11-03-2014, 11:27 PM
(11-03-2014, 10:35 PM)Pheidippides Wrote: I found Appendix D interesting, it details the baseline service from 2017 out to 2047 in very great detail (headways, cars in service, spares, rough schedules for weekend, peak period, holidays, etc., what type of train is running one-car train vs. two car train (expected in 2025).
I found it interesting as well, so much so that I wrote to the project team with some questions last month. This is what I got in response:
Quote:1. Is this service plan a reliable representation of what will take place in 2017?
· It’s a close reflection. The service plan was created for bidding purposes so that each bidder would be approaching the project from a level playing field. It is the Region’s goal to get close to this service plan. The reliability of the service plan will be reflected after it’s built. Peak hours should match what has been given with off peak being more variable and dependent on demand. For example, we could see increases in evening weekend demand which is off peak or other off peak times of day.
· The focus is currently on construction and building the system. The service plan/delivery will be the focus in late-2015 and early-2016.
2. On the longer-term service plans, frequency doesn't appear to exceed 7 minutes. Instead, peak service will include double trains. This is contrary to the position expressed a couple of years ago, where the project team was planning on higher frequency before doubling up.
· This has been based on the work we’ve done. The onus will be for GrandLinq to decide how they’ll manage the growth and demand to meet the service requirements. We will work with them to do this.
So, what I took out of this is that the service plans are representative only. I happen to think that the initial service plan as presented is pretty good (meets and/or exceeds 200 iXpress service with a lot more 15 minute service where 30 minutes is the norm today) and it will be important to make the point next year that we need to see good service frequency out of ION not just to satisfy demand, but to generate it.
It hits me, personally, on nights like tonight when I leave UW after a rehearsal. Buses are already down to 30 minute frequencies, and I know the 200 will be packed anyway from evening class students (and so I begged a ride home). We may not need 10 minute service in the shoulder hours, but 15 should be the minimum until very late.