Grand River Transit

[GtwoK]

I hope they consider that getting permits for work along the tracks might take time and could result in a delay in the project...

They could always just build a temporary dome station!

[MidTowner]

[quote='MidTowner' pid='17698' dateline='1456076226']
It depends if it gets built in normal time or RoW construction time. One year planning and two years construction should normally be more than enough for a project this size. .

Three years? I can't see it happening somehow. What's the latest timeline on the RFP?

[MacBerry]

I hope they consider that getting permits for work along the tracks might take time and could result in a delay in the project...

They could always just build a temporary dome station!

Move that DOME! Move that DOME! Move that DOME!

[tomh009]

(Thomas Schmidt, commissioner of transportation and environmental services for the region) said he hopes that the region’s system could connect into Metrolinx’s Presto card structure in the future.

“We are working with Metrolinx to see if there is a way to make the cards work.”

http://www.kitchenerpost.ca/news-story/6...on-s-lrvs/

[KevinL]

I don't think it would be too tricky to store a Presto balance on an EasyGo card, especially if Presto starts setting up an open payment system.

[rangersfan]

http://m.therecord.com/news-story/636636...e-facility
Some more news on the proposed bus storage facility in Waterloo.

[Markster]

Among the wants, that city staff be allowed to purchase fuel at the region's station at the Erb Street landfill.

The city is also asking that a bus stop be installed on Northfield Drive, that an information desk be installed at the facility once it's completed, that the ward councillor be included in the project steering committee and that a "welcome to the City of Waterloo" sign be installed at the corner of Northfield and University Avenue.

That's an interesting set of demands.

[KevinL]

"Among the wants, that city staff be allowed to purchase fuel at the region's station at the Erb Street landfill.

The city is also asking that a bus stop be installed on Northfield Drive, that an information desk be installed at the facility once it's completed, that the ward councillor be included in the project steering committee and that a "welcome to the City of Waterloo" sign be installed at the corner of Northfield and University Avenue."

That's an interesting set of demands.

I think we're having some public light shone on some previously shadowed intergovernmental gripes.

[Markster]

Yeah, that Erb St landfill request has absolutely no reason for being brought up in this context. It looks like the worst kind of political gamesmanship.

The "info desk" is peculiar. What the heck is that? Info for what?
GRT? Shouldn't that be somewhere... less remote? Like at a bus terminal?
A generic City of Waterloo Information Centre? Who would that be for? Visitors from the far reaches of Fergus, Elora, Orangeville, and Newmarket?

The City of Waterloo sign seems entirely appropriate. It's not uncommon for major projects in prominent locations to be requested to implement some beautification measures.

[DKsan]

Latest planning and work agenda starting from page 43, has renders and diagrams for the new Cambridge Centre Terminal, UW Transit Plaza Road, and Fairview Park Mall Terminal.

Cambridge Centre
   

UW Transit Plaza Road
   

2016 Transit Support for Cambridge (page 65)

• Carshare in Downtown Cambridge (two Community Carshare spaces plus corporate program for city and regional staff)
  
• Improvement to Hespeler Road stops (seven local stop shelter pads)
  
• Multiuse Trail on Conestoga Boulevard (city awarded $325k earlier this week by provincial gov't for this)
  
• Special Event passes (free tickets for Canada Day, Riverside Ribfest, Street Art Festival in August)
  
• 8 month extension of Conestoga College transit discount program
  
• Cambridge Transportation master plan
  

Region is buying 55 real-time information displays (page 149) for use at shelter along the 203 and 204

[Pheidippides]

For Tuesday' Planning and Works agenda:

New Cambridge Centre transit factility and planned transit facilities at UW and Fairview Park Mall
http://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/region...df#page=38
“Two other key locations for new and upgraded transit passenger facilities include the University of Waterloo, where staff have been working with the university administration on a plan for a new road between Ring Road and Philip Street that would integrate GRT bus platforms with the ION LRT station, as well as Fairview Park Mall, where an integrated transit passenger facility is planned to be constructed adjacent to the ION LRT station.”

Cambridge Centre Facilities to be operational in November 2016. :
"The new passenger facility provides 10 bus platforms, shelters, benches, covered bike parking, real-time LED passenger information displays, surveillance cameras,landscaping, public art, and a driver facility for lunch breaks and shift changes."

UW facilities to be operation by Fall 2017 (in time for revenue service of Ion):
"a Transit Plaza Road (between east campus Ring Road and Philip Street) that accommodates curb-side bus platforms for 8 GRT buses, 3 GO buses
and 2 intercity buses, as is shown in Attachment 4. Customer amenities would include shelters, benches, bike parking and real-time LED displays. Sidewalks and cycling facilities would also be provided continuously along the Transit Plaza Road between Philip Street and the Ring Road."

Fairview facilities to be operation by Fall 2017  (in time for revenue service of Ion):
"The new facility would provide platforms for 8 buses and would include a driver facility for lunch and shift changes, as well as a customer park and ride facility. Customer amenities in the transit facility would include shelters, benches, bike parking and real-time LED displays. Space for an
additional 4-5 bus bays will be provided adjacent to the north side of the LRT platform, for a total of 12-13 bus bays at the integrated transit facility.




Proposed 2016 Implementation Plan for the Regional Transit Supportive Strategy for the City of Cambridge
http://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/region...df#page=65
Four new initiatives are proposed in the 2016 Implementation Plan, namely:
1. Provision of CarShare Vehicles in Downtown Cambridge;
2. Improvements to Grand River Transit (GRT) Stops on Hespeler Road;
3. Financial Support for a Multi-use Trail on Conestoga Boulevard; and
4. Transit Passes for Special Events.
Two initiatives are proposed for an extension or expanded scope, including:
1. An Eight Month Extension of the Conestoga College Transit Pass Discount Program to August 2016; and
2. The Cambridge Transportation Master Plan.




"pin art" for Cambridge Centre Transit Terminal:
http://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/region...df#page=66

[KevinL]

The new Fairview terminal is interesting - it will go in next to Leon's, with Crabby Joe's and Burger King being demolished. Parking is planned for the time being but I imagine they intend to eventually court a higher-density occupant for the space.

[Markster]

GRT Bus Mall and Park & Ride at Fairview Mall.

Space for 12-13 buses. (not pictured are bus stops along the north (right) ION platform.)
   

[jamincan]

Is the Transit Plaza road going to be bus only? The name seems to imply it, but the bits you posted don't explicitly say so.

[KevinL]

Also of note on the Cambridge Centre facility: southbound buses will pull into the area, unlike the other Hespeler Road stations where passengers have to cross the road.