Sheppard Subway - Development Impacts

[JasonParis]

although there may be a limited role for some new subways in Toronto's future.

Which was my point. He won't aknowledge that. He's brilliant, but on subways I feel he's a bit off.

 

[unimaginative2]

Exactly. He's a great and dedicated analyst of streetcar operations, but I wish that's where the Munro-worship would stay. I think he's still a bit stuck in the 70s save-the-streetcar days, where new subway construction inevitably led to further streetcar abandonment. He even opposes the GO-ALRT project, which in retrospect is the most tragic loss in the history of Toronto transit planning, simply because its UTDC technology was originally designed as a competitor to streetcars on suburban routes. He opposes major transit investments purely because they don't use what is essentially his pet technology. I don't doubt the value of his contributions, we owe him (among others) a great debt for preventing the total abandonment of streetcars in the 1970s, and most importantly he's one of the few transit advocates who seem willing to admit that the TTC does a very poor job of running its routes. That being said, I really wish he would stick to talking about operational issues and downtown streetcars.

 

[Dan416]

Yeah Toronto needs more subways, not being satisifed with the status quo. The status quo has led to stagnation and traffic chaos in the whole GTA. Subways where warranted are still needed.

 

[Edward Skira]

I'm sure he wouldn't have a problem with more subways if the budget was unlimited. Since the budget is limited he's pushing for a more balanced approach. What gets a bigger bang, a stubway or a major expansion of lrt? That's Munro's approach as I see it.

 

[scarberiankhatru]

Not to speak for him, but I think he has made it clear that he sees transit as a system, not as one line here and one line there.

You can't build a system without building lines.

$6 billion could build a lot of useful subway lines, especially in the context of how silly some of the Transit City lines are.

 

[Dan416]

You can't build a system without building lines.

$6 billion could build a lot of useful subway lines, especially in the context of how silly some of the Transit City lines are.

I agree.

 

[FutureMayor]

$6 Billion to Where?

$6 Billion to where?

From I recall the $6 billion was to build Rapid Transit Line throughout the entire GTA and Hamilton area.

$6 billion for subways in or to Toronto alone would be selfish and will only benefit a select few.

Unnessary subway lines like Sheppard and costly extensions to places like Vaughan Corn Fields Centre is stupid.

We have to be strategic about where and what type of new transit lines are built.

The new transit lines that cross and link several municipalities and region throughout the 905 and 416 is the right plan.

Louroz

 

[doady]

Exactly how is $6 billion for Toronto selfish? Transit City is entirely Toronto's plan, and if they want to spend the money, then there is nothing wrong with that.

 

[Observer Walt]

Louroz, that's exactly the point of Transit City. $6 billion (or any other figure for that matter) builds a certain amount of subway, but builds far more streetcar / LRT line. Subways are also pretty expensive to run on an ongoing basis.

Transit plans being made now extend well beyond Toronto. Burbs including Peel, York Region, and as far as Hamilton are to receive funding under the recent provincial initiative (assuming it actually comes to pass). If there's one thing we have hopefully learned by now, it is to take the wider view.

 

[scarberiankhatru]

From I recall the $6 billion was to build Rapid Transit Line throughout the entire GTA and Hamilton area.

$6 billion for subways in or to Toronto alone would be selfish and will only benefit a select few.

Lol. That $6 billion is just for a half dozen streetcar lines in the 416, a partial network that will require billions more in improvements to be properly functional (and even then it will still have silly components).

 

[ShonTron]

Hurontario LRT to Brampton and S-Bahn type service on the Lakeshore, Milton and Georgetown lines would be quite sufficient for Peel's transit needs, plus the Acceleride and MT express bus system. The Dundas LRT is an amazing idea, if only because Dundas West is so logical for infill and intensification.

 

[scarberiankhatru]

The Hurontario line would go straight down to Port Credit, right? If its high-rise nodes fill in a bit more, Hurontario will be like Mississauga's version of Yonge Street...it should be a very successful line.

 

[Dan416]

Hurontario already IS Mississauga's Yonge Street. Certainly not as busy, but it's got stuff all along it, including all the new highrises, the AMC movie theatre at Courtneypark, PC GO at the south, Square One at MCC, and more to come I'm sure.

 

[urbandreamer]

But I thought Mississauga was built around a subway (franchise

Miss doesn't need a subway or lrt--it needs millions more people first!

 

[scarberiankhatru]

Hurontario already IS Mississauga's Yonge Street. Certainly not as busy, but it's got stuff all along it, including all the new highrises, the AMC movie theatre at Courtneypark, PC GO at the south, Square One at MCC, and more to come I'm sure.

No, it is not already like Yonge Street. What percentage of Hurontario is lined with buildings that front the street (preferably with retail)? Once the abundant gaps and parking lots and [towers-in-the-]parks are filled in, it should resemble Yonge. Every street has "stuff" all along it...Hurontario looks more like Bathurst in North York or Don Mills right now (which is a quasi-compliment since Bathurst and Don Mills both have so many high-rises).