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Metrolinx: Other Items (catch all)

^I had a similar experience shooting the new Finch trams…. a very friendly and helpful construction worker explained that the contractor temporarily “owned” the entire Finch roadway as a construction zone and pedestrians weren’t allowed anywhere but the marked pathway. I honestly thought I was just on a public roadside, and not in the active construction zone. (Then he offered to escort me to a spot where I could get some better shots…… so I wasn’t arguing!)

I think this is more a sign that the contractors are under the gun to work safely, so they enforce what goes on in their territory as laid out in the contract. If an individual worker took the initiative to challenge your presence, they take that seriously, and worry about their accountability if someone were injured.. So it’s a good thing.

And giving the contractor such a wide expanse to work in, while keeping people out, is probably prudent. But maybe the perimeter could be marked better.

- Paul
 
But maybe the perimeter could be marked better.
Yeah, this was my issue with it. I didn't mind that I had been asked to move elsewhere - I ended up getting better photos in my new spot than I would've in my original spot, anyway - it just grinds my gears that Metrolinx thinks they can declare a whole sidewalk to be out of bounds, but not block off access to it. I don't blame the workers themselves or anything like that, I'm sure that decision must've been made by some clueless executive in an office.
 
It would be nice if it was more flexible. I like the idea of paying for a reserved spot but there should be better secure bike parking for day-of riders.
 
Im curious to see if these get used in Pickering. There isn't any plan to add (cycling) infrastructure to get to the Go station anytime soon...

In Pickering, Durham Region, who controls the major routes around the station, has opted for bike lanes along Bayly, but won't to implement until... after 2030 (it is in the 'long term' vision). Liverpool rd? 2022-2029...'short term'. I would highly bet on the later dates based on any implementation I've seen. I would guess that they may be waiting for developers to build it out, but, as I've asked in other threads, not sure if the developers are putting anything in.

At least the province has control over the cycle track they plan on implementing along Kingston rd as part of the BRT project which should be in place before all of these. Problem is, you'll have to ride on the sidewalk over a narrow Liverpool Rd bridge (controlled by MTO and CN?, no bike infra going in there!) or down to the pedestrian bridge and walk over... About 5 minutes to get to the Go station.
 
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There's the Whitby campus across the 401 but its a pain in the ass to get to as a pedestrian...

Maybe they have plans to offer a shuttle/ new bus service?
Or more likely its purely commercial...
 
"next stop: nowhere near durham college oshawa station"
LMAO

I can't wait for Durham College to be added to the map, and for confusion to rise

1664918076320.png
 
There's the Whitby campus across the 401 but its a pain in the ass to get to as a pedestrian...

Maybe they have plans to offer a shuttle/ new bus service?
Or more likely its purely commercial...
I had to google the two locations of Durham College, bit its Whitby Campus seems to be the only point of interest you could possibly name Oshawa Station after:
546926F3-2551-4DD8-9E7D-FDAD526E34FC.jpeg
 
Plain and simply, Metrolinx and the Ford government are just getting stupid with station naming conventions to the point where nothing makes sense.

I'm sure soon we'll end up with an "Hamilton" station somewhere in Toronto, and a "Mississauga" station somewhere in Oakville. Who knows, maybe the Crosstown line naming will be split in 2 so the Western section is known as "the Deco Labels" line.
 
They likely want to attract students to their new facility at the Whitby campus.

To give them some credit, they did recently add sidewalks that connect the campus to the intersection at Stellar & Thickson as apart of the opening of the new facility. Before you had to walk across a field to reach campus lol

Nothing like a refreshing 3.4km walk through the wilds of Industrial Oshawa next to a huge highway to get to school from the GO Station!

1664920149684.png


Pretty much the same distance if you go the other way.

Pushing Thornton Road over/under the 401 here, at least for pedestrians/cyclists would be a massive time savings for that walk.

It cuts the distance by slightly over 1/2 to 1.6km
 
Yeah, this was my issue with it. I didn't mind that I had been asked to move elsewhere - I ended up getting better photos in my new spot than I would've in my original spot, anyway - it just grinds my gears that Metrolinx thinks they can declare a whole sidewalk to be out of bounds, but not block off access to it. I don't blame the workers themselves or anything like that, I'm sure that decision must've been made by some clueless executive in an office.
It does seem odd. I was under the impression that the 'construction box' had to be clearly delineated for all sorts of reasons (Labour Act, OH&S, WSIB, etc.) and to exclude the unescorted public for liability reasons.
 
Nothing like a refreshing 3.4km walk through the wilds of Industrial Oshawa next to a huge highway to get to school from the GO Station!

View attachment 430789

Pretty much the same distance if you go the other way.

Pushing Thornton Road over/under the 401 here, at least for pedestrians/cyclists would be a massive time savings for that walk.

It cuts the distance by slightly over 1/2 to 1.6km
I think a Thornton road underpass would make a lot of sense with the Thornton's Corner station being built for the Bowmanville extension. Would also allow for DRT to operate a new bus on Thornton road, with a connection to Oshawa GO and Trent University's Durham campus at Thornton and King.
 
How I became a weekday golfer
 

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