Rainforest
Senior Member
1. I would guess that a number of people did vote against Transit City. We will never know for sure unless we bring in a referendum - a different thread I believe.
2. TTC and Metrolinx should not be assuming Ford will not be elected. Perhaps Metrolinx was adamant about LRT vehicles as part of the Memo of Understanding. Otherwise, I would assume these public organizations should be following direction from the political leaders - which is a fully grade separated line.
2a) I am not so sure that Ford will not win again. The last 2 Mayors have won re-election. Most time in the GTA the incumbent wins re-election. McGuinty won re-election twice even though logically he probably deserved to lose both times. Also, presumably the economy will be better in 3 years time and that would also improve Fords chances.
2b) I am not sure if the desire is for the LRT to be extended (to the airport and to Malvern) or is it to branch out at the ends. For example, the UofT Scarborough-Kingston-Eglinton line could interline with the currently planned ECLRT. Also, in the West, one branch could go up to the Airport, while another goes along Eglinton to Mississauga. From some DRL discussions, and long ago TTC experience, it appears that interlining a subway is very difficult - even though a subway is a closed system and it should be relatively easy. So how could interlining LRT, that runs (partially) in traffic (i.e. still has strong potential for traffic delay, bunching, etc.) be any easier. This brings us back to the reason for LRT being extension of the line. But as I know it, separated ROW already exists (almost) from Jane (Black Creek) to the airport and for extension from STC to Malvern.
1) I don't have statistical data, but my unscientific poll indicates that the majority of both TTC riders and car users simply don't follow TTC's system expansion plans. Therefore, I would be surprised if many people voted primarily for or against such plans in the mayoral elections.
2 and 2a) In 2014, Ford will be more vulnerable than an average incumbent. Ideologies aside, he is not a very good manager, and some of his promises (not to raise taxes and not to cut services at the same time) are mutually incompatible. A reasonably likeable centrist candidate who can gather votes both from the left (fed up with Ford and hoping to get rid of him) and right (those who just want better management), will have a very good chance to beat him.
More importantly: even though Ford's departure in 2014 is not guaranteed, Metrolinx would run a higher risk by following his directions too closely. If they bet on Ford's departure and proven wrong, they will have a nonoptimal but functional line. If they bet on Ford staying longer and proven wrong, they will go through two redundant redesign cycles and get heavily critisized for not following the original plan and waisting money.
Yes, public organizations should follow direction from the political leaders; but what can you do if leaders change faster than you can complete a project? Smart executives try to find a middle ground between the requirements of the present and possible future masters.
2b) Interlining/branching is another interesting topic to discuss; but even with no branches, keeping LRT leaves more flexibility for the extensions west of Jane and east of McCowan. There is no continuous ROW on either side. The Richview Corridor strip in the west can be used to reduce the cost of a fully grade-separate line, but that strip does not run all the way to the airport.