Toronto Eglinton Line 5 | ?m | ?s | Metrolinx | Arcadis

[sixrings]

I disliked ford but always thought this was the best plan. Also once we go elevated in one area it makes it easier to use elevated on other places like Sheppard. The problem though would be that people on finch would demand grade seperation as well

 

[nfitz]

That would require admitting that Ford was right all along. I am not sure who would campaign on that.

Ford's original plan, was to only build the Sheppard East subway extension and the Danforth subway extension. Even though Eglinton was already approved and funded, he didn't include it in his plan (presumably wanting to move the money elsewhere).

I don't think he was very involved in the later plans, they kind of happened around him.

It's under construction now. It's too late to make major changes in the middle.

 

[BMO]

Ford's original plan, was to only build the Sheppard East subway extension and the Danforth subway extension. Even though Eglinton was already approved and funded, he didn't include it in his plan (presumably wanting to move the money elsewhere).

I don't think he was very involved in the later plans, they kind of happened around him.

It's under construction now. It's too late to make major changes in the middle.

I think Ford's original plan included grade separating the eastern portion of Eglinton Crosstown and removing a bunch of stops. I believe the proposed change would have been the continuation of the Eglinton subway until Kennedy.

 

[Cobra]

Ford's original plan, was to only build the Sheppard East subway extension and the Danforth subway extension. Even though Eglinton was already approved and funded, he didn't include it in his plan (presumably wanting to move the money elsewhere).

True, then a compromise was reached. The SRT would be an LRT on the current alignment only if the Crosstown was built as a subway from Laird to Kennedy at the expense of Finch West LRT

 

[amnesiajune]

Why no Richmond Hill line connection.

The Richmond Hill line is the red-headed stepchild of the Go Transit system. The province doesn't see any use for it other than peak-hour/peak-direction service, since they're planning a Yonge extension that'll provide service to Langstaff.

Probably when the DRL reaches Eglinton and suddenly Metrolinx/TTC realize they need to short-turn vehicles at Don Mills rather than at Laird.

They're building a pocket track east of Don Mills specifically so they'll be able to do this in the future.

The SRT would be an LRT on the current alignment only if the Crosstown was built as a subway from Laird to Kennedy

On top of that, the SRT and ECLRT would've been one continuous line. Someone in Scarborough Centre could get to Yonge & Eglinton without making any transfers or stopping at any traffic lights.

 

[dowlingm]

Both Andy Byford and John Tory support subways. Good luck.

SSE gets Byford a brand new Line 2 signalling system (with consequent labour savings) and a new Line 2 fleet. Gets more train storage at ScarbTC and maybe a new west end yard.

From his perspective, what's not to like?

 

[Midtown Urbanist]

SSE gets Byford a brand new Line 2 signalling system (with consequent labour savings) and a new Line 2 fleet. Gets more train storage at ScarbTC and maybe a new west end yard.

From his perspective, what's not to like?

The massive operating costs of a 6km tunnel to one single station, along with the operating costs of the huge expansion of the fleet required to operate this extension. With no additional financial support, that is what is not to like from Byford's perspective. (And from all of us, when the TTC is forced to raise fares once again.)

Only my lamenting of the plight of Scarborough commuters will stop me from laughing at SSE supporters when the TTC decides they have to short-turn vehicles at Kennedy.

 

[nfitz]

I think Ford's original plan included grade separating the eastern portion of Eglinton Crosstown and removing a bunch of stops. I believe the proposed change would have been the continuation of the Eglinton subway until Kennedy.

That was a 2011 (2012?) plan that Stintz and Metrolinx cooked up, and convinced Ford to go with. His 2010 proposal during the election had nothing for Eglinton. Simply the Danforth and Sheppard extensions to Scarborough Centre, the extension of Sheppard from Yonge to Downview (Sheppard West), and it showed the Spadina extension that was already under construction. Famously it added Willowdale station - between Bayview and Bessarion.

 

[BurlOak]

If Stintz was involved in the plan, why was she so fast to abandon it.

I agree that it was in large part Metrolinx's plan*, but when it came to cancelling it they were more than happy to put loyalty to their Liberal masters ahead of public planning.
(* - It was Ford who allowed Metrolinx to provide the input and over-ride the David Miller ideas).

 

[Midtown Urbanist]

If Stintz was involved in the plan, why was she so fast to abandon it.

Because she suddenly got mayoral ambitions.

It wasn't her plan to begin with, it was her (and de Baeremaeker's) staffers that came up with it. She put her name to it. Then when she received a sign from above to run for mayor, she instructed her staffers to change plan to Scarborough subway.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Before anyone sing dead man's praises - Rob Ford? His original idea was to ditch Eglinton completely. Metrolinx wouldn't have any of that, and thus the MOU. It's kind of early to rewrite history.

http://urbantoronto.ca/forum/thread...the-2001-rapid-transit-expansion-study.18311/
http://www.blogto.com/city/2011/12/remember_rob_fords_transportation_plan/

If Metrolinx had caved on that score, we wouldn't be having this tete-a-tete in this thread.

AoD

 

[sixrings]

But it was a good compromise

 

[nfitz]

But it was a good compromise

Not really. It relied on the city building Sheppard using TIF - which turned out to be not possible. Turned Finch West into a BRT (if I'm remembering correctly), and did nothing on Sheppard east of Agincourt. Freeing up the money for not building east of Laird underground, found the money for both the Finch and Sheppard East LRTs - though that all got screwed up again later on ...

 

[Midtown Urbanist]

But it was a good compromise

It was (at least in context of the Eglinton corridor, as nfitz points out in the post above it called for compromise on Sheppard and Finch), and entirely coincidental and a product of political manuevering at the time, rather than any attempt at good planning practice (except perhaps on part of the councillor's staffers).

The plan's demise was likewise, entirely coincidental and a product of political manuevering. (Council sought to overthrow Ford's control on the transit profile, while concurrently, Stintz mayoral aspirations were beginning. edit: And of course, a repositioning by Ontario Liberals for Scarborough by-election.)

I would definitely reject any praise on Rob Ford's part for the compromise plan. We all know about Ford's complete illiteracy on transit planning.

 

[sixrings]

Not really. It relied on the city building Sheppard using TIF - which turned out to be not possible. Turned Finch West into a BRT (if I'm remembering correctly), and did nothing on Sheppard east of Agincourt. Freeing up the money for not building east of Laird underground, found the money for both the Finch and Sheppard East LRTs - though that all got screwed up again later on ...

Agreed about finch but nothing is being built on Sheppard anyways