ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[ijmorlan]

Funny, I was going to point out that the sign fails to note that "driving" is also illegal, as I've seen some people use the tracks as a lane.

I was thinking it should be really snarky — like a bunch of photos of cars totalled by LRVs, or some sort of “car lanes are for cars, LRT lanes are for LRT” slogan, maybe accompanied by a photo of a residential driveway blocked by an LRV or some such. But that might send an excessively agressive message ….

[YKF]

Thanks for the responses re: radiant heating for the platforms, or lack thereof. It's too bad that salt, rather than a radiant heating system will be used to keep the platforms free of ice, given the Region's progressiveness around cutting down on salt usage. Would've added to the budget?

[Canard]

I heard that the neighbouring properties are responsible for clearing snow off the platforms.

[panamaniac]

Thanks for the responses re: radiant heating for the platforms, or lack thereof.  It's too bad that salt, rather than a radiant heating system will be used to keep the platforms free of ice, given the Region's progressiveness around cutting down on salt usage.  Would've added to the budget?

Given the cost of hydro in Ontario, radiant heating in the platforms would strike me as a rather "gold plated" design element in what is in most respects a somewhat bare bones project.

[panamaniac]

Does anyone know when final decisions will be announced with respect to the art projects to be installed at certain stations?

[danbrotherston]

Thanks for the responses re: radiant heating for the platforms, or lack thereof.  It's too bad that salt, rather than a radiant heating system will be used to keep the platforms free of ice, given the Region's progressiveness around cutting down on salt usage.  Would've added to the budget?

Given the cost of hydro in Ontario, radiant heating in the platforms would strike me as a rather "gold plated" design element in what is in most respects a somewhat bare bones project.

I'm entirely sure it's the type of thing that people would point to and complain about "gold plated".  But it's not clear that a radiant heat system wouldn't be a better/cheaper option in the long run when considering the cost of salt, damage to infrastructure from salt, damage to the environment from salt, the imperfectness of salt leading to ice, leading to liability from lawsuits.  But regardless of whether it was financially justified, I figure people would still complain about us elites and our electrically heated gold plated snow removal platforms.

[MidTowner]

It’s probably cheaper to operate a snow-melt system than it is to pay for salting even without accounting for the environmental impact of salt, and its destructive impact on the infrastructure. Probably the hydro to operate a system is cheaper than the labour of spreading salt.

For reference, these systems consume less than 50 watts per square foot, but are not continuously on- they have a snow sensor (which consumes very minimal power) that starts them up when there is actual snow cover. I have no idea how many hours a day they would need to operate in Waterloo Region, but it is not 24. Less than a kWh a day (likely a lot less) to keep each square foot of all of our 19 stations clear during winter would not be expensive compared to the cost of shoveling and salting the platforms, and probably more effective.

I think these systems could probably be justified even at high-volume bus stops, and I agree with danbrotherston that it’s a false economy not to invest in them, probably motivated by optics more than sober calculations.

[ijmorlan]

It’s probably cheaper to operate a snow-melt system than it is to pay for salting even without accounting for the environmental impact of salt, and its destructive impact on the infrastructure. Probably the hydro to operate a system is cheaper than the labour of spreading salt.

For reference, these systems consume less than 50 watts per square foot, but are not continuously on- they have a snow sensor (which consumes very minimal power) that starts them up when there is actual snow cover. I have no idea how many hours a day they would need to operate in Waterloo Region, but it is not 24. Less than a kWh a day (likely a lot less) to keep each square foot of all of our 19 stations clear during winter would not be expensive compared to the cost of shoveling and salting the platforms, and probably more effective.

I think these systems could probably be justified even at high-volume bus stops, and I agree with danbrotherston that it’s a false economy not to invest in them, probably motivated by optics more than sober calculations.

I was idly wondering to myself how much it would cost to install them in strategic locations. I was thinking busy intersections, or just near the curb to eliminate the slushy mess pedestrians have to cross to get into the street. It was just idle wondering so not really a proposal. I understand a whole-driveway system is quite expensive, so presumably a whole intersection would be pricey as well, but just the area near the curb might be relatively reasonable.

[panamaniac]

Given the cost of hydro in Ontario, radiant heating in the platforms would strike me as a rather "gold plated" design element in what is in most respects a somewhat bare bones project.

I'm entirely sure it's the type of thing that people would point to and complain about "gold plated".  But it's not clear that a radiant heat system wouldn't be a better/cheaper option in the long run when considering the cost of salt, damage to infrastructure from salt, damage to the environment from salt, the imperfectness of salt leading to ice, leading to liability from lawsuits.  But regardless of whether it was financially justified, I figure people would still complain about us elites and our electrically heated gold plated snow removal platforms.

Exactly.

[Coke6pk]

I walked past the bus station twice today, and each time there were two taxis parked there.

But are they parked, or simply standing?
(...I realize that both are illegal )

“park” or “parking”, when prohibited, means the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when standing temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading merchandise or passengers; (“stationnement”)

“stand” or “standing”, when prohibited, means the halting of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except for the purpose of and while actually engaged in receiving or discharging passengers; (“immobilisation”)

“stop” or “stopping”, when prohibited, means the halting of a vehicle, even momentarily, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or of a traffic control sign or signal; (“arrêt”)


If the taxis were actively loading/unloading passengers they were standing.  I will assume they were likely parked.  Regardless, as there is no stopping on the tracks, they shouldn't be using it as a taxi stand.

Coke

(One of my favorite lines from working by-law was when I issued a Fire Route ticket to a car with someone in it (but not actively loading/unloading) when they said "I'm not parked", I would reply, "What gear is your car in sir?".  I'd always have to do a quick glance to make sure they didn't have a standard  )

[Viewfromthe42]

No Stopping isn't even technically what it should be though, right? Actually driving over any portion of the line that's not part of an intersection is forbidden.

[ijmorlan]

(One of my favorite lines from working by-law was when I issued a Fire Route ticket to a car with someone in it (but not actively loading/unloading) when they said "I'm not parked", I would reply, "What gear is your car in sir?".  I'd always have to do a quick glance to make sure they didn't have a standard  )

Although to be fair to the driver, an occupied car in a fire lane isn’t really a problem — if they see a fire truck presumably they’ll clear out. The problem comes when people leave their car, so there is no way short of ramming it for the fire truck to get through.

In general, I think short term (<15min) parking needs to be more available and free in more locations, while longer term parking needs to be less available and paid in more locations. Such short term parking is really just a function of driving at all — whereas longer term parking is car storage.

[jamincan]

I don't heating coils were mandated by the City of Ottawa for the proposals, and yet the RTG is including it presumably because it is more economical in the long term.

[Canard]

I don't heating coils were mandated by the City of Ottawa for the proposals, and yet the RTG is including it presumably because it is more economical in the long term.

I wonder if Ottawa's operator could justify it because they have fewer platforms (and some are underground, which wouldn't need it), and they get harsher winters.

In our case, the it was decided that conventional shoveling and salting techniques will be used; there will not be platform heating installed at any station on our system.

[danbrotherston]

Although to be fair to the driver, an occupied car in a fire lane isn’t really a problem — if they see a fire truck presumably they’ll clear out. The problem comes when people leave their car, so there is no way short of ramming it for the fire truck to get through.

In general, I think short term (<15min) parking needs to be more available and free in more locations, while longer term parking needs to be less available and paid in more locations. Such short term parking is really just a function of driving at all — whereas longer term parking is car storage.

Absolutely more short term loading zones are needed.  This should be the actual parking minimum:  "Some way to accept deliveries without blocking traffic or sidewalks".