Here's why a stop at Scott Park doesn't make sense:
Sherman to Scott Park = 500m
Scott Park to Ottawa = 1.3km
Now move Scott Park to Gage:
Sherman to Gage = 900m
Gage to Ottawa = 1.okm
You have a point there, but I (and we) prefer 600-800 meter averages, not 1km averages.
So the math can technically becomes:
Sherman to Gage = 900m
Gage to Delta = 500m (platform shifted west of Delta)
Delta to Ottawa = 500m
Although slightly more lopsided, this averages out to ~650-675 meters mathematically, properly within the 600-800 meter range.
Let's not forget LRVs have to slow down anyway at Delta when they make the turn -- so that's a stop that doesn't materially affect LRV performance. There will be a crossing at the CP railroad tracks (Glendale), so the entire B-Line LRT section Gage through Delta may end up being a go-slow section -- I have no idea how fast LRVs will have to go near the CP tracks -- but they definitely will slow down at Delta regardless of any station there. Either way, the curve at Delta means if you wanted short stop distances, that's a perfect less-performance-impacting stop.
All B-Line platforms are 60 meters long to permit 2-LRVs (two singles, or one consist). Several of them including Ottawa are far-side platforms. This is to optimize LRT performance with traffic priority systems and countdown crosswalks. Approaching LRVs can allow the crosswalk countdown timers to finish, and then go green while LRV coasts past to far side. So some stations such as Ottawa will be 150 meters long end-to-end (platform, ramp, intersection, opposite side ramp, opposite side platform). In many cases there will be crosswalks at both ends of the platforms (albiet not all cases). And, yes, distance between Delta and many interior Gage Park destinations are similar to Gage Ave -- you're just further away from a Gage Park entrance but shorter to certain Park destinations. But that doesn't help perceptions -- and it's common one immediately relaxes when you step into the park land, letting kids blissfully run ahead of you (which you can't always comfortably until you reach a Park entrance).
Perceptions, like the above, kinda affects perceived walking distances in certain cases. But having both would be ideal, and would help raise the popularity of the park even further, and help justify the business case of a Gage Ave GO station!
DC83, I will write (Paul Johnson, Andrew Hope, etc) asking about the Scott Park versus Gage Ave issue, as I am rather curious given Andrew Hope from Metrolinx, would probably be in the know about the Gage Ave GO station. If no response, I will bring it up at one of the September consultations, to try to get an answer. In the past, the Citizen Advocacy organization has also presented a slide that includes the hypothetical Gage Ave station. Although not happening in this 10-year RER plan, it could happen subsequently. The city owns land next to the track, which is plenty of room for either a small ExhibitionGO-style platform or larger parking-garage station. Even while keeping two soccer fields at the same time (original purpose of the Lloyd Glassworks land). There are so many opinions, community is obviously much louder on Delta, but it is indeed a legitimate question that needs to be put to public record.
Especially if the city is now considering taking more time to do it properly, thanks to the Ontario Progressive Conservatives now pledging to continue funding LRT. This materially changes the pressures a little, giving more time for various advocacies (including any emerging later Scott-vs-Gage advocacies, volunteer permitting -- we can only pick so many battles; Scott-vs-Gage seems a much more uphill battle).
From an "
outside-of-hamilton" perspective, like Mountain residents, when pointed out various deficiencies, they obviously raised destinations (including Gage Park) far more frequently than a Gage Ave station, and you see -- that helped make it a little bit of an easier of a battle to pick first.
The "nowhere-to-nowhere" complaint is very common by Hamiltonians given the Traffic Circle is an interim mostly non-destination (albiet that can gradually change, given the talk of GO bus connections & the newly-brought-up topic of possible park-n-ride). Adding more destinations
including Gage Park helps slowly soften the outside-visitor argument further, bit by bit -- along with the Eastgate extension desired -- which needs to be done (and maybe even approved for construction by 2022 election -- or even longshot, a 2018 election surprise).
Ottawa and other similar sized cities are a clear inspiration in this regards, on incremental extensions occuring more quickly and sensibly than people's commonly referred city of transit expansion disappointments (...Toronto).
One understands sometimes we have, out of necessity, to pick battles -- and battle difficulties -- based on things like Community opinion and Mountain/Ancaster/Stoney Creek desire (Even disagreements occur, we gotta be fair but can't please everyone). And I don't always agree with other pro-LRTers but have sometimes to go along anyway -- who can also have strong opinions, too, just like anti-LRT. Too many "impossible-battles" can wear us out:
Health -100, XP +10
But I will indeed bring up the Scott-vs-GageAve question and try to get an answer which may steer future advocacy steps (our org or others -- we're not the only group). Especially since the PC pledge to keep LRT, may buy us enough time. Keep tuned.
