Calgary Proposals

[Chadillaccc]

It's AVLI not ALVI... I imagine it will be pronounced AV LEE

[MrBigStuff]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

It's AVLI not ALVI... I imagine it will be pronounced AV LEE

Dyslexia setting in yeah/no??? Mistery solved - thanx much!!!!

( Hope I spelled it right )

[Chadillaccc]

Here is the updated render for Centre Green at Centre and 13th. A significant improvement in my opinion.



Centre Green by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

[Full Mountain]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Here is the updated render for Centre Green at Centre and 13th. A significant improvement in my opinion.

Centre Green by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

Really starting to doubt Calgary designers colour choices, is bodily fluids the trend of the month?

[Rusty van Reddick]

we're getting a Karstadt??

I know it's just a drawing but what an odd choice for signage...

[Spring2008]

Originally Posted by Full Mountain

Really starting to doubt Calgary designers colour choices, is bodily fluids the trend of the month?

Shitty colors but the massing's good for the area. Lots of infills just north of 16th ave happening now too. Hoping some of these new proposals along the transcanada get going next.

[Full Mountain]

Originally Posted by Spring2008

Shitty colors but the massing's good for the area. Lots of infills just north of 16th ave happening now too. Hoping some of these new proposals along the transcanada get going next.

I believe the overall structure of 16th needs to change before we'll see many more proposals move forward. A few thoughts on how it could be improved

1. Reduce the lane widths to 3.3m - there is no more truck traffic than many narrower roads now that Stoney is open.
2. Increase sidewalk widths to >2m, this should be possible given 1.
3. Implement off peak parking along the curb lane, of particular importance would be from 6pm overnight, though daytime parking would add valuable protection for pedestrians and would be a major gain for retail that currently exists and is designated in the ARP.
4. As a further improvement I would suggest removing the center median and utilizing the space for centre bus lanes, though this would be a longer term item once the demand for the 16th Ave crosstown increases beyond the ability to run in mixed traffic.

[MasterG]

Originally Posted by Full Mountain

I believe the overall structure of 16th needs to change before we'll see many more proposals move forward. A few thoughts on how it could be improved

1. Reduce the lane widths to 3.3m - there is no more truck traffic than many narrower roads now that Stoney is open.

This is a good point. It bothers me that we build roads wide enough for the largest trucks even though we don't need to on almost all roads. It's a waste of space and encourages sloppy driving habits by other road users through excess speed and struggling when entering the narrower roads of the inner city to conceptualize they actually have to know how big their car is to fit.

On-street parking should definitely be allowed as you mentioned as well.

[Full Mountain]

Originally Posted by MasterG

This is a good point. It bothers me that we build roads wide enough for the largest trucks even though we don't need to on almost all roads. It's a waste of space and encourages sloppy driving habits by other road users through excess speed and struggling when entering the narrower roads of the inner city to conceptualize they actually have to know how big their car is to fit.

On-street parking should definitely be allowed as you mentioned as well.

16th was designed before Stoney was open completely in the north, and as it is still technically part of the Trans-Canada highway it was designed to that standard. It is now classed as an Urban Boulevard in the cities Complete Street Guide and I believe it needs to be retrofitted to fit that classification.

I also believe that design has a much more significant affect on traffic speed that the posted limit, in 16th's case this means that traffic moves at 60-70km/h rather than the post 50km/h as is evidenced by the cash cow of automated enforcement on 16th and 10th.

[UofC.engineer]

Originally Posted by Full Mountain

I believe the overall structure of 16th needs to change before we'll see many more proposals move forward. A few thoughts on how it could be improved

1. Reduce the lane widths to 3.3m - there is no more truck traffic than many narrower roads now that Stoney is open.
2. Increase sidewalk widths to >2m, this should be possible given 1.
3. Implement off peak parking along the curb lane, of particular importance would be from 6pm overnight, though daytime parking would add valuable protection for pedestrians and would be a major gain for retail that currently exists and is designated in the ARP.
4. As a further improvement I would suggest removing the center median and utilizing the space for centre bus lanes, though this would be a longer term item once the demand for the 16th Ave crosstown increases beyond the ability to run in mixed traffic.

It's sad that the road was reconstructed less than 10 years ago and none of those features were included. The city should have at least had the foresight to build segregated BRT lanes down the median.

[Chadillaccc]

I really don't think they should get red of the median on 16th. I think it is a fantastic opportunity to build actual BRT stations, having said stations on the medians, connected to intersection crosswalks. Eventually, this can be easily converted to a Spadina-style Streetcar line from around SAIT/North Hill to Edmonton Trail. It would connect the NW and NC LRT Lines, and act as a feeder system for residents and workers along/near 16th and people who attend SAIT.

[Full Mountain]

Originally Posted by UofC.engineer

It's sad that the road was reconstructed less than 10 years ago and none of those features were included. The city should have at least had the foresight to build segregated BRT lanes down the median.

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

I really don't think they should get red of the median on 16th. I think it is a fantastic opportunity to build actual BRT stations, having said stations on the medians, connected to intersection crosswalks. Eventually, this can be easily converted to a Spadina-style Streetcar line from around SAIT/North Hill to Edmonton Trail. It would connect the NW and NC LRT Lines, and act as a feeder system for residents and workers along/near 16th and people who attend SAIT.

BRT lanes is what I was thinking, but currently there isn't the demand for the service so it may be a few years till they need the dedicated lanes.

Unless the BRT reaches loads similar to that of Centre I would doubt that it'll ever need to upgraded to an LRT type vehicle.

[93JC]

Originally Posted by UofC.engineer

It's sad that the road was reconstructed less than 10 years ago and none of those features were included. The city should have at least had the foresight to build segregated BRT lanes down the median.

Why? To satisfy the demand for the great Banff-Trail-to-Renfrew BRT?

[MasterG]

Originally Posted by Full Mountain

BRT lanes is what I was thinking, but currently there isn't the demand for the service so it may be a few years till they need the dedicated lanes.

Unless the BRT reaches loads similar to that of Centre I would doubt that it'll ever need to upgraded to an LRT type vehicle.

I always wondered how they quantify the demand for service. The current routes are circuitous and not useful for NE to NWHUB commuters, thousands head downtown to transfer on the LRT, thus demand is low on the 16th Ave Crosstown.

However, if a simple BRT route was installed that stopped at Whitehorn station and 5 or 6 others (Edmonton Trail, Centre, SAIT, U of C, Childrens Hospital, Foothils) the demand could be substantial. 99B-Line in Vancouver substantial.

Ah the joys of induced demand!

[Full Mountain]

Originally Posted by MasterG

I always wondered how they quantify the demand for service. The current routes are circuitous and not useful for NE to NWHUB commuters, thousands head downtown to transfer on the LRT, thus demand is low on the 16th Ave Crosstown.

However, if a simple BRT route was installed that stopped at Whitehorn station and 5 or 6 others (Edmonton Trail, Centre, SAIT, U of C, Childrens Hospital, Foothils) the demand could be substantial. 99B-Line in Vancouver substantial.

Ah the joys of induced demand!

This is what I'm getting at RouteAhead has plans for a crosstown BRT (similar to what you describe, I don't recall the exact routing) in mixed traffic with some transit priority measures, once there is sufficient demand on this service it would then be moved into dedicated lanes either on the outside or in the median.

[UofC.engineer]

Originally Posted by 93JC

Why? To satisfy the demand for the great Banff-Trail-to-Renfrew BRT?

Haha, I was think more along the lines of NE -> UofC/Foothills hospital. And possibly this would be apart of a future circle BRT route.

[Full Mountain]

Originally Posted by UofC.engineer

Haha, I was think more along the lines of NE -> UofC/Foothills hospital. And possibly this would be apart of a future circle BRT route.

Yup as per RouteAhead.

[MrBigStuff]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Here is the updated render for Centre Green at Centre and 13th. A significant improvement in my opinion.



Centre Green by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

It says Center Green - but - where's the green????
Definately a lot better looking than a gas bar and car wash.

[MasterG]

Originally Posted by Full Mountain

This is what I'm getting at RouteAhead has plans for a crosstown BRT (similar to what you describe, I don't recall the exact routing) in mixed traffic with some transit priority measures, once there is sufficient demand on this service it would then be moved into dedicated lanes either on the outside or in the median.

One thing I saw in several places in Europe was on-board ticket machines on buses. Leaves the driver to drive and allows all door boarding. Changes the BRT service to Proof of Payment system like the LRT. Off board machines are also common and offer the same benefits.

I think there is often not much focus on simple improvements that improve service quality, speed and reliability. All-door boarding and eliminating the antiquated transfer system that requires the operator's time are cheap and could improve the quality of CT bus service substantially.

[Full Mountain]

Originally Posted by MasterG

One thing I saw in several places in Europe was on-board ticket machines on buses. Leaves the driver to drive and allows all door boarding. Changes the BRT service to Proof of Payment system like the LRT. Off board machines are also common and offer the same benefits.

I think there is often not much focus on simple improvements that improve service quality, speed and reliability. All-door boarding and eliminating the antiquated transfer system that requires the operator's time are cheap and could improve the quality of CT bus service substantially.

I believe off vehicle fare payment has been considered for the BRT's though not implemented yet. I hope they do it.

I think Connect will help with speeding loading times as well as facilitating all door boarding, if readers are placed at all doors.