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Strike proves that transit station retail is not viable
The idea of integrating significant retail within major transit transfer stations has been hit hard as a result of this lengthy transit strike. The handful of convenience store operators currently in transit stations have been forced to close for the duration of the strike and the owners are experiencing a great deal of hardship with no income coming in and only very difficult access to their businesses.
The idea of significant retail services at major transit transfer stations was first recommended by the Friends of the O-Train as part of their plan suggested in 2006. This strike illustrates the folly of this kind of approach and how vulnerable these businesses would be without an arrangement that pretty well guarantees that transit strikes will not occur in the future. In the current atmosphere of animosity between the union and the politicians, I cannot see that being arranged, although it is likely in the best interests of a city, which is trying to make the city more transit oriented and dependent.
The current situation suggests that we cannot expect more retail, beyond the current convenience stores, within transit stations and that at best, addition retail should only be located adjacent to stations as part of bigger retail complexes, which are not solely dependent on transit traffic. In other words, unless we are willing to take measures to prevent future transit strikes, the current model of locating transit stations next to shopping malls or vica versa is the only way we can intergrate the two together for the forseeable future.
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