Metrolinx: Finch West LRT

[WislaHD]

Would it be worth it for UrbanToronto to create something? A standalone transit site or section?

Like a database section for transit and infrastructure projects?

That would be interesting not just for transit projects but also projects like the Six Points Interchange Configuration. I think it would be good to have easy access to environmental assessments and public consultation/presentation .pdf's without having to dig through my browser history or spend time trawling through metrolinx website or Steve Munro's blog.

 

[k10ery]

Like a database section for transit and infrastructure projects?

That would be interesting not just for transit projects but also projects like the Six Points Interchange Configuration. I think it would be good to have easy access to environmental assessments and public consultation/presentation .pdf's without having to dig through my browser history or spend time trawling through metrolinx website or Steve Munro's blog.

+1

It should be a wiki though. There's some many changes and so many different perspectives on these projects, it would be very hard for a small group to create a definitive database. Just my view.

 

[gweed123]

+1

It should be a wiki though. There's some many changes and so many different perspectives on these projects, it would be very hard for a small group to create a definitive database. Just my view.

Agreed. I find Wikipedia is great for reading up on historical aspects of Toronto transit, but is generally pretty poor for keeping up to date on current projects. A lot of the time the basic info (cost estimate, timeline, etc) is either missing completely or is outdated.

If UT wants a user base bump, maybe link the references back to UT articles or the UT database?

 

[nfitz]

Agreed. I find Wikipedia is great for reading up on historical aspects of Toronto transit, but is generally pretty poor for keeping up to date on current projects. A lot of the time the basic info (cost estimate, timeline, etc) is either missing completely or is outdated.

If UT wants a user base bump, maybe link the references back to UT articles or the UT database?

Create another place that's going to need editing, have edit wars, and is also constantly out-of-date?

Why not just go fix Wikipedia?

 

[gweed123]

Create another place that's going to need edit, have edit wars, and is also constantly out-of-date?

Why not just go fix Wikipedia?

That's what I'm saying: have people from UT edit the Wikipedia entries and keep them up to date. In order to generate additional traffic for UT though, have some of the reference links on Wikipedia link back to UT articles or the UT database.

 

[Edward Skira]

I'll give some thought.

 

[JasonParis]

I kind of like the idea personally.

 

[W. K. Lis]

From Metrolinx:

Finch

• Finch Fact Sheet
• Finch Environmental Assessment Report
• Finch Infographic
• Finch Map

 

[Adjei]

Which extension should come first? The one to Finch Station or to the airport?

 

[TheTigerMaster]

Create another place that's going to need editing, have edit wars, and is also constantly out-of-date?

Why not just go fix Wikipedia?

I'd trust the content on a wiki moderated exclusively by UT members, than Wikipedia which is more "public". There's a lot of expertise on this forum, and I'd expect that member would do a great job keeping each other in line.

Also, Wikipedia doesn't do a great job covering non-transit developments in Toronto. UT would do a better job.

 

[ehlow]

From Metrolinx:

So two days ago it was reported that construction would be 2016-2021:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/finch-west-lrt-moving-ahead-construction-begins-2016-1.3050067

Now, according to the fact sheet WKLis posted it's 2017-2022?

The main Metrolinx website now also says 2017 instead of 2016 a day ago:
http://www.metrolinx.com/en/projectsandprograms/transitexpansionprojects/finch_west.aspx

Bizarre. Someone panicked and pushed it back another year?

 

[Rainforest]

Which extension should come first? The one to Finch Station or to the airport?

I would say, extension to Yonge and Finch is more urgent, in order to eliminate an artificial linear transfer at Keele. Plus, the section between Dufferin and Bathurst has quite a few trip generators.

That said, if the Woodbine or Airport extension comes first, it will be quite useful as well.

 

[Adjei]

City Council has asked that the report due on the issue of the casino at Woodbine include a cost/benefit analysis of extending the LRT to Woodbine and Pearson Airport.

 

[gweed123]

Which extension should come first? The one to Finch Station or to the airport?

That's a good question. Honestly, I can see both being funded at the same time, just to avoid bickering. The extension to Woodbine should be relatively inexpensive, since the Highway 27 ROW is already very wide.

Not sure if this is even legal or not, but one of the conditions for the approval of the Woodbine Casino that Council could potentially impose is paying for a percentage of the construction of the LRT extension. Perhaps under the guise of having a viable alternative method of accessing the site, and to help mitigate some of the increased vehicular traffic that would be sure to arise from a casino there. I don't think that would fall under Section 37, but maybe there's something similar that Council can use.

 

[11th]

Plus, the section between Dufferin and Bathurst has quite a few trip generators.

Half true. I believe two thirds of that block is ravine/reservoir. Only the few blocks to the west of Bathurst can be consider trip generators.