GO Transit

[robdrimmie]

The Charles St Terminal is intended to close as soon as ION service starts. They will likely install the kiosk at King/Victoria.

Really? I was under the impression it's around until the new terminal gets developed. Or is it that the terminal will not be used by GO once ION starts?

Edit to add: I know it's being significantly reprioritized and not many busses will stop there, but are they closing the ticketing window and shuttering the building?

[danbrotherston]

The Charles St Terminal is intended to close as soon as ION service starts. They will likely install the kiosk at King/Victoria.

Really? I was under the impression it's around until the new terminal gets developed. Or is it that the terminal will not be used by GO once ION starts?

Edit to add: I know it's being significantly reprioritized and not many busses will stop there, but are they closing the ticketing window and shuttering the building?

AFAIK Charles will not have GRT buses at it when the ION starts, but it will have intercity buses from Greyhound and Megabus (and probably GO).

[KevinL]

It's a good question as to what GO will do at Ion launch; they now have zero setup at Charles beyond the platform itself, having taken ticketing at the booth away last summer. Without it as the city bus hub they may drop it entirely and just focus on King/Victoria.

[yige_t]

[Spokes]

So the Charles St terminal will essentially be a ghost town? Why not use it until it's ready to be sold off. Seems like a waste

[neonjoe]

I think for at least the GRT routes they are trying to have all transfer points at iON stations. Routing to the terminal adds unnecessary travel time and distance.
Although it is nicer to have a heated/sheltered place to wait for your transfer during the winter months.

[danbrotherston]

I agree with the concept, but as a neighbour of what is going to be a ghost town, I'm frustrated.

[ijmorlan]

So the Charles St terminal will essentially be a ghost town?  Why not use it until it's ready to be sold off.  Seems like a waste

Use it for what? GRT buses will connect to Ion.

I agree with the other comment about heated waiting areas. This is actually a big fail in this city — even in obvious locations where it would be completely feasible to have waiting areas directly attached to or part of an adjacent buildings, we don’t do it. I’m thinking of the two bus stops on the west side of ring road, where the EV2 and QNC or STC buildings could have had a room or foyer, part of the building, with a large window facing in the direction where the buses come from. Downtown, with all the large tall buildings going up, could be similar.

[clasher]

We probably could have climate-controlled Ion stations if it hadn't been built so bare-bones.

[robdrimmie]

ION stops have heaters so there will be some improvements along those lines.

I thought some iExpress stops might as well, but I know the relatively new shelter at Ottawa and Homer Watson (which is a 205 stop) isn't. There's a few hints that it's been suggested at least, but I can't see anything that explicitly confirms it is happening and I don't actually ride any iExpress busses frequently enough to know first-hand.

Edit: I can't find any explicit statements that ION stops are heated, so I'm probably wrong there, too. That kind of morning

[Viewfromthe42]

There were a select few ION stops which had push-on-demand heating in winter, but only a select few (maybe 4-6?)

[danbrotherston]

There were a select few ION stops which had push-on-demand heating in winter, but only a select few (maybe 4-6?)

Apparently most are wired for it though, which seems silly given that wiring is usually the most expensive part.

[KevinL]

The more remote stations (Block Line, R&T) with no nearby buildings have the heaters, as does Grand River Hospital given the anticipated ridership. As noted they are all wired for it, so if it becomes an issue at any particular station not yet equipped, they should be able to be easily upgraded

[Canard]

Would be far more expensive to add the conduits for the wiring later. I suspect by “the wiring is already there” they just mean the conduit for fishing the wire through is already there, embedded in the concrete.

Of course, everyone’s a designer after something’s built...

[clasher]

Copper thieves would have pulled actual wire out if there was any left in the conduits!