KCRag Forum

KCPowercat wrote:Buses were definitely definitely running today

I saw the red 'Streetcar Connector' buses earlier in afternoon, but not when the delay for 45min+ occurred.

DaveKCMO wrote:

grovester wrote:

earthling wrote: 24K+ for the two day grand opening. i'd call that a success.

can't wait for 'normal' to kick in and ride to work on monday!

Not too bad for just a 2 mile line.

Possible next step to attract riders long term... Would be nice to see ATA run a few key bus lines for free on Saturdays for a period, Main/Troost MAX, KCK MAX like line, 142, Indie Ave and a JoCo line into streetcar line. If they could pull it off for several months and highly promote as 'streetcar connector buses from around metro', might significantly boost regular commuter ridership during week given streetcar is a free connector through downtown core.

earthling wrote:

grovester wrote:Button at the bottom of the window

Might need to put a sticker on each button 'Press to Request Stop'.

it's a 3-4" red oval button with the word STOP in white letters, embedded in a bright yellow plastic case. once we're not packed in like sardines it will be more obvious.

trying to keep sticker clutter to a minimum. maybe an audio announcement. will discuss.

Yeah, I completely missed that, probably being cramped in.

earthling wrote:Yeah, I completely missed that, probably being cramped in.

no problem! now that i really think about it, perhaps KCATA buses could use an audio reminder. if you're new to transit, how on earth would you know to pull the cord? there are tiny signs, if i recall.

I thought I did hear announcements on requesting a stop, specifically around North Loop but maybe I'm crazy.

TheBigChuckbowski wrote:I thought I did hear announcements on requesting a stop, specifically around North Loop but maybe I'm crazy.

yeah, i don't think the recorded announcements were playing much on friday and saturday. real-time arrival boards we not always accurate -- again, same system as MAX so the same issues there.

overheard some brooksiders onboard talking about their NIMBY neighbors. just a friendly reminder to speak LOUDLY if you support expansion, because NIMBYs are pretty good at being loud.

Seemed an extra train was running today that wasn't accounted for on itsab.us tracking.

KCPowercat wrote:Seemed an extra train was running today that wasn't accounted for on itsab.us tracking.

correct. three yesterday. normal sunday/holiday would be two.

I found it weird it wasn't on the tracking system. Does that mean it was also throwing off the arrival time signs?

According to the audio announcement, you can also press the door button to request a stop. I believe they call that the tuck and roll.

smh wrote:... they call that the tuck and roll.

Works with Uber, too.

KCPowercat wrote:I found it weird it wasn't on the tracking system. Does that mean it was also throwing off the arrival time signs?

all i know is that it's the exact same system as MAX (although the sign itself is different) and should show whatever is actually arriving, whether it's scheduled or not. you can expect this to get better over time, with streetcar pushing for improvements that would hopefully trickle to the MAX lines.

I haven't double checked an arrival sign to actual yet.

Started waiting at the Crossroads stop about 8:00 on Saturday and didn't arrive at my destination in the River Market until 9:00, 30 minutes late for a reservation. It looked like two SB trains both stopped at US at the same time for about 15 minutes around 8:20. Spacing of the cars seemed to be an issue as you'd have no cars for a long time and then two in a row. Hopefully, this works itself out with time.

KCPowercat wrote:I haven't double checked an arrival sign to actual yet.

On Saturday I stood and saw the sign say "9 minutes" while the train was half a block away.

I notice the same with a MAX bus one time on Petticoat.

My guess is it ignores a train that's really close and bases it off the next train arriving.

Sometimes MAX display shows arriving when it's a few blocks away and then shows time for next bus while arriving. So it may not really be inaccurate in that case, but sometimes it is.

It is more often inaccurate. It is so rare for the "arriving" notification to even be close to right that it trains (no pun intended) us to ignore it. Not different on the bus system as others have noted.

On an up note, I LOVE the streetcar. Can't wait for it to be extended to UMKC and beyond.