Metro Transit - Page 43

Dmajackson · #**841** Posted: **Jan 12, 2012, 6:49 PM**

I think a couple of those buses are still used on the 80.

(or at least the seats look the same).

Whatever happened to Route 8?

cormiermax · #**842** Posted: **Jan 12, 2012, 7:34 PM**

Anyone know which superstore that was? Great images, although I was a little disappointed not to see Quinpool or Spring Garden. Seems its rare to see images from those areas in the 90's.

-Harlington- · #**843** Posted: **Jan 12, 2012, 9:34 PM**

I believe the Superstore is Downsview in Sackville judging by the picture

Kinda funny seeing those in comparison to now .

Keith P. · #**844** Posted: **Jan 12, 2012, 9:51 PM**

I liked the Scania buses as a passenger. They had a lot of get up and go, but I gather they were troublesome and needed frequent repair.

The old GMC fishbowls were crude by today's standards, but built like tanks and lasted forever.

The later GM/MCI "classics" were nowhere near as good, though all were far superior to today's low-floor buses as they actually had usable seating capacity instead of all the wasted space the low-floors use for the occasional passenger in a wheelchair. A prime example of govt standards being set unrealistically for a tiny squeaky-wheel minority that negatively impacts the vast majority who pays the freight.

spaustin · #**845** Posted: **Jan 12, 2012, 10:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith P.

The later GM/MCI "classics" were nowhere near as good, though all were far superior to today's low-floor buses as they actually had usable seating capacity instead of all the wasted space the low-floors use for the occasional passenger in a wheelchair. A prime example of govt standards being set unrealistically for a tiny squeaky-wheel minority that negatively impacts the vast majority who pays the freight.

Yep those people in wheelchairs get all the breaks

pblaauw · #**846** Posted: **Jan 12, 2012, 11:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith P.

The later GM/MCI "classics" were nowhere near as good, though all were far superior to today's low-floor buses as they actually had usable seating capacity instead of all the wasted space the low-floors use for the occasional passenger in a wheelchair. A prime example of govt standards being set unrealistically for a tiny squeaky-wheel minority that negatively impacts the vast majority who pays the freight.

It's not as great as it sounds, especially when you're on the 14 and it stops at SMU, taking on 15-20, and they all stand around you and don't "move to the back of the bus" like the driver tells them too.

The new Artics are nicer, in that they don't need BOTH seats to be up, in order for a wheelchair to be there. At least, not my Quickie. The trade-off is the crappy one-belt tie-down system, and the fact that there seems to be no uniform way of using it.

I'm really hoping MT gets NewFlyer DE60 ALFs next time they go shopping for buses. The two blue buses are great for transporting chairs.

As for having to stand up because a wheelchair is using the seats: people with the ability to use their legs should, uh, use them once in a while. ;P (Just like I sometimes use crutches when I go out with friends.)

alps · #**847** Posted: **Jan 13, 2012, 12:42 AM**

Great collection of photos! The front of the Scania is pretty unique looking. In case anyone didn't notice, there are some other NS photos on that Flickr page. Not too many photos of the cities and towns themselves but some interesting stuff nonetheless.

Keith P. · #**848** Posted: **Jan 13, 2012, 12:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by spaustin

Yep those people in wheelchairs get all the breaks

Of course not. But you are disadvantaging 99% of the public and spending tons of extra money on something that could be far better and more efficiently done by other means at less cost. One size does not fit all.

-Harlington- · #**849** Posted: **Jan 31, 2012, 7:18 PM**

Not an official source but a lot of people on my Facebook are saying that the Metro Transit strike is going to start on Thursday .

fenwick16 · #**850** Posted: **Feb 25, 2012, 1:41 PM**

Here is a link to the story about the Transit workers rejecting the city's offer - http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-s...hrm-offer.html. Good for the city and Mayor Kelly for standing up to this unreasonable union.

This seems like an excellent time for the city to sell off some of its buses and plan an all automated LRT system.

Quote:

Striking transit union votes 78% against HRM offer
CBC News
Posted: Feb 24, 2012 5:03 PM AT
Last Updated: Feb 24, 2012 11:00 PM AT

Members of the Amalgamated Transit Union local 508 have rejected the city's latest contract offer by a margin of 78 per cent, thus continuing the three-week old Metro Transit strike.

Halifax Regional Municipality has also enforced its bylaw banning burning barrels, which some of the picket workers have done to keep warm and cook food.

The fine for open-air burning is a minimum $250.

The reason for rejecting the offer, said Ken Wilson, the union's president, was that they want control of shift scheduling, called rostering.

Halifax Regional Municipality presented what Mayor Peter Kelly called its "final" offer Thursday.

HRM's offer was reached with the union and a conciliator – a five-year collective agreement, $1,500 signing bonus and 2.25 per cent increase in each of the last four years.
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Some of these strikers think they have the right to ignore city by-laws and make wood sheds of bus shelters.

Quote:

(source: http://thechronicleherald.ca/metro/6...ransit-workers)
City douses burn barrels for striking transit workers
February 25, 2012 - 4:31am By PATRICIA BROOKS ARENBURG Staff Reporter

Striking Metro Transit workers have kept fires burning in barrels at various picket lines since the strike began on Feb. 2. But on Friday, HRM ordered the ATU to put out the flames. (TIM KROCHAK / Staff)

The city has thrown cold water on a three-week-old fire.

Striking Metro Transit workers have kept fires burning in barrels at various picket lines since the strike began on Feb. 2.

But on Friday afternoon, the Halifax Regional Municipality ordered the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 508 to put out the flames.
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Jstaleness · #**851** Posted: **Feb 25, 2012, 4:10 PM**

The one at the Burnside Bus Garage is still burning as of 12pm today.

Keith P. · #**852** Posted: **Feb 25, 2012, 8:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jstaleness

The one at the Burnside Bus Garage is still burning as of 12pm today.

They're probably hoping some sparks stray and burn down the garage.

W.Sobchak · #**853** Posted: **Feb 25, 2012, 8:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenwick16

This seems like an excellent time for the city to sell off some of its buses and plan an all automated LRT system.

An excellent idea!

someone123 · #**854** Posted: **Feb 25, 2012, 9:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenwick16

This seems like an excellent time for the city to sell off some of its buses and plan an all automated LRT system.

I've been thinking that myself this whole time!

Hali87 · #**855** Posted: **Feb 25, 2012, 11:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenwick16

This seems like an excellent time for the city to sell off some of its buses and plan an all automated LRT system.

I was thinking the same thing. The problem with automated though is that it has to be fully grade-separated, to eliminate any potential interaction (read: collisions) with vehicles that are not on its system. This substantially increases capital costs, and takes a lot longer to build than simply laying tracks. Plus, where would it go?

someone123 · #**856** Posted: **Feb 26, 2012, 1:01 AM**

It probably won't be too long (10-20 years barring political interference, I would guess) before we see an automated transit system that can handle some degree of mixed traffic.

There's already a pretty successful Google/Stanford project that has constructed automated cars that can handle mixed traffic. The problem of driving a transit vehicle along a roughly fixed path would be somewhat easier.

halifaxboyns · #**857** Posted: **Feb 26, 2012, 9:13 AM**

Not knocking the idea of automated LRT - but doesn't the sky train use a linear induction motor which powers the train from below? Wouldn't that necessitate that HRM build elevated guideways like Vancouver?

Those are expensive and the maintenance in 50-60 years is going to be hefty. There is already concern here in Calgary for the portion of the West LRT which is elevated because of the future costs.

While I'm not a fan of transit unions, wouldn't running a system that could interface with traffic or run at grade be cheaper versus elevated guide ways or tunneling?

Jstaleness · #**858** Posted: **Feb 26, 2012, 3:20 PM**

I did some number checking. Vancouver had a population of 514,000 and a CMA of over 1.8 million in 1986. That was the year their automated skytrain went into service. I'm an optimistic person but I don't think Halifax at around 400,000 and a much, much smaller CMA could support such a system yet. Commuter Rail and buses are going to be our norm for the near future.

fenwick16 · #**859** Posted: **Feb 26, 2012, 3:44 PM**

Maybe Halifax should consider separating the ferry service from Metro Transit so that in case of a Transit strike there will still be cross harbour transit alternatives (however, it would have to be a separate labour union).

DigitalNinja · #**860** Posted: **Feb 26, 2012, 3:53 PM**

Yeah Halifax won't get an automated LRT route anytime soon. The only way that we would get an LRT route is by using esisting track that would require little start up costs.

I was thinking. I believe that Halifax could potentially have a very good BRT system that uses (at least some) trolly busses. Trolly busses, make no noise, are environmentally friendly, and cheap to operate. (Potentially having automated trolly buses with little extra cost down the road.)

Routes could easily be served by having conventional buses that go to a BRT station. Building a real exclusive bus road would be cheap, and electric trolly buses can easily navigate hilly terrain.