Re: Mon. Jan. 16th-ALL CANDIDATES DEBATE-ARL vs. PUBLIC TRAN
"if you look at the map, i think weston can tolerate grade crossings. it's a very short strech. when the go train pulls into weston station, it slows down anyway so it's not like you have speeding trains pasing through grade crossings which can be dangerous if a car stalls on the tracks or something."
As Chris says, all over the world we have given streetcars priority, and haven't let the possibility of infrequent accidents stop transit. In fact, transit is the safest mode of transportation and travelling on their own right-of-ways often improves this. In places where streets cross lrt is generally slower (like GO) and luckily many of these crossings are nearer to stops.
LRT also has an advantage over GO, since it can stop and speed up much quicker than a GO train, meaning any slower speeds for crossings would have less affect on this technology.
Having a stop at Weston (& other locations) would greatly improve this project, as a barrier would suddenly become an amenity. What you lose in time by adding stations, you would gain by adding passengers. Benefits to the northwestern portion of the city vs. benefits to SNC Lavelin and a few wealthy travellers. I could live with blue22 becoming blue35 if it meant the fare went from $20 to TTC prices and served 5x as many people (even airport workers). Could be done if the Federal government were interested in helping the city as much as the private corporations it habitually works with.
