TWEAKS FOR THE LRT
Upgrades after 3M riders so far
OC Transpo recorded more than three million rides on the LRT system between the launch on Sept. 14 and last Tuesday, as the agency does more work to help people navigate the stations.
Transpo said Friday that it’s installing markings on the platforms where the train doors stop, telling people waiting to get on the train where, and where not, to stand.
There’s still a frustrating problem of eager passengers trying to get on a train as soon as it pulls into a station without letting passengers off first. The markings tell people waiting for the train to stand at the side of the doors, keeping the exit clear for passengers leaving.
New platform markings will tell passengers to spread out down the platform, rather than crowding around a couple of train doors.
Transpo is also making improvements to the peak-period passenger flow at Tunney’s Pasture Station. The agency is removing one of the doors between the station and the bus platforms and pinning open the other door. Transpo said permanent adjustments will be made once the designs are complete. New decals being installed this week will help people identify where the two LRT platforms are.
The agency is also reviewing two design options for canopies to protect customers from harsh weather in the bus area of Tunney’s Pasture.
When it comes to the train doors, Transpo said it’s working to improve their reliability and has made adjustments to the troubleshooting process for door faults. Passengers prying open and pushing doors caused them to jam two mornings in a row at the busiest times of day earlier this month.
Transpo has increased the time the train doors are open for passengers at five stations: Lyon, Parliament, Rideau, uOttawa and Hurdman. The door dwell times are automated, but according to Transpo, train operators can keep the doors open at busy stations when warranted.
Another significant morning-rush delay happened earlier this month when a train computer system shut down at Bayview Station. Transpo said it has assessed all of the on-board computers and calibrated the systems to reduce faults. The agency is testing new software and will implement the upgrades this month if the testing checks out.
Transpo intends to keep technicians available on every Confederation Line train until at least the end of December, but it would consider extending the time if necessary.
The O -Train ambassadors — the red-vested staff who are helping customers at the stations — will continue at their posts until at least December, and longer if necessary, Transpo said.
At Blair Station, Transpo has been receiving customer concerns about the reliability of the northside elevator, which wasn’t part of the LRT project. Staff are trying to find the money to replace the elevator.
Transpo also confirmed it will install straps for people to grab for stability on the trains. One criticism was that shorter people couldn’t reach the overhead horizontal bars. Alstom, which manufactures the trains, is helping with the safety requirements.
Councillors have been receiving assurances from Transpo management that staff are looking for ways to improve the bus network that connects to LRT stations.
Innes Coun. Laura Dudas said this week she intends to file an inquiry with staff at the council meeting Wednesday asking about problems with service reliability. She wants to know what it will take to get buses arriving as scheduled.
Transpo told councillors on Friday that it plans to make adjustments to routes “where we see repetitive issues or areas of major concern.” The agency has expected it would take two or three weeks after the bus network changed on Oct. 6 for customers and operations to “adjust and stabilize.” Transpo didn’t say what adjustments would be coming, but councillors are expected to have more meetings with transit staff to go over their concerns.
Meanwhile, the Rideau Transit Group continues road work associated with the LRT project.
On Saturday, between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., RTG planned to close the right lane on northbound Nicholas Street between uOttawa Station and Laurier Avenue to remove temporary concrete barriers. The work will set the stage for RTG to realign a section of median on Nicholas near the station and begin reconnecting Nicholas to Waller Street, south of Laurier. jwilling@postmedia.com twitter.com/JonathanWilling