GO Transit: Service thread (including extensions)

[nfitz]

Info at https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2016/04/ontario-expanding-go-bus-service-to-brantford.html

Only 1,000 weekly passenger trips. So less than 100 per direction per day. And at $1.3 million in cost, that's $25 per rider. I wonder if that includes the fare revenue.

 

[robmausser]

I could imagine an eventual GO Train extension to Brantford.

 

[innsertnamehere]

Probably not the worst go bus route. The Beaverton route probably averages 1-2 passengers.

 

[salsa]

Let's expand on that with this:

News Release​

As usual, more fluff than substance. Lemme save you some time:

Ontario Expanding GO Bus Service to Brantford
April 27, 2016

Connection to GO Transit Network Will Boost Economy and Improve Quality of Life
Ontario is expanding GO Transit bus service to Brantford to connect the city to the GO Transit network, giving commuters more transit options and reducing congestion.

Premier Kathleen Wynne was at Brantford Transit today to make the announcement. Beginning this September, Metrolinx will introduce GO bus service between downtown Brantford and Aldershot GO Station in Burlington, stopping at McMaster University along the way. GO buses will run every hour during weekday peak periods and every two hours during weekday off-peak periods and on weekends. In total, there will be 26 trips every weekday and 18 trips on both Saturday and Sunday.

Ontario is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in the province's history -- about $160 billion over 12 years. This is supporting 110,000 jobs every year across the province, with projects such as roads, bridges, transit systems, schools and hospitals. In 2015, the province announced support for more than 325 projects that will keep people and goods moving, connect communities and improve quality of life.

Expanding transit options is part of the government's economic plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs. The four-part plan includes investing in talent and skills, including helping more people get and create the jobs of the future by expanding access to high-quality college and university education. The plan is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario's history and investing in a low-carbon economy driven by innovative, high-growth, export-oriented businesses. The plan is also helping working Ontarians achieve a more secure retirement.


QUICK FACTS​

• • Since 2003, Ontario has extended GO’s rail network by nearly 90 kilometres, opened 14 new GO stations, rebuilt four existing stations and added more than 31,000 new parking spots across the system.
  • GO Bus service to Brantford is projected to attract 1,000 weekly passenger trips.
  • The estimated cost to operate the new bus service is about $1.3 million.
  • A recent report by the Broadbent Institute and the Centre for Spatial Economics found that, on average, investing a dollar in public infrastructure in Canada raises GDP by $1.43 in the short term and up to $3.83 in the long term.

 

[mdrejhon]

While some fluff is interesting reading -- brilliant job on illustrating the important points.

#100PercentOrganicPressReleases #NoFillers #FluffFree

Also stopping at McMaster University means a Brantford connection to Hamilton's future LRT.

 

[DonValleyRainbow]

I could imagine an eventual GO Train extension to Brantford.

They've pushed for it before I think. Frankly, I could imagine GO Transit service throughout southwestern Ontario. It'd be relatively scaled down, but exist nonetheless.

 

[gweed123]

They've pushed for it before I think. Frankly, I could imagine GO Transit service throughout southwestern Ontario. It'd be relatively scaled down, but exist nonetheless.

IMO, a Brantford service would really only be useful if it included a stop in or around Dundas. That station would need to be quite the engineering feat, considering the rail line basically straddles the escarpment the entire way through Dundas. The lack of any decent site for an intermediate station between Aldershot and Brantford makes it a poorer candidate for a rail extension than say Niagara or Bowmanville or Cambridge.

 

[muller877]

Info at https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2016/04/ontario-expanding-go-bus-service-to-brantford.html

Only 1,000 weekly passenger trips. So less than 100 per direction per day. And at $1.3 million in cost, that's $25 per rider. I wonder if that includes the fare revenue.

The alternative is to expand the massive parking lot again and again at Aldershot. I assume most of these people drive to the station. This saves $50,000 of capital cost to build a parking garage per person. Assume 1.5 people per car = $15M. Given this, the $1.3M is a pretty good investment (plus of course the congestion benefits).

The WLU campus at Brantford will also attract some good off-peak traffic (weekends back home).

 

[mdrejhon]

As a terminus station of electrification, right at the bend, I think they're going to eventually end up needing to build a parking garage at Aldershot GO, anyway, especially if it's electrified. Especially if the current Aldershot densification initiatives stay on a roll.

(Note: The current default GO RER scenario is to continue electrification to Aldershot, and not just stop at Burlington).

 

[crs1026]

Ten riders per bus is not unreasonable within GO's existing standards. Most transit properties would set a higher ridership threshold for a service, but GO seems to be able to afford it. Let's hope the demand grows over time.

- Paul

 

[Ainslie]

(Everything else now under construction fronting Plains near Waterdown, on this point forward, now has ground floor retail)

Thanks partially to Aldershot GO all-day service -- these are all clustered within 500 meters of Waterdown Rd.

December 2002:

"Much of the economic impacts derived from the WRI expansion will be realized in the City of Burlington portion of Study Area, namely the industrial and commercial development nodes along both sides of Highway 403, as well as the impact it would have on future development patterns on Plains Road… According to projections, the Study Area will grow by nearly 21,000 residents over the next 20 years. It is important to note however that these projections were conducted prior to the release of the 2001 Census. Moreover, they do not fully reflect the level of development activity currently being proposed in the area… While population growth is an important consideration for determining the WRI’s need, we strongly believe that residential development in Aldershot and vicinity will occur with or without the Waterdown Road interchange expansion."

http://cms.burlington.ca/Asset987.aspx

November 10 2010:

"After two years in the making, the interchange at Highway 403 and Waterdown Road is officially open. The $10.8-million project, which saw the construction an off-ramp from the westbound 403 to Waterdown Road and an eastbound on-ramp from the Aldershot GO station access road, is intended to ease traffic on nearby routes. The ramps will redirect heavy trucks from Plains Road, improve response times for emergency vehicles and make west Burlington more accessible along the GTA-Niagara trade corridor. Calling it a “proud day for Burlington” Mayor Cam Jackson predicted the project would take more than 1,000 trucks off Plains Road every day while delivering more customers to local businesses. Echoing Jackson, Ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven said the interchange would “open up the area and act as a stimulus to businesses along Plains Road and in west Aldershot."

http://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threads/403-waterdown-road-full-interchange.14797/

GO Electrification for Aldershot said to be coming by 2024, assuming there's no economic or political turbulence between now and then.

 

[mdrejhon]

GO Electrification for Aldershot said to be coming by 2024, assuming there's no economic or political turbulence between now and then.

Welcome Ainslie! Lurker or anonymized existing forum member/industry worker?
No matter, it is ok, you've certainly paying attention to Aldershot as well.

Various forces act against Aldershot electrification (freight, four tracking cost, station still too suburban, etc). But there is the simultaneous strategic importance as an end-of-bend station, proximity to 403, the mentioned gradual urbanization/densification, and potential 403 GO bus connector routes that may be more efficient at Aldershot (e.g. Brantford or KW/Guelph/Cambridge GO bus). Aldershot was a crap 1990s location, but its location in 2024 is growing less crappy. Also the need to electrify as close to Hamilton as possible, and eventually all the way.

 

[ShonTron]

IMO, a Brantford service would really only be useful if it included a stop in or around Dundas. That station would need to be quite the engineering feat, considering the rail line basically straddles the escarpment the entire way through Dundas. The lack of any decent site for an intermediate station between Aldershot and Brantford makes it a poorer candidate for a rail extension than say Niagara or Bowmanville or Cambridge.

There was a station at Dundas, where Highway 8 passes under the tracks. VIA closed it and the Hamilton CN Station, consolidating the train service at the new station at Aldershot around 1990. Aldershot is a bad location, but it could at least serve trains headed to both Niagara and London/Windsor. (In the 1950s, CN ran all but a few trains into Hamilton CN Station, backing in and out to serve that once-important station.)

I'm not that excited about the Brantford bus extension. I'd much rather have seen a Guelph-Aberfoyle-Aldershot-McMaster route first.

 

[gweed123]

There was a station at Dundas, where Highway 8 passes under the tracks. VIA closed it and the Hamilton CN Station, consolidating the train service at the new station at Aldershot around 1990. It's a bad location, but it could at least serve trains headed to both Niagara and London/Windsor. (In the 1950s, CN ran all but a few trains into Hamilton CN Station, backing in and out to serve that once-important station.

I didn't know there used to be a station there, interesting! Yes, I'd imagine building a modern GO station there would be quite the engineering challenge. It would also need to heavily rely on HSR (the transit company, not the rail type) to act as a feeder system, since any parking there would need to be in a parking garage, and thus would be pretty limited.

I'm not that excited about the Brantford bus extension. I'd much rather have seen a Guelph-Aberfoyle-Aldershot-McMaster route first.

I think both are needed. I'd also add Hamilton GO Centre onto the end of that, possibly replacing some of the #18 trips.

 

[denfromoakvillemilton]

December 2002:

"Much of the economic impacts derived from the WRI expansion will be realized in the City of Burlington portion of Study Area, namely the industrial and commercial development nodes along both sides of Highway 403, as well as the impact it would have on future development patterns on Plains Road… According to projections, the Study Area will grow by nearly 21,000 residents over the next 20 years. It is important to note however that these projections were conducted prior to the release of the 2001 Census. Moreover, they do not fully reflect the level of development activity currently being proposed in the area… While population growth is an important consideration for determining the WRI’s need, we strongly believe that residential development in Aldershot and vicinity will occur with or without the Waterdown Road interchange expansion."

http://cms.burlington.ca/Asset987.aspx

November 10 2010:

"After two years in the making, the interchange at Highway 403 and Waterdown Road is officially open. The $10.8-million project, which saw the construction an off-ramp from the westbound 403 to Waterdown Road and an eastbound on-ramp from the Aldershot GO station access road, is intended to ease traffic on nearby routes. The ramps will redirect heavy trucks from Plains Road, improve response times for emergency vehicles and make west Burlington more accessible along the GTA-Niagara trade corridor. Calling it a “proud day for Burlington” Mayor Cam Jackson predicted the project would take more than 1,000 trucks off Plains Road every day while delivering more customers to local businesses. Echoing Jackson, Ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven said the interchange would “open up the area and act as a stimulus to businesses along Plains Road and in west Aldershot."

http://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threads/403-waterdown-road-full-interchange.14797/

GO Electrification for Aldershot said to be coming by 2024, assuming there's no economic or political turbulence between now and then.

Welcome to UT!