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Finch West Line 6 LRT

What I don't understand is why many are concerned about having public transit drop off passengers at a private concern, ie Woodbine (race track, casino, or whatever they call themselves), instead of a public facility.

Because transit is supposed to take people where they want to go. Should Yorkdale Mall be ignored too just because it's not public?
 
Maybe because Woodbine is a larger trip generator than most of the public facilities in the area, and that it would increase ridership even more than existing projections, making the entire line much more profitable and reasonable, and potentially taking more vehicles off of the road?

Will Woodbine be a larger trip generator than the college and hospital? How many people go to Woodbine in a week? How many that do are in the catchment area of the FWLRT? How many of those who are would give up their car to go? If you know of a study showing the potential ridership to Woodbine compared to the other destinations on the route I would like to see it. I'm not trying to be confrontational I would like to know how many riders can be expected to go to Woodbine and how the number was arrived at.
 
I don't really get your point? Every transit line can't stop at the front door of every destination along the way. There is a stop at Highway 27 and Humber College Boulevard which is a short walk to the Hospital. The LRT also goes into the college campus and the future stop will probably be integrated with the new bus loop they've just built.
 
Because transit is supposed to take people where they want to go. Should Yorkdale Mall be ignored too just because it's not public?

I agree, but transit should serve the public first and routing the LRT away from public facilities for routing convenience and then closer to a private concern because it is perceived as the main destination doesn't sound to me as serving the public good.

In both the forums for the FWLRT and the GO RER many are assuming that a station is needed at Woodbine. Why? Woodbine has yet to prove itself as anything other than a minor destination in the region. Without the slots the track would be gone by now, so all that we have is a casino. Is a casino such a draw that it needs two transit line to it? I live near Woodbine and I can say that the daily attendance at Yorkdale is much greater (judging by the number of cars in the parking lot). As for the future needs, an expansion of Woodbine has been discussed since I left high school in the late '80s, before that it was a possible location for the Skydome. I don't expect anything more than and expansion of the casino to incorporate card tables, perhaps doubling the size of it at the most.
I agree that Woodbine should have a station on the LRT but let it be near Rexdale Blvd so that the LRT can be routed along Rexdale to the airport.
 
I don't really get your point? Every transit line can't stop at the front door of every destination along the way. There is a stop at Highway 27 and Humber College Boulevard which is a short walk to the Hospital. The LRT also goes into the college campus and the future stop will probably be integrated with the new bus loop they've just built.

My point is that the LRT should be routed so that the station is as close to the hospital building as practical or at least on the same side of hwy 27 as the hospital so that those who are going to the hospital, and may have mobility issues, do not have to cross a major road and walk up a grade to get there.
 
That is why I wondered why they didn't choose a "loop" with one branch coming down 27 and one in front of the hospital.

My first thought when looking at the options was that the route past the Hospital (the purple one) looks the best - of course it was removed from consideration.
 
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My point is that the LRT should be routed so that the station is as close to the hospital building as practical or at least on the same side of hwy 27 as the hospital so that those who are going to the hospital, and may have mobility issues, do not have to cross a major road and walk up a grade to get there.

There will be a stop at Highway 27 and Humber College Blvd. that would be close to a new four-storey wing of the Etobicoke General Hospital. It will add an additional 216,000 square feet to the hospital facility when it opens in 2019.

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My point is that the LRT should be routed so that the station is as close to the hospital building as practical or at least on the same side of hwy 27 as the hospital so that those who are going to the hospital, and may have mobility issues, do not have to cross a major road and walk up a grade to get there.

They already looked at routing through the hospital and decided against it because it would have to go through a park and also the hydro corridor. Also the terminus of the Finch LRT is at Humber College. There's no funded extension to Woodbine. There's just talk of stopping at Woodbine on the way to the airport for a future extension. I don't see why you are so up in arms.
 
The extension would have to go through the Humber Valley, no matter where it goes to reach Woodbine Racetrack and eventually the airport.

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A light-rail right-of-way would take very little space (and no winter salt) as it crosses the valley to go through the west side of the Woodbine parking lot or the green space to the west to reach the 427 and eventually the airport. Unless someone complains about losing parking. (Click on the above image to go to Google Maps.)
 

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Meanwhile...

On September 1st, a new bus terminal opened up on the Humber College North Campus. There are now ten (10) bus bays for TTC, GO, Brampton, MiWay, and York Region. Maybe put in a lost automobile as well.

Wonder if there is provision for the Finch LRT set aside?

See this link for more information. A PDF for the platform layout is here.
 
No, the terminal has no provision for LRT. But it's only a couple of bus bays.

Interestingly, GO will only be serving the new terminal for a total of four days - the last route 35 bus operates Friday night.
 
No, the terminal has no provision for LRT. But it's only a couple of bus bays.

Interestingly, GO will only be serving the new terminal for a total of four days - the last route 35 bus operates Friday night.
I don't know, there's a pretty wide centre section that could be a provision for the Finch LRT. Also GO Transit's 35 is not and will not serve the new terminal.
 
Issued today:

Request for qualifications issued for Finch West LRT
TORONTO, Sept. 8, 2015 /CNW/ - Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx have issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) for interested parties to design, build, finance and maintain the Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) project.

As part of the Ontario Government's commitment to expand transit in Toronto, the new LRT line, located along Finch Avenue West in the city's northwest end, will integrate with the city's existing transit system.

The project includes:

  • 11 kilometres of new dedicated rapid transit between Humber College and the new Finch West Subway Station on the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension
  • 18 surface stops and a below-grade interchange station to connect with the new Finch West Subway Station
  • A maintenance and storage facility for the light rail vehicles


The RFQ is the first step in the procurement process to select a team to deliver the project. Submissions will be evaluated to prequalify project teams with the relevant design and construction experience, and the capacity to finance and deliver a project of this size and complexity. Teams who qualify will be invited to respond to a request for proposals.

The project will help transform Finch Avenue West's priority neighbourhood into a vibrant community, accessible to motorists, transit riders, cyclists and pedestrians. The LRT service will also move more people faster through the busy Finch West corridor than the existing bus service.

The Finch West LRT project will also provide economic and social benefits — including employment and training opportunities, apprenticeships, and local supplier and social enterprise opportunities, where possible — to the local communities.

The project is being delivered using IO's Alternative Financing and Procurement model, which transfers appropriate risks associated with design, construction, financing and maintenance of the project to the private sector. The Finch West LRT line will remain publicly owned.


Quotes:

Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation"This is an exciting milestone for the Finch West LRT project. This new LRT line will help offer more efficient and convenient travel options for priority neighbourhoods and will play an important role in improving and connecting transit services across the city and surrounding areas. The Finch West LRT project is further proof of our government's commitment to making the daily commute and quality of life better for Ontario families."

Brad Duguid, Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure"I am pleased construction will soon be underway for the Finch West Light Rail Transit Project. We are committed to expanding and improving transit across Toronto to help businesses thrive, and families travel to the places they need to go. The Finch LRT will provide fast, efficient service, and the expansion project will help create jobs and grow our economy. This important project is part of our $130 billion infrastructure plan, the largest infrastructure investment in Ontario's history, to keep people moving across the province."

Bruce McCuaig, President and CEO, Metrolinx"The Finch West LRT line is another important part of the region's transit network and identified in Metrolinx's regional transportation plan. As an extension of the existing TTC network, and with connections to GO Transit bus services and existing Mississauga and Brampton transit, the Finch West LRT line will bring fast, reliable and convenient service to the communities that need it most. This is another example of the progress Metrolinx is making to transform the way the region moves by building a fast, convenient and integrated transit network across the GTHA."

Bert Clark, President and CEO, Infrastructure Ontario"We are pleased to be working with Metrolinx to deliver the new Finch West LRT project as part of the province's commitment to expand transit in the GTA."

Background:

In addition to earlier commitments like the Finch West LRT project, the Province is investing in signature projects under the Moving Ontario Forward plan – a plan that commits $31.5 billion over 10 years for investment in priority infrastructure projects across the province, such as public transit, roads, bridges and highways. This includes about $16 billion for priority rapid transit projects in the GTHA and about $15 billion for investment in transportation and other priority infrastructure projects across the rest of the province. Investments made through Moving Ontario Forward will provide new travel choices for commuters, help manage congestion, connect people to jobs, and improve the economy and residents' quality of life.


In the GTHA, the Province is committed to strengthening GO Transit by implementing GO Regional Express Rail (RER) service as a priority. RER will provide faster and more frequent GO rail service with electrification on core segments of the GO Rail network, including Union Pearson (UP) Express. In addition to RER, the Province is committed to implementing the Hurontario-Main LRT project in Mississauga and Brampton, and a new LRT line in Hamilton. Ongoing planning and design work will continue for other projects in the Next Wave of Metrolinx's Regional Transportation Plan for the GTHA.
 

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