SmartTrack (Proposed)

[W. K. Lis]

Something that is unlikely to ever be a priority but if magically it was prioritized would need a proper connection to this station. The success of the TTC subway and surface transit feeder route model is based on the model of sheltered bus loops from which all routes begin. Surface transit "nearby" isn't close to being the same thing.

Extending the 512 ST. CLAIR to Jane Street/Scarlett Road is not a priority for the current set of suburban auto-addicted councillors. They are still stuck in the 1950's thinking.

Hopefully, once they retire or get "fired", we will see the thinking being turned to improving ALL kinds of public transit, not just "subway, subway, subway", but also the surface buses and streetcars.

 

[tsm1072]

Something that is unlikely to ever be a priority but if magically it was prioritized would need a proper connection to this station. The success of the TTC subway and surface transit feeder route model is based on the model of sheltered bus loops from which all routes begin. Surface transit "nearby" isn't close to being the same thing.

What would be ideal is if the widening allowed for a future move of the Old Weston stop to underneath the new Davenport Rd bridge, and then pedestrian stairs and an elevator down to the platforms. That would provide a nice connection from the station without having to re-route the streetcar.

 

[Mr Finish Line]

The lack of streetcar connection is extremely disappointing. It's at least 300m from the EB streetcar platform at Old Weston to where the new station will be. With 2 signals that need to be crossed, that can get close to a 10 min walk to get to the GO platform. They are setting this station up for failure by prioritizing adding 2 lanes of cars over transit connections. The "transportation master plan" for this area is clearly cars first, transit second. It's crazy to see planners/council still trying to solve traffic by adding more lanes.

 

[micheal_can]

The lack of streetcar connection is extremely disappointing. It's at least 300m from the EB streetcar platform at Old Weston to where the new station will be. With 2 signals that need to be crossed, that can get close to a 10 min walk to get to the GO platform. They are setting this station up for failure by prioritizing adding 2 lanes of cars over transit connections. The "transportation master plan" for this area is clearly cars first, transit second. It's crazy to see planners/council still trying to solve traffic by adding more lanes.

Is the plan out for tender yet? I am guessing they are putting it out to the public to hear these kinds of complaints.

 

[Bordercollie]

So is the plan to use GO rolling stock for smart track?

 

[nfitz]

So is the plan to use GO rolling stock for smart track?

Smart Track is just 5 stations now. No services other than GO.

 

[robmausser]

So is the plan to use GO rolling stock for smart track?

Yes, but new EMU's like they use in Europe. But it will just be GO's trains. Smarttrack is nothing more than 5 new stations downtown that the express/frequent electric GO service will stop at.

Perhaps there will be discussion/push by the city for better fare integration with the TTC and improving frequencies to these stations, but thats not the focus at the moment. The focus at the moment is to get the stations built.

 

[robmausser]

The lack of streetcar connection is extremely disappointing. It's at least 300m from the EB streetcar platform at Old Weston to where the new station will be. With 2 signals that need to be crossed, that can get close to a 10 min walk to get to the GO platform. They are setting this station up for failure by prioritizing adding 2 lanes of cars over transit connections. The "transportation master plan" for this area is clearly cars first, transit second. It's crazy to see planners/council still trying to solve traffic by adding more lanes.

At the very least its something we can build in the future. the 512 should be extended to Jane to meetup with the Jane LRT when thats ever built.

 

[drum118]

Metrolinx’s SmartTrack will improve GO service in Toronto neighborhoods​

 

[facepalming_brooklynite]

Metrolinx’s SmartTrack will improve GO service in Toronto neighborhoods​

West end residents will benefit from the Bloor-Lansdowne Station which will give them a shortcut to downtown on the Barrie Line.

I don't like how they are treating this only as an option to go downtown. It also provides service northbound, to Caledonia and Downsview. For example, this means that commuters from the West End who want to go to York University don't need to go all the way to St. George, but instead can take GO to Downsview and transfer there. This will be much faster and more direct than the existing route.

 

[W. K. Lis]

I don't like how they are treating this only as an option to go downtown. It also provides service northbound, to Caledonia and Downsview. For example, this means that commuters from the West End who want to go to York University don't need to go all the way to St. George, but instead can take GO to Downsview and transfer there. This will be much faster and more direct than the existing route.

Not everyone is going downtown. Some have to go downtown to get to the other side of the city.

See link.

Some say that it would duplicate Line 5 Eglinton Crosstown. However, Line 5 is more "local" than the proposed GO Midtown, where there would be "express" stations. Kipling Station would be able to be an interchange station with Line 2's Kipling Station, Casa Loma would be able to be an interchange station with Line 1's Dupont Station, North Toronto would be an interchange station with the Line 1's Summerhill Station, Leaside (the unused former CP Leaside railway station) would be an interchange station with the proposed Ontario Line, and Don Mills would be an interchange station with Ontario Line and Line 5's Science Centre Station.

 

[asher__jo]

Not everyone is going downtown. Some have to go downtown to get to the other side of the city.

See link.

God I wish the midtown corridor was being pursued.

 

[smably]

Presentation materials have been posted for tonight's meeting on the Bloor Lansdowne SmartTrack station:

Kitchener Line GO Expansion.Get Involved

View upcoming/past events and community notices related to the Kitchener Line.

www.metrolinxengage.com

The good news: Metrolinx will be building multi-use paths north and south concurrently with station construction, so they will be done by 2026, assuming no schedule slippage. Oddly, the West Toronto Railpath connection south of Dora Ave will be delivered as part of the King Liberty SmartTrack Station contract.

The main bad news, IMO, is that Metrolinx is only proposing a single pedestrian tunnel, currently planned for the north end of the platform though the exact location is apparently still in flux. I had hoped that the station would be an opportunity to provide a connection across the tracks between Sterling and Dora to improve access between the neighbourhood to the east and MoCA and surrounding future developments. With a single tunnel, the connection between Sterling and the northbound platform will be a long, inconvenient walk down the platform.

 

[W. K. Lis]

Presentation materials have been posted for tonight's meeting on the Bloor Lansdowne SmartTrack station:

Kitchener Line GO Expansion.Get Involved

View upcoming/past events and community notices related to the Kitchener Line.

www.metrolinxengage.com

View attachment 368078

View attachment 368079
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View attachment 368081

The good news: Metrolinx will be building multi-use paths north and south concurrently with station construction, so they will be done by 2026, assuming no schedule slippage. Oddly, the West Toronto Railpath connection south of Dora Ave will be delivered as part of the King Liberty SmartTrack Station contract.

The main bad news, IMO, is that Metrolinx is only proposing a single pedestrian tunnel, currently planned for the north end of the platform though the exact location is apparently still in flux. I had hoped that the station would be an opportunity to provide a connection across the tracks between Sterling and Dora to improve access between the neighbourhood to the east and MoCA and surrounding future developments. With a single tunnel, the connection between Sterling and the northbound platform will be a long, inconvenient walk down the platform.

Why in the underpass are the cyclists level with the motorists? Shouldn't the cyclists be level with the pedestrians on the sidewalk, so they wouldn't have to peddle hard to get UP the INCLINE?

Looks like another design by a non-cyclist.

 

[Kitsune]

.... play the down hill part right and there is hardly any peddling needed to get up the incline.