Yes I do think this is an excellent addition to rapid transit.

They didn't go cheap and just make it a bus with fewer stops but real rapid transit with it's own roadways, real stations and not just stops and they are well spaced, and it is well connected to other transit systems. This is truly a rapid Rapid Transit route. Not all systems have to create a lot of TOD. It often desirable but sometimes it makes sense to use existing corridors not only due to money saved and ease of construction but also by using it's own complete ROW it guarantees the sytsem with both fast and reliable.

Also remember this a true BRT system. BRT systems do not have to rely as heavily on TOD for ridership than do rail systems. This is because the buses can use all or just part of the BRT and then go back to a regular route. TOD is popular because it gets rid of the "last mile" problem and hence makes access to rapid transit easy but bus rapid transit doesn't have that problem. It also faster than a bus-rail system because even if the buses from your street leave at the same time the BRT will still be faster because you don't have to transfer and wait for the train but simply stay on the same bus and away you go.
 
ssiguy2 said:
Yes I do think this is an excellent addition to rapid transit.

They didn't go cheap and just make it a bus with fewer stops but real rapid transit with it's own roadways, real stations and not just stops and they are well spaced, and it is well connected to other transit systems. This is truly a rapid Rapid Transit route.
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This isn't real rapid transit. Real rapid transit means high capacity, so rail + full grade separation + high frequency.

There will be no Sunday service and no full grade separation either. They cheaped out on the City Centre section, so the busiest section will be on-street, which is the same mistake Ottawa made.

And the capacity will always be limited by the fact that it's buses. For example, Hurontario-Main LRT will have 60m long trains on day one. Bus is 18m max.

ssiguy2 said:
Not all systems have to create a lot of TOD. It often desirable but sometimes it makes sense to use existing corridors not only due to money saved and ease of construction but also by using it's own complete ROW it guarantees the sytsem with both fast and reliable.
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This BRT isn't using "existing corridors". It's using corridors that have been set aside for it. You could do the same for subway or light rail. No difference.

ssiguy2 said:
Also remember this a true BRT system. BRT systems do not have to rely as heavily on TOD for ridership than do rail systems. This is because the buses can use all or just part of the BRT and then go back to a regular route. TOD is popular because it gets rid of the "last mile" problem and hence makes access to rapid transit easy but bus rapid transit doesn't have that problem. It also faster than a bus-rail system because even if the buses from your street leave at the same time the BRT will still be faster because you don't have to transfer and wait for the train but simply stay on the same bus and away you go.
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Yeah, there is flexibility in operation, but this transitway was originally intended to connect to the Eglinton Subway Line and people transfer to subway. 109 still connects to Islington subway station. Since there's no TOD, there won't be many people walking to the stations so they will have to transfer from another bus to get onto the transitway in the first place. Either way, people will transfer.

They could reroute more local buses onto the transitway to reduce transfers, but there are already enough buses as is. Every 6 min for 107 and 109 combined, plus 21 minutes for 21. That's already 4 min 46 sec frequency, and that's before we consider future GO bus service.

I like this BRT because connection to the Airport, Malton, York U, and beyond, but it is more a regional thing, more for GO than MT. For local transit it is not as good. It will be busy, but still, it is different.
 
doady said:
This isn't real rapid transit.
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Your thesis is that Bus Rapid Transit isn't Rapid Transit?

Given that BRT velocities can be faster than the downtown Toronto subway, we should rename BRT to BFTRT - Bus Faster Than Rapid Transit.
 
doady said:
Stop being such a douche. Rapid transit is a synonym for subway/metro. It's as simple as that.
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BRT is an abbreviation for Bus Rapid Transit.

There's no reason that rapid transit can't be bus. Heck, it's been exactly that in Ottawa for decades.

Also, just because you don't agree with someone (or a dictionary apparently) isn't a reason to start calling other posters names - particularly misogynistic ones.
 
Rapid transit is transit that runs rapidly; capacity is not even a part of definition.

How useful it may be without being able to support high capacity, is another matter.
 
Rapid transit is transit that runs fast whether it's buses, streetcars, monorails, EMU, DMU, heavy rail, or horse & buggy.
 
No need for some of the language and insults here. Consider this a warning, Doady and Kristopher.
 
I hate the term "Rapid Transit." I remember when YRT used the term to differeniate VIVA from the regular YRT routes.
 
JayBeeGooner said:
I hate the term "Rapid Transit." I remember when YRT used the term to differeniate VIVA from the regular YRT routes.
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in 2005 when service first launched yea, that was a stretch since they were more an express bus
but now with Hwy 7 E almost done this phrase is starting to reflect reality
 
Mississauga Transitway Phase 1 Officially Opens Monday

Nov 07, 2014

The Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport) and Member of Parliament for Bramalea-Gore-Malton; the Honourable Steven Del Duca, Ontario Minister of Transportation; Mayor Hazel McCallion and Members of Council; and Bruce McCuaig, President and CEO of Metrolinx, will officially open Phase 1 of the new Mississauga Transitway.

Date: Monday, November 10, 2014

Time: Meet and Greet at 10:45 a.m.
Official Ceremony begins at 11 a.m.
Location: Mississauga Transitway – Dixie Station
Located at the NW corner of Eastgate Parkway at Dixie Road

Direction: Enter station through the parking lot OR take MiWay to the event. Plan your route.
Parking: To access parking lot from Dixie Road, go west on Crestlawn Drive, then go south on Fewster Drive, make a left turn on Encino Street. A section will be reserved for guests.

This event marks the completion of the Mississauga Transitway – Phase 1 including Central Parkway, Cawthra, Tomken and Dixie Stations; MiWay service will begin on November 17, 2014.
 
The schedule for the Transitway, from this link, is:

Monday to Friday4:30am - 11:30pm
Saturday7:00am - 10:45 pm
SundayCLOSED
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No service Sundays and holidays. No service after 11:30 pm (M-F) or after 10:45 pm (Saturday). That's terrible, especially when the TTC has Sunday service and operates till past 1 am, in most cases.
 
I consider the lack of Sunday service as a minor issue. It will definitely kick in when the whole transitway is finished. After all, the 4-minute time advantage will definitely be reduced to nil with the light Sunday traffic.

The service span is pretty timed for those who end at 10:00 PM on a weekday shift, or those who are leaving Square One near closing time on a Satuday.

We'll all see the demand for 107 and 109 on Saturdays to determine the demand for Sunday service.
 
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