesnt involve the gidlock on Bayers Rd. The problem is though most routes use these winding routes. We should have more routes like the 7 were its a rectagular shape not some random lines on a map.

[Bedford_DJ]

Commuting picture in N.S. steady — census
Halifax commuters follow national trend, take more public transit
By KELLY SHIERS Staff Reporter
Thu. Apr 3 - 5:37 AM



A man smokes his pipe as the Halifax-Dartmouth ferry prepares to dock nearby on the Halifax waterfront Wednesday. Public transit use in Halifax has increased by two per cent since 2001, the 2006 census shows. Overall in Nova Scotia, there has been a one per cent increase in public transit use. (BLAKE MacEWAN)





Halifax commuters are following a national trend, opting to go green by carpooling, taking a ferry or hopping a bus to work, according to data that Statistics Canada released Wednesday.

"Essentially the Nova Scotia picture has stayed relatively the same in terms of . . . how people travel to work," said Stephanie Sodero, transportation co-ordinator for the Ecology Action Centre.

"Where we show the biggest movement (since 2001) was in Halifax. . . . Seeing a three per cent decline in the percentage of people who are driving alone and seeing a two per cent increase in transit use — these are relatively modest trends, but they’re good trends," she said.

The 2006 census figures show younger workers in Halifax Regional Municipality are more likely to go green. Almost 20 per cent of workers under age 25 use public transit. Another 19.9 per cent of young workers walk to their jobs.

Overall, the figures indicate 12 per cent of all commuters in HRM use transit, while 11 per cent walk and bike to work. Since 2001, the overall number of people walking and biking to work in HRM decreased by one per cent, Ms. Sodero said.

In Nova Scotia, there has been a one per cent increase in public transit use, she said.

Still, the most popular way to get to work, no matter where you live in Canada, is behind the wheel of a vehicle.

The 2006 census counted 10,644,325 Canadians who drove themselves to work. A further 1,133,150 Canadians were passengers in cars, trucks or vans. A total of 2,757,530 people said they use some sort of sustainable transportation — walking, biking or using public transit.

In Nova Scotia, there were almost 403,000 commuters, with 293,220 saying they drive themselves to work. Another 43,710 are passengers in cars, trucks or vans. Almost 60,000 people choose public transit, or to walk or cycle.

Ms. Sodero said the findings should encourage governments to provide more options for commuters throughout the province

[reddog794]

Okay, so how do we turn a 2% growth into a 4% growth?... only without all the nasty oil shortage and war type things happening right away.

[someone123]

The bus system needs a core network of express type routes along the lines of what the MetroLink provides to Dartmouth. By offering limited stops and skipping certain areas they can go a little bit faster and at higher frequencies. MetroLink has been a huge success and there's no reason why it can't be replicated in other similar parts of the city (Spryfield, Clayton Park, Bedford, Sackville).

There should also be a plan to piece together ROWs in different parts of the city for bus lanes. Eventually the city could move over to some electrified routes and maybe light rail.

None of this is overly complicated or controversial. Unfortunately, a lot of money that could be used for important transit projects is currently being wasted. I don't know much about Metro Transit's internal workings. Maybe after the municipal elections we'll have a council with some real priorities and direction.

[Bedford_DJ]

The bus system needs a core network of express type routes along the lines of what the MetroLink provides to Dartmouth. By offering limited stops and skipping certain areas they can go a little bit faster and at higher frequencies. MetroLink has been a huge success and there's no reason why it can't be replicated in other similar parts of the city (Spryfield, Clayton Park, Bedford, Sackville).

There should also be a plan to piece together ROWs in different parts of the city for bus lanes. Eventually the city could move over to some electrified routes and maybe light rail.

None of this is overly complicated or controversial. Unfortunately, a lot of money that could be used for important transit projects is currently being wasted. I don't know much about Metro Transit's internal workings. Maybe after the municipal elections we'll have a council with some real priorities and direction.

Sackville already has a MetroLink and if the fast ferry is built Bedford shouldn't need a MetroLink, but Clayton Park defenitely needs a MetroLink leaving from Lacewood Terminal. I'm not familiar with Spryfield's traffic but i think they could build one nearby anyways.

[hfx_chris]

I think they're saying Spryfield and Clayton Park MetroLink won't be coming for a few years yet; 2011 and 2012.
Metro Transit put a couple things up on their site:

5-year Approach (http://www.halifax.ca/metrotransit/news/documents/MetroTransit5YearApproach.pdf)

Regional transit plan (http://www.halifax.ca/metrotransit/news/documents/RegionalTransitPlan.pdf)

Hopefully this service is as popular as the Link in Sackville. Those buses really helped to relieve congestion in Burnside. I heard they are planning to use a different type of bus for this service. Does anyone know if its like the Link buses or something else entirely?As far as I know it would be suburban buses, which are basically identical to urban buses except for a couple of changes, such as no back door to increase seating, comfier high-back seats similar to what MetroLink currently uses, so they'll probably just use the same seats, and a few mechanical and structural modifications for constant highway driving. Some can be purchased equipped with luggage racks, either overhead or at the front, which would be handy if they decide to service the airport. But basically they're identical to what they're using now. I doubt they would pay for expensive highway coaches...that's overkill.

I do agree with the shuttle thing though. Only 2 full-time routes go to the Halifax ferry terminal (five including peak routes).3 actually, routes 2, 4 and 6. ;)

[Bedford_DJ]

Just some new changes:

-#21 now goes to Greenwood Heights all the time, and

-#72 Portland-bound will service Commodore Drive and DC.

[hfx_chris]

-#21 now goes to Greenwood Heights all the timeGood. There's a lot of people living up in there, it made no sense that some runs would bypass that subdivision during rush hour.

-#72 Portland-bound will service Commodore Drive and DC.Another good one! Even better in fact. I said right from the start the 72 should service Dartmouth Crossing - now there's service from the Highfield area directly to DC.

Of course, my idea right from the start was to route the 72 through Dartmouth Crossing, which would provide service to DC from the eastern Dartmouth area. The then new route 56 should have serviced DC from the Bridge terminal on Wyse Road, by taking Victoria, Highfield and Commodore.
But what do I know :cool:

[Bedford_DJ]

Downtown Shuttle Services

(Tuesday, May 13, 2008) - HRM will hold a public workshop this Thursday to gather comments from residents regarding the design for a downtown shuttle service that is included in the municipality's five-year transit plan.

The plan will add more and more regional transit services such as fast ferry, rural express buses and new MetroLink routes. These services will bring passengers to major transit terminals at Scotia Square and the Halifax Ferry Terminal. Although these two locations are within walking distance for a large portion of downtown employment, they are not as convenient for those whose workplace is farther away. With the Downtown Shuttle, commuters will disembark and have an attractive, comfortable vehicle waiting to take them to key destinations in and around the downtown.

The public will have the opportunity to help HRM decide which are the key destinations to service by downtown shuttle. The buses will use hybrid diesel-electric technology to minimize noise and emissions.

Information regarding the workshop has been sent to business associations, hospitals, universities, DND, and Citadel High School.

When: Thursday, May 15, 2008

Where: Delta Halifax Hotel, 1990 Barrington Street, Baronet Room #6

Time: 1st Session: 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
2nd Session: 10:45 a.m to 12:15 p.m.
3rd Session: 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

--30--

John O'Brien
Manager, Corporate Communications
490-6531

(Credit: http://halifax.ca/mediaroom/pressrelease/pr2008/080513DowntownShuttleServices.html)
This is great news. Shuttles downtown will defenitely help us to get "greener" (they are hybrid buses), more ridership and make downtown more attractive!!!

[someone123]

I don't know much about Dartmouth transit, but the downtown shuttle is definitely needed. It should be really easy for people to get from Barrington or the ferry terminal to any of the major nearby employment areas - all around the downtown, dockyards, hospitals, and universities. The whole idea of trying to mix and match suburban areas with different parts of the peninsula just doesn't work well.

Good to hear that they're looking at electric, though I'm not sure what they mean exactly by hybrids. Does this mean that they will run off of lines but also have diesel engines or does this just mean that they'll have some kind of battery pack?

[gm_scott]

Just Buses with diesel power and a battery pack.
Good choice I must say.

[hfx_chris]

Yep, diesel-electric hybrids.

[Bedford_DJ]

Call for more metro bus connections
Lack of service to Quinpool Rd., workshop hears
By AMY PUGSLEY FRASER City Hall Reporter
Fri. May 16 - 6:08 AM

There aren’t enough bus connections linking Halifax’s downtown to Quinpool Road or the south end, a transit workshop heard Thursday.

Providing a connecting service to those areas would persuade commuters to leave their cars at home, Sandra Hamm said.

The Saint Mary’s University librarian usually carpools daily from Musquodoboit Harbour and finds it much faster than taking the bus.

"I don’t want to take a MetroLink bus to Scotia Square and then spend 10 minutes waiting for another bus (to go the rest of the way to SMU)," she said.

"That doesn’t really reduce my time."

Ms. Hamm was one of about 30 people who took part Thursday in three planning sessions hosted by the municipality.

A new downtown shuttle service is in the works for 2010 but the city wanted rider input before putting the buses out on the street.

During 90-minute sessions in a downtown hotel boardroom, participants were given a table-sized map, a jar full of push pins and string. Their task: to link as many bus stops — including pickups at Scotia Square and the Halifax ferry terminal — as possible.

A lot of the talk during a mid-morning session centred on the lack of service to Quinpool Road.

It’s especially important for Sarah MacDonald, the student services representative for the Centre for Arts and Technology on Barrington Street.

"Although our campus is downtown, not everybody can afford to live downtown," she explained in an interview.

As a result, students often choose to live on Quinpool Road, but "figuring out the transfer system can be a little complicated."

However, the trek downtown is also a little too long to regularly do on foot, Ms. MacDonald said.

The councillor for downtown Halifax says the new service would be a boon to the residents, tourists and commuters who frequent the downtown.

For any of them, parking issues and lack of transit connections can make it challenging and time-consuming to get around, Coun. Dawn Sloane said.

"Often, people are downtown and they need to get to Spring Garden Road to do an errand and they take their car. And I just cringe at that thought," she said.

"This (service) will allow people to say, ‘I’m not going to take my car’ . . . so I’m definitely a cheerleader for it."

The concept also appeals to Laena Garrison, co-ordinator of TRAX, the transportation wing of the Ecology Action Centre in Halifax.

"Not taking your car is really fundamental to what TRAX is all about," she said, noting the group also encourages cycling as well as public transit.

Its own research shows that increased frequency and reliability are key to getting more people on the bus, so she’s glad the city is working from the same premise.

"Definitely two thumbs up!" she said.

She’s also impressed that the city took the time to invite people to the workshop before the service was introduced.

"It’s a great way to get people involved and to teach people that it’s not an easy task to figure this out," Ms. Garrison said.

Even Halifax’s manager of transportation admitted that was an unexpected benefit of the exercise.

"We get an appreciation of what priorities are for people, and the participants, I think, get an appreciation for the job we have to do," David McCusker said in an interview.

"And they start to understand why we can’t do everything for everybody."

( apugsley@herald.ca)

Some of the comments on the Herald website are actually smart for this particular article. One person mentioned banning parking on SGR and Barrington (downtown only). I do agree they should ban parking on these roads and to help buses get there easier they should make Robie (south of Cunard) three lanes with no-parking all the way down to at least South maybe even Inglis.

[Bedford_DJ]

New Rural Express information document:
http://halifax.ca/MetroTransit/MetroExpress.html

EDIT: The new nickname for the MetroExpress is METROX. Pretty cool, eh?

[Bedford_DJ]

Now that the Chebucto Road Reversing Lane is planned for construction for this year i think they should add a bus route into these plans. I'm not familiar with bus routes/ridership levels out there so please forgive me if this is a stupid route.

-leaves Cogswell/Barrington
-up North Park Street
-Cunard/Chebucto
-Mumford Terminal
-Bayers Road Terminal
-Lacewood?

[hfx_chris]

Sounds like a cross between the current routes 5 and 6 from downtown to Mumford, and the route 2 and 4 from Mumford to Lacewood..

Cogswell is already serviced by the route 6 which always has relatively low ridership during off-peak times. Cunard from downtown is serviced by the route 5 during rush hour only (and by the route 18 all day which doesn't go downtown), and in my experience hardly anyone ever gets on or off in that area.

However, I am all for increased service from the Lacewood terminal/Clayton Park area to downtown. The rush hour routes (21, 31, 33, 34, 35) are pretty good, but only if you're going one-way. The only other routes which directly service Lacewood and downtown all day are the route 2 and 4, which typically become crowded - and are very circuitous, as they try and service as many areas as possible. Would be nice to have a more direct downtown to Clayton Park route all day, however here's my suggestion:

Leave Barrington northbound to Duffus Street, left on Duffus straight onto Lady Hammond, Kempt Road, Bedford Highway, ramp onto Joe Howe, right on Dutch Village, right on Titus to Lacewood. Not only would this provide much more direct downtown to Clayton Park service by not dicking around all over Halifax, but it would provide a link between Clayton Park and north end Halifax which right now is missing. But personally I'm a big fan of "express routes" (not in the limited-stop MetroLink style, but just routes which bypass a lot of nonsense), and Metro Transit has to maximize the potential of every route they create due to limited funding and resources... this is why I would never want to be a transit planner.

[Bedford_DJ]

Cogswell is already serviced by the route 6 which always has relatively low ridership during off-peak times. Cunard from downtown is serviced by the route 5 during rush hour only (and by the route 18 all day which doesn't go downtown), and in my experience hardly anyone ever gets on or off in that area.
Yes i guess it does have some resemblence to #6 but instead of going to Chocolate Lake this would swing up to Bayers Road and as far as i know there is no route that does that directly from D.T. If need be this could be rush-hour only but if it somehow services Mumford and Lacewood i imagine it could be popular enough to have mid-day or saturdays. Cunard is also serviced by #17 for the same length as the #18 (just from Windsor to Robie).
Leave Barrington northbound to Duffus Street, left on Duffus straight onto Lady Hammond, Kempt Road, Bedford Highway, ramp onto Joe Howe, right on Dutch Village, right on Titus to Lacewood. Not only would this provide much more direct downtown to Clayton Park service by not dicking around all over Halifax, but it would provide a link between Clayton Park and north end Halifax which right now is missing. But personally I'm a big fan of "express routes" (not in the limited-stop MetroLink style, but just routes which bypass a lot of nonsense), and Metro Transit has to maximize the potential of every route they create due to limited funding and resources... this is why I would never want to be a transit planner.
That would be a nice route. When i created mine i was just thinking of servicing Chebucto not other roads. If it needs more capacity it could extend down to Bayers Road Terminal on Desmond and just loop back up Dutch Village (from experience that would add approx. 3-4 minutes maximum) not adding much time. If it doesnt require this loop then on the inbound buses from Titus it could turn down Main Ave and go on the Bfd Hwy/Kempt Rd via the bus only ramp.

[hfx_chris]

Just heard from a friend the details on August's scheduled route changes. Aside from the regular schedule adjustments, there's some good news both for people working at the new RIM office, as well as folks traveling from Lower Sackville or Bedford to Bayers Lake - a new route 89 Bedford is to be introduced. Routing is as follows, in his words: "Service will operate from Lacewood terminal to Cobequid Terminal.
Via Lacewood Dr, Parkland Dr, Kearney Lake, Bluewater Rd, Hammonds
Plains Rd, Symonds Rd, Innovation Dr (service to RIM), Hammonds Plains
Rd, Bedford Hwy, Cobequid Terminal."

Also the route 63, which currently provides rush hour only service from the Sportsplex/Bridge Terminal to Woodside will now provide all day 30-minute service in both directions. The route will still terminate in Woodside during the rush hour trips, but the non-peak trips will continue up the Hwy 111 and terminate at Penhorn. Finally, Woodside to Penhorn service. Incidently, the route 63 as it currently is changes into a route 65 at Woodside, which travels to Penhorn and beyond anyway, so there will still be connections between those points during rush hour.

He also claims the next order of buses should be articulated ("accordion"). Unknown if they're for MetroLink or regular service, but I would bet on regular service. I don't think they're planning to extend MetroLink any time soon - although I did overhear a driver talking to another driver that a Tantallon MetroLink route may be in the cards...

[Bedford_DJ]

That Route 89 sounds like a great idea. Many Bedfordians have doctors or just want to shop in the Lacewood area. This serves Kerney Lake, Bedford, Lwr Sackville, Bedford West Business Campus, Lacewood, Wdgewood and indirectly Kingswood and Hammonds Plains. If we get any more routes out here we'll have to consider take over #'s 90-99. :D

Now all we need is the fast ferry and I'll stop complaining about the buses out here...:yes:

[reddog794]

Or an articulated Bedford link in the mean time.

I wonder if any of the new buses are going to Burnside. I'd imagine they would service DC a bit more as well, to improve that economic shot.

[someone123]

That Route 89 sounds like a great idea. Many Bedfordians have doctors or just want to shop in the Lacewood area. This serves Kerney Lake, Bedford, Lwr Sackville, Bedford West Business Campus, Lacewood, Wdgewood and indirectly Kingswood and Hammonds Plains. If we get any more routes out here we'll have to consider take over #'s 90-99. :D

I'm guessing there will be more routes in the next few years as more development happens in the area. RIM is just one part of a larger office park and there will be residential development along the lines of Bedford South happening between Kearney Lake/H. Plains/102.

The Tantallon area must be growing fairly quickly as well.

[hfx_chris]

Or an articulated Bedford link in the mean time.

I wonder if any of the new buses are going to Burnside. I'd imagine they would service DC a bit more as well, to improve that economic shot.

The problem as I see it with Dartmouth Crossing, is the two routes which service it originate in east Dartmouth, specifically Portland Hills. The 72 should continue to service DC, but the route 56 should never have been put in the way it was, it should be running from the Sportsplex/Bridge terminal to DC via Victoria and Highfield.

[Bedford_DJ]

I imagine there will also be a new route for the Mainland Common Rec Centre area. Bedford West will get one when it is developed, the 88 will be extended to include all of Bedford Commons, a new route should loop around Bedford South/Hemlock Ravine, and imagine the Sambro Loop might get a route eventually.

All in due time though...:D

[hfx_chris]

I imagine there will also be a new route for the Mainland Common Rec Centre area.
That area is already pretty well covered for transit...

[reddog794]

I wonder if they are going to improve the bus service inside of Burnside. Alot of people avoid the bus if they work there, unless they work on Ilsley, or Burnside drive, because they can't get around very well outside of those two drags.

[Bedford_DJ]

I believe they are planning to have shuttle buses for Burnside (like what they want downtown).

[hfx_chris]

Yeah, that's the plan - also a Community Shuttle for Cole Harbour, Sackville or Bedford and one for Clayton Park I believe. But like all things Transit does, while the idea behind it is okay, the execution is all wrong. They're planning to use smaller Access-A-Bus style vehicles. Yeah, I'd love to see how crowded those are in Burnside during rush hour...
They're also going to use those for the Metro Express / rural express service. Again, I'd be willing to bet those fill up very quickly.

[reddog794]

The next big thing, "Accordion Access-a-Bus"

[hfx_chris]

Huh? :sly:

[Bedford_DJ]

lol...i can actually see that happening:

If we are goin to be obsessed with small buses this should the way to go:
http://www.carfree.com/cft/i033-480.jpg
Source (http://www.carfree.com/cft/i033.html)

Route #1 in ten years from now:
http://www.vanhool.com/images/bussen/AGG300.jpg
Source (http://www.vanhool.com/images/bussen/AGG300.jpg)

[hfx_chris]

Yeah, could you imagine a double-articulated bus in downtown Halifax?

Actually, it would probably be okay as far as cornering is okay, since most drivers say the artics they have now are easier to get around corners than a regular bus, despite how it looks.

[Keith P.]

Yeah, could you imagine a double-articulated bus in downtown Halifax?


No, I can't. Barrington Street would come to a standstill and gridlock would result.

[terrynorthend]

Yeah, could you imagine a double-articulated bus in downtown Halifax?



During a snowstorm?? Lol

[hfx_chris]

During a snowstorm?? Lol

Oh yeah, the artics have a bad enough time fishtailing at the foot of Spring Garden as it is :D

[hfx_chris]

No, I can't. Barrington Street would come to a standstill and gridlock would result.

Dunno. They would be able to take on more passengers with, in theory, fewer buses.

[Keith P.]

Dunno. They would be able to take on more passengers with, in theory, fewer buses.

Except you know that the idiots that run Transit don't adjust bus frequency when a different sized bus is used. If they did we would see #10s far more frequently when the useless low-floors get assigned to that route. But we don't. They would still run these triple-artics every 5 minutes on route 1 and since every other route in town also goes down Barrington there would be no room left.

[hfx_chris]

They would still run these triple-artics every 5 minutes on route 1 and since every other route in town also goes down Barrington there would be no room left.

No, they would continue to run regular sized low floors on the route 1 :haha:

[Bedford_DJ]

I would love to see one of these make the corner on Joe Howe. And we thought the vehicles have problems nowadays...;)

[hfx_chris]

Which corner? Joe Howe and Scot Street?

[Bedford_DJ]

Turning from the Windsor St Exchange onto Joe Howe. The corner that flips trucks all the time now...

[Keith P.]

Turning from the Windsor St Exchange onto Joe Howe. The corner that flips trucks all the time now...

Yep, the infamous hairpin turn. Traffic comes to a standstill there every time a big truck tries to go thru. It really needs a proper overhead ramp.

[hfx_chris]

Oh that one. I don't even like driving it in a car...

[Bedford_DJ]

I doesn't look like the #89 will be onservice soon:

Upcoming Route & Schedule Adjustments, effective August 31, 2008



Please note the following route & schedule adjustments effective August 31, 2008. For exact timetable information, visit our website or refer to the updated Rider’s Guide, available August 22 at most retail outlets.



#1 Spring Garden – Increase to 15 minute frequency from 11 am to 6 pm Sundays

#41 Dartmouth/Dalhousie – Service resumes

#42 Lacewood/Dalhousie – Service resumes

#52 Crosstown – 30 minute service beginning at 11 am to 6 pm Sundays

#63 Woodside – 30 minute service to Penhorn weekdays

#82 Millwood – 30 minute service, midday, off peak

#84 Glendale – Leaving Sackville Terminal at 5:57 am
For additional information, contact the HRM Call Centre at 490-4000.

[hfx_chris]

Correct, I don't believe the 89 is supposed to be online until October at the earliest, depends on when the streets are finished being worked on in the area.

[Keith P.]

They need a total rethink of their route maps. There is so much duplication and redundancy that it makes no sense.

[Bedford_DJ]

It looks like the MetroX has been postponed until the Spring. Still nice to see it go ahead though.

'MetroX' bus link coming to communities off Highway 103

By AMY PUGSLEY FRASER City Hall Reporter
Mon. Oct 27 - 6:16 PM
Halifax’s successful MetroLink commuter bus is about to get a new rural cousin.

“MetroX” will be launched next spring.
The service will link communities along Highway 103 from Tantallon to downtown Halifax.

The first phase of the project is slated to be awarded when council meets Tuesday night. It includes a $1.35 million tender award for 10 buses to Overland Custom Coach (2007) Inc.

The whole project — which will eventually expand to 30 buses over three years at a cost of $4.23 million — will be completed as funding through future capital budgets is approved by council, a staff report outlines.

The MetroX route will depart from the Tantallon Sobey’s shopping centre at Exit 5 on Highway 103 and cost around $4 or $5 per trip to the downtown, he said.

“This will hopefully get started next spring and it will take a lot of traffic off the roads,” Coun. Gary Meade (Hammonds Plains-St. Margaret’s) said Monday.

Transfers to other bus routes in the downtown will not cost extra, he says.

“So when you think about the price of gas and parking, it will make up for it,” he said.

Monthly passes will likely be offered too, he said, but the details will be worked out over the next few months.

Since he’s been councillor, transit issues in the district have been high on his priority list.

So he feels good that at his last official council meeting – Mr. Meade didn’t re-offer in last week’s election — will include the tender for that service.

“It’s nice to get it,” he said.

Future phases of MetroX will include service on the Highway 101, 102, and 107 corridors.

The MetroLink debuted in Portland Hills back in August 2005. The direct-service commuter bus, which connects bedroom communities with downtown Halifax, then started in Lower Sackville in February 2006.

The service has been so popular that park-and-ride lots at both locations had to be expanded.

[hfx_chris]

Good, maybe they can take the time to re-think that name...

I'm curious to see which model the tender is for... Overland is just a distributor.

[alps]

It would be nice if they'd add support for Google Transit. It was insanely handy in San Francisco and Denver - give it a try:

http://www.google.com/transit

[phrenic]

Good, maybe they can take the time to re-think that name...


Silly name. What does the X stand for? "Metro Transit EXtreme!"?

[alps]

Silly name. What does the X stand for? "Metro Transit EXtreme!"?
:haha:

Metro Transit: EXurbs!

[Bedford_DJ]

Silly name. What does the X stand for? "Metro Transit EXtreme!"?

Lol....:haha:

It actually stands for Metro Express

[Jonovision]

Good news for sure.

On a side note, I had never heard of Google Transit. That thing is friggin brilliant!!!!

[Bedford_DJ]

To no ones surprise this sailed through council last night without a single debate. It looka like a great service to me. Maybe this will help the traffic problems at the Roundabout...

City approves MetroX bus service to Upper Tantallon


Residents in western Halifax County will have a new commuting option into downtown Halifax next spring.

Regional council unanimously approved the awarding of a tender for 10 buses to service communities along Highway 103 as far out as Upper Tantallon.

The $1.35-million tender, awarded to Overland Custom Coach (2007) Inc., officially heralds the arrival of MetroX.

Starting in May, MetroX buses will leave from the Sobeys shopping centre at Exit 5 and stop only at park-and-ride lots at exits 4 and 3. The trip to the downtown will take about a half-hour and cost passengers $4 to $5 each. The service will eventually be expanded to 30 buses

[terrynorthend]

Google Transit? Fun!!

What the? Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal, FREDRICTON? Reminds me of the Simpsons- "NewYork, LA, Chicago, Springfield!!"

Not a hard one for them to database i guess. If you are here..you can go there... sometime in the next hour. Thats about all. :jester:

[Bedford_DJ]

I don't think anybody has mentioned this before but Ragged Lake has been chosen as the home of the new transit garage. Expected to be operational in 2010

Council approves Ragged Lake as site for new transit garage
BURNSIDE AND RAGGED LAKE
LYNNE WELLS
The Burnside News

Metro Transit has a new general manager and plans to build a new bus garage. Halifax Regional Council approved a site in Ragged Lake Business Park for a new garage at a meeting in early October.

Patricia Soanes, who now heads the management team at Metro Transit, says her priority is getting a new bus garage built and operational by April 2010.

“I’m very excited about this new project. We need it in order to move ahead with the five-year transportation plan.

“Everything hinges on this new garage. We can’t significantly increase the number of buses because we have no place to put them; therefore, we can’t significantly expand our routes or services. We’re really limited until 2010. We’ll add 15 expansions to routes in November and a few more next February, but after that we’re in a holding pattern until we have more space.”

Approximately $25 million is set aside for a new garage. Soanes says requests for design-build proposals are going out and a project manager is assigned.

Metro Transit has two garages, both in Burnside. Both facilities are operating above capacity with almost 300 buses needing service.

The new Ragged Lake facility is expected to cover the day-to-day requirements of the bus fleet, i.e. servicing vehicles, running repairs and preventative maintenance repairs. The facility will be open round the clock. The site will also provide parking for as many as 150 buses.

The facility will not be responsible for major component rebuilding, major accident repair, bus rebuilds and full bus painting. These functions will remain at 200 Ilsley Ave.

A number of sites in HRM were evaluated for accessibility, environmental impacts, community impacts, traffic implications, savings and planning implications.

City staff recommended Ragged Lake Business Park as the preferred site as it was the only one to meet all of the listed criteria. However, the site isn’t without problems.

Traffic congestion on the Prospect Road and the adjoining St. Margaret’s Bay Road is a serious consideration. Traffic lights at the intersection of Prospect Road and Ragged Lake Boulevard are expected to cost $150,000.

The staff report states, “In preliminary discussions with the province, staff believe an emergency egress can be established from Ragged Lake Industrial Park to the 103 off ramp allowing buses to exit the park if a major accident occurred at the intersection of Prospect Road and the St. Margaret’s Bay Road.”

Soanes, who comes to Metro Transit from Coast Mountain Transit out west, says Burnside and Bayers Lake Parks shouldn’t expect any significant increases or changes in service until 2010.

“We’ve done what we can in Burnside to meet evening needs in light of our budget constraints,” Soanes says. “Transit in Bayers Lake isn’t great, but it’s not an optimal situation out there. Because the buildings are so far back from the road, buses are traveling through parking lots, over speed bumps and so on. We have safety issues to consider.”

Soanes and her team are ready to submit a five-year operational transit strategy to HRM.

“The plan addresses needs so we can meet the expansion plans outlined in the transit strategy. Metro Transit has operated in a highly constrained fiscal environment in the past,” Soanes says. “Needs have just barely been met with nothing going toward future expansion. The good news is there’s a high level of commitment from the community to have a transit system that meets its needs.”

[Bedford_DJ]

Route & Schedule Adjustments

Effective Sunday, November 23, 2008

----------



Route #14 - Leiblin Park

• 7:13 am additional service from Scotia Square

• 7:55 am additional service from Mumford to Scotia Square

• 3:40 pm additional service from Mumford to Scotia Square

• 4:58 pm additional service from Scotia Square



Route #19 - Greystone to Mumford Terminal

• Additional service provided from 6 am to 10 pm

• Route #19 will provide accessible low floor service



Route #26 - Shuttle

• Service discontinued - increases on Route #52



Route #32 - Cowie Hill

• 7:06 am additional service from Mont St & Herring Cove Rd

• AM departure adjustments



Route #52 - Crosstown

• Two-directional peak service extended

• 6:35 am & 7:06 am additional service from Ilsley Ave.

• 7:53 am additional service from Chain Lake Dr.

• 4:01 pm additional service from Wright / MacDonald



Route #61 - Auburn/North Preston

• 6:38 am additional service from Portland Hills

Terminal

• 4:10 pm additional service from Scotia Square



Route #63 - Woodside

• Two-directional peak service



Route #64 - Akerley

• 3:25 pm additional service from Bridge Terminal



Route #65 - Astral

• Additional am & pm service between Penhorn

Terminal and Woodside



Route #80 - Sackville

• 8 am additional service from Cobequid Terminal

to Scotia Square



Route #82 - Millwood

• 3:59 pm additional service from Sackville to

Cobequid Terminals



Route #83 - Springfield

• 5:30 pm & 6:20 pm additional service from Sackville

Terminal



Route #86 - Basinview

• 7:20 am additional service from Rockmanor Dr.

• 5:05 pm additional service from Summer /Bell



Route #89 - Bedford

• Offers weekday service travelling from Cobequid Terminal to Lacewood Terminal via the Bedford Highway, Hammonds Plains Road, Bluewater Road, Kearney Lake Road and Parkland Drive to Lacewood Terminal and back.



(Modified routing may be in effect until road improvements are completed)

The new changes look good. :) Especially the new #89 in Bedford! and the expansion of #86!

The article in my previous posts states that this will be the largest increase until the new Garage is built, the rest will be smaller. All these increases should help big time though. :D

Just as a side note they finished the bus lane extension inbound on the Magazine so that should help the Link :)

[hfx_chris]

...and the expansion of #86!
Hah!

[Bedford_DJ]

Hah!

Well it's technically doubling its capacity. :rolleyes: Two times a day per direction still isnt enough though....

Route 89 should help it out though since it has similar but shorter route.

BTW since it didn't mention it in the updates the 89 will provide weekday only half-hour service (non-peak) and 15 min peak service. This route will probably become more popular though.

And does anyone know where Greystone is? It has it listed as a new service but i cant find the place on a map for the life of me...

[hfx_chris]

Greystone is off of Herring Cove, just south of the Spryfield area. In fact it may be considered part of Spryfield.

The part I find interesting about the 19 Greystone is that it will only service between Greystone and Mumford Terminal, it won't service downtown Halifax, not even during rush hour. This seems backwards to me, as I would have thought the purpose of the 19 is to take some of the load off of the 20 Herring Cove... are they actually expecting people to take the 20 from downtown to Mumford and transfer to the 19 for the last 10-15 minutes of their journey?
There used to be a route named the 19 Fotherby, which terminated just a bit farther down Herring Cove on Fotherby Avenue, now that route did go all the way to downtown during rush hour, and I would have guessed the new 19 would have done the same...

[Halifax Hillbilly]

The part I find interesting about the 19 Greystone is that it will only service between Greystone and Mumford Terminal, it won't service downtown Halifax, not even during rush hour. This seems backwards to me, as I would have thought the purpose of the 19 is to take some of the load off of the 20 Herring Cove... are they actually expecting people to take the 20 from downtown to Mumford and transfer to the 19 for the last 10-15 minutes of their journey?

Many people use the 20 to get from Mumford to Spryfield and vice-versa. I've watched a half empty twenty pull into Mumford heading to Spryfield and leave so full that people get left behind. Mumford's a destination in its own right and a big transfer for people heading onto buses like the 52. It makes sense to me because the Spryfield section of the route is what appeared to be very under-serviced.

[hfx_chris]

I would have imagined that many more people take the bus from downtown to Spryfield

[Bedford_DJ]

Well Sunnyside is the same way here. Eventhough all the buses go through to Sackville or downtown a lot of people get off at the mall. Most of the people on the 80 for example don't come from downtown. Quite a few of them are simply going between Bedford and Sackville.

The 82 is supposed to go all the way from sackville to downtown but when MT realised that many people just want to go within Sackville they made the route full time in Sackville but only occasional trips downtown. Despite what it may seem like many people here in bedford and sackville dont work downtown. I know i work oujt here, go to scholl out here and rarely ever go downtown for anything.

[hfx_chris]

But a huge number of people do. People were and are always complaining about the crush loads on the 80 along the Bedford highway, which leads me to believe a large number of people (enough to fill the buses) are heading from Sackville/Bedford to Halifax, not just between Sackville and Sunnyside.
Same with the 20, a number of times I've been at Mumford and seen it arrive outbound from downtown standing room only. Unless they all got on at the stop around the corner, the logical connection to make is that they are coming from downtown.

[Bedford_DJ]

True but the loads between Bfd and Sunnyside have three seperate routes that serve it (66, 80, 82) so the problem isnt shown in overcrowding. The Bfd highway does have some bus capacity problems but many of those people get on in either bedford south or larry uteck. Manyof the people who get on in bedford inbound also only go to bayers road, joe howe area not downtown. THis is why they invented the 89. It doesnt go downtown, instead it just goes to where many people are destine for, which is around lacewood. Many people who get off around joe howe and bayers road do it not only cuz their work might be nearby they also do it because they can get transfers to bayers lake, lacewood or dartmouth. i think the 80 may seem overcrowded in town because it is a direct route for people from mainland halifax and bayers road to get downtown or to sgr.

[someone123]

The bus routes are complicated and serve different riders at different points. In the evenings a lot of people just want to get from the downtown to Mumford, so they take a 1 or 20 or whatever shows up first. For the 80, people get off at Sunnyside and then more get on later at MSVU etc.

I was actually a commuter on both of those routes at various times.

Given the way the system works I still maintain that the goal should be to have a really high quality light rail type services on the peninsula (not actually that many km of track required but benefits many riders). Basically it would trivialize transfers for everybody and they could get onto some appropriate suburban MetroLink type route at peak hours that could use a new bus lane along Bayers Rd. If a third bridge is built there could also be a bus lane going across to Dartmouth.

[someone123]

Just looked at the route maps for the 19 and 89 after seeing them mentioned in the Chebucto Rd thread.

These are different from, say, the 33 or 14. They make a lot more sense to me since they rely on transfers rather than snaking through random parts of the city and doing nothing particularly well. Of course, to make the transfer system work there has to be high frequencies for key routes like the 1 (including at off-peak times).

[Bedford_DJ]

The #89 is perfect for students attending SMU that live in Sackville or Bedford.

I used to attend school near SMU and I had to use the 80 and transfer to the 18 or 17 somewheres in town (usually on SGR). This will allow for the transfer to take place at Lacewood and avoid the traffic on the Bfd Hwy. It'll probably be a bit quicker via the 89 than the 80.

[HaliStreaks]

New bus terminal is crucial, drivers say...

By AMY PUGSLEY FRASER City Hall Reporter
Mon. Nov 17 - 4:42 PM

Dartmouth will lose out on new transit routes if a bus terminal isn’t constructed up the hill from the Sportsplex, says the head of the drivers union.

"Unless we get this facility, Dartmouth is going to remain stagnant," Dan MacDonald, president of the local chapter of the Amalgamated Transit Union, said Sunday.

Plans are in the works for a new Nantucket Street facility but the enabling legislation could be held up at Province House this week, Mr. MacDonald explained in an interview.

A final stamp of approval on the new terminal must come from provincial politicians because the city-owned land is part of the Dartmouth Common, he said.

And under an agreement passed years ago by Dartmouth municipal politicians, the province’s OK on the land’s usage is necessary.

However, Mr. MacDonald says the facility, which would also house a community policing office, would benefit the people of Dartmouth.

"It’s for the thousands of people who would use this facility every day," he said.

The terminal, which would double as a turn-around point for dozens of Dartmouth bus routes, would get people out of the rain and the snow.

And its police office would act as a deterrent for the "bad guys" who hang out across the street at the shopping mall or in the woods next to Dartmouth High School, Mr. MacDonald said.

There’s no way to expand the current terminal site, next door at the Dartmouth Sportsplex.

"We’re currently at overcapacity," Mr. MacDonald said of the number of buses that use the city sports centre parking lot as a stop along their route.

Close to 1,300 bus trips are made through the facility each weekday, he said.

The terminal sees about 8,000 passengers go through during the morning peak and again on their way home.

"It’s just absolutely amazing the number of buses that go through there . . . We can’t add one more route."

"If we build this facility, it’s going to make bus travel in Dartmouth a lot safer."

Despite the benefits of the facility, there are fears provincial politicians will not push the required legislation through during this week’s House session.

"It looks like to us that this might be an item that’s going to die on the order paper . . . and that’s what concerns us so dramatically," Mr. MacDonald said.

Drivers plan an information picket this morning at the Sportsplex to make their riders aware of what they could be missing. And with 16,000 riders going through the area each day, it translates into a widespread picket.

"It’s a lot of voters," he says.

Coun. Gloria McCluskey (Dartmouth Centre) says she’s totally in favour of the new building.

"That terminal is extremely important because there is no other place . . . that we can put it," she said Sunday.

The urban wilderness park that’s currently on the land is "nothing but trouble," she said.

"I have never seen anybody strolling through there," she said.

"I’ve talked to police about it and it’s a trouble spot and the land could be put to much better use for the good of the people."

She stressed that she’s in favour of protecting the Common when it’s warranted and mentions the "beautiful" Dillman Park one block over from the Sportsplex.

"The definition of the Common is for the ‘common good’ and that’s what the land is for. I can’t think of anything that would be more for the ‘common good’ than the bus terminal."

"I hope the government and the opposition think about this very carefully and realize the importance of it and what we will do if we don’t get it."

Mayor Peter Kelly acknowledged Sunday that there have been "some complications" in moving ahead with the project.

"We are trying to put in a new facility over behind the Sportsplex, but it’s been a bit of a challenge," he said in an interview.

"We know that there is some congestion there that needs to be addressed and, for the long term, we hope to be able to do that."

( apugsley@herald.ca)

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

[Jonovision]

Great news. That bus terminal is horrible. It needs a big upgrade. I just hope it gets through.
In my travels the best design for a bus terminal I have come across was the main terminal in Hamilton in Bermuda. It would be nice if we could get something like this. Each separate route has its own spot in the terminal and they each have a display to show when the next bus is arriving.

I found this pic on Picasa, courtesy of MarkE

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_qw-oJJ0htUk/SHY0fnb5DkI/AAAAAAAAATg/Y55dY-gQ2k8/s720/DSC_0148.JPG

[someone123]

The bus terminals are pretty awful all around the city, although I agree that the Dartmouth one is the worst I know of. Even Mumford is pretty bad despite being only a few years old - the layout is inconvenient, it's not sheltered enough, and there are not enough displays.

I would also think that with a bit of creativity it would be possible to get a lot more out of a new terminal by partnering with private developers who could build some retail, office buildings, apartments, etc.

[hfx_chris]

In my travels the best design for a bus terminal I have come across was the main terminal in Hamilton in Bermuda. It would be nice if we could get something like this. Each separate route has its own spot in the terminal and they each have a display to show when the next bus is arriving.

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.

[someone123]

A few years ago I actually lived near Eglinton and would often transfer to a bus from the subway. By that time there was an empty lot next to the office building the subway station was in, which I guess is where this terminal was..? When I took them the buses would just pull up to a curb in a covered area. The exit to get back onto Eglinton was also a little awkward.

I agree that backing out doesn't work very well. Of course, having people going back and forth in front of or behind the buses is also undesirable.

[Jonovision]

The backing out worked in this case. I didn't see any hitch in the process. This was on a side street just off one of the main streets of Hamilton. And there was also a traffic control centre in the middle that overlooked the whole thing as well as having traffic officers help guide the buses out.

[hfx_chris]

A few years ago I actually lived near Eglinton and would often transfer to a bus from the subway. By that time there was an empty lot next to the office building the subway station was in, which I guess is where this terminal was..? When I took them the buses would just pull up to a curb in a covered area. The exit to get back onto Eglinton was also a little awkward.
That's the one, that would probably be after they tore down the platforms. Corner of Eglinton and Duplex Avenue, I think was the name of the street. What you recall was the temporary terminal while they build the new one, the garage like area where the temporary terminal is located used to be a streetcar maintenance/storage garage.

[Bedford_DJ]

I have to say its awesome seeing more buses around Bedford now. Especially with the #89 in service :)

[Bedford_DJ]

Council commits $18.7m to buy new buses

By AMY PUGSLEY FRASER City Hall Reporter
Wed. Dec 10 - 5:40 AM

Council committed $18.7 million to transit buses on Tuesday night, reaffirming a commitment made earlier this year to one of its biggest priorities.

The money will come from council’s next two budgets (2009-10 and 2010-11) but the approval Tuesday means the buses can be ordered and delivered faster, according to a staff report. If the regular budget approval process were followed, the buses would not arrive in time for proposed service improvements in the next few years to be implemented on schedule.

Part of the plan includes spending $2.5 million next year on six new buses.

The possible service improvements include shortening the wait between buses during midday on weekdays to 10 minutes from 15 on Route 1 Spring Garden and to 30 minutes from 60 on Route 66 Penhorn. Also, Saturday service would be offered on Route 20 Herring Cove and Route 16 Parkland.

Coun. Bill Karsten (Portland-East Woodlawn) wanted to thank staff for arranging for earlier delivery of the six new buses.

"I think this is one of the first signs that council will indicate to Metro Transit that we are serious, that this is going to be an issue that this council will be focusing on."

Council also earmarked about $16.2 million in 2010-11 for 18-metre articulated buses for high-volume routes. The conventional 12-metre buses now in use can be moved to lower-volume routes, the staff report says.

Coun. Brad Johns (Middle & Upper Sackville-Lucasville) said he hopes the purchases will address service deficiencies like the current one in Lucasville.

"We might then have an opportunity in the future to look at expansions of service to other areas," he said.

[Bedford_DJ]

Ummm...I did some more newpaper reading and there seems to be a slight disagreement between the Metro and the CH so heres the Metro version since I dont know which one is more accurate;

Improved service expected after $2.5 million approved for transit
PAUL MCLEOD, METRO HALIFAX
December 10, 2008 05:00




HRM will see more and newer buses after council approved an influx of millions of dollars to Metro Transit.


Metro Transit has long said it needed new buses to deal with overload on off-peak hours. But they can’t handle more buses until a new bus garage is built. That won’t be done until summer 2010, but citizens will now see improvements a year early.


Yesterday, Halifax Regional Council approved $2.5 million for Metro Transit to replace six old buses with new models by next summer. The new buses can spend more time on the road, allowing for several potential improvements:


• The 1 Spring Garden bus could run every 10 minutes instead of 15 on midday weekdays.

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