Toronto Crosstown LRT | ?m | ?s | Metrolinx | Arcadis

[crs1026]

Is it only a matter of time that Metrolinx merges with (takes over) the TTC?

I would speculate that is now off the table. ML has no credibility left. QP does not want to inherit the operational headache of delivering transit to Toronto, especially with an unreliable organization doing the delivery..... and the organizational churn would paralyse things for a year or two..

It was fine for ML to propose "Superlinx" a few years ago, but fortunes have changed.

- Paul

 

[crs1026]

I know in the past, the TTC has had an aversion to having major service adjustments take place in the summer board periods (asides from the seasonal service reductions).

Unless Metrolinx presses them to do otherwise, i'd be surprised if the TTC would willingly look to start operations here in the summer board periods.

Transit planners will tell you that the Labour Day service change is the most difficult and stressful adjustment of the year. A "big bang" LRT rollout would compound that.
If it's not done by Canada Day, it will be October.

- Paul

 

[drum118]

Dec 10
I did a "WHAT" going past Mount Dennis Station Entrance that I did a U-turn to go back to have a look and shoot it.

The whole plaza area as well most of the hill have been 100% removed with grading taking place. Never noticed it last week when I went by it. The area was removed for the extensions with only a narrow walkway from the street to the entrance that could be use by riders li the line was in service. The area will be rebuilt in 2025 or so.

Crew working on the Caledonia Stations and been some time I seen any one there.

Unedited and not tag

 

[Jago88]

I know it is not new news but I live in this area and walk by here every other day probably and it is sickening to have watched this get built with lovely paving, benches, lights being added only to see them partly opened, surrounded by temporary fences before being completely ripped out. Maddening

 

[ctf5650]

Shocking, it feels like a few weeks ago folks seemed hopeful for a potential Q1 opening and now October is coming up in discussions (as an extreme of course but still crazy)

 

[drum118]

I know it is not new news but I live in this area and walk by here every other day probably and it is sickening to have watched this get built with lovely paving, benches, lights being added only to see them partly opened, surrounded by temporary fences before being completely ripped out. Maddening

It was built like it should since the extension was only on the backburner at the time. I do agree that it was sad to see the area torn up, considering I been shooting that area from day one, but it had to be done to deal with the extension. This what you get when there is no funding in place when one phase stop and the other is not ready. If the recession hadn't happen in 2008, the extension would be built now on the surface as plan, not underground like Ford like to place transit at higher cost than it should be in the first place.

Will it be fully ready come June 1, 2025 when the line is to open then if it does happen??

 

[Northern Light]

Is it only a matter of time that Metrolinx merges with (takes over) the TTC?

In a word 'No'.......

I would agree with @crs1026 above........but would add..........

Mx despite its a massive budget and influence is actually a very small organization.

Head office wise, they fit in Union Station.......and only a small portion thereof........

IF they 'took over' the TTC...........the reality would be the TTC taking over them............

The latter organization is infinitely larger, far more senior management, far more middle management, far more technical expertise in house (yes, some of it not as good as one would hope, but :I digress)...........

Mx is a spec of dust to the TTC. I don't mean that in a silly way, but just a comparator of scale and size......

****

Organizational issues aside............ the province wants no part of the politics of running local bus services..........

 

[stevedean]

I know in the past, the TTC has had an aversion to having major service adjustments take place in the summer board periods (asides from the seasonal service reductions).

Unless Metrolinx presses them to do otherwise, i'd be surprised if the TTC would willingly look to start operations here in the summer board periods.

Oh well if that's the case for the TTC, then by all means, lets delay the launch to the Fall.
But then it's back to school season and we really don't want to disrupt the kids, so better wait.
OH but then it's the holidays and everyone will be in the Festive spirit, so we might as well push to 2026.
OH wait, then there will be snow so the TTC won't want to open then either...
Might as well just fill in the tunnel with concrete now...

 

[T3G]

Oh well if that's the case for the TTC, then by all means, lets delay the launch to the Fall.
But then it's back to school season and we really don't want to disrupt the kids, so better wait.
OH but then it's the holidays and everyone will be in the Festive spirit, so we might as well push to 2026.
OH wait, then there will be snow so the TTC won't want to open then either...
Might as well just fill in the tunnel with concrete now...

Perhaps we can arrange a carpool from the last day of the ION cars right into Toronto for the Crosstown's opening day!

 

[innsertnamehere]

In a word 'No'.......

I would agree with @crs1026 above........but would add..........

Mx despite its a massive budget and influence is actually a very small organization.

Head office wise, they fit in Union Station.......and only a small portion thereof........

IF they 'took over' the TTC...........the reality would be the TTC taking over them............

The latter organization is infinitely larger, far more senior management, far more middle management, far more technical expertise in house (yes, some of it not as good as one would hope, but :I digress)...........

Mx is a spec of dust to the TTC. I don't mean that in a silly way, but just a comparator of scale and size......

****

Organizational issues aside............ the province wants no part of the politics of running local bus services..........

Doesn't Metrolinx have over 5,000 employees? It's not exactly small.

Any Metrolinx takeover the TTC is going to be a technical reorganization anyway with most TTC staff simply becoming Metrolinx staff.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Yes but only if Metrolinx becomes a truly regional (and regionally governed) and truly arms-length organization - instead of an organ of the province. I would also demand the development of significant in-house design and engineering expertise in that scenario to displace the use of private consultants.

AoD

 

[Northern Light]

Doesn't Metrolinx have over 5,000 employees?

That headcount, to my understanding, would include all of Alstom's staff (train crews and maintenance), as well as third-party consultants at HQ.

The direct workforce is much smaller.

For comparison, the TTC has ~17,000 direct employees.

 

[T3G]

Even if Metrolinx ceased to be an organ of the province, even if they were considered quasi competent, it would still be detrimental to roll local transit into it.

This is the very principle of decentralization. Large, monolithic entities that have jurisdiction over a large area just simply won't be able to deal with micro-level issues effectively. It simply doesn't occur, there are too many things to draw one's attention away. That's why we have more microscopic levels of government. If we ever got to the point where rolling local transit into Metrolinx was on the table, we might as well do the thing properly and legally abolish all the cities in the province and let Doug Ford run wild as supreme leader of The Territory Formerly Known as Toronto.

 

[ThenWhat]

Some participants in this forum have inside information, so a question for them: What incentives, material or other, are there for the decision makers to open Line 5 earlier rather than later? Do they get bonuses, promotions, money, fame, or any other goodies if they speed up the opening? Will they lose anything as a result of delays? And conversely, are there perhaps personal incentives for delays?
We pretty well agree what's good for the rest of us, but what motivates those who have power to make things happen? Most of them are good people who want to do the right thing. However, that desire often conflicts with other priorities.

 

[unrealestate]

Has to be the worst project in the city's history. All this nauseating delay for a poorly designed glorified streetcar that will no doubt disappoint when it finally opens

Mercifully, at least we learned from this shit sandwich and the Ontario Line is planned much better with an automated subway and lots of TOD