Practice Task 6 · Parts 1–4

From: Marisol Etxeberria, Monthly Pass Holder

To: Devon Okafor, Rider Services, Brackenfield Transit Authority

Subject: Route 14 detour and my morning transfer

Hi Devon,

I ride Route 14 every weekday morning to connect with the Green Line train at Foundry Station, and I noticed a notice posted at my stop saying the route will detour around Chalmers Bridge starting next Monday because of repair work. The notice does not say how long the detour adds to the trip, and my connection at Foundry only has an eight-minute window before the 7:52 train.

Could you tell me roughly how much extra time the detour adds? I also want to know whether the detour changes which stop the bus uses near Foundry Station, since the notice mentions a temporary stop on Delacroix Street but does not say how far that is from the station entrance.

Separately, I have a monthly pass that assumes a certain number of transfers are free within ninety minutes. If the detour makes me miss the 7:52 and I have to wait for the 8:10, will that still count as one continuous trip for pass purposes, or will I be charged again if I tap in twice?

I ask because this detour is scheduled to run for six weeks, and if my connection is going to be unreliable for that whole stretch, I may look at the shuttle van service instead, which I understand costs extra but runs more predictably.

Thanks,

Marisol

— REPLY —

From: Devon Okafor

To: Marisol Etxeberria

Subject: RE: Route 14 detour and my morning transfer

Hi Marisol,

Thanks for flagging this. The detour around Chalmers Bridge adds approximately six minutes to the Route 14 trip during peak hours, based on our timing tests last week. That is enough to make the current 7:44 arrival at Foundry slip to roughly 7:50, which is tighter than usual but should still make your 7:52 connection most days, barring heavier traffic.

The temporary stop on Delacroix Street is about 120 metres from the Foundry Station east entrance, slightly farther than the current stop, which adds a minute or two of walking. We are aware this is not ideal and have asked crews to prioritize finishing the bridge work ahead of the six-week estimate if possible, though I cannot promise an earlier date.

On the transfer question: our fare system allows ninety minutes from your first tap for transfers to count as one trip, regardless of which specific bus or train you board within that window. So even if you miss the 7:52 and catch the 8:10 instead, you will not be charged again as long as you tap in within ninety minutes of boarding Route 14.

Given the six-week timeline, the shuttle van is a reasonable backup for the first week or two while you see how reliable the new timing turns out to be, but I would encourage you to try the adjusted schedule first, since most riders on this route have not reported missed connections since the detour tests began.

Devon