Neutrino
Senior Member
Toronto in a nut shell.
I've not even solid indication of that. He campaigned on no line of any kind on Eglinton.I thought Rob Ford wanted the entire line underground ...
Neighbours pushing for elevated with all the extra noise? That would be unique. Car drivers who didn't live nearby maybe.I think locals were in favour of the elevated alignment.
I think locals were in favour of the elevated alignment.Since they were able to shift the tracks north over Black Creek, they could have done the same too for Leslie. ML was keen to have the line connect to the MSF without traffic so they can use ATO. If they haven't done so, I bet half this thread will be full of people whining about it.
The Memorandum of Understanding said the line would be underground, with portions in Don Valley and near Eglinton elevated. With the two branches of the Don River, that means over half elevated.I thought Rob Ford wanted the entire line underground, so I'm unsure where @Steve X gets that "Rob Ford got ML to change to an elevated line" (unless it's non-public information).
They did not consider any options. They said due to slope stability problems, it was imposible to put the Brentcliffe portal in the original EA approved location, so they proposed tunneling all the way to Don Mills. When locals complained about losing the Leslie stop, they said that station (underground, but deep) would cost $60M and that was too much. I don't recall any complaints about losing the Ferrand stop - which was the correct reaction. Then when the public was still unhappy, they reverted to the "impossible" original EA Brentcliffe portal and routing through Leslie.That aside... not mentioned at all in this discussion is that Metrolinx pushed to have the section between Laird and Don Mills changed to a bored tunnel beneath the Don Valley, with the Leslie and Ferrand Dr stops eliminated. They may have considered other surface options, but those were rejected in favor of a tunnel. Of course the documents have since been deleted as per Metrolinx's usual contempt for transparency, however I managed to pull a few slides from the deep web from a public consultation.
I had read Steve for a number of years prior to this date. He always was convinced that putting the LRT in the median through Leslie was an oversight and it was bound to be corrected in detailed design. We kept waiting and waiting, but it never happened. I am convinced that some in the design team preferred it in median as it would hurt cars significantly.This article goes into much more detail as to what transpired at the time, including what happened with the "south side alignment".
Metrolinx Announces Design Changes and Public Meetings on Eglinton LRT (Update 8)
Updated June 17, 2013 at 6:15 pm: In the comment thread for this article, there has been substantial discussion about a “south side option” for the Eglinton LRT between the portal at Br…stevemunro.ca
I recall this. Basically they said they screwed up the design and there was no time to fix it.As for why we switched back to the original plan, you and @Steve X are correct. To elaborate... political posturing by councillor Robinson on behalf of some Leaside residents put pressure on Metrolinx to back down on eliminating the Leslie stop. The only way this would be feasible is to either go back to the original surface alignment, or pursue the "south side alignment". However because the latter would have required approval from city council, which at the time was too busy ripping up transit plans every six months and dealing with the mayor's crack scandal, Metrolinx had no confidence in their ability to make a decision in a timely manner and stick with it. Needless to say, "Fuck it, we're not touching you guys with a ten foot pole" was the easiest thing to do.
I am convinced that some in the design team preferred it in median as it would hurt cars significantly.
I always felt like it was more an issue of treating the Transit City design standards as the word of god for all portions at all times... My suspicion is that it came from Miller's office, but I've certainly worked with engineers pron to this sort of thing as well. There was aboslutely a LOT of pushback at ANY suggestions for increased grade seperation on ANY of the LRTs around the time TC was an active project.
As for cars... It seems to me like interacting with the Leslie intersection isn't much ofa traffic impact, and much more a negative for riders than drivers.
I thought Rob Ford wanted the entire line underground, so I'm unsure where @Steve X gets that "Rob Ford got ML to change to an elevated line" (unless it's non-public information).
That aside... not mentioned at all in this discussion is that Metrolinx pushed to have the section between Laird and Don Mills changed to a bored tunnel beneath the Don Valley, with the Leslie and Ferrand Dr stops eliminated. They may have considered other surface options, but those were rejected in favor of a tunnel. Of course the documents have since been deleted as per Metrolinx's usual contempt for transparency, however I managed to pull a few slides from the deep web from a public consultation.
View attachment 198205 View attachment 198206 View attachment 198207 View attachment 198208
This article goes into much more detail as to what transpired at the time, including what happened with the "south side alignment".
Metrolinx Announces Design Changes and Public Meetings on Eglinton LRT (Update 8)
Updated June 17, 2013 at 6:15 pm: In the comment thread for this article, there has been substantial discussion about a “south side option” for the Eglinton LRT between the portal at Br…stevemunro.ca
As for why we switched back to the original plan, you and @Steve X are correct. To elaborate... political posturing by councillor Robinson on behalf of some Leaside residents put pressure on Metrolinx to back down on eliminating the Leslie stop. The only way this would be feasible is to either go back to the original surface alignment, or pursue the "south side alignment". However because the latter would have required approval from city council, which at the time was too busy ripping up transit plans every six months and dealing with the mayor's crack scandal, Metrolinx had no confidence in their ability to make a decision in a timely manner and stick with it. Needless to say, "Fuck it, we're not touching you guys with a ten foot pole" was the easiest thing to do.
I don't recall any complaints about losing the Ferrand stop - which was the correct reaction.
Yeah that video is a lot better suited for the ION Light Rail.
Yeah that video is a lot better suited for the ION Light Rail.