Suppose that the Eglinton Crosstown does get signal priority, hence ensuring a decent speed for the service, would there still be a negative vibe surrounding this addition? From all that I've read, Eglinton does not have the demand necessary to make a subway worthwhile (at least for now). So if capacity is not a concern (that is the LRT can handle it) and if decent speed can be attained, through the underground portion and signal prioritization, doesn't the Eglinton LRT represent a positive foot forward for transit in Toronto?
Part of the concern isn't traffic today, is traffic in the future. Eglinton may not warrant subway service right this second, but if it were to become more developed and condo towers start to spring up, traffic can be a concern.
If this LRT idea was only briefly underground and was running in the streets less than a kilometer from yonge and eglinton, I would have not supported this LRT line at all. 10km pretty much covers a nice urban core around Eglinton... Its possible in the future that more tunnels could be dug, say in 30+ years, if the system warranted such an expansion. Making more of the Eglinton LRT tunnel could resolve any problems in the future. LRT can be semi-heavy rail if they just make sure the stations can handle at least 3 cars per train (which would technically be 6 individual compartments since one car has two sections on most models).
But like other examples, such as the Docklands Light Rail in London, I think Eglinton LRT will have enough capacity and within the 10km tunnel system there won't be delays of any kind and it will be as close to a heavy rail subway system in terms of speed that you can get. Remember, LRT cars get up to 50-60 mph/90-100km/hr between stops where there aren't intersections.
I'm looking at it from the perspective that even if a subway were built, it couldn't have went from Pearson to Kennedy. It costs too much, and the political bickering over funding would create another stubway like Sheppard. In the past I didn't realize how hard it is to get a subway built pretty much anywhere in the world these days, unless you're in an Asian city.
So would it have been worth it to have a 10-15km stubway or a 30 km LRT with a subway-like tunnel in the middle? If it has to be a choice between stubway or a crosstown LRT I'll choose the LRT. Again, so long as its built correctly.
What I don't want to see is avoidance of a Downtown Relief Line. Now that Transit City has its core system started, they need to focus on the DRL. And I hope that's what McGuinty means when he says "there's more to come" because Miller and Giambrone have gotten their wishes on this other project. In my opinion its not worth the in-fighting and waiting another 10-20 (or even more) years to argue for an Eglinton Subway after there are new leaders in Toronto, of the TTC, and the provincial government after its went through another Tory era (which is bound to happen eventually).
But who knows, maybe the next Tory leader who gets a workable government will be slightly progressive and actually support transit? I hardly see how it can get worse than Mike Harris and Ernie Eves. At least those days are gone... Mike Harris should have known better than to fill in a hole that was already dug.
OR, what if another NDP government somehow gets elected? They would certainly be transit friendly. The future is always unpredictable.