106 replies to this topic

[vivablue5215]

I had the luxury of taking Niagara Region Transit today from St. Catharines to Welland and from Welland to Niagara Falls.

Overall, I liked the service, though I do question some of the stops (Region Headquarters and the Minacs Parking Lot in particular...), where we had to unnecessarily loop in.

I can confirm city transit transfers/tickets do NOT work on Niagara Region Transit. So slip in $5 in bills/coins or no entry. For transfers, you get the transfer when you exit the bus, instead of when you board. The transfer can be used for all the transit system routes that operate within the city only. Therefore, Brock Rapid, Niagara College Shuttle, etc. routes do not accept Niagara Region transfers.

In terms of passenger load, I had no less than 4 people in either one of my rides, so there are definitely riders using the service. In fact, the 4:10pm trip from St. Catharines to Welland was half full!

[97SCT]

Today, riding 1141 from St.Catharines to Niagara Falls, the back of the bus (the 5 seats over the engine) was blocked off with caution tape for reasons unknown

[Chris W]

I'm guessing the stanchion pole worked its way loose again. That happened to me on 1141 back in September. I had to fix it ON THE 406, at 90 km/h!!!!

[97SCT]

Chris W, on 28 December 2011 - 01:31 AM, said:

I'm guessing the stanchion pole worked its way loose again. That happened to me on 1141 back in September. I had to fix it ON THE 406, at 90 km/h!!!!

ohh i see lol

[vivablue5215]

http://www.niagarafa...=true&e=3421309

Quote

Fort Erie man peeved with regional transit service



By Alison Langley Niagara Falls Review

Updated 8 days ago


A Fort Erie man says he feels disappointed and let down by the Region's new inter-municipal transit service.
On Dec. 22, Lance Kovacs went to the Walmart on Garrison Rd. to catch a Niagara Region Transit bus to Niagara Falls for a medical appointment.
He had used the new inter-municipal transit service in the past with no problems.
That day, however, had a different outcome.
Early that afternoon, he stood patiently outside waiting for the bus to arrive. It never did.
"Myself and numerous other people were relying on this pilot regional service and it failed," he said. "I feel very disappointed and let down."
Kovacs said he checked the service's holiday schedule on the Niagara Region website earlier in the day and also called an information line where a recorded voice confirmed the busses were running.
According to a Region spokesperson, however, Niagara Falls Transit, which operates the Fort Erie to Niagara Falls weekday link, opted to shut down the service from Dec. 20 to Jan. 3.
The Region was not immediately made aware of the shutdown, said Darrell Neufeld, a communications specialist at the region.
"We did receive some calls last week from passengers looking for service," Neufeld said
"We are sorry for the inconvenience the passengers experienced."

Kovacs said the "communication glitch" shouldn't have happened in the first place.
"Their (NRT) motto is convenient, affordable commuting. Inconvenient and non-commuting — that's what I experienced," he said.
Kovacs contacted a nearby taxi company for a ride but had to abandon that idea when he was told it would be $50 to ride from Fort Erie to Niagara Falls.
"There's no way I could afford that," he said. "I have limited funds and don't forget it was the holiday season too."
The region launched the new transit service in September.
In November alone, according to figures discussed at a recent regional council meeting, the service accommodated about 5,200 riders.

[vivablue5215]

Council approves the use of U-Passes on Niagara Region Transit for a trial period.

http://www.niagarare...sit/u-pass.aspx

[97SCT]

The St.Catharines/Niagara Falls routes have been switched around, the 50 now goes to St.Catharines and the 55 to the Falls.

[97SCT]

Struggle goes on for Niagara Region Transit http://www.stcathari....aspx?e=3455856

[t_harris01]

thought id share this with everyone....

[Gil]

From the St. Catharines Standard:

Private bus firm eyes Niagara Region

This guys been trying forever to get something off the ground. First Caledon, then Peterborough County now Niagara Region. NOTL Mayor Eke took him to task for that, here's hoping for the best.

[smallspy]

Gil, on 29 February 2012 - 11:34 PM, said:

From the St. Catharines Standard:

Private bus firm eyes Niagara Region

This guys been trying forever to get something off the ground. First Caledon, then Peterborough County now Niagara Region. NOTL Mayor Eke took him to task for that, here's hoping for the best.

Hurray for Darren Parberry. He really does seem to like getting his name in the media. Too bad that his ideas are nothing short of garbage.

Dan

[Chris W]

How this guy hasn't been arrested for fraud is anyone's guess. I'm pretty sure Niagara Region isn't willing to clean up his mess. Plus, doesn't N-O-T-L already have a contractor for its transit fleet? And isn't there already a transit service SERVING NIAGARA REGION? His ideas adopt the old Top Gear adage: "Ambitious but rubbish."

END RANT

[97SCT]

Chris W, on 01 March 2012 - 10:47 AM, said:

How this guy hasn't been arrested for fraud is anyone's guess. I'm pretty sure Niagara Region isn't willing to clean up his mess. Plus, doesn't N-O-T-L already have a contractor for its transit fleet? And isn't there already a transit service SERVING NIAGARA REGION? His ideas adopt the old Top Gear adage: "Ambitious but rubbish."

END RANT

i was going to say the same thing, this dude's a scammer

[Chris W]

Everyone, read the comment section. Mr Parberry has written a rebuttal defending his "system". Even that seems dodgy.

[Gil]

Chris W, on 01 March 2012 - 10:47 AM, said:

How this guy hasn't been arrested for fraud is anyone's guess. I'm pretty sure Niagara Region isn't willing to clean up his mess. Plus, doesn't N-O-T-L already have a contractor for its transit fleet? And isn't there already a transit service SERVING NIAGARA REGION? His ideas adopt the old Top Gear adage: "Ambitious but rubbish."

END RANT

I'm not trying to defend this guy, but he was looking at providing transit where none currently exists within the Region (perhaps on a contract basis?). I thought more of the western half of the Region: Grimsby, the Lincolns, Wainfleet and Pelham. I think NOTL found the service concept so laughable that they probably went with someone else when they were looking to tie into NRT. (Where exactly is NOTL Transit supposed to connect with NRT? The Pen Centre, downtown St. Catharines or Niagara Falls? Unless an NRT route were run to Niagara College's Glendale Campus.)

Given their distances from the agencies that do have transit service and the even fewer connections available to NRT, there's going to be a lot of long routes in order to provide some semblance of a network connection.

[TransferCutter]

deleted

[97SCT]

One of the St.Catharines owned Xcelsiors, 1141 was running the 60/65 Welland-Niagara Falls today. Assumingly St.Catharines lent 1141 to Welland Transit to fill in for 1151

[97SCT]

Niagara Region Transit offers free rides next Wednesday..........
http://www.stcathari...-free-bus-rides

[Gil]

Mr. Parberry's at it again. This time with Grimsby courtesy of Niagara This Week:

Gimsby council hears bus pitch

[TomW]

NRT is now on Google Transit, along with all the local operators except NOTL (i.e. NF, St. Catherines, Welland and Fort Erie). See e.g. http://g.co/maps/ctq6k or http://g.co/maps/w9rdg (the latter is very convoluted compared with the car....)