TheTigerMaster
Superstar
Is it under construction yet?
AoD, an even better description that further raises the question of if Toronto is "falling behind" or if everything is actually moving forward appropriately? If we have so much economic and densification potential in small geographic pockets in the central city (such that they can drive and exceed city-wide economic and population growth expectations) what argument is there for acceleration of the slate of transit improvements? I think the argument then becomes an equity issue not an economic development issue. Basically, we want to enhance suburban transit links by subsidizing suburban residents. That actually becomes the primary purpose of the capital being invested.
The King Street pilot was proposed by the TTC board under Mayor Lastman. I believe it was Councillor Miller who proposed it.We know that King Pilot isn't his brainchild, but he came onboard; the mayor's position matters. King Pilot would be unthinkable with Rob Ford as mayor, and it didn't happen with Miller either (perhaps the time wasn't right).
The King Street pilot was proposed by the TTC board under Mayor Lastman. I believe it was Councillor Miller who proposed it.
Anyway, I prefer to commend Miller for what he accomplished, instead of complaining about what he didn't.
Fascinating that the only non-regional transit under construction right now was derived from Transit City.
Meanwhile across two premiers, two mayors, the Scarborough Subway extension, which as enjoyed near-rabid levels of political support, is still in limbo. The circumstances are fascinating.
I feel like there's a very real possibility we're just going to end up deciding to upgrade the SRT to ICTS Mk. 3 vehicles if this thing doesn't start construction in the next three or four years. At that point, we will have been debating this matter for nearly 20 years. This is a shameful and disgraceful performance -- Toronto's equivalent of the UK's Brexit shitshow.
If you dig back a few months further even early, it came out of a February 16, 2001 motion from Commissioner Miller.King, St. Clair, a Yonge busway (Finch to Steeles), and the Express Network were proposed under Lastmans watch in 2001 (page 7). The Minutes don't show any motions on the topic at that time.
They also started police blitzes of the existing King rush-hour restrictions, which proved completely ineffective.
The design only started in Torys first term. As once transit City was overturned the City refused to work with Fords connected LRT plan, the Liberals then pushed the City changed to a 3 stop subway and the design started under Tory with the new glitch of Smarttrack. Only at that point did the preliminary design begin and detailed design is now progressing thru the too long but standard design stages towards the finish line
The only small but unfortunate glitch left for any delay is amending the design to add back other stops the City removed and staging them into construction efficiently. Since no one can overturn or filibuster the Ford Conservatives from adding these other stops or uploading capital subway control Id say we closer than ever to seeing real progress. Moreso less at risk as all three leaders at the Provincial level are on board to move forward so there will be no extreme games like what we saw at City hall.
Zero chance of stand-alone ICTS Mk 3 after the shitshow we witnessed with the RT and at City hall to get the Centre connected. All parties now support the subway to some degree, and all but one politician in Scarborough from all levels and parties support subway for this line.
Just becomes something ostensibly has widespread political support, doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. Sometimes politicians say they support something that they really don’t care for, out of political expediency. Sometimes economic realities, such as a recession, force plans to be shelved (and there’s a very real chance of a recession in the near term). Other times, even if a politician does genuinely support a policy, it has to be shelved to address higher priority concerns. The words and actions of this government do not give me hope that we’ll see this built anytime soon (I’ll remind everyone that our transport minister, 14 years into this process, said it’s too early to speculate on when construction might begin).
If somehow we get to 2022 without any construction, I’ll probably revert back to supporting the ICTS upgrade plan. Something needs to be built, and at that point, after 20 years of debate, it will be clear that as a city and province we’re incapable of doing better for ourselves. It will be time to cut our losses, and take the simplest, quickest and cheapest way out of this mess.
The SRT is crumbling, we need a replacement:
Want to upgrade it to Mk 3 vehicles? No, okay how about LRT + extension? Oh, don’t like LRT? Okay, how about a three-stop subway extension? Okay, that’s too expensive, how about one-stop plus EELRT plus Smarttrack? Oh, Smarttrack was a scam and EELRT isn’t ever being built? Okay, how about a three-stop extension with the private sector paying? Oh, nobody wants to pay... [to be continued]
This thing is gonna be a legendary study in decision paralysis in the future. This whole thing is so embarrassing and disgraceful. Massive metro systems have been built in the time it’s taken us to debate this matter.
The SRT is crumbling, we need a replacement:
Want to upgrade it to Mk 3 vehicles? No, okay how about LRT + extension? Oh, don’t like LRT? Okay, how about a three-stop subway extension? Okay, that’s too expensive, how about one-stop plus EELRT plus Smarttrack? Oh, Smarttrack was a scam and EELRT isn’t ever being built? Okay, how about a three-stop extension with the private sector paying? Oh, nobody wants to pay... [to be continued]
This thing is gonna be a legendary study in decision paralysis in the future. This whole thing is so embarrassing, shameful and disgraceful. Massive metro systems have been built in the time it’s taken us to debate this matter.
Idk how Toronto has gotten to be as successful as we are, because we certainly don’t deserve it. Montreal should’ve alphas been Canada’s premier city. You see what they’re doing over there while we run around like a bunch of hapless idiots? Thanks, René Lévesque.
in exchange for a subway on Eglinton West of all place, because we were afraid of a little development downtown.