But again, good implementation could’ve allowed for grade separation *and* emergency vehicle usage. This isn’t a new idea; just one that was ignored in designing Ion. It was not well thought out, or even thought out to European tram standards from decades ago. This is why I objected to using it as an example of good car interaction. It's not.
You are missing the simple point that KWs LRT would not have been built if it cost more and we'd be in the same situation London, Hamilton, Mississauga and Brampton all find themselves. The idea of grade separation was not ignored it was fundamentally never going to happen. There was barely the political will to build what we have, Cambridge would've been built but Doug Craig was adamant on not wanting it, even then KW still had to spend 300 million dollars to build it entirely from taxes on the residents. If KW needed to fund their LRT where's Mississauga funding there's? Or heaven forbid Toronto funding there's? The reality is grade separation was entirely out of the picture as KW did not have the money nor the political ability, you're off in fantasy land if you think that would ever be feasible without funds coming entirely from the province and feds (which it didn't and wouldn't).
Carrying more passengers doesn't automatically make it *better*.
Go take the 201 at rush hour and come back and say that. The ION simply moves more people with the ability to increase headways when required. The 201 and 12 are the two busiest routes that aren't the LRT and are standing room only much of the time. Now throw all the ION volumes onto those routes which are already skipping stops? It simple moves more people than the bus network ever will. It isn't perfect, that is known but it is in no way worse than the busses.
Again, allowing these problems (regardless of careless driving) in the first place is the issue. Outside of major intersections, why are cars allowed to right turn in front of Ion vehicles at all? Signals, bollards, modal filters, etc. aren't an invention of the 2020s.
Most of the accidents happen at signalized intersections, where drivers blatantly ignore the existing signals and signage. It is not inherently bad design, the reality is grade seperation and there wouldn't be an LRT. Now we have what we do but drivers are just complete idiots and ignore the signs and signals in place.
King and KCI has had 6 crashes, yet U turns are illegal heading northbound, and southbound LT is signal controlled.
King and Agnes has had 6 crashes, southbound and northbound you are not allowed to cross the tracks (yet idiot drivers still do). Agnes is signal controlled so they will only ever get a green when there is no LRT movement.
Ottawa and Courtland is signal controlled and has giant LED displays that light up showing no RT when the LRT is passing by yet has had 4 crashes.
Ottawa and Borden is the same thing yet has had 3 crashes.
King and Mount Hope also signalized has had 3 crashes.
King and Green is signalized and has had 5 crashes.
Caroline and William is signalized and has had 2 crashes.
King and Allen is signalized and has had 1 crash.
King and Union is signalized and has had 3 crashes.
Mill and Ottawa is signalized and has had 2 crashes.
Duke and Ontario is signalized and has had 4 crashes.
Charles and Queen is signalized and has had 2 crashes.
Charles and Cameron is signalized and has had 2 crashes.
So right there that's 43 of the 65 or so crashes at signalized intersections and I didn't even look at every single crash. So sure there are crashes where there is RT movements across the tracks at non signalized intersections but the reality is most of the crashes are occurring at places where people should be following signage and signals but don't.
