Light Rail Transit

[markster]

I believe there's an opportunity for a (possible) bargain if we take the same trains as Toronto's Transit City lines. Ottawa will be shopping for similar equipment as well, so getting in on a large order may be to our benefit.

One almost has to wonder if Bombardier could keep up with that.

2016: Sheppard Line
2017: KW
2018: Ottawa, Finch Line
2020: Eglinton Line, Scarborough RT

And then a lot of unemployed people in Thunder Bay while KW and Ottawa look for funding for our Phase 2s.

[Duck]

I'm sure they'd have the capacity, we're only talking 14 sets for our region IIRC. The units Bombardier is developing for Toronto are custom, in part because they're unidirectional (operator cab only at one end - TTC uses turnaround loops wheras our region will have more conventional crossovers and pull-in/pull-out end stations), run at a different gauge, and also for the tight curves already in place.

Fingers crossed for Bombardier (FLEXITY) though, I think their stuff looks the best. And they're Canadian. We rode Siemens equipment in Charlotte not long ago and they seem solid. They're a popular choice in the US, several cities use them. Not as nice as the Bombardier stuff though. We rode some really cool ones in Strasbourg too (very low floor, super wide doors).

-Iain

[timio]

The units Bombardier is developing for Toronto are custom, in part because they're unidirectional (operator cab only at one end - TTC uses turnaround loops wheras our region will have more conventional crossovers and pull-in/pull-out end stations), run at a different gauge, and also for the tight curves already in place.

Those are for the streetcars downtown. The Transit City equipment will be standard bi-directional.

[markster]

I'm sure they'd have the capacity, we're only talking 14 sets for our region IIRC.

Indeed, I would rather like to see Ottawa, KW, and Toronto all use the same hardware. In 30 years, I could see potential for hand-me-downs, when one city decides to upgrade.

[Duck]

: facepalm : Of course. I totally forgot about that.

I was probably still thinking Ford killed all that.

And yes, I see huge benefit in Ottawa/Toronto/KW using the same hardware, even for the sake of accrued knowledge from the guys who will actually be servicing the trains (which may be me, one day!) who might end up moving around.

-Iain

[DHLawrence]

He did kill it; council brought it back. And two and a half years into his term the city is right where they were the day before election day. Pass the gravy?

[markster]

He did kill it; council brought it back. And two and a half years into his term the city is right where they were the day before election day. Pass the gravy?

One and a half years.

[DHLawrence]

Right. I can't add after 8pm these days.

[metropolis]

One and a half years.

Toronto is 2.5 years from when Ford tries to reset the clocks again at point of next election. He has already stated he intends to run on the subways issue again.

Einstein did say insanity is trying the same thing over and over again expecting different results but that's what Toronto gets for electing a 300 pound silverback gorilla who does lots of chest thumping and little else.

[DHLawrence]

If he stopped for a moment he would realize that he would find more support by pushing for the Downtown Relief Line (with a possible extension to meet the Sheppard Line). Between that and a westward Sheppard extension to Downsview Toronto's subways would be in relatively good shape.

[markster]

Man, if the DRL went all the way up to Don Mills station, suddenly no one would care about the transfer along Sheppard, because 90% of the transferring would now be going southbound.

[Greg Moore]

It would be nice if the Gorilla made what they do have accessible. It's offensive how inaccessible the current subway system is.

I capitalized gorilla out of respect.

[bcwessel]

Ford's fantasy-based (and cynically derived) policies on transit (and a great many other things) are easily demonstrably terrible all on their own. The personal attacks really aren't necessary, are they?

[Waterlooer]

Awesome news: http://www.therecord.com/news/local/...s-17m-contract

[zanate]

Awesome news: http://www.therecord.com/news/local/...s-17m-contract

I am amused that the URL says "17m-contract" but the headline reads $31M. There was a few comments on twitter about that one when this article went up last night.

I admit, I've not found the figure that led to the $31M figure that Outhit quoted, though I did find mention of the extension option that would lead to it. But I doubt he plucked the number out of the air-- there is a background document I've not had the chance to chase down, just the council agenda. The headline of this article (which may not even be his) is a bit deceptive, because it talks about a contract value if the region opts for the extension after 2015, which would require separate council approval.

This article itself manages to be fairly neutral, apart from the stinker of a spin on the internal discussions that took place at the provincial level. But, the Record's got to self-promote going the extra mile.

I'm sure we'll get some venomous diatribe in an opinion article this weekend to make up for it. With the CTC public meetings, the contract signing, and the man with a pulpit and an axe to grind on vacation (or something), it's been a pretty sane and steady week of progress. We still need good investigative reporting in this city, but this past week shows how the atmosphere of this project would be different if there weren't such an imbalance of opinion and desire to create controversy among the media organizations of the Record, the Chronicle and CTV Kitchener.

[Duck]

What is the next major milestone in the project? When can we expect to see some preliminary layouts/design of the transit hub?

-Iain

[metropolis]

Unlocking opportunities

City looks to new LRT as economic development tool for uptown core

...Some of the developers suggested the city do prezoning along the LRT route to allow for the type of intensification the city is encouraging, including high density and mixed use.

City officials told participants property near the transit route wouldincrease in value by 15 per cent as it did in areas along the route of the Portland, Ore., LRT, which has become the model for the local transit system.

Some of the more unique suggestions included developing themes around the uptown stations along the lines of arts, entertainment, retail or restaurants. Naming the stations was also discussed with the desire those destinations would be young and hip and appeal to the local tech community.

In terms of parking, there was a suggestion there be no parking in parts of the core, driving transit oriented development that would sprout up around the LRT...

[Drake]

I am not sure if there has been any discussions about post phase two developments for the LRT. Has any thought been given to future expansion? I realize this is potentially years away but I can foresee a line running the length of university avenue or Victoria St.

Just curious.

[KevinL]

I am not sure if there has been any discussions about post phase two developments for the LRT. Has any thought been given to future expansion? I realize this is potentially years away but I can foresee a line running the length of university avenue or Victoria St.

Just curious.

Well, we are already building more express bus routes - there's the 201 on Fischer-Hallman, and the 202 is set to go in next year on University - so I imagine it will happen the same way that the current LRT is replacing the 200, the corridor with heavy enough transit use will get the upgrade.

I'd like to see a focus on intercity stuff too, though - more than just GO between Kitchener and Guelph, and also something from Guelph to Hespeler/Preston.

[garthdanlor]

I am not sure if there has been any discussions about post phase two developments for the LRT. Has any thought been given to future expansion? I realize this is potentially years away but I can foresee a line running the length of university avenue or Victoria St.

Just curious.

In the long term, I'd love to see an LRT line running down Homer Watson/Fountain, say between the Preston and Block line stations. This would service the suburban neighbourhoods along the route and the rapidly expanding Cambridge and Doon campuses of Conestoga College. In the mid term, I'd like to see an express bus service between those two stations. In the short term, I'd like to see any improvement in bus service to the Cambridge campus as it is really poor.