Transpo Pulls Buses From Regular Routes For R1
This is an emailed answer to a question posed by The Bulldog. The inquiry concerned where the R1 buses were obtained to replace the shuttered light-rail Confederation Line:
The Transit Operations Control Centre monitors the transit network in real time and balances resources to minimize impacts of disruptions and deliver the best possible experience to our customers. The decision to not deliver a trip is based on the possible impact to customers, for example trips with high frequency are more likely to have trips that are not delivered than school routes, first and last trips on a route, and on less frequent routes.
Staff are closely monitoring the performance of R1 bus replacement service and is adding capacity where possible while balancing the resource impacts across our system. As of Thursday, 36 buses are running during peak periods and several enhancements were made to increase the reliability of R1 and mitigate traffic issues that have been impacting bus service.
LRT: City Issues Non-Denial Denial On Bad Axles
On Tuesday, 339 trips were not delivered out of 7,725 planned trips, with 116 trips being re-allocated to R1. On Wednesday, 340 trips were not delivered out of 7,725 planned trips, with 154 trips being re-allocated to R1.
While there is variation from week to week, during the week of July 3-7, there was an average of 134 trips that were not delivered. During a regular week, the Transit Operations Control Centre works to identify supplemental resources that could be used to minimize unfiled trips. However, during R1 service all available resources are being directed to supplement R1 service.
Staff will provide an update on mitigation measures as part of our daily updates to Council and customers.”
– Attributed to Troy Charter, Director, Transit Service Delivery and Rail Operations
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Not wanting to sound like a broken record, but we don’t seem to have the money for adequate bus backup for LRT unreliability, and at the same time we are going ahead full steam on Lansdowne 2.0. And giving away tax money for CIP grants like the recent one on Trim Road.
John, are you suggesting that the powers that be at city hall are incapable of understanding the need for, let alone setting financial priorities? Based solely on the evidence so frequently provided by those same powers that be? How judgmental of you! Stand in the corner for two minutes, and wipe that smirk off your face.
Interesting that “all available resources” are deployed to operate the R1 service. Why isn’t that same zeal displayed in relation to the regular bus trips that are “not delivered”? What this means is that it’s unlikely that any regular route without a bus or driver gets covered because of the LRT’s problems.
Buses for 339 trips didn’t show up as scheduled on Tuesday but only 116 of them were diverted to serve the R1 route. That leaves 223 other trips that didn’t turn up at bus stops where people were waiting for them. How was it determined that those people were less important in the grand scheme of things than the people whose train wasn’t “delivered”? Are bus passengers second class customers for OC Transpo even though they pay the same fare as train riders?
From the comments attributed* to Troy Charter, the average daily no-shows are 134 trips based on the figures from the first week in July which he seems to be presenting as a base line. The underlying message there is that that’s normal and it’s okay. How often are train operators diverted to deal with those shortages or are train trips sacrosanct at all times? The train drivers, as I understand it, are bus operators who’ve had extra training. And if the norm is 134 bus trips unfulfilled, why was the number 223 this week, an increase of 89 trips?
The response to shortfalls on the train side of the operations was instant and comprehensive. When the number of R1 buses wasn’t deemed sufficient, they immediately dipped into their regular routes to supplement them. Where’s the similar reaction to the ongoing issue of non-appearing buses on regular routes? I’d say I’ll wait but I and many other bus riders are already doing that.
* in the old days, OC Transpo staff used to take credit for their statements. Now, however, comments are “attributed” to them. Is this so they can maintain deniability if needed? I can see it now:
“So, Troy, last week you said the O-train was red and white and this week you’re saying it’s white and red. Why the discrepancy?”
“Well, first of all, I never said the train was red and white. That particular comment was attributed to me by someone else but I didn’t actually say it. Secondly, I prefer to let people draw their own conclusions as to whether there is a train and, if there is, what colour it might be. It’s really a question of perception and, particularly for our colour-blind and other visually-impaired customers, I don’t want to be seen to be influencing how people perceive the train. OC Transpo is very proud of our record of adherence to the AODA and our accommodation of otherly-abled passengers. Let me explain the services we offer through ParaTranspo although I am a rail guy.”
See that? A perfect denial followed by a diversion! Transpo PR par excellence!