drum118
Superstar
There was a plan for the existing GO/VIA station over a decade or so ago with GO staying where it currently is or moving to the eastside of Trafalgar and no idea what happen to it. The land north of the station was also part of it up to the QEW. NO Frills had a large store across from the GO Station and close it about 10 years ago.I would slightly disagree with you on the parking aspect. Often, accessing the Fairview GO station requires a car, there is no public transit north of the 407 in Burlington. Yes I could drive to the nearest bus stop, but where to park? I could ride my bike but that is a longish ride -although downhill going to the station. Even the GO Bus stops along the 407 include a parking function. My view would be that depending on location, there may be a higher of lower need for a parking. Garage parking, as opposed to acres of only surface parking lots. Fairview or Bloomington, or Oshawa would differ from Long Branch, Mimico, certainly a Parkside Station ( if built) ,
But I would also agree that many GO stations could be more cleverly integrated into their communities. Again, Fairview station on the south side , although with a Walmart next door, and good transit outside, and housing there and coming, could be a developing example, but sense of community or neighborhoods is probably not there yet. Fairview is still, in the main, a commercial core. But eliminate the surface parking on the Fairview side of the line, the south side, redevelop that portion of the property, and restrict parking to the northern side, which is comprised of an existing enormous surface lot, plus a parking garage, and flanked by employment lands. Also add the redevelopment of the neighbouring GM dealer on Fairview ( this can only be a matter of time) and you have more opportunities to create, plus you then link to the Garden Gallery development etc. etc.
Oakville station would also be a good test case. With all the development to come for ‘mid-town’ Oakville, almost surrounding the site. What vision will be employed to redevelop the very large parking landscape of this GO/VIA station?
I have a good friend in the planning industry and we argue about planning concepts all the time, usually a beer and dinner are involved, but it is all good.
Burlington is not hot when it comes to transit when I used to go to it for a monthly meeting to the point I had a 50/50 chance getting the route 10 bus if my train was later arriving. Quality of service has pickup some what since I stop doing meetings there, but it fail to service areas that needs bus service, but the density and demand is not there to do it. Oakville is better than Burlington, but quality of service not there in many places to get folks from their home to/from a GO station. It also applies to other GO stations in the GTA. Car is the mold for people using GO to the station.