Grand River Transit

[KevinL]

GRT will be ordering up to 122 buses over the next five years, with 27 to be delivered in 2019. This includes plans for up to 9 articulated buses between 2021-23, as well as 6 hybrids for 2023.

The bid for all these was won by Quebec-based Nova Bus, moving our supplier back to them from Manitoba-based New Flyer. Details in the regional agenda. https://calendar.regionofwaterloo.ca/Cou...d200fca357

[bgb_ca]

GRT will be ordering up to 122 buses over the next five years, with 27 to be delivered in 2019. This includes plans for up to 9 articulated buses between 2021-23, as well as 6 hybrids for 2023.

The bid for all these was won by Quebec-based Nova Bus, moving our supplier back to them from Manitoba-based New Flyer. Details in the regional agenda. https://calendar.regionofwaterloo.ca/Cou...d200fca357

Figured it would have been either Nova or NF.

I wonder what routes they will run the atticulated busses on.

[Canard]

Yay, I'm so glad they're going back to Nova's!

[Lens]

Too bad. IMO the New Flyer buses are more comfortable than the Nova's and I find them quieter inside and out.

[KevinL]

Articulated buses will be on heavy-traffic routes with mostly straight routing, like the 20xes and the 7. We'll see if any other new routes get particularly busy, post Ion launch.

[danbrotherston]

I generally preferred the Nova's, and so did the drivers.

The greater comfort was probably the seating configuration, which I assume is an option on the Novas (plenty of new flyer also had 2 by 2 seating).

I do wonder how ordering NF for a few years has and will for 10 years or so impact our maintenance programs...having to manage two different manufacturers.

Pretty sad that electric buses aren't even on our radar though.

[Canard]

From what I've heard, every manufacturer offering electric busses is backlogged with several years' worth of orders. I believe it was Toronto that was recently bumped back several years with their order for some reason.

[MidTowner]

I generally preferred the Nova's, and so did the drivers.

The greater comfort was probably the seating configuration, which I assume is an option on the Novas (plenty of new flyer also had 2 by 2 seating).

I do wonder how ordering NF for a few years has and will for 10 years or so impact our maintenance programs...having to manage two different manufacturers.

Pretty sad that electric buses aren't even on our radar though.

I agree. The Region uses the word "innovative" when describing itself. We wouldn't be ahead of the curve if we started to incorporate electric buses into our fleet now- many other cities of all sizes have done it or have placed orders. We'll be well behind if we're not even thinking of placing orders for another five years.

[Canard]

Why so long for the Artic’s to come into service? Order backlog at Nova?

Aren’t there lots of super-crowded routes that could make use of them?

[danbrotherston]

Why so long for the Artic’s to come into service? Order backlog at Nova?

Aren’t there lots of super-crowded routes that could make use of them?

Articulated buses don't fit at the stations we have, I am guessing they didn't want to order them too soon. But yeah, they definitely seem far off, given how crowded our routes are today and how close LRT is to launching.  There could be facility limitations (arent they building a new storage facility too?). That being said I'm happy if crowding continues to force increases in frequency instead of larger vehicles.

As for electric, we have got to at least be planning to get some, this is a five year order.  There are places which plan to have transitioned entirely by then I believe and we won't even have considered ordering one.

[trainspotter139]

I generally preferred the Nova's, and so did the drivers.

The greater comfort was probably the seating configuration, which I assume is an option on the Novas (plenty of new flyer also had 2 by 2 seating).

I do wonder how ordering NF for a few years has and will for 10 years or so impact our maintenance programs...having to manage two different manufacturers.

Pretty sad that electric buses aren't even on our radar though.

Blame the Ford Government for this. The cancellation of Cap and Trade resulted in the cancellation of the Region's plans for 2 pilot buses and the required infrastructure for the time being. 

It is noted that in 2018, the Region applied for funding to the provincial Municipal Greenhouse Gas Challenge program for a project which included two pilot electric buses and the required infrastructure to support these buses. While the provincial program did not continue, staff are monitoring the development and evolution of fully electric bus technology. The acceptance of this proposal does not restrict the Region from acquiring electric buses through a subsequent procurement initiative.

[trainspotter139]

Why so long for the Artic’s to come into service? Order backlog at Nova?

Aren’t there lots of super-crowded routes that could make use of them?

Articulated buses don't fit at the stations we have, I am guessing they didn't want to order them too soon. But yeah, they definitely seem far off, given how crowded our routes are today and how close LRT is to launching.  There could be facility limitations (arent they building a new storage facility too?). That being said I'm happy if crowding continues to force increases in frequency instead of larger vehicles.

As for electric, we have got to at least be planning to get some, this is a five year order.  There are places which plan to have transitioned entirely by then I believe and we won't even have considered ordering one.

They won't have any garages that can fit the 60' lifts until the Northfield Facility is built, which won't be complete until 2021

[taylortbb]

The original plan for the expansion of the Strausburg garage a few years ago was to add hoists and other equipment for articulated buses, but it got cut for budget reasons. So now we can't have articulated buses until the Northfield garage is built, which should finally have the equipment for them.

[danbrotherston]

I generally preferred the Nova's, and so did the drivers.

The greater comfort was probably the seating configuration, which I assume is an option on the Novas (plenty of new flyer also had 2 by 2 seating).

I do wonder how ordering NF for a few years has and will for 10 years or so impact our maintenance programs...having to manage two different manufacturers.

Pretty sad that electric buses aren't even on our radar though.

Blame the Ford Government for this. The cancellation of Cap and Trade resulted in the cancellation of the Region's plans for 2 pilot buses and the required infrastructure for the time being. 

It is noted that in 2018, the Region applied for funding to the provincial Municipal Greenhouse Gas Challenge program for a project which included two pilot electric buses and the required infrastructure to support these buses. While the provincial program did not continue, staff are monitoring the development and evolution of fully electric bus technology. The acceptance of this proposal does not restrict the Region from acquiring electric buses through a subsequent procurement initiative.

While this is true, and I put plenty of blame on Ford, I still also blame the region.  We could and should choose to spend our regional tax dollars on this directly.

[Spokes]

GRT will be ordering up to 122 buses over the next five years, with 27 to be delivered in 2019. This includes plans for up to 9 articulated buses between 2021-23, as well as 6 hybrids for 2023.

The bid for all these was won by Quebec-based Nova Bus, moving our supplier back to them from Manitoba-based New Flyer. Details in the regional agenda. https://calendar.regionofwaterloo.ca/Cou...d200fca357

Excited about the Artics, but too bad it's a few years out.  Just impatient I guess.