OC Transpo

[golfguy9]

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/oc...heir-time-downtown-after-work-this-fall/

Is this a thing anywhere else in the world?

[phil235]

Originally Posted by golfguy9

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/oc...heir-time-downtown-after-work-this-fall/

Is this a thing anywhere else in the world?

Promoting a city's downtown? Yes, in most cities in North America at one time or another.

People in Ottawa seem particularly resistant to the idea that a healthy downtown is critical to a healthy city, and a troubled downtown negatively impacts everyone, even those safely ensconced in their suburban paradises. I think this kind of campaign makes a lot of sense.

[OCCheetos]

Originally Posted by golfguy9

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/oc...heir-time-downtown-after-work-this-fall/

Is this a thing anywhere else in the world?

Ottawa is somewhat unique in the way the federal government is the city's single largest employer.

Most other cities have already gone through widescale RTO policies over the past year or two.

[phil235]

On a positive note, my experience was that OC Transpo handled the big Bluesfest crowds very well. I had no issues coming or going, and there were a tonne of people. They even had staff posted at small stations like Lees specifically to let Bluesfest passholders onto the train. Might have earned them a tiny bit of goodwill.

[lrt's friend]

Extend your time downtown????

How is this supposed to work when transit service is considerably curtailed immediately at 6 p.m. on most routes.

How about reinstating the service cuts that came with 'New Ways to Bus'? In my neighbourhood, you used to be able to stay downtown until after 6 p.m. Now, its 5 p.m. or you could be waiting half an hour at Greenboro after all the required transfers, that may or may not work. The 20 minute bus ride between downtown and Greenboro, is now double that.

Another ad campaign that has no basis in reality, just like the restaurant district downtown that everybody forgot about the very next day.

[Richard Eade]

Yup. I said it already, but I don’t mind repeating it:

OC Transpo did a GREAT JOB with the LRT stations during Ottawa Bluesfest!

My ‘from-Kanata – so they don’t do public transit’ in-laws were very impressed with how easy it was. They drove to Tunney’s Pasture and found that their Bluesfest tickets didn’t open the fare gates – which was the kind of problem that they expected. A ‘Red-Vest’ magically appeared and suggested that they video-chat to get passes – so they did. They were given DAY PASSES, which really impressed them. They were thinking that they would have the same problems every time they wanted to take the train – but not with a DAY PASS. Cool of OC Transpo.

This encouraged us to go to the ByWard Market to get some dinner before the show. Well done, OC Transpo.

From Tunney’s Pasture Station, to the Rideau Station, back to the Ottawa Bluesfest, and then return to Tunney’s Pasture (with tens-of-thousands of others) after the show. Everything went very smoothly. If only OC Transpo could convince Heritage Canada to let OC Transpo deal with moving people around on Canada Days – on Heritage Canada’s dime, of course.

My in-law’s question: “Why can’t transit be this good out in Kanata?”

[Of course, it will be – once the train is extended, again, in the (distant) future. But the train might not make it all the way back in to Moodie, if there has been a particularly fierce rainstorm.]

As for ‘The Market’, my comments are going into that thread.

[misterg]

Originally Posted by golfguy9

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/oc...heir-time-downtown-after-work-this-fall/

Is this a thing anywhere else in the world?

@613trending on instagram actually did a really funny mock up of what some of these ads could be:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DbCCT62laJb/?img_index=1&igsh=MXR5eHZqamdvbW1kbg==

I think it would actually be quite clever if they took notes and leaned into the joke of it I think! It is a similar marketing strategy to that of Ryanair.

Obviously in a perfect world we would just have transit to suit the needs, but here we are...

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by phil235

Promoting a city's downtown? Yes, in most cities in North America at one time or another.

People in Ottawa seem particularly resistant to the idea that a healthy downtown is critical to a healthy city, and a troubled downtown negatively impacts everyone, even those safely ensconced in their suburban paradises. I think this kind of campaign makes a lot of sense.

Originally Posted by OCCheetos

Ottawa is somewhat unique in the way the federal government is the city's single largest employer.

Most other cities have already gone through widescale RTO policies over the past year or two.

Most cities aren't telling people to stay downtown longer because they don't have enough transit capacity.

There's a difference between, "We have a great downtown, you should enjoy it more," and "Please stay downtown after work longer because we don't have the transit capacity to get you all home at the same time."

The latter is rubbing salt in the wound of public servants who were substantially compelled to RTO by campaigns from Ottawa city politicians and downtown businesses. That said, as some who works five days a week anyway and detests suburban focused politicians, I am enjoying this show with my popcorn. All those suburbanites are getting exactly what they voted for. Curious to see if they learnt anything at the next election.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by OCCheetos

Ottawa is somewhat unique in the way the federal government is the city's single largest employer.

Most other cities have already gone through widescale RTO policies over the past year or two.

Public Servants for decades were considered a transit asset as they offered big concentrations of potential transit riders at strategic locations.

We turned that asset into a liability over the last 15 years or so, as our rapid transit plans have turned out to offer worse service to public servant commuters. We tell commuters to linger when evening service has kicked in. Years ago (back in the 1970s), the federal government worked with OC Transpo, to have staggered closing times. This allowed express buses to every nook and cranny of this city to succeed. The current plan to spread commuters out further without more widespread service improvements (not possible at this time) will not work significantly.

Now, we offer a handful of improvements, while the vast majority of the city has much worse commuter service than 20 years ago.

Nobody wants to walk 2 kms or more from the handful of 'improved' routes when it is +30 or -30.

How did this city ruin transit so thoroughly? We let idiot planners who did not understand this city to design rapid transit or we could blame local politicians who were not paying attention to the details behind the critical decisions that they were making. I remember claims from the mayor that commuting times would be reduced by 15 minutes with rail. It actually did the opposite. This proved to me that politicians did not understand what was happening and what they were approving.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

How did this city ruin transit so thoroughly? We let idiot planners who did not understand this city to design rapid transit or we could blame local politicians who were not paying attention to the details behind the critical decisions that they were making. I remember claims from the mayor that commuting times would be reduced by 15 minutes with rail. It actually did the opposite. This proved to me that politicians did not understand what was happening and what they were approving.

Funny how you'll blame anybody but the suburbanites who have voted in all the politicians who brought on these policies and management failures. Not to mention the underfunding.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

Yup. I said it already, but I don’t mind repeating it:

OC Transpo did a GREAT JOB with the LRT stations during Ottawa Bluesfest!

My ‘from-Kanata – so they don’t do public transit’ in-laws were very impressed with how easy it was. They drove to Tunney’s Pasture and found that their Bluesfest tickets didn’t open the fare gates – which was the kind of problem that they expected. A ‘Red-Vest’ magically appeared and suggested that they video-chat to get passes – so they did. They were given DAY PASSES, which really impressed them. They were thinking that they would have the same problems every time they wanted to take the train – but not with a DAY PASS. Cool of OC Transpo.

Parked at Tunney's? Is that something we can do? I see that big empty parking lot evenings and weekends begging to be used, but I'm always afraid of getting fined.

Too bad we haven't figured out how to put a functional "day pass" QR code on event tickets yet.

Overall though, the train has proven time and time again that it can handle huge crowds, same with Pimisi and Bayview, which bodes well for the future Sens rink.

[Richard Eade]

Sorry, J.OT13. You are correct. They didn't park in any of the actual Tunney's Pasture parking lots, but on an adjacent side street. I was using the term Tunney's Pasture as a reference to the nearest LRT station. I should have been more specific.

However, perhaps large events at LeBreton should try to arrange parking on the Tunney's Pasture site - similar to what H.O.P.E. arranges with Canada Post for the Beach Volleyball.

Agreed about simply adding a Day Pass QR-code on event tickets. It would even allow OC Transpo to determine how transit is being used during events. Of course, for really big crowds, like the Ottawa Bluesfest, it is easier to simply open all of the fare gates - as they do - for the flood of people going home after the event. That said, a QR-code would be great for smaller events everywhere in the city, like at TD Place.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

Sorry, J.OT13. You are correct. They didn't park in any of the actual Tunney's Pasture parking lots, but on an adjacent side street. I was using the term Tunney's Pasture as a reference to the nearest LRT station. I should have been more specific.

However, perhaps large events at LeBreton should try to arrange parking on the Tunney's Pasture site - similar to what H.O.P.E. arranges with Canada Post for the Beach Volleyball.

Agreed about simply adding a Day Pass QR-code on event tickets. It would even allow OC Transpo to determine how transit is being used during events. Of course, for really big crowds, like the Ottawa Bluesfest, it is easier to simply open all of the fare gates - as they do - for the flood of people going home after the event. That said, a QR-code would be great for smaller events everywhere in the city, like at TD Place.

Thanks for the clarification.

I agree, we need to better utilize parking lots in this city. Using Tunney's as a park and ride for evening and weekend events. Would love to see the baseball stadium parking used as a park and ride (for a small fee), etc.

[Williamoforange]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Thanks for the clarification.

I agree, we need to better utilize parking lots in this city. Using Tunney's as a park and ride for evening and weekend events. Would love to see the baseball stadium parking used as a park and ride (for a small fee), etc.

I will state myself and hundreds of others all parked at Tunney pasture for Bluesfest, it seems as long as it's a weekend and your gone by 10am it seems your good to go.

Also don't park in spots signed for specific use such as emergency employee paying (IT)

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Williamoforange

I will state myself and hundreds of others all parked at Tunney pasture for Bluesfest, it seems as long as it's a weekend and your gone by 10am it seems your good to go.

Also don't park in spots signed for specific use such as emergency employee paying (IT)

Thanks for the tip!

[FrostyMug]

I did use one of the parking lots at Tunney's for Bluesfest Sunday night. I wasn't the only one either as the lot was mostly full. Not sure I would've tried on a week day but on a weekend when the lot is empty I don't see the issue.

[lrt's friend]

Yet another negative video on Ottawa's rail network from a visitor. The Line 2 assessment matches my criticism since day one.,

• Video Link

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Yet another negative video on Ottawa's rail network from a visitor. The Line 2 assessment matches my criticism since day one.,

Yeah it was a boondoggle from the start but politically neccessary so all of the city felt they were getting something. Amazing how many real estate investors would talk about buying in Riverside to take advantage of new transit that would explode the value of their investment. We did get some cash from Ontario, developers and the feds for some of the dumbest parts the latter being for the Airport spur.

[Richard Eade]

Yeah. The O-Train in Ottawa was not designed to move people quickly (or conveniently). Remember, Mayor Chiarelli went to great pains to stress that the ‘R’ in LRT stands for ‘RAIL’, NOT ‘RAPID – as it did in BRT. Ottawa’s O-Train was planned for cost saving. The move to trains as trunk-line vehicles was supposed to move more people in each vehicle (with a single operator). It is the ultimate extension of the idea that moving more people with fewer resources make a transit system more efficient, and, thus, cheaper to run.

Just for ‘fun’ (because, as a transit supporter, this is my idea of fun) I asked Google’s AI how long it would take, using public transit, to get from the airport to downtown in 5 cities:

The answers (edited for brevity):

Vancouver - Taking the Canada Line SkyTrain is the fastest way to get from YVR to downtown Vancouver. The ride takes about 25 minutes and the transit route spans approximately 14 to 15 km.

Calgary - Traveling by public transit from the Calgary International Airport (YYC) to downtown Calgary takes approximately 45 to 55 minutes, covering a route distance of roughly 16 to 17 km. Route 300 (BRT Airport/City Centre) operates directly from the airport terminal to downtown Calgary.

Toronto - The UP Express train travels from Pearson Airport (YYZ) to Union Station in downtown Toronto in exactly 28 minutes. The route spans a distance of approximately 27.2 kilometres.

Ottawa (Google recommended) - Traveling from YOW to downtown Ottawa by public transit (OC Transpo) takes about 30 to 35 minutes and covers a route distance of approximately 10 to 13 kilometers. The quickest route involves the OC Transpo Route 97 bus, which provides direct service between the airport and the downtown core (e.g., Rideau Centre).

[EXCEPT, that the # 97 bus is no longer in operation because now we have New Ways to Bus. Something that Google’s AI doesn’t seem to be aware of. ALWAYS VERIFY AI RESPONSES!]

Ottawa (According to OC Transpo’s Trip Planner) - The best way to go from YOW to the Chateau Laurier using public transit is to take the # 105 bus (Numbered in dedication to the AVRO ARROW CF-105 – The failed jet design that put man on the moon.) and then transfer to Line 1 of the LRT at Hurdman. There is NO SINGLE-SEAT OPTION. This trip takes about 36-74 min.

Ottawa (Google alternative) - Getting from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) to downtown Ottawa via the OC Transpo O-Train takes about 52 minutes on average and covers a route of roughly 15 km. The journey requires two transfers: taking Line 4 to South Keys, Line 2 to Bayview, and Line 1 to downtown.

Montreal - Getting from YUL to downtown Montreal by public transit takes about 45 to 70 minutes depending on your exact destination and traffic, covering a distance of roughly 18 to 20 kilometers. The most direct and reliable public transit option is the STM 747 Express bus.

Montreal (future) - Once the REM is fully complete and the airport branch is operational, the 18 to 19 km trip from YUL to downtown Montreal (Gare Centrale) will take approximately 26 minutes.

SUMMARY:

Vancouver – Single-seat on train; 14-15 km in 25 min.
Calgary – Single-seat on bus # 300; 16-17 km in 45-55 min.
Toronto – Single-seat on UPX; 27.2 km in 28 min.
Ottawa – One Transfer from bus # 105 to L-1; 13-15 km in 36-74 min.
Ottawa – Two Transfers L4 to L2 to L1; 15 km in 50-69 min.
Montreal – Single-seat on bus # 747; 18-20 km in 45-70 min.
Montreal (future) – Single-seat on REM; 18-19 km in 26 min.

[TransitZilla]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Yeah it was a boondoggle from the start but politically neccessary so all of the city felt they were getting something.

The ridership numbers for Line 2 since it re-opened have been quite good. If it is such a boondoggle, how come the Bowesville Park & Ride consistently fills up to the point that the city is set to spend $20M to expand it?

I agree that it could be a bit faster but the negativity is tiring.