SmartTrack (Proposed)

[drum118]

As vote looms, here are the facts on Mayor John Tory’s SmartTrack plan

 

[pman]

First the SSE manipulation, now this. It doesn't seem there's any reason to trust Tory on the transit file.

City staff adjusted numbers to boost case for GO station promised by John Tory, documents show

But on the plus side, Tory thought he required made-up numbers to get Council approval. On Gardiner East, Tory just ignored the numbers and Council went along. So, progress by Toronto standards.

 

[Sandpit]

early 20121

This being Toronto, it would probably actually take this long.

 

[ssiguy2]

How can they build the stations when they have yet, after all these years, to even figure out the type of vehicles they are going to use and their platform levels? On the topic of stations another question beckons.............how the hell does it take 6 years to build just 6 stations?

 

[muller877]

How can they build the stations when they have yet, after all these years, to even figure out the type of vehicles they are going to use and their platform levels? On the topic of stations another question beckons.............how the hell does it take 6 years to build just 6 stations?

So they can study it for 4 more years and have a gold shovel ready for the next election. And then the person in power after that election has to pay for it (or cancel it).

 

[Cobra]

Now they are questioning how in the world could GO Smarttrack stations could be more expensive than extensive subway stations

Good points:
https://twitter.com/BenSpurr/status/989171363872112640
Pasternak says new subway stations on the Spadina subway extension cost about $200 million each, and they're "formidable structures."

https://twitter.com/BenSpurr/status/989170623439130624
Cllr Pasternak says he's not aware of any GO stations that cost as much as the ones city is being asked to pay for as part of SmartTrack plan.

https://twitter.com/BenSpurr/status/989170879623057408
Director of transit planning James Perttula says these stations are different than regular GO stations, because they're being fit into an "urban context," which is more complex and expensive.

https://twitter.com/BenSpurr/status/989172077977591809
Cllr Holyday now also raising concerns about the cost of the stations.

https://twitter.com/BenSpurr/status/989172583575752704
How can we be sure we're not being taken to the cleaners, Campbell asks? "I don't see the need for elaborate, expensive, well art-designed stations."

https://twitter.com/BenSpurr/status/989173531928821765
Apologies, I mixed up my Etobicoke councillors earlier. It was Campbell, not Holyday, who was raising concerns about the cost of the stations. Deleted the mistaken tweet.

 

[nfitz]

Now they are questioning how in the world could GO Smarttrack stations could be more expensive than extensive subway stations

https://twitter.com/BenSpurr/status/989170879623057408
Director of transit planning James Perttula says these stations are different than regular GO stations, because they're being fit into an "urban context," which is more complex and expensive.

There's no way the existing Exhibition and Danforth stations cost anywhere near $200 million. The only infrastructure of note is a tunnel (just like suburban GO stations), and small station buildings (smaller than most suburban stations). They don't even have the massive parking structures you see in suburbia.

 

[Cobra]

There's no way the existing Exhibition and Danforth stations cost anywhere near $200 million. The only infrastructure of note is a tunnel (just like suburban GO stations), and small station buildings (smaller than most suburban stations). They don't even have the massive parking structures you see in suburbia.

Metrolinx are arguing that it's more expensive in existing urban area than deserted land for subways. Also, they claim enlarging the corridor, adding platform and bridges as reasons for the additional costs

I call BS on that.

 

[Cobra]

https://twitter.com/BenSpurr/status/989213747460833280
Perks notes that Tory promised a 22-station SmartTrack plan that would operate like a "surface subway." That is nothing like what is being proposed today, he says.

https://twitter.com/BenSpurr/status/989214071051481090
"I fully and completely endorse the idea of having enhanced regional rail," Perks says. "The question is whether municipal governments should be paying to build GO stations for regional and inter-regional (travel)."

https://twitter.com/BenSpurr/status/989214369077743620
Other municipalities don't pay to build GO stations in their areas, Perks says. He questions why Toronto is being asked to spend $1.46 billion on stations here. "We're being asked to do something no other municipality does."

https://twitter.com/BenSpurr/status/989214641749483521
If you had a billion and a half dollars, would building six GO stations be the best investment you could make to improve transit in Toronto? asks Perks. "Don't get lost in the name 'SmartTrack.' It doesn't mean anything."

https://twitter.com/BenSpurr/status/989214994062565379
Cllr Campbell says city's costs are capped at $1.2 billion. Not sure how he's arrived at that. Including components city has identified as necessary to serve urban areas, the total cost is up to $1.46 billion.

 

[Cobra]

https://twitter.com/BenSpurr/status/989216084040536064
Cllr Matlow notes Tory promised SmartTrack would be built in 7 years, and would be completely paid for by TIF. Neither has turned out to be true.

https://twitter.com/BenSpurr/status/989216455127371776
Matlow also asks why city is paying for stations on a provincial rail network. "Why are we now the revenue tool for the province?" he asks.

 

[Cobra]

The man lost his mind:

https://twitter.com/BenSpurr/status/989216982640807936
Cllr Mammoliti moves his customary motion to kill the Finch LRT. It requests the province reallocate $1 billion from the LRT to SmartTrack.

https://twitter.com/BenSpurr/status/989217230947782656
Mammoliti says he's talked to the "future premier of this province" (by whom I assume he means Doug Ford) and don't be surprised if Finch is indeed defunded to pay for SmartTrack after the election.

 

[Cobra]

https://twitter.com/BenSpurr/status/989222914510741504
Cllr De Baeremaeker praises Tory's "foresight" and "strength of character" in proposing SmartTrack. "This is our downtown relief line."

 

[hw621]

The rest of the recommendations, which would authorize spending up to $1.46 billion total for SmartTrack stations, carries 37-6. A good day for the mayor's transit plan.

 

[syn]

https://twitter.com/BenSpurr/status/989222914510741504
Cllr De Baeremaeker praises Tory's "foresight" and "strength of character" in proposing SmartTrack. "This is our downtown relief line."

A sad commentary on the transit knowledge of our elected officials.

 

[Rainforest]

Matlow also asks why city is paying for stations on a provincial rail network. "Why are we now the revenue tool for the province?" he asks.

So, Matlow pretends not to know that the new stations will be located within the city, and used mostly by the residents of the city. Nice job.