lrt's friend
Active Member
Subways under Montreal Road and Bank have been discarded from the latest Transportation Master Plan as being too expensive.
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- Thread starter Reecemartin
- Start date
lrt's friend
Active Member
Express buses used to run on Main and Colonel By until the Transitway opened back in the 1980s. When they rebuilt Main Street with cycle tracks, bus lanes are no longer possible.
Kyle Campbell
Senior Member
So, after a few months now of Line 2 being part of my regular commute, it seems to be fairly successful. Ridership seems strong, even after Carleton's winter term ended.
It would be nice if it had shorter dwell times to speed up the journey, but it's been extremely reliable. The one issue that keeps cropping up is countdown displays. Today they were down, with announcements "Departure times unavailable, trains are running normally", though the more frequent issue is that screens are sometimes frozen on the trains and the driver has to call out the stops the old fashioned way.
Given the chaos line 1 was in it's first few years of life, in comparison these seem like minor quibbles.
The new ways to bus is is noticeably a downgrade though for many people. I'm glad I can avoid the bus entirely
It would be nice if it had shorter dwell times to speed up the journey, but it's been extremely reliable. The one issue that keeps cropping up is countdown displays. Today they were down, with announcements "Departure times unavailable, trains are running normally", though the more frequent issue is that screens are sometimes frozen on the trains and the driver has to call out the stops the old fashioned way.
Given the chaos line 1 was in it's first few years of life, in comparison these seem like minor quibbles.
The new ways to bus is is noticeably a downgrade though for many people. I'm glad I can avoid the bus entirely
lrt's friend
Active Member
I have visited the three new southern stations. The lack of timed transfers is adding tremendously to travel times. I have spoken to a number of people, and the 'new ways to bus' is doubling traveling times or worse for some customers at these new stations. None of these new stations provide access to the community on foot. You have to transfer to mostly infrequent buses. Limebank will some day be a high density community, but the first phase is all low rise, car oriented development. Nevertheless, you will never get good ridership if 90% of the community is beyond walking distance and the connecting buses are crap.
Personally, the 'new ways to bus' tells me to not use transit, more transfers, and longer walks. Since I have a vehicle, transit is no longer an attractive option in almost every case. Several hundred millions of investment that accomplishes so little. Sadly, this was predictable.
I don't buy that reinstating Line 2 on the original route is a benefit that didn't already exist. Even on the original section, frequency is no better than before and travel times are somewhat longer.
The only benefit I have seen is that the trains are comfortable and the ride smooth. But you have to get home or to work and you lose everything if you have to transfer to a bus.
I saw this coming even during the planning phase.
Personally, the 'new ways to bus' tells me to not use transit, more transfers, and longer walks. Since I have a vehicle, transit is no longer an attractive option in almost every case. Several hundred millions of investment that accomplishes so little. Sadly, this was predictable.
I don't buy that reinstating Line 2 on the original route is a benefit that didn't already exist. Even on the original section, frequency is no better than before and travel times are somewhat longer.
The only benefit I have seen is that the trains are comfortable and the ride smooth. But you have to get home or to work and you lose everything if you have to transfer to a bus.
I saw this coming even during the planning phase.
Kyle Campbell
Senior Member
I don't think anyone claimed that it's a new benefit, just an improvement with nicer trains and stations, although the infill stations are a new benefit.
The south part seems to get decent ridership, but it's from people who park and ride or otherwise get a ride to the stations. Getting there by transit is last resort. The bus was never a great option in either Findley Creek and Riverside South, and now it's pretty much dead
rdaner
Senior Member
Going to Ottawa to see the King open Parliament and though driving there we booked an airbnb at a Corsa Italia Station because of easy access to Parliament Hill. A sample of a changed behaviour doe to Line 2 opening!
Also the only comments that I see about Line 2 are from suburbanites who feel it’s a waste because it doesn’t serve them but people inside the Greenbelt love it. It’s almost like the grumblers don’t get it!
Also the only comments that I see about Line 2 are from suburbanites who feel it’s a waste because it doesn’t serve them but people inside the Greenbelt love it. It’s almost like the grumblers don’t get it!
6ixGod
Active Member
Rando questio: Will a Presto card bought in Toronto work in Ottawa. I’m almost 99.9% sure but just wanted to make sure. I wish all transport agencies in Ontario used Presto….it would definitely make things a lot easier. I’m still a bit icky about tapping credit cards in public when I don’t have to.
nfitz
Superstar
Yes
Kyle Campbell
Senior Member
As long as you have a pay as you go balance on it. I don't think a TTC pass will work though. Using Apple/Google Pay though it's pretty convenient though
Your other option is to buy a paper ticket from the machine, it has a QR code on it that you scan at the gate at an optical reader near where you tap the card. That optical reader is the main difference between Ottawa and Toronto's gate.
Ottawa has fare capping, so no matter how many times you tap a presto or credit/debit card, you'll max out at the price of a day pass ($12)
You can also transfer onto STO into Quebec with your presto card, but you can't start journey on one of their buses with it
ARG1
Senior Member
... it does?
DirectionNorth
Senior Member
The fare cap only applies to credit/debit cards, not Presto.
Roping in @6ixGod - a Toronto-bought Presto will work if you have a dollar balance on your card. Passes won't work though.
(edit: here's the link to OC Transpo's fare cap page)
nfitz
Superstar
Passes and fair-capping are red herrings. A TTC pass won't work even on other agencies operating inside Toronto - like GO. And YRT fare-capping doesn't impact TTC riders.
The bottom line is that they are as interchangeable between OC and other Presto agencies, the same way they are interchangeable between TTC and GO, or Hamilton and Durham.
Kyle Campbell
Senior Member
I was sure at some point when they rebranded the whole thing as "O-Payment" presto counted, as a "mobile wallet". But I've never actually taken enough rides in a day to hit the fare cap : shrug:
I just meant as a tourist in Ottawa in theory you don't need to buy a day pass with fare capping. But I've never tried it myself.
On weekends they have a 2for1 day pass which you have to get out of the machine, which is the only day passes I've used lately to cover me and my wife
bearcat
Active Member
I think the caveat is also that only a physical Presto card will work. If it was converted to a digital one via Apple Wallet or Google Wallet it will not work in Ottawa.
" Presto on Apple Wallet and Google Wallet
Presto on Apple Wallet or Google Wallet is not accepted as payment on OC Transpo buses, fare gates or Para Transpo. OC Transpo customers should not add their Presto card to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet on mobile devices.
The Presto app has blocks in place to prevent OC Transpo customers from converting their card. "
from: https://www.octranspo.com/en/fares/payment/presto/
Kyle Campbell
Senior Member
I always wondered if that it was because OC Transpo wants Presto to die off. I used to like the fact I could use my Presto in Toronto and vice- versa but the fact you can use Apple/Google pay in both cities now kinda makes it moot. I mostly still use presto because I have auto load on, and just stuck in my ways. But if I lost my Presto card I probably wouldn't get another