old boy
Senior Member
Oops, I'm sorry to post the above in the Expo 2025 thread.
Oops, I'm sorry to post the above in the Expo 2025 thread.
It kind of says something when nobody on one of the most civic-minded boards around wants to bother discussing a dead-on-arrival mega bid.
As I see it, any benefits from the Expo are incidental at best and fraudulent at worst. Contrary to nostalgia, Expos are overwhelmingly targeted at local populations with very limited international exposure. The vast amount of effort, time, money spent on the event would distract from other civic priorities. Rather than being some sort of "accelerator" for civic growth, Expos and other mega-events are expensive detours.Funny, I was about to mention the same thing. I think it speaks volumes to the general populace's level of interest if there's tumbleweeds blowing through this thread. Although a major part of that can be attributed to people's exhaustion/apathy over grand plans and general feeling of being tapped out, I think another major part can be attributed to how few Torontonians know about the area in question. How many go to the Port Lands, or have paid close attention to the revitalization plan? Perhaps not many.
Personally I'm on the fence, and can't tell whether my interest is in the Expo or the plans of the Expo. From what I've gleaned from the report I don't see much different from the preexisting Port Lands development, other than acceleration of build-out. Transportation-wise I don't like what I see. Anyone wanting to travel to the site would rely on the proposed RER and/or the proposed East Bayfront streetcar. The streetcar would more than likely be slow and at-capacity, and RER may very well end up as some relatively infrequent premium service.
I don't know anything about TV ratings for the London games, but I'm sure it helps that every game gets 80,000+ fans. Much more enthusiastic reception than Toronto. The NFL is apparently planning to bring games back to Mexico City as well, which got similar crowds in the past.
Several transit projects would be put on a higher priority.
1. Streetcar extensions, using right-of-ways, would be accelerated. The Queens Quay East right-of-way would actually be started. The Cherry Street streetcar would be extended southward. The Broadview streetcar would also be started.
2. They may actually do something, anything, with enlarging or something with the Union Station streetcar loop.
And actually have something by 2015!
Getting the DRL probably would be a bit too big of a project to be put on a faster track, but we can always hope.
Staff Report etc at http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2016.EX18.7
They recommend "no" due to time it would take to get Port Lands fixed up and $$
Unfortunately, 2015 was last year.And actually have something by 2015!
Getting the DRL probably would be a bit too big of a project to be put on a faster track, but we can always hope.
Corrected.Unfortunately,20152025 was last year.