Grand River Transit

[Canard]

I guess I just don't like the idea that it's expected not to be perfect. Hardly unfathomable on a project of this magnitude!

[Pheidippides]

Is there an operational reason why so many GRT operators open the rear ceiling vent even in the dead of winter, spring rains, or summer heat?

It seems like such a waste of energy to force the heating/cooling system to try and keep up with the exterior conditions when the vent is open (and probably doesn't help aerodynamically with fuel efficiency either). It doesn't help with passenger comfort either sitting back there in the draft, noise, and fumes.

I just wondered if there was a reason this was done (too much interiour moisture? odours?).

[Canard]

Keeps the windows from fogging up inside?

[Rick O'Shay]

The front roof vent is controlled by the operator. We open it to control the moisture and sometimes the smells. Rear vent is opened by passengers. I have no idea why. In order to close it I have to get off my fat rear end and reach way up. So Ya that's doesn't happen a lot. I personally just keep my side window open for fresh air. Plus it gets really warm in the front of the bus with all the glass even in the dead of winter. Hope this sheds light on our use of vents and windows. Aerodynamics really don't come into play when you are driving 30 kms per hour.

[goggolor]

GRT workers vote in favour of strike action: http://www.570news.com/2017/02/28/grt-wo...ke-action/

I wonder if there's a chance this might happen, or if it's just a bargaining chip.

[KevinL]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TBT?src=hash">#TBT</a> to the transit map in 1957, when buses were operated by the Kitchener PUC. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kwawesome?src=hash">#kwawesome</a> <a href="https://t.co/pTVHUJiUMc">pic.twitter.com/pTVHUJiUMc</a></p>&mdash; Grand River Transit (@GRT_ROW) <a href="https://twitter.com/GRT_ROW/status/837325125364006912">March 2, 2017</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">And here's a little followup to our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TBT?src=hash">#TBT</a> post: the 1957 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/transit?src=hash">#transit</a> network overlaid on our current network in KW. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kwawesome?src=hash">#kwawesome</a> <a href="https://t.co/J1uqgjvaCk">pic.twitter.com/J1uqgjvaCk</a></p>&mdash; Grand River Transit (@GRT_ROW) <a href="https://twitter.com/GRT_ROW/status/837334687009796096">March 2, 2017</a></blockquote>

[jwilliamson]

Looks like the 1 and the 6 still follow roughly the same routes.

[Pheidippides]

Region proposing to pay to upgrade student cards to be electronic fare compatible:
http://calendar.regionofwaterloo.ca/Coun...df#page=83

Recommendation to approve environmental assessment of Northfield facility:
http://calendar.regionofwaterloo.ca/Coun...df#page=86

GRT year end conventional fare revenue was down 5.7% or $1.9 million below the 2016 budgeted level of $32.9 million:
http://calendar.regionofwaterloo.ca/Coun...df#page=46

Most transit projects under budget for various reasons in 2016:
http://calendar.regionofwaterloo.ca/Coun...df#page=70

Transit Services 66059 Card Fare Payment Technology
$2,506,000 under budget
"Project implementation delayed to 2017."

66071 Advanced Transit Technology
4,012,000 under budget
"Various technology development initiatives underway with anticipated completion in 2017."

66088 Cambridge Centre Terminal
$1,457,000
"Savings resulting from favourable contract pricing (Tender T2016‐118). Some costs to be completed in 2017."

66079 Northfield Drive Operations Centre
$1,173,000
"Variance due to uncertain timing related to site development and preliminary design work in anticipation of facility construction in the 2018 ‐ 2020 timeframe. Detailed design underway in 2017 with federal funding support (PTIF Program)."

66029 iXpress Station Development
$503,000
"Some station equipment installations delayed to 2017."

66072 Transit Security Measures
$1,012,000
"Approved for federal funding (PTIF) so project will move forward in 2017 to deliver fleet wide expansion of Driver Management and Safety system (DMSS)."

[jwilliamson]

Note that although fare collection was below the budgeted level, it was still up $350,000 over 2015.

[jwilliamson]

I just saw the proposed detour for the southbound 7 around Uptown. King-Bridgeport-Erb-Father David Bauer-Caroline -R William-Park. Does anyone know why they aren't going straight through Bridgeport to Caroline? I had assumed ION work on Caroline, but the most recent construction update didn't mention anything.

[trainspotter139]

There will be partial temporary closures of the lane near the ION southbound stop on Caroline by the Caroline/Erb intersection over the next few weeks /months for work on the stop.

[KevinL]

...but the stop is south of Father David Bauer. THis detour would not avoid it.

[Canard]

I'm curious if you meant the construction causing a temporary upcoming closure to the South access (off Caroline) to the Waterloo Town Square North lot. Or did you actually mean platform work at Willis Way?

All I could imagine that would require a closure is perhaps (finally) the installation of the tactile edge and top surface, because Willis Way also had one on the bus (road) side.

[trainspotter139]

I'm curious if you meant the construction causing a temporary upcoming closure to the South access (off Caroline) to the Waterloo Town Square North lot. Or did you actually mean platform work at Willis Way?

All I could imagine that would require a closure is perhaps (finally) the installation of the tactile edge and top surface, because Willis Way also had one on the bus (road) side.

I seem to have forgot where Willis Way is lol. It could be a traffic signal related issue more than construction though there will be construction traffic in the area.

[Canard]

The latest construction update alluded that the only closure in the area was the connector between Caroline and the North lot; the tracks there have yet to be welded/embedded.