07-29-2017, 10:25 AM
(07-28-2017, 05:51 PM)danbrotherston Wrote:(07-28-2017, 05:34 PM)ijmorlan Wrote: You’re probably right, except that we were promised that emergency services could use the LRT lanes. If that is OK, then it should be OK for a bus to use them, especially temporarily and especially when there are no LRVs running.
These are not even remotely similar:
The bus, which has no direct connection with the LRT ops center, will be using the LRT right of way every 4-20 minutes (two ways remember) for a significant distance along the right of way, while Grandlinq is trying to complete the route so crews will be working in the right of way, and then they will be testing LRT trains in the right of way.
Is completely different from an ambulance occasionally using the LRT right of way during operations of the LRT when the right of way is cleared of Grandlinq contractors and other personnel, for a short distance to bypass traffic, when they have a direct communications with the ops center to gain clearance.
And by September, Grandlinq should be testing trains.
I guess that answers my question in the affirmative. Depending on the nature and duration of commissioning activities, I agree that running bus service on those lanes might be impractical.
However, I do have a couple of contrary thoughts as well:
1) There is no reason why the buses should be unable to communicate with LRT control. Buses and LRT are part of the same system so they should all be able to communicate together.
2) If the LRT had street-running segments, commissioning activities would have to minimize periods of unavailability of the street-running segments for other traffic. Using the LRT lanes as bus lanes is essentially using them as street-running segments, but with much less other traffic and with all other traffic in communication with transit control.
3) Although my original idea was that the 200 would simply run in the LRT lanes, except right at GRT to reach the bus stop (since buses don’t have left-side doors to use the LRT platform), an alternate idea would be for them to use the LRT for one block at a time when needed to pass congestion, whether it is general traffic or a 7 bus. This could be coordinated with commissioning activities by contacting LRT control by radio.
So I’m not convinced it’s definitely impossible, but I would have to know more about what is involved in remaining work on the LRT system to be able to really figure it out.