TTC: Other Items (catch all)

[lenaitch]

OK, I'm not up on all the tech. How is he recording the first ride? Is he using a drone in a 'follow me' mode?

 

[Richard White]

There are a dozen or so stations that are associated with a lot of what I mentioned above.
They would yield the greatest return.

But you want ATC in place, so that means Line 2 Stations would have to wait.

Sheppard was building w/these doors in mind and I imagine the stations on the TYSSE were as well, so they should be low-cost re-fits.

At Yonge-Bloor I think they should be tied into the 1.5B reno set to occur, where the cost would hardly be a rounding error on that budget.
Though in the case of Y-B I strongly favour extending air conditioning to the platform levels at the same time. I had a friend who was heading home via subway late the other night and reported that Y-B, was overcrowded and in the heat people were feeling feint. Makes sense to me in stations low-ceilings and less capacity that experience crowding to add A/C.

****

In terms of R.O.I, I think the investment in strategic stations would yields a fare bit of additional service, with no additional trains, a fairly worthwhile investment.
That does go down when you get to less beneficial stations, though it there are advantages in finishing entire lines in one go.

The problem with adding AC at places like Yonge and Bloor is the portals along with the needed infrastructure. There is no public facing HVAC systems in the station and the portal would still let the heat, humidity and cold weather in.

If it was possible to put proper HVAC in the stations the towers, AP Rooms and other staff areas would already have it. Collector Booths all have portable AC Units and St George has a myriad of rooms with portable AC units.

 

[Northern Light]

The problem with adding AC at places like Yonge and Bloor is the portals along with the needed infrastructure. There is no public facing HVAC systems in the station and the portal would still let the heat, humidity and cold weather in.

If it was possible to put proper HVAC in the stations the towers, AP Rooms and other staff areas would already have it. Collector Booths all have portable AC Units and St George has a myriad of rooms with portable AC units.

In the case of Y/B; not only is the station set for a massive rebuild, including new ventilation capacity; but the complex above it is set to be redeveloped as well (at least in part), there is no better time to look at adding air conditioning.
It would make no sense to add a/c if there are no platform edge doors. But if you add full height doors, then you have an opportunity to minimize heat/cool gain/loss.

You know, its really worth noting on both platform edge doors and a/c that these are not new technologies, nor new in subways.

New York' MTA: In August 2006, the MTA announced that all future subway stations, which include 34th Street–Hudson Yards, South Ferry, and all Second Avenue Subway stations, will have platforms outfitted with air-cooling systems. (From Wikipedia)

Montreal is currently installing platform edge doors at 15 stations.

Back to A/C, its worth noting that this is not something only rich countries can do..........Delhi is air conditioning its stations. (bit by bit)

We need more Can-do attitude!

 

[DSC]

There are a dozen or so stations that are associated with a lot of what I mentioned above.
They would yield the greatest return.

But you want ATC in place, so that means Line 2 Stations would have to wait.

Sheppard was building w/these doors in mind and I imagine the stations on the TYSSE were as well, so they should be low-cost re-fits.

At Yonge-Bloor I think they should be tied into the 1.5B reno set to occur, where the cost would hardly be a rounding error on that budget.
Though in the case of Y-B I strongly favour extending air conditioning to the platform levels at the same time. I had a friend who was heading home via subway late the other night and reported that Y-B, was overcrowded and in the heat people were feeling feint. Makes sense to me in stations low-ceilings and less capacity that experience crowding to add A/C.

****

In terms of R.O.I, I think the investment in strategic stations would yields a fare bit of additional service, with no additional trains, a fairly worthwhile investment.
That does go down when you get to less beneficial stations, though it there are advantages in finishing entire lines in one go.

I realise that we need ATC first so that the doors can line up correctly and completely agree with you that installing doors during major station upgrade projects is the way to go. My primary point was that we should get away from the idea that we must do EVERY station (on a line) all at once. It could be a 25-year plan (like the AODA planning).

 

[TossYourJacket]

Along the same lines as adding platform doors/AC to Bloor-Yonge during it's rebuild, the TTC should look at whether we could implement platform doors (and maybe AC?) at Queen and Osgoode while both stations are going to be having work done as part of the Ontario Line. Ideally Pape as well, but that depends on how ATC implementation on Line 2 goes.

 

[salsa]

OK, I'm not up on all the tech. How is he recording the first ride? Is he using a drone in a 'follow me' mode?

I think he used a selfie stick.

 

[W. K. Lis]

Along the same lines as adding platform doors/AC to Bloor-Yonge during it's rebuild, the TTC should look at whether we could implement platform doors (and maybe AC?) at Queen and Osgoode while both stations are going to be having work done as part of the Ontario Line. Ideally Pape as well, but that depends on how ATC implementation on Line 2 goes.

And Pape Station on Line 2 (interchange station with Danforth Station on the Ontario Line). Then there's the question of platform doors on Line 5 (interchange station with Science Centre Station).

 

[W. K. Lis]

Along Line 2...

From link.

Eligible for...

 

[beatle04]

What the heck is the story behind that escalator having stairs??

 

[Voltz]

What the heck is the story behind that escalator having stairs??

It would have been retrofitted in later, not enough depth in the floor for the machinery

 

[EnviroTO]

Hopefully that escalator doesn't service the Pape station remake when the Ontario Line is put in. That is an embarrassment.

 

[drum118]

The base of the escalator would be sticking out of the tunnel roof if built like it should be. To deal with the clearance issue in the tunnel/station roof, extra steps has to be built to get to the correct height clearance and hell with accessibility.

Noticed southbound 510 cars where detouring by King/Bathurst due to an issue with a Flexity and the OS at Front St. TTC Overhead crew were dealing with what every the issue was and allowing northbound to pass slowly and pickup riders.

The 2 Chief Supervisors were on site as well a Transit Supervisors. The stuck car was finally able to go south. TTC had to bring in 2 buses for the southbound so riders could get on and off from King to QQ until the streetcars we allow to resume operation.

The service crew was talking to all northbound driver after service resume to the point a Transit Supervisor got on the car that had the problem and no idea if the car was being remove from service

 

[Northern Light]

The base of the escalator would be sticking out of the tunnel roof if built like it should be. To deal with the clearance issue in the tunnel/station roof, extra steps has to be built to get to the correct height clearance and hell with accessibility.

The TTC/Mx should buy the 2-storey property to the north, shift the bus terminal over, then shift the main entrance over (making it larger, which it and the bus terminal both need to be anyway), then the escalator can be replaced without being over the tunnel; and a down escalator can be added at the same time. Two access points can arise from the mezzanine and both be integrated with a combine entrance building and terminal building.

The same should be done with the other stations with problem escalators, Broadview and Christie.

Though Broadview already abuts the street to the north and is a more problematic fix.

 

[drum118]

TTC increasing service for the back-to-school season

August 30, 2021

With the back-to-school season around the corner, students and parents can count on the TTC for improved safety and service.

"We are doing everything we can as a City government to help kids go back to school safely this September and that includes increasing TTC service across Toronto ahead of expected demand," said Toronto Mayor John Tory. "I want to thank our frontline TTC workers for all they do to help students get to and from school safely."

"As students and parents prepare for the back-to-school season, they can rely on the TTC to provide a safe and reliable experience," said TTC Chair Jaye Robinson. "We ask that students continue to follow COVID safety guidelines, including wearing a mask while on transit."

To accommodate anticipated increased service demand in September, the TTC is:
- Increasing service system-wide to support the expected increase in ridership, including 25 per cent more subway trains on Line 1 and Line 2 at peak times on weekdays.
- Deploying an additional 180 special school trips to manage anticipated high school student ridership and communicating with school boards to determine hot spots, student volumes and start and dismissal times.
- Increasing or restoring service on nearly 30 bus routes that serve post-secondary institutions and other major transit corridors, and implementing new periods of express service on four routes.
- Restoring service on nearly all 900 series express routes and introducing new service on the 938 Highland Creek Express, adding new weekday midday and early evening service on 960 Steeles West Express, and new weekday midday express service on 941 Keele Express. Additional express routes are planned for October.
- Maintaining service flexibility, adjusting service to meet demand and continuing to operate demand-responsive bus service to supplement scheduled service.

Because of the potential for increased demand, some service will need to be deployed in real-time and will not appear on schedules or on transit apps.

"With schools in Toronto opening for in-person learning, we know that students and parents who have been away from transit for some time may not be aware of the changes we've made to enhance comfort and safety," said TTC CEO Rick Leary. "We're making sure our service is ready to meet the changing demand, while ensuring that customers remain safe while travelling on our vehicles."

In addition, the following COVID-related safety measures remain in place across the system:
- Face coverings remain mandatory on the TTC. Persons who require a mask in a subway station can get a disposable mask from a Customer Service Agent, Collector or Fare Inspector.
- The TTC is continuing enhanced cleaning and disinfection of all public places and vehicles with a focus on touch and grab points, such as buttons, railings, handles and straps. Hand sanitizer is also available at the main entrance of all subway stations.
- Seats on buses, streetcars and subways have been blocked off, reminding customers to continue practice physical distancing, when possible.
- To help with avoiding busy buses, customers can use the RocketMan or Transit apps to view bus occupancy levels in real-time.
- The TTC has made it mandatory for all its employees, contractors and students to be fully vaccinated by October 30.

The TTC reminds students and parents of the following:
Children 12 and under ride the TTC for free. All other students can pay their TTC fare using several methods of payment, including:
PRESTO single fares
- $2.25 for youth 13-19
PRESTO Monthly Pass
- $128.15 for youth 13-19
CASH
- $2.30 for youth 13-19
- $3.25 for post-secondary students

Students and parents are reminded that PRESTO cards are set to deduct an adult fare. If a youth fare is required, the PRESTO card, along with government-issued identification, should be taken to a Shoppers Drug Mart store or to the TTC Customer Service Centre, above Davisville Station, to change the setting.

Post-secondary students enrolled full-time at a recognized institution in Toronto are eligible for a discounted monthly pass on PRESTO. They will be required to have a TTC post-secondary student photo ID in order to set their PRESTO fare type, purchase, and use their post-secondary monthly pass on PRESTO. The TTC Post-Secondary Photo ID can only be obtained at the TTC Photo ID Office at Bathurst Station. The post-secondary fare type can be set at any Shoppers Drug Mart location or at the TTC Customer Service Centre above Davisville Station.

While the TTC continues to see record-low ridership due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, ridership analysis indicates an increase in customers over the last several weeks. Currently, customer boardings across the system are at roughly 40 per cent of pre-pandemic levels with bus boardings at 48 per cent, streetcar boardings at 38 per cent and subway boardings at 32 per cent, respectively.

Finally, the TTC would like to remind everyone about some important safety tips as the school year begins:
- Drivers: As the streets, sidewalks and crosswalks get busier for back-to-school, please be extra vigilant while commuting. Please yield the right-of-way to TTC vehicles and make sure to slow down to allow buses to re-enter traffic after servicing stops.
- Pedestrians: Please don't run alongside or in front of a bus or streetcar. It's always safer to wait for the next vehicle, which will be along soon.
- Cyclists: Sometimes streetcar tracks can be slippery. When cycling near streetcar rails, be aware of the track conditions and always cross streetcar tracks at an angle to avoid tires getting caught.
- Subway riders: Always stand behind the yellow line on the platform when waiting for a subway train. Never descend to track level for any reason. If you drop something, such as your cell phone, leave it and tell a TTC uniformed employee who will make arrangements to retrieve it.
- Streetcar riders: Be sure to check to make certain that traffic has stopped before exiting a streetcar.
- Bus/streetcar riders: When on board, always be sure to stand behind the white line at the front of the vehicle and stand clear of the doors.
- Backpacks: Customers are asked to be mindful of those around them when wearing large backpacks as they can pose a safety risk.

Customers looking for more information about the TTC's back-to-school plans are encouraged to visit https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ttc.ca%2FRiding_the_TTC%2FPoints_of_interest%2Fback_to_school.jsp&data=04%7C01%7C%7C3d6bce285f804884e4c008d96bd8aea8%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637659400643444475%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=beNzxCSYQCSTfiMHDYjKqYx8PMSkST6ZM0U93x%2BvMu4%3D&reserved=0.

 

[Allandale25]

Request for Proposal		Call number:	Doc2092511351
Commodity:	Goods and Services, Transportation Services and Rentals
Description:	Automated Transit Shuttle Trial Service The City of Toronto is seeking a qualified Vendor to supply a automated transit shuttle service using a vehicle that operates with a High Degree of Automation for a limited-term trial in the City of Toronto. The project is jointly delivered by the City of Toronto Transportation Services Division in partnership with the Toronto Transit Commission (“TTC”) and Metrolinx.
Issue date:	November 14, 2019		Closing date:	December 6, 2019 at 12:00 Noon
Notes:	Attachment Doc2092511351 NOIP.pdf (217 Kbytes) - Posted on 11/14/2019 11:32:58 AM

Received via email.

Residents in West Rouge will soon start to see a new vehicle on the road. Starting in September, the West Rouge Automated Shuttle begins mapping and testing to verify its route. This temporary shuttle trial is a joint project of the City of Toronto, TTC, and Metrolinx. Its purpose is to better understand how automated vehicles interact with regular traffic, and how small automated vehicles might be used to fill gaps in the existing transit system. We aim to demonstrate the future opportunity for safe, green, accessible and convenient transit technology to support neighbourhood needs.

ABOUT THE VEHICLE
- Electrically powered & fully accessible
- Driven by on-board computers but a human attendant always available to take over
- Low-speed: Drives no faster than 20 km/hr in automated mode
- About the size of a large van, carries up to 8 passengers

WHAT TO EXPECT
- Summer 2021: New shuttle stops and signage installed.
- September 2021: Shuttle to begin learning the route with a human driver, followed by testing and validation of automated driving on this route.
- November 2021: Free passenger service starts. The shuttle will meet the GO Trains for 3 hours in the morning and 3 hours each afternoon. On weekdays it will follow a neighbourhood route. Weekend service focuses on the Rouge National Urban Park and the West Rouge Community Centre. The shuttle will also be seen on residential streets outside the designated route as it travels to and from its storage location.
- To protect public health, passengers must book a ride at toronto.ca/avshuttle
- Winter 2021/22: Service will continue while weather permits until February 28, 2022.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Pre-Launch Survey: Understanding public opinions is an important part of this trial project. Please go online and complete our pre-launch survey to let us know what you think about this trial local transit service so far.

Virtual Public Meeting: Tuesday, September 14, 2021, 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Presentation and Question & Answer Period. Register to attend at: toronto.ca/avshuttle

CONTACT:
Jennifer Niece
Sr. Project Manager, City of Toronto
Telephone: 416-397-9710
Email: automatedvehicles@toronto.ca