Comments on: Vaillancourt getting greedy http://blog.fagstein.com/2007/12/11/vaillancourt-getting-greedy/ Can you think of a better name? Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:36:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Fagstein » Suburbs have too much transit clout http://blog.fagstein.com/2007/12/11/vaillancourt-getting-greedy/comment-page-1/#comment-79225 Fagstein » Suburbs have too much transit clout Thu, 28 May 2009 02:35:46 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/2007/12/11/vaillancourt-getting-greedy/#comment-79225 [...] new. The Blue line extension has been on the books for decades now in one form or another. Laval’s closed loop was suggested in 2007, Longueuil’s plan is a bit more [...] [...] new. The Blue line extension has been on the books for decades now in one form or another. Laval’s closed loop was suggested in 2007, Longueuil’s plan is a bit more [...]

]]> By: Fagstein » Longueuil dreams of more metro stations http://blog.fagstein.com/2007/12/11/vaillancourt-getting-greedy/comment-page-1/#comment-70682 Fagstein » Longueuil dreams of more metro stations Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:42:12 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/2007/12/11/vaillancourt-getting-greedy/#comment-70682 [...] territory fast-tracked before much-needed extensions into poor dense neighbourhoods in Montreal, he complains that the loop needs to be closed on the orange line with more stations on his [...] [...] territory fast-tracked before much-needed extensions into poor dense neighbourhoods in Montreal, he complains that the loop needs to be closed on the orange line with more stations on his [...]

]]> By: James Lawlor http://blog.fagstein.com/2007/12/11/vaillancourt-getting-greedy/comment-page-1/#comment-8021 James Lawlor Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:24:16 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/2007/12/11/vaillancourt-getting-greedy/#comment-8021 Thank you fagstein for recycling my previous comments: http://blog.fagstein.com/2007/11/01/better-metro-service-in-exchange-for-higher-fares/#comment-2492 The heavy use on the orange line between Jean-Talon & Berri-UQAM is exactly why the AMT is studying a Tramway for av. Du Parc (The sooner the better). Thank you fagstein for recycling my previous comments:

http://blog.fagstein.com/2007/11/01/better-metro-service-in-exchange-for-higher-fares/#comment-2492

The heavy use on the orange line between Jean-Talon & Berri-UQAM is exactly why the AMT is studying a Tramway for av. Du Parc (The sooner the better).

]]> By: DAVE ID http://blog.fagstein.com/2007/12/11/vaillancourt-getting-greedy/comment-page-1/#comment-7811 DAVE ID Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:18:40 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/2007/12/11/vaillancourt-getting-greedy/#comment-7811 Time to call Bombardier then... everything can be tweaked. Time to call Bombardier then... everything can be tweaked.

]]> By: Fagstein http://blog.fagstein.com/2007/12/11/vaillancourt-getting-greedy/comment-page-1/#comment-7810 Fagstein Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:15:15 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/2007/12/11/vaillancourt-getting-greedy/#comment-7810 There is an upper limit to how many trains they can run at rush hour, which is equal to the longest distance between two stations (about 2-2.5 minutes). Trains, as a rule, can't leave a station until the previous train has left the next one. That way they don't get stuck in the tunnel. Though there are traffic jams of this nature sometimes at rush hour (which causes the service to slow down and trains to stay longer than usual in the station), the average time between two trains is still a bit above 4 minutes, so there is a bit of extra room. The real problem is that there simply aren't enough trains to improve the service at rush hour. Almost all the trains are running, and the very few that remain are in for repairs. There is an upper limit to how many trains they can run at rush hour, which is equal to the longest distance between two stations (about 2-2.5 minutes). Trains, as a rule, can't leave a station until the previous train has left the next one. That way they don't get stuck in the tunnel.

Though there are traffic jams of this nature sometimes at rush hour (which causes the service to slow down and trains to stay longer than usual in the station), the average time between two trains is still a bit above 4 minutes, so there is a bit of extra room.

The real problem is that there simply aren't enough trains to improve the service at rush hour. Almost all the trains are running, and the very few that remain are in for repairs.

]]> By: Josh http://blog.fagstein.com/2007/12/11/vaillancourt-getting-greedy/comment-page-1/#comment-7800 Josh Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:54:01 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/2007/12/11/vaillancourt-getting-greedy/#comment-7800 Blork, They announced at the end of November that service would soon be improving - this happened at the same time that they announced the fare increase. And what they said was that service in the metro would be increased *around* rush hour, but not actually *during* rush hour. I just figured that was because maybe the metro was already at capacity during rush hour. Like, maybe they just cannot run anymore trains logistically. Steve or anyone else know if that's the case? Blork,
They announced at the end of November that service would soon be improving - this happened at the same time that they announced the fare increase. And what they said was that service in the metro would be increased *around* rush hour, but not actually *during* rush hour.

I just figured that was because maybe the metro was already at capacity during rush hour. Like, maybe they just cannot run anymore trains logistically.

Steve or anyone else know if that's the case?

]]> By: Marc http://blog.fagstein.com/2007/12/11/vaillancourt-getting-greedy/comment-page-1/#comment-7795 Marc Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:26:09 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/2007/12/11/vaillancourt-getting-greedy/#comment-7795 The blue line tunnel actually extends past Snowdon into Hampstead. A map from the mid 70s shows the planned blue line ending at Ville St Pierre. I doubt that will ever be revived but a good plan might be to extend the green line past Angrignon at least to the airport. It's a travesty that this city's unique metro doesn't serve its airport. But, alas, that too would cost a gazillion dollars plus there's no political motivation to do it. Those ridings are guaranteed votes in the bag for the PLQ, metro or no metro. The blue line tunnel actually extends past Snowdon into Hampstead. A map from the mid 70s shows the planned blue line ending at Ville St Pierre. I doubt that will ever be revived but a good plan might be to extend the green line past Angrignon at least to the airport. It's a travesty that this city's unique metro doesn't serve its airport. But, alas, that too would cost a gazillion dollars plus there's no political motivation to do it. Those ridings are guaranteed votes in the bag for the PLQ, metro or no metro.

]]> By: blork http://blog.fagstein.com/2007/12/11/vaillancourt-getting-greedy/comment-page-1/#comment-7784 blork Tue, 11 Dec 2007 18:39:31 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/2007/12/11/vaillancourt-getting-greedy/#comment-7784 Anything that encourages public transport is a good idea, but it involves more than just adding stations. They need to add more trains too. As it stands, Berri-UQAM and Lionel Groulx are jammed like crazy during rush hours. It's really uncomfortable, and it's not uncommon to stand on the platform and let one or two trains go by before you can squeeze onto one. If you just feed more people into an already crowded system you get even more crowding. The trains need to come more frequently, expecially during rush hours (roughtly 7:00-9:30am and 4:00-6:30pm). Regarding the loop on the orange line, I was skeptical at first, but the more I think about it, the more I like it. For one thing, it means that the people going from downtown to Laval will not all pile onto the east side of the line - some will go on the west side, which dilutes the crowding a bit. What we really need (but I suspect will never happen) is a whole new line. There's already a tunnel under Mont Royal; why not run a line through an expanded tunnel that intersects with the green line (at Guy-Concordia or McGill, or whatever is closest) and the orang line (Baventure? Lucien L'Allier?), and continues through to the Cité Multimedia? It would take a huge pressure off the green line, and it would provide much-needed service to all those programmers down on Wellington who are not very well served. Oh yeah. it would cost a kajillion dollars. Whoops. Anything that encourages public transport is a good idea, but it involves more than just adding stations. They need to add more trains too. As it stands, Berri-UQAM and Lionel Groulx are jammed like crazy during rush hours. It's really uncomfortable, and it's not uncommon to stand on the platform and let one or two trains go by before you can squeeze onto one.

If you just feed more people into an already crowded system you get even more crowding. The trains need to come more frequently, expecially during rush hours (roughtly 7:00-9:30am and 4:00-6:30pm).

Regarding the loop on the orange line, I was skeptical at first, but the more I think about it, the more I like it. For one thing, it means that the people going from downtown to Laval will not all pile onto the east side of the line - some will go on the west side, which dilutes the crowding a bit.

What we really need (but I suspect will never happen) is a whole new line. There's already a tunnel under Mont Royal; why not run a line through an expanded tunnel that intersects with the green line (at Guy-Concordia or McGill, or whatever is closest) and the orang line (Baventure? Lucien L'Allier?), and continues through to the Cité Multimedia? It would take a huge pressure off the green line, and it would provide much-needed service to all those programmers down on Wellington who are not very well served.

Oh yeah. it would cost a kajillion dollars. Whoops.

]]> By: DAVE ID http://blog.fagstein.com/2007/12/11/vaillancourt-getting-greedy/comment-page-1/#comment-7780 DAVE ID Tue, 11 Dec 2007 18:07:38 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/2007/12/11/vaillancourt-getting-greedy/#comment-7780 Want to get the 450squatters to stop using theirs cars to pollute (Montreal) put toll booths at every bridge and make them pay 2 bucks for every entry. Oh Yeah! Car Population control through taxation and finally we can inflate Montreal's chest and pour some money into fixing our old-and-busted infrastructure. About time the 450 started paying for what they are using. No free lunches. Want to get the 450squatters to stop using theirs cars to pollute (Montreal) put toll booths at every bridge and make them pay 2 bucks for every entry. Oh Yeah! Car Population control through taxation and finally we can inflate Montreal's chest and pour some money into fixing our old-and-busted infrastructure. About time the 450 started paying for what they are using. No free lunches.

]]> By: Fagstein http://blog.fagstein.com/2007/12/11/vaillancourt-getting-greedy/comment-page-1/#comment-7711 Fagstein Tue, 11 Dec 2007 08:00:17 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/2007/12/11/vaillancourt-getting-greedy/#comment-7711 Half the trains still stop at Henri-Bourassa. They don't really have a choice, since that's where the garage is. There's not enough time between trains during the peak of rush hour to have them dead-head between Henri-Bourassa and Montmorency all the time. However, they have played with the ends of rush hour a bit and are sending a couple more trains to Montmorency than they had originally anticipated. Half the trains still stop at Henri-Bourassa. They don't really have a choice, since that's where the garage is. There's not enough time between trains during the peak of rush hour to have them dead-head between Henri-Bourassa and Montmorency all the time.

However, they have played with the ends of rush hour a bit and are sending a couple more trains to Montmorency than they had originally anticipated.

]]> By: Kate M. http://blog.fagstein.com/2007/12/11/vaillancourt-getting-greedy/comment-page-1/#comment-7710 Kate M. Tue, 11 Dec 2007 07:58:03 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/2007/12/11/vaillancourt-getting-greedy/#comment-7710 This isn't the article I wanted, but it's a <a href="http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20071128/CPOPINIONS03/711280723" rel="nofollow">commentary on it</a>. This isn't the article I wanted, but it's a commentary on it.

]]> By: Kate M. http://blog.fagstein.com/2007/12/11/vaillancourt-getting-greedy/comment-page-1/#comment-7709 Kate M. Tue, 11 Dec 2007 07:56:11 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/2007/12/11/vaillancourt-getting-greedy/#comment-7709 Actually, the metro is massively popular in Laval, especially at rush hours. There was a piece about this recently in La Presse but the link's gone dead. They originally ran every second train up to Montmorency, but at rush hour now I think they all go there. It would be good to see the metro extended in various directions. But extending it to the suburbs is a really great idea. Eventually this entire agglomeration will be one city, and being able to travel by metro from Laval to Longueuil will be one of the factors that brings it all together. Look at London - it was transit that knitted it together early in the 20th century. I think Vaillancourt's a little too enamoured of the loop idea, though. There's no reason the two ends of the orange line need to meet. Anyway, saying Laval should use its "own" money is a bit naive. It's going to be Quebec money whenever the metro gets extended again. Unfortunately, the stations will always be placed wherever the party in power thinks more potential voters live, not where they're strictly most needed. Actually, the metro is massively popular in Laval, especially at rush hours. There was a piece about this recently in La Presse but the link's gone dead. They originally ran every second train up to Montmorency, but at rush hour now I think they all go there.

It would be good to see the metro extended in various directions. But extending it to the suburbs is a really great idea. Eventually this entire agglomeration will be one city, and being able to travel by metro from Laval to Longueuil will be one of the factors that brings it all together. Look at London - it was transit that knitted it together early in the 20th century.

I think Vaillancourt's a little too enamoured of the loop idea, though. There's no reason the two ends of the orange line need to meet.

Anyway, saying Laval should use its "own" money is a bit naive. It's going to be Quebec money whenever the metro gets extended again. Unfortunately, the stations will always be placed wherever the party in power thinks more potential voters live, not where they're strictly most needed.

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