Simms Corner - were we ahead of the game all along?

Might this work for Simms Corner?

No traffic lights. No traffic signs. No painted lines in the roadway. No curbs. And 26,000 vehicles passing every day through a traditional village center with busy pedestrian traffic.  It’s called "shared space."

Free buses, really?

I was interested to read about free public transportation;  I wasn't aware it existed. An article in the Atlantic  says it is popular in Europe.  Love to see that concept here.

Sweet night for hot air balloon rides

Re/Max's hot air balloon was giving free "rides" today at the park by St George's Church on Duke Street.
According to CHSJ news they will be in Sussex tomorrow.

City Transit takes another cut?

I was checking Saint John Transit's website today for the upcoming schedule changes and was very surprised to see their website has been integrated into the City's website (looks like a few wrinkles to iron out, too).  I wonder if this is meant to be a cost-saving effort? 

Princess of Acadia will float for a while longer

Good news that the governments of NB & NS have invested 6 million in the SJ - Digby Ferry.  Need to keep this running.

Dangerous Curves

I have often found myself holding my breath on a section of Prince Street anticipating how the road conditions would play out.  The area just below the site of the former DVA hospital, (now an incomplete townhouse development site)  is a downhill curve that rarely sees sunlight (water can't evaporate) and there is a lot of water (or ice) collecting on the street from the un-landscaped site.  It's a very slippery slope and for those who don't take the route regularly it's potentially dangerous.

Harbour Bridge opens west bound lanes

Wow! Is it true? West bound lanes open on the bridge? Apparently so according to CHSJ News.

Checking the NB Dept Transportation news release .... still a ways to go.

Snow fencing or snow plows?

I don't recall ever seeing snow fencing installed during the winter on the overpass on Lancaster Avenue - it is now.   I guess it's an effective way to keep snow off the highway below -  now that there will be fewer plows to do the job.

No to the U-Pass / Yes to Car Pooling?

I recently posted about the vote happening at UNBSJ for a universal bus pass for full time students. The student body has rejected the proposal, 300 votes for and 700 against. Apparently this is the second such proposal, the last was held a few years ago and was defeated by a slim one-half percentage point.

I understand there are lots of complaints about the cost of parking and the lack of parking spaces  on campus, so .... I can't figure this one out.

U-Pass - not the Me Pass

I was disappointed and somewhat surprised to hear the reactions from UNBSJ students on CBC Information Morning today. They were asked if they were voting in favour of the Universal Bus Pass (U-Pass) proposal from SJ Transit. The proposal will allow all pass holders to have unlimited access to the city transit, including Comex, for the academic year (September - April). Almost all said they would not vote for the pass. Most gave expenses related to owning and operating a car as the reason.

I thought these were the very individuals who advocated a greener, cleaner, responsible attitude toward the environment? Mighty short sighted of them.

Most universities have a similar pass built in their annual fees. It is mandatory for all full-time students, as it would be here. The cost in Saint John would be $200.00 per year (8 months) - that’s a paltry $25.00 per month- a steal of a deal.

Perhaps down the road the decision will be made at a higher level for the students, with the three levels of government – funders of universities of varying degrees – building the fee into tuition; sort of a tax.

SJ Transit Fares Going Up

SJ Transit has announced fare increases for 2011.  It's going to hurt.

It's sort of like paying the bridge toll without taking the bridge.

I like public transit. Getting pricey though.

Ask me the questions, bridgekeeper. I am not afraid.

The drive west on the harbour bridge yesterday afternoon was the easiest in months. Very nice to see the both east lanes open again.

Today's T-J has an article about the bridge and the financial assistance long anticipated from the feds. Again, talk about scrapping the tolls .... might they be replaced with  ....  

"Stop. Who would cross the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three, ere the other side he see."

The Summer of our Road Discontent

It's been a long summer and fall with road work happening around the west side. I took a drive along the Westfield Road on the weekend. The long-needed and hard fought campaign to upgrade the road and install sidewalks continued this summer.   Pretty rough going as the photo illustrates.

So, with the Westfield Road, Dever Road, Church Street, Main Street, Lancaster Avenue and the Harbour Bridge,  to name a few - all on the receiving end of taxpayers' hard work, it's a wonder any westsiders bothered to attempt the frustration of a trip over the bridge into town. 
(But I still want nice roads)

Harbour Bridge tolls rising?

Repairs on the Harbour Bridge are scheduled to come to an end (for 2010, anyway) in about a month's time.  According to an article in Saturday's TJ, HBA GM Ken Anthony says the tolls will go up by 25 cents unless:

the federal and provincial governments thrash out a deal that will lead to the removal of bridge tolls altogether, Anthony  said a planned hike to help pay for all that construction will take effect on Jan. 1, 2011. Base tolls will rise from 50 cents to 75 cents, while B-Pass holders will pay 50 cents.

And we can look forward to six more months of traffic delays starting in Spring 2011.
Bring back the ferry; you can "walk-on" and leave the car at home.

When is a shortcut not a shortcut?

The shortcut through Riverview Drive has been a godsend on many occasions. Alas, each spring it is blocked to cars. Friday was the day. 

Public Transit - try it, you'll like it

I stumbled across this story at the LA Times online recently;  a die-hard "private transport" lover describes her transformation from "bus snob" to a bus-riding crusader for public transportation.  Along the way she discovered life has been enriched by being a user of mass transportation.
 
Her experiences are documented in a blog, Snob on a Bus.

Have I mentioned before that I am a public transportation proponent?

Saint John Transit Lounge at Lancaster Mall

The Transit Lounge at Lancaster Mall is slowly taking shape. Although there wasn't actual work hapening when I was there today, there were signs that something was going on.  This is taking an awfully long time to complete.   Today was a very wet day, the lounge would have been a welcomed addition.

The New Bus Schedules Are Here!!

And they're not easy to find.

McAllister Place info booth has given away their entire supply, and not too many other locations have received them yet. I found some at the magazine store in Lancaster Mall. In any case, it looks like passengers are going to take a while to get used to the changes.

New Transit Routes & Schedules

As I mentioned in an earlier post, (and since then confirmed in SJT GM Frank McCarey’s presentation to City Council) Saint John Transit is introducing new routes, they'll come into effect Sunday August 9.

According to the SJT website:

The names and numbers of many routes have changed. This will allow all routes to be grouped according to where they are located in the city. All schedules will be colour-coded, making them easy to identify. The new numbering system will also allow for the easy addition of new routes in the future.

Highlights include:

• Direct service to the SJ Regional Hospital and UNBSJ from McAllister Place and Lancaster Mall, and direct service from Lancaster Mall to McAllister Place.
• Additional service has been added in the morning and the evenings.
• Three new Park ‘N Ride routes will be added within Saint John. These routes will service Latimore Lake, Golden Grove and Lorneville.

If you have not had a chance to check them out – do so. It’s quite a change, and I think once riders get used to the new schedules and routes (might take a bit of time) they’ll be pleased.

Route maps and schedules are available here.

Here's a picture of the SJ Transit site taken last week - didn't take long to clean up. Another building will be going up shortly, Quizno's is meant to open there.