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2013 Fantasies, anyone?

T

TonyV

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We must have tired of all the Ford crap so let's change the channel.

Anyone care to reveal their heart-on-the-sleeve fantasies for Toronto in 2013? Let 'er rip.
 
TonyV said:
We must have tired of all the Ford crap so let's change the channel.

Anyone care to reveal their heart-on-the-sleeve fantasies for Toronto in 2013? Let 'er rip.
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we sell the Gardiner and use the 8 billion to build a FULL DRL..... Since we already have tolls we decide to toll the DVP and 427 as well... We use the toll money from those two places to complete the LRT portion of TC.... Finally we use the DRL infill and the Eglinton infill to fill in the Allen expressway.

I say this as a driver who uses the allen at least 4 days a week... and ive used transit maybe once in the last month.
 
sixrings said:
we sell the Gardiner and use the 8 billion to build a FULL DRL..... Since we already have tolls we decide to toll the DVP and 427 as well... We use the toll money from those two places to complete the LRT portion of TC.... Finally we use the DRL infill and the Eglinton infill to fill in the Allen expressway.

I say this as a driver who uses the allen at least 4 days a week... and ive used transit maybe once in the last month.
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The province of Ontario owns the 427, 404, 401, and 4011 (hasn't been downloaded... yet). The city of Toronto owns the DVP & Gardiner, which is paid not by gasoline taxes but by city of Toronto property taxes. Would like to see non-Toronto residents pay a toll to use the DVP & Gardiner, but Toronto residents go free or pay a discounted toll.
 
that would be nice. install a system like the 407's, and allow Toronto residents to purchase a special receiver that voids all tolls on them, providing they show proof of residence. And this is coming from someone who lives in Durham.

my dreams? well lets see.

1. The provincial liberals manage to hold on to government long enough to pass transit taxes, before Hudak inevitably swings into power and completely destroys Metrolinx.
2. DRL is the first thing funded by the new Transit tax, and begins the construction process immediately, with construction beginning early 2014.
3. Ford loses his appeal and a new election is held, with either John Tory or Olivia Chow winning it. (the only people I feel who would do good with this city, and have a true vision for it, with the ability to act it out)
4.by some miracle, the ECLRT is fully grade separated.
5. The fort York bridge is revived from the dead
6.Oxford Place gets the go-ahead without the casino portion, which results in the loss of the hotel towers and half of the rail-deck. (the two office towers and the convention centre expansion move ahead)
7. the province uploads ALL municipal freeways in the province, and begins an immediate "renovation" of them, including a 1 lane widening of the DVP from the 401 to Bayview, and extensive repairs to the Gardiner. The DVP, Gardiner, and QEW are all renamed to highway 404. (truly wishful thinking)
8. as the centrepiece of a new infrastructure investment project, the Federal Government announces a new HSR line running from Toronto to Montreal via Oshawa, Kingston, and Ottawa. (T.O.K.O.M. for short)
 
My priorities for 2013 is to avoid the mistakes planned for 2013. The solutions are:

1. Grade-separate (elevate) the ECLRT from Don Mills to Kennedy.
2. Connect the ECLRT to the SRT.
3. Cancel the Conlins Maintenance Yard and expand the McCowan Yard as needed.
4. Cancel the SELRT (related to 3).
5. Plan and construct DRL station at Don Mills and Eglinton together with ECLRT station.

The problem is that something has to change in order to achieve this. The best chance is for Tim Hudak and the Coservatives to defeat the Liberals in a spring election. A more remote possibility would be for Ford to win his appeal, and regain some of his swagger as Mayor, with a dose of humility. Then the above could be implemented. As a compromise Ford would agree some transit funding initiatives, i.e. 1% property tax dedicated to grade-separated transit or a parking levy.
 
BurlOak said:
The problem is that something has to change in order to achieve this. The best chance is for Tim Hudak and the Coservatives to defeat the Liberals in a spring election. A more remote possibility would be for Ford to win his appeal, and regain some of his swagger as Mayor, with a dose of humility. Then the above could be implemented. As a compromise Ford would agree some transit funding initiatives, i.e. 1% property tax dedicated to grade-separated transit or a parking levy.
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I would like all the things you have suggested done as well. However the idea that PCs are more likely than liberals to raise taxes to pay for transit proves you are in the FANTASY thread.
 
yep. the fact that Hudak has stated that Toronto needs subways but only when we can afford it (which in the mind of a conservative, is never) tells me nothing will happen. if Hudak gets in, don't get your hopes up for transit expansion while he is in office. Unfortunately, I am increasingly seeing this as extremely likely, and I pray the Liberals stay in power long enough to secure a transit tax. Then Hudak can be let in and (hopefully) clean up the deficit.
 
sixrings said:
I would like all the things you have suggested done as well. However the idea that PCs are more likely than liberals to raise taxes to pay for transit proves you are in the FANTASY thread.
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But the 5 points I listed will result in less money being needed.
 
1. The Gehry and Oxford towers get the go-ahead without any height reduction
2. Beautiful and iconic piece of architecture is proposed for the foot of Yonge st (visible from the water but not necessarily another tower).
3. Pleased with the renovation of Queens Quay and Harbour Square, the province gives Ontario Place over to Waterfront Toronto and ditches Tory's plan for condos in the park.
4. Rob Ford is turfed from office and can't even hold onto his core supporters in the bi-election when a competent right wing candidate runs. The split vote on the right allows a true city builder to get back into office.
5. Provincial Liberal party, re-energized by their new leader (Gerard Kennedy?) wins another minority government in an early election. Tim Hudak, once again loses the election that was seemingly handed to him on a sliver platter and is ditched by his party.
6. Mega casino idea for downtown Toronto is scrapped in favour of a series of small "boutique" casinos, gambling houses and poker clubs throughout the entertainment district. The province/city gets its gambling revenue and surrounding businesses prosper.
 
BurlOak said:
But the 5 points I listed will result in less money being needed.
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How? Hudak has already promised if elected, he would cancel all those projects. So if one built any of that stuff at all, it would cost more than what Hudak is promising.
 
nfitz said:
How? Hudak has already promised if elected, he would cancel all those projects. So if one built any of that stuff at all, it would cost more than what Hudak is promising.
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Did he promise to cancel the projects that are already being built, or just the ones that are planned. (I am sure there will be a comment here about how as a back bench MPP, he cancelledd the Eglinton West subway).

If he will cancel the planned lines, then he would already hit #3 and #4 from my list. It is possible that with the $1B saved, he would spend a few hundred million to accomplish the grade-separated (what most of the public refer to as "subway") transit line.

I know nothing will be corrected with McGuinty, but I am not sure about the 7 leadership candidates. Have any of them made any comments about transit? I know several of them have indicated a different approach on education.
 
My understanding is that Hudak wants to cancel FWLRT and SELRT and wants to stick the ECLRT underground again, replicating fords plan. Then don't expect any more subways after that, as we won't "be able to afford" them. You may get grade separated eglinton with Hudak, but not the way you want it, and at the cost of torontos transit stagnating for another 4 years, minimum. Metrolinx has a solid plan for transit, I trust them to take it forward, especially once they get their transit tax, which most certainly won't happen under Hudak.
 
innsertnamehere said:
My understanding is that Hudak wants to cancel FWLRT and SELRT and wants to stick the ECLRT underground again, replicating fords plan. Then don't expect any more subways after that, as we won't "be able to afford" them. You may get grade separated eglinton with Hudak, but not the way you want it, and at the cost of torontos transit stagnating for another 4 years, minimum. Metrolinx has a solid plan for transit, I trust them to take it forward, especially once they get their transit tax, which most certainly won't happen under Hudak.
Click to expand...

Hopefully, he realizes, or someone points out, how much less expensive an elevated line would be when compared to a fully tunnelled line along Eglinton.

Then when the budget is balanced in 2017, prior to the next election, he could extend the Sheppard subway east and west instead of resurrecting the SELRT and FWLRT.

It is true that this would represent a 4 year delay until farther transit construction – which is basically the same delay the current Liberals are proposing.
 
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