M.R.Victor
Active Member
I know this is a bit off topic, but I was wondering if there was a middle ground between those who argue that hydro wires need to be buried and those who would rather leave them off.
Basically, my thoughts are that the city (or Toronto Hydro, or maybe a concerned BIA) could simply install better hydro poles. By that I don't mean the old wooden ones certainly not the highway-grade concrete ones either. I mean, in the same way that street lamps can be well-designed, could we not have well designed hydro poles? Either classical, or futuristic, or minimalist, or whatever...
The reason for my argument is that, even if the city were to bury hydro wires, the streetcar power lines would remain, thus the cost incurred would create little visual benefit. If overhead wires are to be a part of Toronto's urban landscape, we could at least embrace that fact as opposed to treating it as a lingering embarrassment that we nonetheless continue to be too cheap to address.
Imagine how bold such a move would be. It certainly would be innovative, as no other city in the world (to my knowledge) has ever done this. What do you guys think?
Basically, my thoughts are that the city (or Toronto Hydro, or maybe a concerned BIA) could simply install better hydro poles. By that I don't mean the old wooden ones certainly not the highway-grade concrete ones either. I mean, in the same way that street lamps can be well-designed, could we not have well designed hydro poles? Either classical, or futuristic, or minimalist, or whatever...
The reason for my argument is that, even if the city were to bury hydro wires, the streetcar power lines would remain, thus the cost incurred would create little visual benefit. If overhead wires are to be a part of Toronto's urban landscape, we could at least embrace that fact as opposed to treating it as a lingering embarrassment that we nonetheless continue to be too cheap to address.
Imagine how bold such a move would be. It certainly would be innovative, as no other city in the world (to my knowledge) has ever done this. What do you guys think?