Toronto Spadina Subway Extension Emergency Exits | ?m | 1s | TTC | IBI Group

Leo_Chan said:
There’s a problem that there’s no direct connection for 400-407-Jane, do buses would have to get off at Steeles or Hwy 7 to get to Hwy 407 Station. They could add a BUS ONLY ramp connecting the 407-Jane ramps, but that doesn’t seem likely.
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One of the issues i brought up with the planning at the time. For a (407) meant to draw drivers off the road and onto the subway. The connection to the station from the north via hwy 400 is akward and inconvenient.
 
Towered said:
In June I figured getting to Wonderland by transit now would be easy. Went to VMC station. Had to cross the road(?) just to get to the Jane bus. The bus didn't even go to the main gate of Wonderland, which forced a ten minute walk across the asphalt desert in the blazing heat
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But it is only 3 to 4 minutes, not 10 minutes.

It's not ideal, but...it's also next to trees/parks....so it was O.K.

The Google Transit directions forced a dropoff at Jane St / Springside Rd,

Which would be a torturous 10 minute walk across asphalt, or a strange walk that Google Maps recommends:

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The correct dropoff is this one (short 4 minute asphalt walk, but walking mostly along shaded trees):

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Early in the morning or late in the day, you can pretty much stay part of the way in the tree shadows.

That is only 350 meters from the bus stop (the length of a GO train) -- a quicker walk than 10 minutes.

I walked that in just 3-4 minutes. Excited kids could certainly run that dotted orange route about 2 minutes.

Also a quicker walk than driving and parking your car in many cases too (especially if you're parking somewhere further south than this photo).

Below is HOW screwed up Google Maps is for Canada's Wonderland:

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Don't get off the #20 bus at Jane+Springside, you have to get off at Jane+Norwood to have an easy 4-minute beeline to the entrance.

That said, it could be improved, with a better, more shaded/covered walk to Canada's Wonderland (e.g. planting more trees) -- and better wayfinding.

But because Google Maps Transit is so screwed up about Canada's Wonderland -- people aren't getting the benefits of a shorter walk (that's actually a shorter walk than half of Canada's Wonderland car parking spots)

Someone could begin a petition:

(1) Canada's Wonderland should plant more trees and shade/seats/shelters along all favoured pedestrian routes.

(2) Canada's Wonderland should pressure Google Maps to fix their mistake. Co-ordinate with City of Toronto.

(3) Canada's Wonderland should recognize that Toronto spent billions on a subway extension, and begin making concessions to cater that.

(4) Canada's Wonderland should install improved wayfinding for confused transit users from the Norwood stop.

Canada's Wonderland could recognize that more transit users means fewer cars on parking lot, which means they may be able to expand their park size in a decade from now (by consuming part of the surface parking lot).

More profit $$$ for Canada's if some people come visit by transit instead. More transit means less parking space need. Which can be transferred to park expansion. Bigger park (thanks to better transit connection) = more people can attend without feeling crowded.

The transit ridership percentage of Canada's Wonderland is probably creeping upwards (thanks to subway) and some concessions should slowly begin to be made.

But the transit ridership percentage is almost definitely being hurt by all these sub-optimal optimizations fighting against you taking transit to Canada's Wonderland. It's simpler than many people think, but it could become even simpler if things are just better, clearer.
-- Google Maps
-- Canada's Wonderland website
-- Wayfinding signs
-- Etc.
 

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Towered said:
That view needs to change then. Time to stop encouraging driving, especially now that the subway is within striking distance.
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Indeed. Wonderland is a commercial entity, and earnings from the parking lots may be substantial but certainly isn't the main source of their revenues.

It is in the power of the provincial government to to make customers arriving by transit slightly more profitable for them, and those arriving by car slightly less profitable, without placing undue burden on the customers themselves. With the subway terminus just 4 km away, a fairly decent bus service can be established.
 
Rainforest said:
Indeed. Wonderland is a commercial entity, and earnings from the parking lots may be substantial but certainly isn't the main source of their revenues.

It is in the power of the provincial government to to make customers arriving by transit slightly more profitable for them, and those arriving by car slightly less profitable, without placing undue burden on the customers themselves. With the subway terminus just 4 km away, a fairly decent bus service can be established.
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It's more like slightly over 5 km. Wonderland's main entrance is closer to Major Mackenzie.
 
mdrejhon said:
Someone could begin a petition:

(1) Canada's Wonderland should plant more trees and shade/seats/shelters along all favoured pedestrian routes.

(2) Canada's Wonderland should pressure Google Maps to fix their mistake. Co-ordinate with City of Toronto.

(3) Canada's Wonderland should recognize that Toronto spent billions on a subway extension, and begin making concessions to cater that.

(4) Canada's Wonderland should install improved wayfinding for confused transit users from the Norwood stop.
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Three things:

First, Canada's Wonderland is owned by Cedar Fair, which also owns other such theme parks as Cedar Point, Kings Island, Carowinds, etc.

Second, Wonderland is in Vaughan, which is outside of the City of Toronto's jurisdiction. Contact the City of Vaughan instead.

Third, report problems to Google Maps, even if it means having a petition. Google Maps is woefully bloated these days.
 
Streety McCarface said:
Really crappy idea:

Extend the subway to Canada's Wonderland so the giant parking lot there can be used for commuter parking during the offseason.
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Wonderland is closed from November and opens late April. So you have access to park 6 months a year, you can't close a parking lot for commuters 6 months a year, every year. Just would not work.

Plus for transit, there is substantially more needs vs spending money here. Just improve bus service.
 
Towered said:
That view needs to change then. Time to stop encouraging driving, especially now that the subway is within striking distance.
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I don't disagree.....but I hardly see it as a reason to spend billions extending the subway to a private business that, as others pointed out, likely doesn't want the subway anyway as they generate pretty decent coin from the parking lot.
 
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