Grand River Transit

[Acitta]

Waterloo Region begins phasing out diesel buses this year

I am however confused, how do hybrids save 20,000 dollars per year in fuel, when electric buses only save 21,000 dollars a year in fuel?

The $20,000 is fuel and operating cost savings. The $21,000 is just fuel savings. The lifetime savings are $280,000 for the hybrid and $434,000 for the fully electric.

[danbrotherston]

I am however confused, how do hybrids save 20,000 dollars per year in fuel, when electric buses only save 21,000 dollars a year in fuel?

The $20,000 is fuel and operating cost savings. The $21,000 is just fuel savings. The lifetime savings are $280,000 for the hybrid and $434,000 for the fully electric.

Thanks, I did misread that.

Although, I wouldn't think hybrids would save much in maintenance costs. Yes, the brakes do get less wear, but there are effectively two drivetrains to maintain, which can't be free.

In any case, their projections about longevity and costs are probably a bit vague anyway, given they were wrong about brake longevity by a factor of two.

[Coke6pk]

The $20,000 is fuel and operating cost savings. The $21,000 is just fuel savings. The lifetime savings are $280,000 for the hybrid and $434,000 for the fully electric.

Thanks, I did misread that.

Although, I wouldn't think hybrids would save much in maintenance costs. Yes, the brakes do get less wear, but there are effectively two drivetrains to maintain, which can't be free.

In any case, their projections about longevity and costs are probably a bit vague anyway, given they were wrong about brake longevity by a factor of two.

The electrical side has no moving parts, which can be very cheap.  The ICE side is used about 50% of what a normal bus would use, so that extends its life and reduces maintenance costs.

Coke

[danbrotherston]

Thanks, I did misread that.

Although, I wouldn't think hybrids would save much in maintenance costs. Yes, the brakes do get less wear, but there are effectively two drivetrains to maintain, which can't be free.

In any case, their projections about longevity and costs are probably a bit vague anyway, given they were wrong about brake longevity by a factor of two.

The electrical side has no moving parts, which can be very cheap.  The ICE side is used about 50% of what a normal bus would use, so that extends its life and reduces maintenance costs.

Coke

I wouldn't say the electrical side has "no" moving parts, there are at a minimum, an electric motor or two, as well as some contactors.  There may also be a temperature management system. And there is still a physical interface between the two systems, which can vary in complexity significantly.

To be honest though, I have no idea where most maintenance costs lie with any type of bus. For personal vehicles, usually the drivetrain is not a major source of repairs, and instead auxiliary equipment tend to fail.

[jeffster]

Thanks, I did misread that.

Although, I wouldn't think hybrids would save much in maintenance costs. Yes, the brakes do get less wear, but there are effectively two drivetrains to maintain, which can't be free.

In any case, their projections about longevity and costs are probably a bit vague anyway, given they were wrong about brake longevity by a factor of two.

The electrical side has no moving parts, which can be very cheap.  The ICE side is used about 50% of what a normal bus would use, so that extends its life and reduces maintenance costs.

Coke

Yeah, you know, gas is going to be gone at lot sooner than a lot of people think. It's the way things are going. I was thinking that my next car would be a hybrid, but at the rate we're going, it could very well be full electric.

Maintenance will be a lot different, mostly tires and brakes and whatever other final drive-train that cars share (lock shocks, etc). I have a friend that is a mechanic, his wife had said "he'll always have a job because people will always have cars...hahahahahahhaha". I am thinking how a high quality electric, "regular" car will be. I say regular, because they won't be muscle cars like the Tesla.

Finally. Really looking forward to this. Clean travel.

[jwilliamson]

It looks like they're done road work at the university transit hub. Bus shelter structures are going up on either side of the road.

My phone died from the cold so I wasn't able to get any pictures.

[ac3r]

So, bus drivers are still often not wearing a mask while driving. They were exempt from this before due to the fact they have the plexiglass shield. Now, with the emergency order issued a few days ago, do you believe it should be mandatory for GRT drivers to wear masks while they drive the bus?

[ijmorlan]

So, bus drivers are still often not wearing a mask while driving. They were exempt from this before due to the fact they have the plexiglass shield. Now, with the emergency order issued a few days ago, do you believe it should be mandatory for GRT drivers to wear masks while they drive the bus?

I think transit drivers should have their own separate ventilation so they don’t have to wear a mask. It’s one thing to wear a mask for 30 minutes while riding, quite another to drive an 8-hour shift with one.

That being said, until that happens, they should be masking up.

And the idea that safety measures such as masks and vaccinations are optional for employees who interact with the public is insane. The employer should develop workplace-specific procedures in consultation with public health authorities and their employees (either individually or via their union), and then 100% of employees who continue to be employed should be observed to comply with the procedures.

[tomh009]

I think transit drivers should have their own separate ventilation so they don’t have to wear a mask. It’s one thing to wear a mask for 30 minutes while riding, quite another to drive an 8-hour shift with one.

I don't think driving a bus requires any more exertion than many of the factory and warehouse jobs that require wearing of masks.

[danbrotherston]

I think transit drivers should have their own separate ventilation so they don’t have to wear a mask. It’s one thing to wear a mask for 30 minutes while riding, quite another to drive an 8-hour shift with one.

I don't think driving a bus requires any more exertion than many of the factory and warehouse jobs that require wearing of masks.

And probably considerably less than healthcare workers who are working a highly active job.

[bgb_ca]

I don't know if it's been mentioned yet, but I was on a bus for the first time since Christmas yesterday and noticed that least some of them now have the permanent driver shield installed vs the makeshift one.

[Nextasy]

Not sure if it was mentioned already, but looks like the Conestoga Mall terminal is getting a reconfig. RFP has been issued.

Trips at the station in 2019 were up to 10,000/day, from 6,000 pre-LRT. The roadway and sidewalk capacity is insufficient, and much more pedestrian thru-traffic exists now due to ION.

Design to consider:

1. Improvements to the pedestrian amenities/facilities including, sidewalks, crosswalks, street furniture (i.e. benches, trash receptacles, and bicycle parking racks) etc.
   
2. Illumination Improvements;
   
3. Signage Improvements throughout the station;
   
4. Coordination involved as part of potential utility relocations as well as electrical and communications servicing for lighting and bus shelters
   
5. Landscape enhancements where feasible;
   
6. Couple other things that aren't as important
   

The 21/31 platform and Ion station are out of scope and will remain as-is.

[danbrotherston]

Not sure if it was mentioned already, but looks like the Conestoga Mall terminal is getting a reconfig. RFP has been issued.

Trips at the station in 2019 were up to 10,000/day, from 6,000 pre-LRT. The roadway and sidewalk capacity is insufficient, and much more pedestrian thru-traffic exists now due to ION.

Design to consider:

1. Improvements to the pedestrian amenities/facilities including, sidewalks, crosswalks, street furniture (i.e. benches, trash receptacles, and bicycle parking racks) etc.
   
2. Illumination Improvements;
   
3. Signage Improvements throughout the station;
   
4. Coordination involved as part of potential utility relocations as well as electrical and communications servicing for lighting and bus shelters
   
5. Landscape enhancements where feasible;
   
6. Couple other things that aren't as important
   

The 21/31 platform and Ion station are out of scope and will remain as-is.

Do you have more details on the specific improvements. There are several clear deficiencies (like, should have been career ending for the engineers designing it, deficiencies) in the design of the station. Specifically access to the bus station from the ION station is nearly 150 meters for pedestrians, to cover a distance of only about 50 meters as the crow flies.

And that's leaving aside the unnecessary but intentionally dangerous slip ramp into the mall, that I'm sure is outside the scope of the Bus station, and the lack of a pedestrian crossing across King to provide any access to the businesses on the other side of King. Good God I forgot how pedestrian oppressive that area is.

Fun fact I just realized looking at the map. That station is effectively grade separated. Maybe not a full height but the mall is clearly significantly lower.

[tomh009]

Not sure if it was mentioned already, but looks like the Conestoga Mall terminal is getting a reconfig. RFP has been issued.

Trips at the station in 2019 were up to 10,000/day, from 6,000 pre-LRT. The roadway and sidewalk capacity is insufficient, and much more pedestrian thru-traffic exists now due to ION.

Is this a regional RFP, for GRT? Or a city RFP, for the sidewalks and roads? I'm not clear whose responsibility this is.

[Nextasy]

Not sure if it was mentioned already, but looks like the Conestoga Mall terminal is getting a reconfig. RFP has been issued.

Trips at the station in 2019 were up to 10,000/day, from 6,000 pre-LRT. The roadway and sidewalk capacity is insufficient, and much more pedestrian thru-traffic exists now due to ION.

Is this a regional RFP, for GRT? Or a city RFP, for the sidewalks and roads? I'm not clear whose responsibility this is.

It's a regional RFP