[PLUG-TALK] Figuring out when a google street view picture was taken

[Paul Johnson]

On Jan 29, 2008 3:41 PM, John Jason Jordan <johnxj at comcast.net> wrote:
> On Tue, 29 Jan 2008 14:19:03 -0800
> "Paul Johnson" <baloo at ursine.ca> dijo:
>
> > ...  And the SkyTrain runs in a similar model to
> > the MAX as a trunk line to the system, except there, people start
> > getting justifiably pissed when they have to wait more than two
> > minutes for a train to show up, even at the ends of the line.)
>
> There are a couple of differences between the SkyTrain and Max. First,
> the SkyTrain is computer controlled, with a human operator in a central
> office location overseeing the whole system. There are no operators
> (drivers) on the trains. The savings allow them to hire a
> security/information person at most of the stops.

You have to be qualified to drive the SkyTrain, and there are manual
controls on all of 'em, to be a station attendant, though, just in
case things don't go right.

> Second, the trains are elevated, except when they go under the river.
> They do not run at the surface level.

Science World station is at ground level.

> This made it vastly cheaper to
> build because they needed to acquire only an easement for air rights,
> not the entire title. It also means that the trains never have to stop
> for a traffic light.

Traffic stops for trains, not the other way around unless they're
running on-street as traffic themselves.

> And third, because of the savings from the above design, they can run
> the trains every five minutes.

Every 5 minutes is what TriMet MAX averages.  SkyTrain arrives every
90 seconds or less on average.

> This is not only more convenient for the
> public, it also makes a huge difference in the ridership figures. Far
> more people in Portland would take mass transit if they didn't have to
> wait so long for the next bus or train to arrive. More riders means
> more revenue, with which you can buy more equipment and hire more
> operators. It's a chicken and egg problem that TriMet seems to be
> ignorant of.

I think TriMet's well aware of it, Joe Citizen who's holding the
pursestraps is the cluetard in this case.


-- 
Paul Johnson
baloo at ursine.ca