07-03-2019, 09:11 AM
taylortbb Wrote:I also suspect that rush hour won't be the limiting factor. Rather, early evening and Saturdays, where they currently have 15 minute headways, is IMO where we'll see the first overcrowding. Because we don't have a big CBD I think the system will get lots of recreational, rather than commuter, use in the first several years.
This is an interesting prediction. I've thought that not having a single large CBD is a drawback for transit because driving and parking is so easy- downtown Kitchener is still small and sparse enough that finding parking is trivial, and inexpensive. Likewise for Uptown, and even the University Zone.
I took the 200 a lot, at all times and days, and it seemed like a commuter and student service. On Saturdays, it was usually not crowded, even though headways weren't great. Maybe the 301 will attract different types of riders, though.
I could definitely see 15-minutes being inadequate on Saturdays when there are events going on downtown or uptown or both. If 15 minute service is inadequate after 8:00pm on weeknights, that would be pretty impressive.