darwink
Senior Member
I don't think a facility is really necessary. at most, a loading track to put streetcars onto a flatbed is needed, whether with lifts or a ramp.
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Calgary Transit Fantasy Maps
- Thread starter Silence&Motion
- Start date
Urban_Views
New Member
Is that a common method for maintenance in more urban contexts? I would think that would be a lot of effort to put a train on a truck.
darwink
Senior Member
It is a bit of effort. Trains just don't require much maintenance. A tail track is all you really need (might be different math in a cold climate, wanting to wash salt off each day)
Portland did it before the system expanded in 2012 and then scale made sense versus transferring via truck. Source: remembering a picture on an article talking about how it is good to do things cheaply.
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whatchyyc
Active Member
you could build an MSF somewhere near MRU, and once/if they build the Westbrook to MRU streetcar they can just use the same system and interoperate
whatchyyc
Active Member
Urban_Views
New Member
Could you share what plan that image is from? I'd be curious to see any detailed analysis completed for it.
Interesting that the city's version has a loop at Stampe Station.
Interesting that the city's version has a loop at Stampe Station.
darwink
Senior Member
Urban_Views
New Member
Amazing, thank you! Down to the meeting minutes and everything!
ByeByeBaby
Active Member
Trains need maintenance every single night. Cleaning and inspection is light maintenance, but it is still maintenance and I can't imagine people would be thrilled if every single night at 3AM a cleaning crew was hosing down a train outside their window while lights bright enough for inspectors were being shone on the train. Not to mention minor repairs and preventative maintenance that happen on a fairly frequent basis (as well as an irregular one -- vandalized seats need to be fixed, for instance.) The Ottawa LRT contract calls for a deep cleaning and maintenance check every 21 days, for instance. And the two options for this are either all the work is done between midnight and 5 AM, or there is a place to park a train out of the way so it can be worked on -- in which case, put a building around it.
Portland's streetcars did get heavy maintenance in their existing LRT facility before the 2012 maintenance facility was built; they could be driven there directly on MAX tracks (although it was a pain to do it in the middle of the night). They also had a 7800 sq ft maintenance facility from when the line opened, per Wikipedia. You can even see a streetcar in it in the 2007 Streetview. The 2012 facility is larger and can handle heavier maintenance like wheel truing.
whatchyyc
Active Member
In MRU Streetcar docs a turnout to connect to the west Blue Line was explored to use existing CTrain MSF space
InfrastructureEnthusiast
Active Member
Had some free time with a proper computer again and got to mapping out a possible streetcar route I'd mentioned in another thread.
Calling this one the Lasso Line, as it's roundish, runs through stampede park, is on brand for Calgary, and brown is an unused color on the metro map!
The trains would be taken from GL (as its been upgraded to ALRT) and refitted with super capacitors so they can charge at stations with no overhead wiring needed along the route. Bus barns site can be reused as MSF location.
Could either run the easy way on 7av, or with more work along 3av at the cost of removing the hary hays building, and dealing with some tight spots near the river front.
Overall though, I think either option would be an excellent complement to the LRT network, and would help speed up the ongoing revitalization of the eastern core.
Calling this one the Lasso Line, as it's roundish, runs through stampede park, is on brand for Calgary, and brown is an unused color on the metro map!
The trains would be taken from GL (as its been upgraded to ALRT) and refitted with super capacitors so they can charge at stations with no overhead wiring needed along the route. Bus barns site can be reused as MSF location.
Could either run the easy way on 7av, or with more work along 3av at the cost of removing the hary hays building, and dealing with some tight spots near the river front.
Overall though, I think either option would be an excellent complement to the LRT network, and would help speed up the ongoing revitalization of the eastern core.
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lemongrab
Active Member
I like the notion, but I'd shrink it a bit and skirt Stampede (not sure how else it would work in 10 day). 1 way clockwise bus loop. Dots not on corners are stops (most already existing), for 10 9 total over 6 kms. The left turn is a 1-way to 1-way - you'd have to move that stop two blocks east from where I have it and kill the Studio Bell stop. Upgrades 6 Ave to proper BRT lanes/stops.
And then in the long run I'd look at using 9 Ave and 4 Ave for another loop that goes all the way to West Village
And then in the long run I'd look at using 9 Ave and 4 Ave for another loop that goes all the way to West Village
InfrastructureEnthusiast
Active Member
Just add padded cowcatchers to the trams for stampede!
Obviously it would be up to stampede to decide whether working around an active tramline during the big party is worth the draw into the park it could bring for the rest of the year.
But with the general routing going right by where the saddledome will soon not be, it'd be the right time to plan for something like this. Ditto for the 11sw and 6se underpasses.
I do like the dual loop idea though, will ponder that..
jhappy77
Active Member
I'd prefer any new transit infrastructure added downtown be something that connects it to other areas, instead of being a local-only circulator. 7 Ave is already sufficient as an E-W connector in the north side of downtown, and Red + Green line will be sufficient for N/S trips in the east side of downtown - the missing pieces are a N/S connection on the west side and an E/W connection in the south.
If we're building those, might as well tie them in to projects that serve more regions, like something that roughly follows Max Yellow to Marda Loop & MRU, or a 17 Ave connection to Westbrook
If we're building those, might as well tie them in to projects that serve more regions, like something that roughly follows Max Yellow to Marda Loop & MRU, or a 17 Ave connection to Westbrook
InfrastructureEnthusiast
Active Member
I'd posted that in another thread a while back. It'd be great to get a line down to MRU, but I think it's too big of a route for a streetcar and should get ALRT service instead.
Lasso line isn't intended as a commuter transit service, but rather a way of shrinking the core for locals and visitors. It provides links to all other LRT lines, improved access to the eau clair, Chinatown and east village neighborhoods, along with riverfront park access in two spots.
Also supports the development of 11sw into a high street, could even make it carless and only have streetcar, bike lanes and huge sidewalks.
It's also the only scenario where I'd support streetcar use, and only if the route was done wirelessly.
As this is a fantasy thread, its also intended as a way of reusing the low floor cars bought for green line, as bold new political leadership in the city has realized that looking to the smartest city in the county for inspiration on transportation projects is wiser than mimicking a project from city #15, and has decided to upgrade the green line to skytrain spec.
