Ansem
Banned
Its a good idea, but politicians never follow good ideas.
Of course they do. The problem is that definitions of what is a good idea vary.Its a good idea, but politicians never follow good ideas.
That said if we had a program of continuous subway-building then we could plan it all out gradually, adding a stop every couple years until we finally reach STC. Spreading the costs over many years like that would be far more financially feasible I think.
Or alternatively we can also spend $800M (or less) to extend Sheppard West to Downsview and interline with the Spadina extension. By only adding 2 stops: Bathurst & Downsview, it will improve network connectivity by finally connecting Yonge and Spadina lines north of Bloor. It will also reduce a transfer for those in Scarborough that want to go to York U.
But then, there is an issue of balancing imrovements between the city areas. Cancelling the Sheppard E LRT line and giving nothing in return to the North-East won't be seen favorably by residents / passengers living there.
What passengers? Cancel this line and the NE will still have 3 other new lines to choose from.
Hm ... who had preached that the section of Sheppard East between Don Mills and Kennedy has a tremendous intensification potential, which would be best supported by a subway? The change in my opinion on the subway vs LRT in that corridor was largely based on your assessment.
Those 3 other lines would head south-west, and be of no use for those traveling west, e.g. to North York or York U. Two of those lines would serve areas east of McCowan, and be of no use at all for those between Don Mills and McCowan. And finally, the Morningside line does not make a lot of sense and might never get actually built.
In contrast, if Sheppard subway is extended to Kennedy or even just to Warden (if we have to fit into the 800 M saved by deferring the Sheppard LRT line), it can be used by E-W commuters from Sheppard, Finch E, and Ellesmere.
Uh, yeah, extend the subway and cancel the Transfer City line...as if I really need to say that again. I'm sure people that frequent only the politics or out & about sections know my position on this. Why would I stop supporting an extension of the Sheppard line?
Sheppard between Fairview and Agincourt is already as (or more) intensely developed as any other potential subway corridor in the city, other than the DRL.
... How would one even get to STC from NYC once the line is in place. I can't imagine them keeping the Scarborough Rocket. So, one must take the subway to Don Mills, the LRT to McCowan/whatever stop is closest to STC, and then some kind of bus to the RT station?? come on, that is a major pain in hte ass.
I would gladly give up the Jane, heck, even the Finch west LRT, to have Sheppard continued as a subway.
Jane - yes (low ridership, and likely the need of extensive tunneling south of Wilson).
Finch West LRT is more valuable, IMO, than a cost-equivalent length of subway. That route has quite a few trip generators, and ROW is needed to dodge traffic congestion, which is quite common on Finch W during the rush hours.
Jane on the other hand makes no sense as an LRT line especially if it has to be tunneled. Kipling would make much more sense providing a rapid transit connection between North and South Etobicoke while connecting with both the Finch W and Eglinton LRTs, the Bloor-Danforth subway, GO Transit, the proposed Mississauga Dundas LRT, and possibly the 501 (or 507 if they ever decide to reinstate it). Instead of running the St. Clair line to Jane, run it down Runnymede to Dundas and on to Dundas West Station as was proposed some time ago.
I'm glad to see they left off the Jane and Scarborough-Malvern LRTs to near the end of construction of Transit City as the two both seem the least valuable.
It's unfortunate (though probably not coincidental) that Sheppard E is going ahead so soon. I can't decide on whether it's best that they're constructing it from East to West though. It will delay service coming to the line at first, but it also gives them time to reconsider extending the subway to meet up with it...please.
Regarding the Jane LRT, there are certainly big problems with the project, and it may never happen, but I don't think it's a mystery why this corrider was chosen. Apart from the evident social factors, the TTC's operating statistics show that Jane's bus ridership, about 39K per day, exceeds Kipling and Islington combined, each of which have less than half of Jane's riders. It would be cheaper and easier to build an LRT on either, but the benefit would be less too.