TJ O'Pootertoot
Senior Member
TJ O'Pootertoot:
Actually both STC and VMC extensions are cut from the same cloth (i.e. if you build it they will come), with a 30 year gap in between. The more traditional line of thinking would perhaps be building lower-order modes first, and upgrade to subways as demand justifies it. There are many problems with transit in the GTA and number 1 on that list is the absolute unwillingness for n incremental approach - which when mixed with politics becomes an utterly toxic brew for determining priorities.
AoD
I largely agree though I'd argue STC is already a bit of a failed node (and certainly the larger corridor) whereas Vaughan is a greenfield site. More to the point, York University has long been ready for the upgrade from buses and the 407 Transitway (if it actually comes) justifies going the small distance north. So, they're both going "nowhere," from a certain point of view, but I choose to see the positives in trying to get ahead of the curve even if there are still other areas that obviously need catch-up.
I don't entirely buy the incremental approach thing, either. The Yonge extension is another thread but all you have to do is stand at Yonge-Steeles for 15 minutes and watch all the buses going by to see that an upgrade is more than justified there. Sure, there's not much at the terminal point right now but there's a GO station and a major BRT terminal and high-density zoning so that's enough reason to not wait. The idea of "incrementally" bringing the subway up to Steeles for now is just ridiculous.
In short, the "traditional line of thinking," is just that and, as you point out, it was effectively undermined by politics and other problems in Toronto. So, now they're trying something new. Now we're going to build transit and intensify around it in suburban areas that haven't already been sprawl-ified. It's amazing the lack of vision in Toronto/Metro hasn't doomed the city but while The Big Move is as flawed as any plan, it's a much better starting point than whatever game it is Toronto council has been playing for the past 10 years. The rest of us are just ditching that "traditional line of thinking" while Toronto flounders about, making half-assed attempts to...well, I don't even know what the goal is. Giving subways to whoever will vote for the mayor, I guess. The "incremental" approach doesn't work when you try it for 30 years and don't build anything while failing to even maintain a state of good repair.
Oh and as for the names, I don't see how VMC is an "advertisement." I don't see it as such, so clearly it can be perceived as otherwise.
It's the designated, municipal name of the area, same as North York Centre, a name I'm sure people scoffed at circa 1980. Yeah, it's the city's brand but it's not a specific development. For example, Markham Centre is the urban growth centre out thataways and Downtown Markham is a specific subdivision. The latter, as a name for a station, would be an advertisement, the former wouldn't. So, Scarborough TOWN Centre is a mall, and Scarborough Centre is a place. If they want to call it "Awesome Scarborough Place," that's up to them. I guess my point is, yeah, it's a lot of syllables but otherwise, who cares?