Translude15
Frank the Tank
Very true. Cosburn and Pape and Leslieville/south Riverdale were the most difficult to drop for this routing. The stretch of East York from Danforth to O'Connor seems like it has exceptionally high redevelopment potential. High density pockets, large tracts of ugly houses with no historic value...it seems perfect to run a subway line. But is that section worth ~$1.5-2bn, if there are less expensive opportunities that can be pursued?
The Laird/Millwood station was added - not because of local pop. density - but because of surface connections. There are several bus routes, and one could easily transfer to the Crosstown's Laird station.
The Thorncliffe Station is within (or a shade over) 500m to the centre of Thorncliffe Park neighbourhood. Because the neighbourhood itself is built-up (and the low-density manufacturing/brownfield around the station isn't) the location seems appropriate. The potential opportunity for development and a large bus hub presents itself.
The distance from Don Mills/Eglinton to Flemingdon Park is similar. It's in the station catchment periphery, +/- a few hundred metres.
Ha, in memento to Mike Tyson's visit perhaps. I actually had variations of King-Don, Don-King, River-King considered. Don seemed more apt for the sake of brevity.
It's an interesting idea but I think ehlow really hit the nail on the head: are these cost saving measures worth pursuing when key transportation nodes in E-Y, Thorncliffe and Flemingdon Park are bypassed which may in turn impact ridership?
There may be numerous engineering challenges tunneling south of the Danforth but I reckon it is an infrastructural investment worth making.
Perhaps a more viable conundrum will be exactly where the DRL crosses the Don Valley. Pape is a popular option but Greenwood is also a possibility. I think there will ultimately be some sort of expanse across the Valley just not to the extent you have proposed.