Metrolinx: Sheppard East LRT (In Design)

[Rainforest]

If there is so much hostility towards Sheppard LRT out there, why build it? Either extend the subway by a few stations, or just redirect the funds to other corridors ...

I did not hear of that kind of resentment with respect to Eglinton LRT, or Finch West (except of Mammo's antics that don't seem to attract any sympathy in the community).

 

[Silence&Motion]

If there is so much hostility towards Sheppard LRT out there, why build it? Either extend the subway by a few stations, or just redirect the funds to other corridors ...

Something tells me that the dozens of younger people I see crowded into the bus shelters at Warden and Sheppard (of which I am frequently a member) were not represented at that meeting.

I suspect the average age of the people at that meeting was probably 50+, and were probably mostly interested in just making sure they're not inconvenienced with little worry about whether a subway actually does or does not get built.

 

[Ansem]

and yet, No one on this board will denounce the construction of the Spadina extension beyond Steeles. The ridership over ther will be even lower than what Sheppard Subway draws today. Vaughan's line is well within BRT range and yet subway it is.

Even the projected Richmond Hill extension to Steeles is well within LRT but hey that's ok. We're willing to operate subways in suburban towns that are far from "TTC standards pff whatever" but you have the like of Stinz who has the audacity to tell a quarter of the city that they'll never get subways...

Council is beyond shortsighted and I hope Ford get .5% tax sale but I already anticipate Stinz to shut it down

 

[Rainforest]

Something tells me that the dozens of younger people I see crowded into the bus shelters at Warden and Sheppard (of which I am frequently a member) were not represented at that meeting.

I suspect the average age of the people at that meeting was probably 50+, and were probably mostly interested in just making sure they're not inconvenienced with little worry about whether a subway actually does or does not get built.

Perhaps; but then why don't those people make themselves heard?

Also, I don't see crowds of 50+ residents cursing the Eglinton or Finch LRT lines (Mammo is Mammo an he does not really count). Somehow, it is Sheppard LRT that stirs controversy.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Ansem:

and yet, No one on this board will denounce the construction of the Spadina extension beyond Steeles. The ridership over ther will be even lower than what Sheppard Subway draws today. Vaughan's line is well within BRT range and yet subway it is.

Even the projected Richmond Hill extension to Steeles is well within LRT but hey that's ok. We're willing to operate subways in suburban towns that are far from "TTC standards pff whatever" but you have the like of Stinz who has the audacity to tell a quarter of the city that they'll never get subways...

Sorry, we've denounced that extension years ago - you are free to dig back into the forum and look those posts up yourself. Just in case you haven't noticed, that train has already left the station for that project with no turning back.

Council is beyond shortsighted and I hope Ford get .5% tax sale but I already anticipate Stinz to shut it down

That's rich. Ford can't even admit to needing, much less implementing the additional revenue tools that are stated in the report he more or less commissioned.

AoD

 

[Rainforest]

and yet, No one on this board will denounce the construction of the Spadina extension beyond Steeles. The ridership over ther will be even lower than what Sheppard Subway draws today. Vaughan's line is well within BRT range and yet subway it is.

Actually, the Spadina extension was a hot topic 2-3 years ago. By now, the project is in the advanced state of construction, cannot be cancelled, and even if it could, the sunk costs cannot be recovered. There is no point bashing it, whether it was the right choice or not.

 

[rbt]

I suspect the average age of the people at that meeting was probably 50+

Based on the ages given in the article that is probably right. (38, 50's, 68).

Most will be dead before a subway gets to SCC given funding Ford is willing to allocate toward it.

 

[sixrings]

Perhaps; but then why don't those people make themselves heard?

Also, I don't see crowds of 50+ residents cursing the Eglinton or Finch LRT lines (Mammo is Mammo an he does not really count). Somehow, it is Sheppard LRT that stirs controversy.

Well it should be obvious why Sheppard brings up controversy. Finch riders are desperate for anything, there is no real hope for a subway. Eglinton riders. Have been burned once with the eglinton line being canceled and as a result want something rather then nothing. People on Sheppard though already have a subway and as a result most feel that an extension makes sense and choosing lrt is really going backwards.

 

[Ansem]

That's rich. Ford can't even admit to needing, much less implementing the additional revenue tools that are stated in the report he more or less commissioned.AoD

He will this time, he knows full well without it he can kiss Sheppard goodbye. isn't why he was asking Councilors what were their thoughts on Tolls, Sales tax and Parking taxes. Just the .5% Sales tax would give us a stable stream of revenue that could build an entire network over time after Sheppard is complete.

This would make it easier to get the DRL and Eglinton to the Airport

 

[Ansem]

Well it should be obvious why Sheppard brings up controversy. Finch riders are desperate for anything, there is no real hope for a subway. Eglinton riders. Have been burned once with the eglinton line being canceled and as a result want something rather then nothing. People on Sheppard though already have a subway and as a result most feel that an extension makes sense and choosing lrt is really going backwards.

What bothers me with Stinz and her clan is that they have completely reverted back to Transit City and elevated MarkII or LRT is not even being considered passed Don Mills.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Ansem:

He will this time, he knows full well without it he can kiss Sheppard goodbye. isn't why he was asking Councilors what were their thoughts on Tolls, Sales tax and Parking taxes. Just the .5% Sales tax would give us a stable stream of revenue that could build an entire network over time after Sheppard is complete.

Err, no - he is all over the place - one day it is parking fees, another it is tolls, casinos, lotteries, and another it is vehicular registration tax (which he promptly recanted) - and that's not even admitting you need to commit the development charges from the ENTIRE city put into the dinky Sheppard line for 50 years. This doesn't sound like someone who know what he is doing, much less have a plan. And recall the original boast that somehow Sheppard wouldn't cost taxpayer a cent. Like really, would you trust someone like that to sell you anything in the real life - much less something that cost billions? Be honest. Besides, push comes to shove - the no taxes groups has more pull on him than the transit crowd.

This would make it easier to get the DRL and Eglinton to the Airport

Note that he never campaigned for DRL, and on the topic of Eglinton and its' absence in his transportation plan, his response was: there was no money for it - not: we don't have the funds for it, let's plan how we can raise the funds.

AoD

 

[Rainforest]

Well it should be obvious why Sheppard brings up controversy. Finch riders are desperate for anything, there is no real hope for a subway. Eglinton riders. Have been burned once with the eglinton line being canceled and as a result want something rather then nothing. People on Sheppard though already have a subway and as a result most feel that an extension makes sense and choosing lrt is really going backwards.

Fair enough; but even with that rationale, why invest $1 billion in something that causes resentment rather than makes the voters happy. Anyway, Sheppard East is not the busiest bus route in the city.

 

[Rainforest]

He will this time, he knows full well without it he can kiss Sheppard goodbye. isn't why he was asking Councilors what were their thoughts on Tolls, Sales tax and Parking taxes. Just the .5% Sales tax would give us a stable stream of revenue that could build an entire network over time after Sheppard is complete.

This would make it easier to get the DRL and Eglinton to the Airport

I support that idea; but the little problem is that currently the City is not allowed to impose a sales tax or income tax. The Council would have to petition the provincial government to grant it such powers, or to legislate the additional sales tax in Toronto (or GTA).

 

[rbt]

He will this time, he knows full well without it he can kiss Sheppard goodbye. isn't why he was asking Councilors what were their thoughts on Tolls, Sales tax and Parking taxes. Just the .5% Sales tax would give us a stable stream of revenue that could build an entire network over time after Sheppard is complete.

IIRC, .5% sales tax for Toronto (not the GTA) was something like $100M per year.

It's going the take either a GTA wide sales tax in which case the revenue gets split or a combination of items.

I am very much in favour of both this and a parking tax or toll.

 

[Voltz]

Fair enough; but even with that rationale, why invest $1 billion in something that causes resentment rather than makes the voters happy. Anyway, Sheppard East is not the busiest bus route in the city.

The city needs to make investments that are rational and not based on who can wrangle up the loudest mob. It's really just relative few who are staunchly against LRT, most of them have misconceptions about what is really happening and most will get over it once construction is well under way.