Good day everyone,
most recently, I was watching the Region of Waterloo council meeting for the approved transit improvements, although they were approved in February Regional council all they wanted was to give it the "stamp of approval". The changes for September include:
200 iXpress: new stop at Parkside Dr. and Northfield
ION aBRT: Connects Fairview Park and Ainslie St. terminal via highway 401 and Hespeler road. 10 minute peak hour service, 30 midday, evening and weekend service.
201 F-H iXpress: New stop at Fischer-Hallman / Queens to make connections with routes 1 & 2
NEW 204 Victoria-Highland iXpress: New express route that connects Ottawa/Lackner and the Boardwalk via Victoria Street, King Street, Duke Street, Frederick/Benton Street, Queen Street, Highland Road and Ira Needles Blvd to the Boardwalk. 15 minute weekday service, 30 minute evening and weekend service.
Route 1 Queen-River: a crosstown route that connects Fairview Park mall and The Boardwalk via Fairway Rd., River Rd., Krug St., Queen St., and Ira Needles. 30 minute evening and weekend service and 15 minute peak-period (Rush-hour) service.
Route 2 Forest Heights: connects downtown Kitchener and the Forest Height and Forest Hill neighbourhoods with two way service along Highland Rd., Stirling Ave. S., Greenbrook Dr., Westheights Dr., with service to Highland Hills mall via Queen Street. 30 minute service Monday to Saturday.
Route 7B via Weber: removed service from Kinzie Ave. and Thaler Dr., streamlined service to Weber St. E.
Route 8 via Franklin: Removed East Ave. extension and added service along Weber St. between Bordon Ave. and Frederick St. at all times.
Route 20 Victoria-Frederick: New service from the Boardwalk to Stanley Park Mall via Victoria St., Weber St., and Frederick St. to Stanley Park mall via the Heritage Park neighbourhood (Natchez Dr., Halifax Dr., Confederation Dr., Lorraine Ave., River Rd.). 15 Minute during peak periods, 30 minutes Midday, evening and weekends.
Route 22 Laurentian West: 60 minute Sunday service between Highland Hills Mall and Forest Glen Plaza.
Route 23 Idlewood: New service along the Fairway Rd., Zeller Drive, Oldfield Dr., Ottawa St., and Holborn Dr. neighbourhoods connecting Fairview Park and Stanley Park Mall 30 minutes Monday to Saturday.
Route 27 Chicopee: New two way service along Morgan Ave. and 30 minute evening and weekend service.
NEW Route 34 Bingemans: New route that connects downtown Kitchener and the Wellington St., Shirley Ave., Bingemans Ctr. Dr., and Centennial Rd. employment area. 30 minute peak-hour service ONLY.
I like seeing improvements within the GRT system, but there are a few things that are bothering me about September, and they are routes 22, 23, 27, 34 and the aBRT. Why did I single out these routes and not the others? Let me explain, route 22 Laurentian West is one of the busiest routes at GRT. It connects Downtown Kitchener, Forest Glen Plaza and Highland Hills via the Laurentian West and Activa neighbourhoods. Why is the new Sunday service for route 22 bothering me? It is because only half of the 22 would get Sunday service, the other half would not. The half that is getting Sunday service which is between Highland Hills and Forest Glen plaza. The other half (Forest Glen and downtown Kitchener) would not get Sunday service. In my own personal view as well as my experience riding route 22, the full routing of route 22 should get Sunday service. If only half of the route gets Sunday service, don't run the route.
Route 23 has no Sunday service. As a person that frequently uses route 23, and more than likely will become a regular on the 23 and 20, there needs to be Sunday service on the 23. Adding 6 day a week service is good, but Sunday service would be nice. I did how ever, read the report, and the planners did mention that there was no budget money for additional Sunday service, but it did sound like the 23 might get Sunday service in the future (2016-2017).
Route 27, what can I say about route 27, besides that ridership is slowly slipping on it, I honestly believe that route 52 would replace it, but the planners want to have a more of a grid system for KW and Cambridge (i.e. Toronto). So by taking the 27 off of King Street (between Fairway and River) and adding service on Morgan might help save the 27 from being on the chopping block.
Route 34, as I have road on the 15 Frederick Centennial extension (I swear I will never ride that extension again because it's busy) it will get very busy, and it is also servicing Bingemans' Park, who have been fighting for bus service for years, and finally get one, but it's peak hour only. That will make people decided walk to Victoria St. to catch the 204 iXpress, which is a very bad idea. Victoria Street is busy. My proposal is to have the Centennial section of the 34 be peak only and during the midday, evening and weekend, have it turn around within Bingemans so that people can get dropped off and come home.
The ION aBRT is going to replace the Cambridge portion of the 200 iXpress. Beginning September 2015, the 200 iXpress will only go between Conestoga Mall and Fairview Park mall and the ION aBRT would be covering the Cambridge portion. This will force people that ether transfer to the aBRT, or route 52, or take the 10 to Conestoga College and wait for route 61 at the college. This can make people have second thoughts about the ION LRT as well as seeing the bus passengers transfer rather than just stay on the one route that covers all of Kitchener, Cambridge and Waterloo.
There is some sad news, when I was walking along King Street downtown Kitchener, between Andrew Street and Victoria Street, all of the business are gone. They closed up due to LRT work, no one could get to them so what was the point, I have a feeling skyscrapers will replace the old businesses along King street so that people can live in the downtown core.
So there is what is in store for September, I do hope everyone has a great day and I will see you all again in the near future!
David Sej
Wednesday, 10 June 2015
Sunday, 24 May 2015
Entry # 26: Recent Newspaper article & Future design of other routes.
Back in April, I contacted the Waterloo Region record with respect to an opinion piece that I wrote with respect to the current GRT redesign as well as the LRT being constructed in Kitchener and Waterloo. I have included the original article that was sent in as well as the revised version.
The Original
"When looking at the future of Waterloo Region’s transportation system, the bus network is getting a revamp and a new look due to light rail being implemented in the Region. The Region believes that implementing a light rail system would increase ridership, but just for the light rail and not the bus system. Currently, the bus system has increasing ridership since 2010, but this is due to the current routes being modified into new subdivisions and not making very difficult turns. Some of these subdivisions that are looking at getting bus service in September have been growing rapidly, for example the Zeller Drive, Sims Estate Drive, Doon South, Ira Needles areas have grown rapidly. Recently, going out for a drive through the Zeller Drive neighbourhood, it has grown so rapidly houses are being built beside the Fairway Road bridge and beyond the bridge. There is a lot of potential bus service within these subdivisions, but since it has taken too long to get bus service, the majority of the people that live within these subdivisions have cars. From the view of a frequent Grand River Transit bus rider, I believe that the redesign of the transit routes should have happened before light rail.
The Original
"When looking at the future of Waterloo Region’s transportation system, the bus network is getting a revamp and a new look due to light rail being implemented in the Region. The Region believes that implementing a light rail system would increase ridership, but just for the light rail and not the bus system. Currently, the bus system has increasing ridership since 2010, but this is due to the current routes being modified into new subdivisions and not making very difficult turns. Some of these subdivisions that are looking at getting bus service in September have been growing rapidly, for example the Zeller Drive, Sims Estate Drive, Doon South, Ira Needles areas have grown rapidly. Recently, going out for a drive through the Zeller Drive neighbourhood, it has grown so rapidly houses are being built beside the Fairway Road bridge and beyond the bridge. There is a lot of potential bus service within these subdivisions, but since it has taken too long to get bus service, the majority of the people that live within these subdivisions have cars. From the view of a frequent Grand River Transit bus rider, I believe that the redesign of the transit routes should have happened before light rail.
I also believe
that light rail in the Region is still too early because of ridership numbers. In
order to provide an excellent transportation service within the region, we
should have started off with a rapid bus transit (aBRT) and modified it to
mimic the future light rail train route as well as the iXpress routes within
Waterloo, Kitchener and Cambridge to also help build up service for the future
light rail. Once the aBRT route as well as the iXpress routes have been
implemented and services the future light rail stops, that would help build
ridership for the light rail. Once the
Grand River Transit redesign has been completed and the iXpress and aBRT route
has been implemented, it could determine if Waterloo Region should have looked
at aBRT or an LRT as well as the costs to operate and maintain either the aBRT
or LRT."
The Revised version
When looking at the future of Waterloo Region's
transportation system, the bus network is getting a revamp and a new look due
to light rail being implemented in the region.
The region believes implementing a light rail system
would increase ridership, but just for the light rail and not the bus system.
Currently, the bus system has increasing ridership since
2010, but this is due to the current routes being modified into new
subdivisions and not making very difficult turns. Some of these subdivisions
that are looking at getting bus service in September have been growing rapidly,
for example the Zeller Drive, Sims Estate Drive, Doon South, and Ira Needles
areas have grown rapidly.
Recently, going out for a drive through the Zeller Drive
neighbourhood, it has grown so rapidly that houses are being built beside the
Fairway Road bridge and beyond the bridge. There is a lot of potential bus
service within these subdivisions, but since it has taken too long to get that
service, the majority of the people that live within these subdivisions have
cars.
From the viewpoint of a frequent Grand River Transit bus
rider, I believe the redesign of the transit routes should have happened before
light rail.
I also believe that light rail in the region is still too
early because of ridership numbers. In order to provide an excellent
transportation service within the region, we should have started off with bus
rapid transit and modified it to mimic the future light rail train route as well
as the iXpress routes within Waterloo, Kitchener and Cambridge to also help
build up service for the future light rail.
Once the rapid bus route as well as the iXpress routes
have been implemented and services the future light rail stops, that would help
build ridership for light rail.
Once the Grand River Transit redesign has been completed
and the iXpress and rapid bus route has been implemented, it could determine if
Waterloo Region should have looked at rapid bus transit or an LRT as well as
the costs to operate and maintain either bus rapid transit or LRT.
David Sej
Kitchener"
The amount of positive feedback from the community with respect to the article was phenomenal. Many people said it was well written, others agreed with me, and the most important question was asked "are you going to write another one?" The answer as of right now is yes, I have one underway but it probably will not get published until maybe the last week of June or later.
Now for what I believe should be the main design for future GRT routes and I will include links for all of what has been discussed.
Since many routes are looking at becoming cross-town routes like routes 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20 and 52, I believe that more runs should be modified into something like a combination of routes 5 Erb and 52 Fairview Park-Ainslie St. terminal. For example, route 23 Idlewood, have the midway point be Stanley Park mall, and then continue it to the Region of Waterloo airport then to the future Breslau GO station to provide a cross-town route. But, it does not have to be just one branch, it have have 2 branches like route 52, so have the first branch service the Sims Estate-Tremaine neighbourhood and the Lackner corridor and the second branch service the Zeller Drive, Oldfield Drive, Holborn Drive neighbourhoods along the Fairway Road corridor to Stanley Park Mall, then send it to the Airport and Bresleu GO station along the Heritage Park neighbourhood (Lorraine Ave., Confederation Drive, Halifax Drive, Natchez Drive then Victoria St, Fountain St. to the Airport, then continue it to the Breslau GO station.
That is all for today, please let me know what your own thoughts are for this idea.
Links
http://www.therecord.com/opinion-story/5607356-focus-on-buses/
http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/Rt05S.pdf
http://www.grt.ca/en/aboutus/resources/route_52_Detours.pdf - please note route 52 via Cherry Blossom is on Detour
Thursday, 16 April 2015
Entry #25 2015 School term is done, "Preferred" service Changes for Grand River Transit
Once again, the school term has come to a close, after this school year I am looking on doing something to better myself to prepare for the future career path, but that is for another blog post.
Since the school term is done (which I do not want it to be done due to my awesome new friends from class) I will miss them greatly.
Now to the "preferred"service changes for Grand River Transit
Since I have seen the final map, I am pleased to say, our planners did a great job in reviewing where new service needed to be implemented along with more crosstown routes. Listed below are the preferred changes:
Since the school term is done (which I do not want it to be done due to my awesome new friends from class) I will miss them greatly.
Now to the "preferred"service changes for Grand River Transit
Since I have seen the final map, I am pleased to say, our planners did a great job in reviewing where new service needed to be implemented along with more crosstown routes. Listed below are the preferred changes:
New 204 iXpress:
- Implement a limited-stop iXpress route through Kitchener, with service between The Boardwalk and the Ottawa Street and Lackner Boulevard intersection via the Highland Road West and Victoria Street North corridors. Service would connect residential and commercial development in east and west Kitchener to employment and future ION stations in Downtown Kitchener.
Route 1 Queen-River (Current Routes 1 Stanley Park, 17 Heritage Park and 25 Queen South):
- Modify and combine Routes 1, 17 and 25 to provide continuous travel between Fairview Park and The Boardwalk via Downtown Kitchener.
- Service would be extended along Ira Needles Boulevard to The Boardwalk, and would also travel along the Fairway Road, River Road, Krug Street, and Queen Street corridors.
- Implement a new 201 iXpress station at Fischer-Hallman Boulevard and Queen's Boulevard to allow connections between Route 1 and the 201 iXpress.
- Improve Sunday service to every 30 minutes.
Route 2 Forest Heights (Current Routes 2 Forest Hill and 24 Highland):
- Combine Routes 2 and 24 to travel between Downtown and the Forest Heights neighbourhood, with two-way service on Highland Road East, Stirling Avenue South, Greenbrook Drive, and Westheights Drive.
- The combined route would travel via Queen's Boulevard and Fischer-Hallman Road to continue to serve Highland Hills Mall.
- Implement a new 201 iXpress station at Fischer-Hallman Boulevard and Queen's Boulevard to allow connections between Route 2 and the 201 iXpress.
- Provide Saturday service for the full route, every 30 minutes.
Route 7 Mainline:
- Realign the 7B branch along Weber Street East between Kinzie Avenue and Fairway Road North, to provide more direct travel between Downtown Kitchener and Fairview Park.
- Other branches would remain unchanged.
- A detour route would remain in effect until ION construction is complete.
Route 8 Franklin branch:
- Operate via Weber Street East between Borden Avenue and Frederick Street at all times, to provide more consistent and direct travel between Downtown Kitchener and Fairview Park.
Route 20 Victoria-Frederick (Current Routes 15 Frederick, 19 Victoria South, and 20 Victoria Hills):
- Modify and combine Routes 15, 19 and 20 to provide continuous travel between Stanley Park Mall and The Boardwalk via Downtown, along the Victoria Street South and Frederick Street corridors.
- Service on Victoria Street South would be extended to Ira Needles Boulevard and The Boardwalk.
- Service on Frederick Street would be modified to travel through the Heritage Park neighbourhood to Stanley Park Mall, via Lorraine Avenue and River Road.
- Improve Sunday service to every 30 minutes.
Route 22 Laurentian West:
- Provide new Sunday service from approximately 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Route 23 Idlewood:
- Extend service through the Lackner Woods neighbourhood, with service travelling between Fairview Park and Stanley Park Mall via Fairway Road North, Zeller Drive, Oldfield Drive and Ottawa Street North.
- The northern portion of Route 23 would be replaced by the modified Route 1 and Route 20. An alternative route to travel Downtown would be the new 204 iXpress.
- Improve Saturday service to every 30 minutes.
New Route 34 Shirley-Bingemans Centre:
- Introduce a new route to service the employment area along the Wellington Street North, Shirley Avenue and Bingemans Centre Drive corridors, which would operate during weekday rush hour periods only.
So these are the preferred changes for September 2015.
I hope everyone enjoys the read!
Sunday, 5 April 2015
Entry 24: Final Weeks of School
Hello folks! I hope everyone is having a wonderful Easter weekend!
Since my last blog post regarding my future as becoming a Grand River Transit bus operator, I have had great support from classmates (awesome friends), friends and family. When I announced I am focusing on getting my licenses then going to go get trained to go drive for Grand River Transit (GRT) I have been asked regarding a timeline for getting the license. I can say I have a timeline finalized and I will be posting it on this blog entry and the links for the bus routes that I would defiantly sign, except some will not be running until September 2015 so I will include the map of which routes that I would sign.
So for the timeline here is what I have been thinking about
1.) April-May - Get the drivers book and study for that then in May go do the written section of the test to obtain the G1
2.) After writing the written test and obtaining the G1 I will be looking at Driver's Ed so it can knock off 4 months instead of waiting 1 year
2.) After drivers ed I go do the driving portion of the test so I can obtain the full G license.
3.) Practise driving for 2 years then go apply to GRT (Grand River Transit) to become a bus driver.
That is what the timeline looks like, I think this is achievable and it has the final career decision I have made. I know a lot of my bus driver friends at GRT have been asking when am I coming to GRT to go drive for it so, the answer I have is soon. Plus I can do more than just drive a bus at GRT I can also run for scheduling and planning committee so that I can be the link between the GRT drivers and the planners at the Region of Waterloo and hopefully give the planners some ideas on future bus routes and better places for bus stops.
Also, there are only two weeks left of school for me and my classmates! Personally, I cannot wait to be finished school. I do enjoy college but the time has come for me to go out and actually work.
Now for the routes I would sign and operate at GRT. These routes I will include the link for the timetable so that it can make more sense where I would start and finish.
GRT Kitchener-Waterloo Routes
201 Fischer-Hallman iXpress http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/RT201fall.pdf
202 University iXpress http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/RT202fall.pdf
204 Victoria-Highland iXpress (September 2015)
5 Erb http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/Rt05S.pdf
9 Lakeshore http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/Rt09winter.pdf
10 Conestoga College http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/Rt10Winter.pdf
12 Conestoga Mall/Fairview Park http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/Rt12spring2015.pdf
13 Laurelwood http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/Rt13fall.pdf
14 Waterloo Industrial http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/RT14fall.pdf
20 Victoria (Setember 2015)
21 Elmira http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/RT21S.pdf
23 Idlewood (September 2015)
27 Chicopee http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/RT27S.pdf
29 Keats Way http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/RT29S.pdf
31 Columbia http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/RT31spring2015.pdf
33 Huron http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/RT33S.pdf
GRT Cambridge
51 Hespeler Rd. (all branches - 51A, 51B, 51C) http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/Rt51S.pdf
52 Fairview Park/Ainslie Street (all branches - Preston Pkwy., Cherry Blossom) http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/RT52S.pdf
53 Franklin Blvd. http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/RT53S.pdf
61 Conestoga College-Cambridge Ctr. http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/RT61spring2015.pdf
67 Lovell Industrial http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/RT67spring2015.pdf
203 Maple Grove iXpress http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/rt203spring2015.pdf
As you can see, I would mainly be working out of Conestoga Mall, The Boardwalk, Forest Glen, Fairview Park, Ainslie Street and Cambridge Ctr. I have also mentioned to one of my classmates, I told her that everyone in my class is always welcome on my bus.
Since my last blog post regarding my future as becoming a Grand River Transit bus operator, I have had great support from classmates (awesome friends), friends and family. When I announced I am focusing on getting my licenses then going to go get trained to go drive for Grand River Transit (GRT) I have been asked regarding a timeline for getting the license. I can say I have a timeline finalized and I will be posting it on this blog entry and the links for the bus routes that I would defiantly sign, except some will not be running until September 2015 so I will include the map of which routes that I would sign.
So for the timeline here is what I have been thinking about
1.) April-May - Get the drivers book and study for that then in May go do the written section of the test to obtain the G1
2.) After writing the written test and obtaining the G1 I will be looking at Driver's Ed so it can knock off 4 months instead of waiting 1 year
2.) After drivers ed I go do the driving portion of the test so I can obtain the full G license.
3.) Practise driving for 2 years then go apply to GRT (Grand River Transit) to become a bus driver.
That is what the timeline looks like, I think this is achievable and it has the final career decision I have made. I know a lot of my bus driver friends at GRT have been asking when am I coming to GRT to go drive for it so, the answer I have is soon. Plus I can do more than just drive a bus at GRT I can also run for scheduling and planning committee so that I can be the link between the GRT drivers and the planners at the Region of Waterloo and hopefully give the planners some ideas on future bus routes and better places for bus stops.
Also, there are only two weeks left of school for me and my classmates! Personally, I cannot wait to be finished school. I do enjoy college but the time has come for me to go out and actually work.
Now for the routes I would sign and operate at GRT. These routes I will include the link for the timetable so that it can make more sense where I would start and finish.
GRT Kitchener-Waterloo Routes
201 Fischer-Hallman iXpress http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/RT201fall.pdf
202 University iXpress http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/RT202fall.pdf
204 Victoria-Highland iXpress (September 2015)
5 Erb http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/Rt05S.pdf
9 Lakeshore http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/Rt09winter.pdf
10 Conestoga College http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/Rt10Winter.pdf
12 Conestoga Mall/Fairview Park http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/Rt12spring2015.pdf
13 Laurelwood http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/Rt13fall.pdf
14 Waterloo Industrial http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/RT14fall.pdf
20 Victoria (Setember 2015)
21 Elmira http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/RT21S.pdf
23 Idlewood (September 2015)
27 Chicopee http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/RT27S.pdf
29 Keats Way http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/RT29S.pdf
31 Columbia http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/RT31spring2015.pdf
33 Huron http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/RT33S.pdf
GRT Cambridge
51 Hespeler Rd. (all branches - 51A, 51B, 51C) http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/Rt51S.pdf
52 Fairview Park/Ainslie Street (all branches - Preston Pkwy., Cherry Blossom) http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/RT52S.pdf
53 Franklin Blvd. http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/RT53S.pdf
61 Conestoga College-Cambridge Ctr. http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/RT61spring2015.pdf
67 Lovell Industrial http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/RT67spring2015.pdf
203 Maple Grove iXpress http://www.grt.ca/en/routesSchedules/resources/rt203spring2015.pdf
As you can see, I would mainly be working out of Conestoga Mall, The Boardwalk, Forest Glen, Fairview Park, Ainslie Street and Cambridge Ctr. I have also mentioned to one of my classmates, I told her that everyone in my class is always welcome on my bus.
Saturday, 28 March 2015
Entry 23: Final Career Decisions and the Final Month of Post Secondary Education
Since the starting of my final month in post secondary education, I have learned a lot about myself. For instance I have learned that taking Grand River Transit and getting to know the majority of the bus drivers and supervisors (who are really awesome and really good friends of mine now) and have supported myself throughout my last year at Conestoga College. I have also gained a lot more new friends from my program and they are also really awesome and good friends of mine now, but as we look at the final month of school, we all have our career path set out. Since starting in the Public Service program I have always looked at being a planner scheduler for Grand River Transit, I did apply and was hoping so greatly to get the position, but I got no call back. So since then, I have been looking at other cities and other transit systems like TTC, Mississauga, London, Guelph, GO transit and so on. I have applied but got no call back from them either. So, it was the past few weeks I have been thinking about what I could be doing as a career, and I final found what I want to do as a career.
For a career, I am looking at going to go drive for Grand River Transit as a bus operator. I have been told this since I was in high school and at Conestoga College as well as my one year at Laurier university. There are many great things I can do as being a bus operator for Grand River Transit, for instance, I know every route in Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo so I have an advantage over the new drivers currently being trained and I also know the trainers at Grand River Transit, and the majority are driver friends so I know I will be trained by the best.
Personally, I cannot wait to go drive for Grand River Transit, ever since I was a little guy, I always loved watching buses, trucks and trains go by, now I am turning it into a career.
Until the next blog entry, have a wonderful Easter weekend and a great day folks! I hope to see you on the road behind the wheel of a Grand River Transit bus.
For a career, I am looking at going to go drive for Grand River Transit as a bus operator. I have been told this since I was in high school and at Conestoga College as well as my one year at Laurier university. There are many great things I can do as being a bus operator for Grand River Transit, for instance, I know every route in Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo so I have an advantage over the new drivers currently being trained and I also know the trainers at Grand River Transit, and the majority are driver friends so I know I will be trained by the best.
Personally, I cannot wait to go drive for Grand River Transit, ever since I was a little guy, I always loved watching buses, trucks and trains go by, now I am turning it into a career.
Until the next blog entry, have a wonderful Easter weekend and a great day folks! I hope to see you on the road behind the wheel of a Grand River Transit bus.
Sunday, 1 March 2015
Entry 22: Last months of school
Hello everyone,
I have been doing my best to try and do a blog at least once a month but once co-op starts that might have to change. I do hope everyone enjoyed the month of February, although it was a very cold month, it seems like winter will finally let us warm up and prepare for spring. This blog will not be a very long blog, this is just an update blog.
Now without further interruptions I shall explained what has happened back in the month of February!
Student engagement at Conestoga College
As I have mentioned in previous blog entries I have been working with the Region of Waterloo on their strategic plan. The Region was mainly interested in hearing back from Conestoga College students at the Doon, Cambridge and Waterloo campuses. My team and I got lots of student feedback, both positive and areas for improvement that the region should be looking at.
Transit News
Since my last blog, I have studied more than just Grand River Transit in Waterloo Region, recently I have looked at London Transit, GO transit, TTC, Brantford Transit, and many more other systems. The most confusing system I have looked at has have to be the TTC. Compared to the other systems TTC has to be the most confusing maps I have ever looked at. On their website, TTC has divided their map into six sections to get others to understand their routes and what not. Even though I did download and study their routes individually (174 routes later) I had to use another website to understand the branches and what the routes interline with each other. GO transit is looking at doing a massive expansion throughout Ontario, areas do include Hamilton, Waterloo Region and other areas. From what I have seen in GO's strategic plan, Waterloo region is going to have at least three to six GO stations, two of the stations do include a station off of Highway 7 in Breslau and a station at Waterloo Region Airport.
Last two months of School
I still cannot believe that this will be my last year at Conestoga College. It feels like yesterday my class and I just started our program and now it's almost over. I do hope my class mates do keep in touch over the next years after we graduate, they have been such great people to work with, I wish them the best in their future careers.
That is all for this blog update, I wish everyone a safe evening, until the next blog.
I have been doing my best to try and do a blog at least once a month but once co-op starts that might have to change. I do hope everyone enjoyed the month of February, although it was a very cold month, it seems like winter will finally let us warm up and prepare for spring. This blog will not be a very long blog, this is just an update blog.
Now without further interruptions I shall explained what has happened back in the month of February!
Student engagement at Conestoga College
As I have mentioned in previous blog entries I have been working with the Region of Waterloo on their strategic plan. The Region was mainly interested in hearing back from Conestoga College students at the Doon, Cambridge and Waterloo campuses. My team and I got lots of student feedback, both positive and areas for improvement that the region should be looking at.
Transit News
Since my last blog, I have studied more than just Grand River Transit in Waterloo Region, recently I have looked at London Transit, GO transit, TTC, Brantford Transit, and many more other systems. The most confusing system I have looked at has have to be the TTC. Compared to the other systems TTC has to be the most confusing maps I have ever looked at. On their website, TTC has divided their map into six sections to get others to understand their routes and what not. Even though I did download and study their routes individually (174 routes later) I had to use another website to understand the branches and what the routes interline with each other. GO transit is looking at doing a massive expansion throughout Ontario, areas do include Hamilton, Waterloo Region and other areas. From what I have seen in GO's strategic plan, Waterloo region is going to have at least three to six GO stations, two of the stations do include a station off of Highway 7 in Breslau and a station at Waterloo Region Airport.
Last two months of School
I still cannot believe that this will be my last year at Conestoga College. It feels like yesterday my class and I just started our program and now it's almost over. I do hope my class mates do keep in touch over the next years after we graduate, they have been such great people to work with, I wish them the best in their future careers.
That is all for this blog update, I wish everyone a safe evening, until the next blog.
Tuesday, 20 January 2015
Entry 21: Public Transit, Final School year, Transit Redesign Meeting, and My Future
Hello everyone,
I'd like to warmly welcome everyone to 2015. 2015 is expected to be a huge change for the way we look at transportation and my final year at college. So let us begin to look at public transit, my final year at college, my own transit redesign, and my future career.
Public Transit
Back in November 2014, Grand River Transit proposed huge transit improvements for September 2015 include the following:
- The removal of all the extensions on local routes
- Route 7 being condensed from Fairview Park to Conestoga Mall
- The Zeller Drive neighbourhood getting bus service.
- The 204 Victoria-Highland iXpress (Ottawa/Lackner to the Boardwalk)
-Stage 1 of The 205 Ottawa Street iXpress (Ottawa/Lackner to Courtland)
These are just some of the service improvements proposed for September 2015.
Final Year at School
This section will tie in with the Public transit section above. Back in November, my friend and I attended the majority of the Public Consultation Meetings for the proposed 2015 service improvements, as well as request from my GRT driver friends. For the very first of the meetings, I brought up the recently implemented 203 Mid-Region iXpress from Cambridge Centre to Sportsworld Crossing and Conestoga College Doon and Cambridge campuses during peak hours. The planner looked at me and asked "your name wouldn't be David by any chance would it?" I said my name is David Sej, yes. Then I got feed back from my ideas I sent into them, the planners really liked it. So, at the second last final meeting, the planner that knows me set up a meeting so I could present my own transit redesign to get feedback as well as agin information.
Transit Redesign Meeting
December 17, 2014, I went to the Regional Building on Frederick Street for my meeting with the Planners. Unfortunately the planner that set up the meeting was ill so, the head planner filled in for him. Both planner and the head planner really liked my redesign. After the meeting I told my GRT friends what options the 2015 service finalized map would look like.
Future Career
Since I have been studying many transit systems in Ontario, I am looking at becoming a Planner and Scheduler. I believe getting my passion and hobby and turning it into a career would defiantly benefit myself as well as the Region Community.
That is the 1 blog post of 2015, I hope every enjoys it.
David S.
I'd like to warmly welcome everyone to 2015. 2015 is expected to be a huge change for the way we look at transportation and my final year at college. So let us begin to look at public transit, my final year at college, my own transit redesign, and my future career.
Public Transit
Back in November 2014, Grand River Transit proposed huge transit improvements for September 2015 include the following:
- The removal of all the extensions on local routes
- Route 7 being condensed from Fairview Park to Conestoga Mall
- The Zeller Drive neighbourhood getting bus service.
- The 204 Victoria-Highland iXpress (Ottawa/Lackner to the Boardwalk)
-Stage 1 of The 205 Ottawa Street iXpress (Ottawa/Lackner to Courtland)
These are just some of the service improvements proposed for September 2015.
Final Year at School
This section will tie in with the Public transit section above. Back in November, my friend and I attended the majority of the Public Consultation Meetings for the proposed 2015 service improvements, as well as request from my GRT driver friends. For the very first of the meetings, I brought up the recently implemented 203 Mid-Region iXpress from Cambridge Centre to Sportsworld Crossing and Conestoga College Doon and Cambridge campuses during peak hours. The planner looked at me and asked "your name wouldn't be David by any chance would it?" I said my name is David Sej, yes. Then I got feed back from my ideas I sent into them, the planners really liked it. So, at the second last final meeting, the planner that knows me set up a meeting so I could present my own transit redesign to get feedback as well as agin information.
Transit Redesign Meeting
December 17, 2014, I went to the Regional Building on Frederick Street for my meeting with the Planners. Unfortunately the planner that set up the meeting was ill so, the head planner filled in for him. Both planner and the head planner really liked my redesign. After the meeting I told my GRT friends what options the 2015 service finalized map would look like.
Future Career
Since I have been studying many transit systems in Ontario, I am looking at becoming a Planner and Scheduler. I believe getting my passion and hobby and turning it into a career would defiantly benefit myself as well as the Region Community.
That is the 1 blog post of 2015, I hope every enjoys it.
David S.
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