It's funny since the Toronto Transit site is known for providing system updates to the general public far in advance and on a more frequent and detailed basis than the TTC itself. They've also had an email newsletter service for some time already so a lot of what the TTC is rolling out is nothing knew, if not less than groundbreaking.

It's true that the mobility capability may add some value to this, but I only see this being the case if the updates are tied directly to the service levels of surface routes which have some of the most inconsistent arrival times due to road traffic and construction. It would be interesting if the TTC also provided their vehicle tracking GPS data online as well to offer even greater value that the e-alerts could tap into.

As many of you have already said, the wait intervals between subways is practically negligible to make such a service effective. There are talks about the subway potentially running on a 24 hr basis like 10 years from now (after the track switching upgrades are complete), so when that happens I can see platform train arrival times being more useful especially since most of the trains probably won't run less than 30 minutes apart during overnight hours. But none of this is even possible to begin with unless mobile network service is made available underground.

TTC complaints were actually up by 13% in 2008 while compliments were down by 6%.

quote:

Originally posted by Intangible "OH SHIT I THINK I CAN MAKE IT GOTTA RUN!"

Then you become one of those douches who tries to plow their way down the stairs or escalator, and sticks there arm in the door only to prompt the Subway Operator to call you out for being a douche.

I signed up for this and haven't received a thing.
There is no way the TTC has operated for the last 4 hours since I signed up without a single disruption. It's statistically impossible.

quote:

Originally posted by Skipper I signed up for this and haven't received a thing. There is no way the TTC has operated for the last 4 hours since I signed up without a single disruption. It's statistically impossible.

I had 2 major issues in 25 minutes yesterday !

quote:

Originally posted by Skipper I signed up for this and haven't received a thing. There is no way the TTC has operated for the last 4 hours since I signed up without a single disruption. It's statistically impossible.

I'm sure they will only send out alerts if the hold up is greater than a specified time frame. Plus, it is only for the subways, so it is totally possible right now.

Considering I have been sitting on a train for 20 minutes without an update, I doubt they will send alerts for small infractions.

This is just another avenue for the TTC to not use to inform their riders.

Do the alerts tell you whose body had to be removed from the track?

"It's taken the TTC a long time to catch up to the modern world, but they arrived there on Wednesday."

LOL

quote:

TTC Introduces Emailed Updates On Subway And RT Delays Wednesday January 14, 2009 CityNews.ca Staff It's taken the TTC a long time to catch up to the modern world, but they arrived there on Wednesday. The transit system officially introduced a system that will allow you to be updated about service delays via email, simply by subscribing to their service. Red Rocket officials announced the plan months ago, but it's taken all this time to get it implemented. If the delay is over 15 minutes, a notice will be sent out to let you know about the problem and hopefully keep you from going to a subway or RT station until it's cleared, or allow you to take a different route to bypass the outage. TTC Chair Adam Giambrone confirms the decision on when to send - and when not to - will be made by experienced staffers. So a temporary back-up of a few minutes won't be noted. But a longer problem will. Officials expect the system will eventually be able to accommodate all bus and streetcar routes, and it will one day be programmable so you'll only get information about your specific route. The TTC already posts service disruptions on its website, and while that's useful if you're at work or at home, it doesn't do you a lot of good when you need it the most - when you're in transit. Ironically, the one place it won't be able to reach you is when you're actually underground because the signals can't get to you there. But announcements on any stoppages are made at the stations and on the trains themselves. The service is free and requires a one-time sign up. Click here to start receiving them.

source:
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_31005.aspx

TTC doesnt have trains . Do they?

I'm still in shock they have a computer

My job...the alerts do nothing!

quote:

GO trades blames as freezing commuters fume Trouble-plagued GO Transit tried to blame Canadian National Railway Co. yesterday after thousands of commuters faced a morning of cancelled trains and delays of up to almost an hour. But the commuter service later recanted and said the problem was its own. Yesterday's blame game was sure to aggravate fed-up GO train passengers, who have complained loudly about the province's commuter train service, widely seen to have deteriorated in recent years. Requests for an interview with Gary McNeil, the managing director of GO Transit, to clarify why GO Transit told media outlets all day that CN was to blame for the delays were turned down. The two railway organizations have a history of bickering, as CN owns much of the track on which GO runs its trains and also operates much of GO's signal system. Yesterday, many of GO's commuters were left fuming - and freezing - on outdoor platforms before being packed into late trains. Go said seven trains were cancelled and 53 were delayed. All morning in its e-mail alert service for commuters, GO Transit blamed the chaos, which began on its Lakeshore East line but spread to the Lakeshore West line as well, on "CN signal problems east of Pickering." Yesterday afternoon, GO spokeswoman Vanessa Thomas initially said CN had discovered a signal problem on GO's tracks overnight, but failed to notify GO in time. But in an interview, CN spokesman Frank Binder said CN's rail control centre found a faulty switch on a stretch of the Lakeshore East line and told GO Transit at 2:30 a.m. - 2� hours before its first morning train ran into delays. GO Transit, he said, is responsible for maintaining this stretch of track itself. "As far as what happened with GO, you might want to call them back," Mr. Binder said in an interview. Late yesterday, GO officials acknowledged that GO had got its facts wrong, agreeing that CN had notified GO of the problem at 2:30 a.m. However, GO said it was investigating why it could not get one of its maintenance crews to the signal in time, meaning repairs had to be done during rush hour. This slowed trains and causing a ripple effect of delays on the Lakeshore West line as well. (Trains on the Milton, Georgetown and Stouffville lines also experienced winter-related delays.) http://www.theglobeandmail.com/serv....20090115.wgo15

Transit is a fuckin mess in the GTA. With the user base, population and level of interest you would think we would have an efficient system by now. After a 120 years of train service in this country, why can't they figure out how to make switches that work in the winter? Do Russia, Germany, Sweden have this problem? I'm thinking not.

I guess this is why shit just does not get done:

quote:

Battle brews over 'shovel ready' projects With an eye to the imminent federal budget, Toronto business and civic leaders are set today to name $4.8-billion in "shovel-ready" projects that would stimulate the flagging local economy. But a politically tinged disagreement is unfolding behind the scenes on how the money should flow. The Toronto Board of Trade, which prepared the list along with the Toronto City Summit Alliance, argues that federal money should flow through the province's regional transportation authority, Metrolinx. The board is a big proponent of giving more clout to the fledgling agency, established in 2007. But Toronto Mayor David Miller (who sits on the Metrolinx board) said any federal dollars should flow to the city as the "elected government." Mr. Miller and other area politicians resist any move they see as duplicating the work of local transit agencies. Toronto City Summit Alliance chairman David Pecaut said it doesn't matter which agency receives the money, so long as the dollars flow fast. Metrolinx chairman Rob MacIsaac said "flowing the money through the province or Metrolinx will ensure that the priorities under our plan are observed and allow us to apply a uniformity of treatment across the region." He added, "we have no intention of being project managers," but said the agency wants to make sure that any of its projects serve the goal of better service and fare integration across municipal boundaries. The political tension between the board and the city is the one chink in an otherwise united front among local leaders in advance of federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's Jan. 27 budget, which is expected to release federal funds for infrastructure as a weapon to fight the economic downturn. Four transit projects valued at $4.8-billion - three in Toronto and one in York Region - sit atop the list being released today of more than 100 municipal infrastructure investments that the board and the summit alliance say could be accelerated this year with an infusion of federal dollars. The two groups also back Mr. Miller's request for $75-million from Ottawa toward a major renewal of Union Station. The mayor has no dispute with the Toronto transit projects named by the two groups, but makes clear that the city's "No. 1 ask," laid out in a letter sent last week to Mr. Flaherty, is $368-million in federal funds over the next five years toward the replacement of 204 streetcars. The Toronto Transit Commission also hopes for $2-billion in federal help to pay for new vehicles and facilities tied to the Transit City plan to extend light-rail routes. The behind-the-scenes rift over Metrolinx is part of a simmering dispute over powers for the regional body. Board of Trade president Carol Wilding said that flowing federal funds through Metrolinx would speed the agency's transition from planning to reality. "We said we needed a regional body with a regional solution," she said. "Funding through municipalities and not through regions is just reinforcing an old way of thinking and working." But Mr. Miller, who is to join other mayors in Ottawa today to press for federal infrastructure aid, said "the city should be the first place they [federal officials] go. We are the elected government, we are not a provincial agency." He said Toronto already has a direct relationship with the federal government, ever since Ottawa agreed in 2005 to share its gas tax revenues with cities. Over the past three years, the city has received $162.8-million in federal gas tax funds that have helped pay for 577 buses and 260 subway cars. The city, the board of trade and the summit alliance are of one voice in urging Ottawa to allocate new transit funds through the gas tax, with a formula that combines population and ridership numbers in a way that would benefit Toronto. ***** Infrastructure fab four Four transit projects get top billing from the Toronto Board of Trade and the Toronto City Summit Alliance as "shovel-ready" investments worthy of federal budget: Sheppard Avenue East light rail line, the first project in Toronto's Transit City plan. Cost: $1-billion, with $333-million from Ottawa. Finch West light rail line, also part of Transit City. Cost: $1-billion, with $333-million from Ottawa. Scarborough RT line replacement and extension, also part of Transit City. Cost: $1.4-billion, with $463-million from Ottawa. New dedicated bus lanes on Highway 7 and Yonge Street for York Region's VIVA bus service. But there is disagreement elsewhere over the meaning of "shovel-ready." Metrolinx chairman Rob MacIsaac says his agency counts only the Sheppard line and York's VIVA improvements as ready-to-go for 2009, with the other two in a "holding pen" awaiting a green light. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/serv...115.wspending15

lol. why start this for the subway. you don't even have signal underground.

they should have started with the streetcars.

the awesome board at spadina station is the best!

or they should have that for the trains.

quote:

Originally posted by StereoPrincess lol. why start this for the subway. you don't even have signal underground. they should have started with the streetcars. the awesome board at spadina station is the best! or they should have that for the trains.

They did it so they can announce something without actually doing anything. 'Look we are upgrading services, and making transit easier for you'. When most people have already come to realise its a useless service for the subway, for many reasons.

another use for twitter.

http://twitter.com/ttcupdates/

so who got their alerts that power is out from jane to St. George?

FUCK.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeyN so who got their alerts that power is out from jane to St. George? FUCK.

the first alert came in sometime last nite:

quote:

A section of the Bloor-Danforth Subway service is currently shut down from St. George Station to Islington Station. Shuttle buses are in service. Last updated Jan 16, 2009 12:06 AM Sent: 1/16/09 12:06 AM

quote:

Originally posted by Orko My job...the alerts do nothing! Transit is a fuckin mess in the GTA. With the user base, population and level of interest you would think we would have an efficient system by now. After a 120 years of train service in this country, why can't they figure out how to make switches that work in the winter? Do Russia, Germany, Sweden have this problem? I'm thinking not.

what's funny is that this infighting, and lack of co-operation among all levels of government has existed for years. the problem is that without independent oversight that has clout, just about nothing will ever get done. they formed Metrolinx in an effort to combat this, and yet infighting still exists, not to mention David Miller himself adding to all the fuss.

ultimately, it's us voters who are to blame. we elect these clowns and either support/oppose their decisions. if transit was as serious an issue as we all think it is, it would be a major election issue enough so that it could make or break the outcome. i think we all need to do our part by continually writing and speaking to our elected officials to make them understand how serious an issue this is. enough people use public transit within the GTA to make this a major political issue, but i honestly don't think they do. we'll all be quick to complain, but won't actually do anything about it (myself included).

oh yeah and without sustainable funding nothing will ever happen. $5 billion here and there every time there's a possibility that a government is in threat of collapse or an election looming isn't the right way to fund transit.

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