Okay I get it now! So like if Midtown had a commuter train service it'd be S-Bahn.
Not necessarily, if it just operates with regular GO trains during the peak periods. If it operates at ~20 minute frequencies throughout the day, is electrified, and uses smaller vehicles, then it would be an S-Bahn service. Lakeshore or any of the other GO lines could also have S-Bahn-style service.
Couldn't that same logic be applied to the SRT? Why couldn't the ICTS service be extended to Sheppard meeting either subway or LRT from there? Oh I forgot we're allergic to transfers here
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But how would that benefit anyone? And why would we extend a technology that's unique in Toronto and that people don't like, instead of a subway that's already built and uses a technology that the TTC operates well and that everyone likes?
Anyway, the SRT extension wouldn't just benefit Malvernites. 95 users would benefit from stops adjacent to Ellesmere, Centennial College users at Progress and Milner Business Ct and new townhouse developments just south of Sheppard.
Yeah, the only place in the whole city that Toronto thinks needs new rapid transit is a couple of townhouses at Markham and Sheppard. Literally, a handful of townhouses.
None of the stations are close to Ellesmere. If people from the 95 wanted to transfer to the RT, it would still be a shorter transfer at Ellesmere station. It's a pretty long walk to Centennial College, too. The old reports on the extension said that many of the college riders would be unhappy with the extension, because they much prefer the buses that go right into the campus, especially later in the evening where safety's a concern.
I don't think it's a good idea to route buses along the highway since gridlock can severely slow down commutes (THINK: 139 Finch E-Don Mills), and as for Ellesmere why would anyone waste millions constructing LRT through vacant fields and rolling hills and valleys?
Uhh, vacant fields and rolling hills and valleys...like Morningside that has a Transit City line? Anyway, Ellesmere has three full-service bus routes, and several significant trip generators like UTSC and the hospital which make it a good place for an LRT feeder route.
As for the highway, I've said about a dozen times that it should have shoulder bus lanes like on the 403 in Mississauga so that it doesn't get caught in traffic.
My suggestion only included one mid-point station at Kennedy which would actually intercept more transitways than Sheppard/Agincourt would (Midtown/Stoufville/401/SRT/43) plus a major commercial zone with hotels and high rises nearby. Looking at the offical proposals its not out of the realm of possibility to serve BOTH Agincourt (the mall, not the GO Stn.) and Kennedy Commons with a station akin to Oriole GO built to accomodate commuter rail traffic.
All of that was already planned as part of the subway extension.
Parts of DRL make sense, but increased frequency and GO improvements to the Geogretown and Richmond Hill lines is far cheaper and more logical than creating one redundant subway line after the other. If Eglinton is built with a wye between Leslie St and Bermondsey Rd to encompass the Thorncliffe Park, Flemingdon Park and Don Mills communties than the major parts of route 25 are covered (BD close to Gerrard Sq, Greektown and Pape Vlg; Sheppard close to Fairview, Newmark and Seneca College).
The point of the DRL is not just to get subways (or LRT!) close to different neighbourhoods. It's about getting people where they want to go without too much overcrowding. The Yonge line south of Bloor is already at capacity, so we really need something to relieve it. DRT will relieve the Yonge line, as well as serving fast-growing waterfront neighbourhoods and Riverdale. North of Danforth, it can further relieve the Yonge line as well as many of the east-west bus routes. People from Lawrence East would no longer have their long journey to Eglinton station. It could save them close to 15 minutes, depending on where they're going.
The Richmond Hill line doesn't and can't practically connect with the Danforth line, so it can't provide any relief for the Yonge line south of Bloor. Improved service on both those routes is a given, though.
That's the sillest part about this whole debate. Conversion would eliminate the transfer issue but most people believe it'd be more expensive to redesign the existing stations to accomadte low-floor vehicles than it is to construct 7 brand new underground stations.[/QUOTE]
