04-07-2019, 02:35 PM
(04-07-2019, 01:41 PM)jeffster Wrote: Concerning the GRT and the Ion, they need to have constant communication with each other. Remember, once the LRT gets going, you'll see service reductions in some of the GRT routes, which means that staff that it retiring won't be replaced. But the longer the LRT isn't operating, the longer the GRT has to hire new operators as other staff retires, and those with longer tenures have increased vacation time (anyone hitting the 3 year mark, 9 years, 15 years, 23 years and 30 years). It's becoming a staffing issue. Normally had the LRT started working, you'd simply not replace retiring staff. As it stands, though, the need for more workers affects the GRT operators greatly, especially those requesting time off.
I'm pretty sure that's not accurate. The new GRT route network that will launch when ION does has the same number of service hours as the current network. All the surplus service hours from the 7/200 are getting transferred to other routes.
Also, as someone that's spent a lot of time talking to both GRT and rapid transit staff, they're run inside the region as two separate divisions. That's why we got dumb things, like the rapid transit team assuming service until 11:30pm was adequate, not realizing GRT already ran until 1am. Or why ION stations were located without considering bus connections.
GRT is also run as two pretty separate divisions, between planning and operations. The planning division needs to be somewhat in the loop on Ion, but I'd be really surprised if GRT drivers had any inside info.