GO Transit: Construction Projects (Metrolinx, various)

[crs1026]

PS - I have a theory that this whole "green zone" policy is an admission that ML has given up trying to get contractors to work under the CROR regime for protecting track work. Or maybe said contractors have been quoting astronomically to do so.

Which is not to say that those rules are easy to work under. One sees so many track foremen sitting in white pickup trucks protecting work zones where nothing is going on. The paperwork needed to document and implement a work zone, even for one day, takes a lot of knowledge and lead time. And once activated, the zone has to remain in place for the dates and times declared. A money tree for the flagging contractor.

- Paul

 

[reaperexpress]

The original EA document called for two platforms, an island on the east tracks and a side platform on the west side. That made no sense for a four track line, and I always wondered whether it reflected ML uncertainty about whether a fourth track would be approved... or maybe the EA consultant relied on the as built track.

BTW -

We keep referring to King Liberty as if it is a thing. Last December, City Council deferred it. I didn't see much mention of that here. It slid under the Christmas radar. The Council minutes are amusing as Councillor Perks managed to get a sneaky dig in through a motion that proposed humourous names for the smarttrack stations. He was ruled out of order, but under Council rules the motion, while never voted, is part of the public record.

- Paul

Yes I'm aware the station is deferred. But we can still look at the progression of the designs as examples of Metrolinx indecision on track allocations.

 

[lenaitch]

Agency Captial Plans are accounted for in the main or supplementary spending estimates each year.

So there is money set aside in that sense.

The exact manor in which funds are transferred to agencies to actually pay their bills varies.

But in general, funds not yet needed aren't sent over.

Government, like business, considers numbers on a quarterly basis, and matches revenues + borrowings to expenses.

So money appropriated in a budget for the fiscal year beginning April 1st, 2025 is not necessarily available on that date. Generally it becomes available throughout the year, as required, and funds permit.

Dollars shifted into a project specific account are rarely peeled back; but money not yet transferred may be.

The latter is the reason governments are notorious for last minute spending in Q4 if they are under budget; because if money in the budget isn't actually spent, not only may they need to return it, the budget could be held flat or even reduced in an upcoming year.

I can't speak to the details of how various specific Mx items are or have been handled in this regard.

I dislike posting 'gut' feelings and prefer hard info, but I will say here, that I feel like the propensity of Mx to go over budget is likely a contributor to schedule slippage on scheduled procurement.

Thanks. I'm not familiar with the movement of funds between the government and its Crown agencies. Within the government, funding expenditures outside of an approved budget allocation have to be justified and approved by Treasury Board (and saying 'cuz the Premier said so' doesn't cut. Been there). Once TB approves the allocation, actually spending the money flows down to the existing government financial approvals process. Its webpage identifies its role as 'expenditure management and controllership'.

 

[dowlingm]

Surprised we're buying busted ass PHIs (gross) and not METRA-esque SD70s or something equally stupid.

me when I learn that my plan to buy SD70s to annoy the worst foamers and YouTubers when appointed CEO of Metrolinx will also irritate the otherwise admirable ProjectEnd

 

[ctf5650]

I don't understand the hate Metra got for ordering rebuilt SD70s when they are functionally just MP40s with faster acceleration and better weight distribution

 

[goodcitywhenfinished]

It's still so tragically funny that (not knowing any of the behind the scenes stuff, fair enough) Metrolinx brought in DB to tell them how to do things, then like absolute children decided that they had always known best and this entire [billion dollar?] affair wasn't worth it because we'd rather run things like provincial little commuter choo choo we always were. Surprised we're buying busted ass PHIs (gross) and not METRA-esque SD70s or something equally stupid. It's all so, so dumb.

Careful now, there are several delusional "we actually know how to do railroads better" types on this forum

 

[kotsy]

Update on Dundas & Logan bridges along the LSE corridor.

 

[denfromoakvillemilton]

The suggestion of progress is just an illusion. Note the red flags on Track 1 (the new track is Track 0). Both tracks are missing north of the underpass, up to about Rogers Road. Supposedly to enable preliminary works for the St Clair Smarttrack station. The Kitchener line is down to two tracks at the moment.

My conspiracy theory is that there is some other item that is critical path and not immediately doable (my double conspiracy theory is that it is tied to the Crossways-TTC connection, which is progressing but has lots of work left to do), so the project has deferred all other parts as it's not the last minute yet. Or perhaps as suggested, funding has been yanked to cover some other overspend.

In any event, there is a basket of work that has to be completed before that new track has any real purpose
- Finish preliminary grading and lay trackage from Strachan up to Bloor
- Relocate a signals bungalow at Parkdale and/or grade and lay a new Barrie line track Strachan to Parkdale
- Complete the Randolph entrance to allow pedestrian access under the new track
- Add a turnout and control point at Black Creek to tie in the freight interchange to CPKC to the new track
- Restore the segment between St Clair and Rogers Road for Tracks 0 and 1

This whole project seems like a hobby farm that ML pokes at once in a while when spare change is available.

- Paul

And for full-time use, they need to actually get a deal done over halwest with CN.

 

[T3G]

Would anyone happen to have a link to that article that was going around a few months ago about the descoping of GO Expansion? I don't remember when it was written or what website it's on, so I have very little to go on.

Thanks!

 

[Undead]

Would anyone happen to have a link to that article that was going around a few months ago about the descoping of GO Expansion? I don't remember when it was written or what website it's on, so I have very little to go on.

Thanks!

How Metrolinx’s plan to deliver European-style train service went off the rails

GO Expansion will still transform Greater Golden Horseshoe transit — but likely won’t be as ambitious as what was planned just three years ago

www.thetrillium.ca

 

[T3G]

How Metrolinx’s plan to deliver European-style train service went off the rails

GO Expansion will still transform Greater Golden Horseshoe transit — but likely won’t be as ambitious as what was planned just three years ago

www.thetrillium.ca

Thank you kindly.

 

[Allandale25]

Thank you kindly.

 

[felix123]

Careful now, there are several delusional "we actually know how to do railroads better" types on this forum

We want names! (Just kidding, we all know )

 

[urbancog]

This job posting would suggest Metrolinx will continue intensive construction in the USRC beyond the current south-side rebuild.

 

[PL1]

This job posting would suggest Metrolinx will continue intensive construction in the USRC beyond the current south-side rebuild.

View attachment 686258

I know the text is all corporate bafflegab, but it really would be nice if "excellent customer experience" was emphasized.