Rebranding of TTC Rocket Buses idea

[Leo_Chan]

Where the stops are on the same side, it seems to be done to reduce the impact on car traffic. Allstate Parkway is a good example - there's a lot of cars turning right to go from Allstate Parkway to Highway 404, so they seem to have put the bus stops on the east side so there would be fewer pedestrians crossing on the west side and getting in the way of right-turning traffic.

So having the stations right in front of one another is to reduce separated pedestrian traffic, provide better environmental protection, and being more uniform. However, it looks worse IMO and takes up more space.

 

[W. K. Lis]

The reason for far side stops, from this link:

Far-Side Bus Stops

Far-side bus stops are located immediately after an intersection, allowing the vehicle to pass through the intersection before stopping for passenger loading and unloading. When the bus reenters the traffic stream, the upstream signal regularly generates gaps in traffic allowing buses to reenter the traffic lane. Far-side stops require shorter deceleration distances and provide for additional right turn capacity by eliminating bus blockage within the curb lane on the approach to the intersection. Additionally, the location of the stop encourages pedestrians to cross behind the bus. For these safety and capacity benefits, far-side stops are preferred by IDOT (Bureau of Local Roads & Streets Manual, Special Design Elements, IDOT, pg. 41-4(1), 2006) and Pace if traffic signal and geometry conditions are favorable.

 

[reaperexpress]

"Transit signal priority", deliberately in quotes, means something different to the transportation departments (traffic signals, roads) than to the transit user. The transportation department looks at the number of "motor vehicles" not the number of people inside the said vehicles. They see three or four motor vehicles occupied by a single occupant (the driver) as "3" or "4", and sees the bus (or streetcar) as "1", instead of the 20 - 100+ people inside the said transit vehicle. So those "3" or "4" vehicles making a left turn go first at intersections.

That's a bold unjustified claim. And one that you continue to make despite evidence to the contrary. There are plenty of issues facing traffic signal operations to be sure, but characterizing the issue as "they only think about cars" is ignorant and oversimplified to the point of being insulting.

For a glimpse at the actual objectives of the traffic signals operations group, you should check out the City's traffic signal operation policy (enormous PDF here). Notice on page 1:

1.3. Guiding Principles
The Policies and Strategies are driven by the following guiding principles:
 To ensure safety of all users of the road
 To encourage person throughput
 To encourage walking
 To minimize person delay
 To encourage transit usage
 To encourage cycling

So on the very first page of the document, it specifically says that the metric for delay is person-delay, not vehicle-delay. Furthermore, not even a single one of 6 principles even mentions cars.

 

[amnesiajune]

So having the stations right in front of one another is to reduce separated pedestrian traffic, provide better environmental protection, and being more uniform. However, it looks worse IMO and takes up more space.

"Looks worse" isn't a huge deal compared to the traffic problems it would cause in the afternoon rush hour (when there's lots of westbound passengers), and space isn't really a constraint in York Region's industrial zones.

 

[Leo_Chan]

"Looks worse" isn't a huge deal compared to the traffic problems it would cause in the afternoon rush hour (when there's lots of westbound passengers), and space isn't really a constraint in York Region's industrial zones.

But that's their reason for the stations being separated, is "lack of space". Probably didn't want to buy a lot of land.

 

[11th]

The 192 is a good candidate for further makeover, and could be a good place for artics. The current baggage racks are insufficient, and the loads are solid 7 days a week. A bigger bus would be an improvement. Although not premium fare, it is a route that would benefit from a bit of upscaling.

The wraps are not a very distinctive or appealing visual enhancement, IMHO. Lots of room to improve.

- Paul

With very limited amount of stops along the route, maybe one of those new lower height double-deckers GO's using can do the job better.