The Great Canadian Transit Thread

[isaidso]

Oh no! Fully burying the Eglinton line was the only decision he's made that I supported. Build it right or not at all.

[The_Architect]

The city is slowly starting to realize Ford is a plague on the city, and his actions need to be undone as soon as possible to save the scraps of the city's transit plans he destroyed in one year.

It's a start, but Transit City was still 100x better. Finch needs an LRT. The Sheppard subway extension is NOT needed.

[caltrane74]

Saw the ads for the new streetcars today. They look so European, Toronto will look like a sophiscated Swiss city when they get on the tracks!!!

Of course the double length cars should help cutdown on all the overcrowding.

[Symz]

Originally Posted by The_Architect

The city is slowly starting to realize Ford is a plague on the city, and his actions need to be undone as soon as possible to save the scraps of the city's transit plans he destroyed in one year.

It's a start, but Transit City was still 100x better. Finch needs an LRT. The Sheppard subway extension is NOT needed.

Mind you I'm not from Toronto, but my impression of this guy isn't very good. He seems like a prick and he seems regressive in terms of where he wants to take the city.

[Andrewjm3D]

Originally Posted by Symz

Mind you I'm not from Toronto, but my impression of this guy isn't very good. He seems like a prick and he seems regressive in terms of where he wants to take the city.

He's a tool, he only got to where he is today because his dad was a successful business man and politician. The man never finished school, he and his brother where handed their daddies company to run, and if he doesn't get his way he likes to bully people. Unlike our last mayor who was on City TV each week taking calls, questions, and criticism live this mayor stays hidden. When he has a press release he doesn't share it with each media outlet, only those he considers Ford friendly. And when he does get himself in a situation where is bombarded with questions, he always says "That's not what I'm here to talk about" and then ignores the person who asked him. Most of the time he has somebody there to protect him from the media as Ford doesn't know when to shut up.

And lets not even get into his DUI charges, possession charges, spousal abuse charges, or the fact he has family connections Now ex-brother in law). in jail for murder. This man is such a joke, and we're stuck with for another 34 months. This is what suburban Toronto voted in. Stupid amalgamation.

This is how most Torontonians feel about our mayor and his inner circle.
• Video Link

[vegeta_skyline]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

CP owns the tracks and won't allow more GO Train service.

Therefore the province will fund another GO Station at James St North, which will include all day GO Train service. So by 2015 Hamilton will have two downtown GO Stations, which is odd (imagine Toronto with two Union Stations separated within less than 10 minutes from each other). Eventually the plan is to extend the GO Train to the Niagara Region.

I don't see why its all that odd. In fact I'd be better if Toronto did have two union stations, one is not nearly enough.
CP owns the tracks and will of course protect their interests and on their line there is a single track tunnel which is a major congestion point. But aside from that the CP line is much slower because of a series of tight curves, something that can never be rectified. Where as the CN line does not have that problem(the line is slow now because of the yard but that issue can be rectified in the future) and can further more, the line can logically be extended to other population centers. Can't do that with the CP line, it would just dead end at Hamilton. Not the best solution logically.

Besides 10 minutes is not that big of an extra commute.

[1331Massi]

Originally Posted by Andrewjm3D

This is how most Torontonians feel about our mayor and his inner circle.
• Video Link

You think Gérald Tremblay is any better? For the past 11 years that he was in office, he has essentially done nothing at all, but somehow Montreal has a massive deficit. Where the hell did the tax money go? The answer is: his pocket. And we have other great choices, too: an ex-péqiste who is really just as bad as Tremblay or a psychotic environmental/public transit (nothing else) idiot who decides we shouldn't clear the streets of snow to save money. The best part is that Tremblay's from Ottawa! The mayor of the suburban city of Laval has been in office for over 30 years! Vaillencourt actually WORKS (a word not in Mr. Mayor of Montreal's vocabulary) and comes up with plans to completely revitalize Laval, shifting it from a suburb to a large city. One more year until the election, and I sincerely hope that the next Jean Drapeau is hiding in somebody's shadow as we speak.

And really, Ford does sound like a prick. What was going through his mind? Thank you for criticizing me and my party, I will now ignore you and not change anything at all, because I am the almighty Mayor Of Toronto? What an ass.

[BretttheRiderFan]

Don't like Rob Ford? Don't blame Rob Ford...blame the Torontonians who elected the guy. You get what you vote for.

[MTLskyline]

Longueuil's transit ridership increased to 33.8 million in 2011 (up from 32.7 million in 2010). It is the third busiest transit system in Quebec after Montreal and Quebec City.
http://www.rtl-longueuil.qc.ca/communique/com_2012/p120201.htm

A study said that an LRT is a necessity on Taschereau Blvd between the Longueuil Metro station and the Panama Bus Terminus in Brossard (along with another LRT line across the new Champlain Bridge going to downtown Montreal). I think that is an excellent idea. A good number of bus routes travel along Taschereau, and it could really use some densification/redevelopment. People talk about urban decay, but you don't often hear about suburban decay, which is true for the parts of Taschreau in the boroughs of Old Longueuil (including LeMoyne) and Saint-Hubert.

http://lecourrierdusud.canoe.ca/webapp/s...ontentid=224663&id=840&classif=Nouvelles

[yaletown_fella]

Originally Posted by The_Architect

The city is slowly starting to realize Ford is a plague on the city, and his actions need to be undone as soon as possible to save the scraps of the city's transit plans he destroyed in one year.

It's a start, but Transit City was still 100x better. Finch needs an LRT. The Sheppard subway extension is NOT needed.

Eglinton needs a subway (but one that only runs underground from Pharmacy to Caledonia) from the funds that were wasted on the Spadina subway extension. Also it's about time the entire subway system was automated.

[yaletown_fella]

Originally Posted by Andrewjm3D

He's a tool, he only got to where he is today because his dad was a successful business man and politician. The man never finished school, he and his brother where handed their daddies company to run, and if he doesn't get his way he likes to bully people. Unlike our last mayor who was on City TV each week taking calls, questions, and criticism live this mayor stays hidden. When he has a press release he doesn't share it with each media outlet, only those he considers Ford friendly. And when he does get himself in a situation where is bombarded with questions, he always says "That's not what I'm here to talk about" and then ignores the person who asked him. Most of the time he has somebody there to protect him from the media as Ford doesn't know when to shut up.

And lets not even get into his DUI charges, possession charges, spousal abuse charges, or the fact he has family connections Now ex-brother in law). in jail for murder. This man is such a joke, and we're stuck with for another 34 months. This is what suburban Toronto voted in. Stupid amalgamation.

This is how most Torontonians feel about our mayor and his inner circle.
[/YOUTUBE]

Honestly, who cares about his personal life or who cares about the media? No matter what mayor the city got it would take years to correct the mess inhereted from Miller. It's a shame he wasn't able drastically cut the police budget though. That and the bike lanes situation has left me dissapointed. We all knew he was an idiot but he was far less dangerous than the alternatives.
But honestly I'd rather have Ford as PM than the current corporatist asshole Stephen Harper. If you support Harper you support high taxes, oil sands subsidies, war in the middle east, metered internet, the laughable war on drugs, unity of religion and state and Canada's soon-to-be equivalents SOPA, PIPA, ACTA and other corrupt legislation.

At least Ford shows some concern for individual freedoms in his stance (although his term in office likely won't make a difference)

[Wharn]

Originally Posted by Symz

Mind you I'm not from Toronto, but my impression of this guy isn't very good. He seems like a prick and he seems regressive in terms of where he wants to take the city.

What I love most about Ford is the fact that he has about as much power as Belgium, and yet all the downtowners believe him to be the biggest threat to their existence on this planet. Sure, he may have a lot of plans, but he's still just one vote.

Originally Posted by The_Architect

The city is slowly starting to realize Ford is a plague on the city, and his actions need to be undone as soon as possible to save the scraps of the city's transit plans he destroyed in one year.

It's a start, but Transit City was still 100x better. Finch needs an LRT. The Sheppard subway extension is NOT needed.

And who thinks that exactly? Let me tell you a little story about Transit City.

In my old community (Don Valley Village- where I used to live when I was in Toronto), people were very much opposed to Transit City. I remember a "town hall" meeting of sorts was called on the Sheppard, Finch and Don Mills LRT lines, and the entire time there was nothing but angry citizens expressing their disapproval with the plans.

Drivers were disappointed that the capacities of Don Mills Road and Sheppard Avenue were both going to be reduced, despite the fact that they're two severely congested roads. Elderly people were angry that they would lose local access to bus stops along both roads (distance between LRT stops was about 650M). The aesthetically obsessed were angry that all the trees along Don Mills Road were going to be ripped out to make way for the project. And all residents were mad that they'd have a surface line dividing their neighbourhoods in two (as if the arterials weren't enough). Everyone asked why funds weren't being allocated for an underground Sheppard Subway extension or construction of more Park & Pay spaces (you know... so we can DRIVE to the subway and leave our cars in our horrid, horrid suburb and remove them from your perfect downtown utopia?)

The general attitude of the planners was "you people don't know what you're talking about, this is great, we will make sure you have this whether you want it or not". That pissed everyone right off. Enthusiasm for the project in the beneficiary community was pretty low. And sure enough, on election day, North York and Scarborough were covered with "Respect for Taxpayers" signs. Most people thought Ford was an idiot, but everyone was so sick of our previous know-it-all mayor that we figured it wouldn't hurt to try an non-interventionist idiot for a change.

Sheppard subway extension not needed, indeed. I'll tell you a little secret. All that new development along Sheppard Avenue in the past 10 years? That's not because of the 401. If it weren't for the subway, Sheppard and Leslie would still be dominated by IKEA and the Canadian Tire warehouse.

[caltrane74]

Went through Union Station, trying to get my mind around the fact that it's capacity will be tripled!!!!

Almost 1 million people per day capacity - it just is so amazing. When complete Union Station will be a city unto itself.

[Andrewjm3D]

Originally Posted by yaletown_fella

Honestly, who cares about his personal life or who cares about the media? No matter what mayor the city got it would take years to correct the mess inhereted from Miller. It's a shame he wasn't able drastically cut the police budget though. That and the bike lanes situation has left me dissapointed. We all knew he was an idiot but he was far less dangerous than the alternatives.

Are you serious? Miller left a 300,000,000 surplus. The mess he left was completely made up by Ford and his brother. The KPMG report proved that. I'm just glad to see that council is finally standing up to this man and his Hench Mob. And it looks like he'll be forced to use part of Miller's Transit -City plan now which is good news for all Torontonians. Ford acts like the money at City Hall is for his personal use. To hell with reports and environmental assessments Ford knows best.

How does that saying go? Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.

[yaletown_fella]

I'd consider the overtaxation a pretty big mess. Knowing government, the surplus dosen't mean much.

An LRT was never an appropriate option for Eglinton nor was the nutty subway expansion to the sea of 1 story stucco monoliths of Vaughan.

[Andrewjm3D]

Originally Posted by yaletown_fella

I'd consider the overtaxation a pretty big mess. Knowing government, the surplus dosen't mean much.

An LRT was never an appropriate option for Eglinton nor was the nutty subway expansion to the sea of 1 story stucco monoliths of Vaughan.

Torontonians pay the lowest taxes in Ontario. That argument is flawed. The Shepperd Subway is the only nutty expansion right now. Toronto needs more north south connections not more east west that dump onto the already maxed out Yonge/Wilson line. LRT is a perfect solution for Suburban Toronto. Sure a subway would be nice but who is going to pay for it. People like you and the supporters of Ford don't seem to want to pay in taxes for it.

LOL, still rolling my eyes at your over-taxation comment. Straight out of the Ford handbook or the Toronto Sun, whichever source you use for your facts.

[caltrane74]

The Vaughan subway is a collector for all of York Region. It should divert some of the suburban traffic away from the Yonge Line. This is a good thing, so a subway in this case and only this case is a good idea into the deep heart of the exo-burbs.

[dleung]

How is the Spadina extension not the most ill-conceived misappropriation of scarce transit funds in the history of the universe? $3 billion, for a ridership of 80,000... that's even worse than the $1 billion Sheppard line that serves 47,000.

[The Gibbroni]

Where's the DRL? I was all excited about that plan almost 30 years ago. Before the Sheppard 'stubway to nowhere', before the Vaughn 'subway from nowhere', before the Eglinton 'who knows what the fuck is going on you'll just have to tune in tomorrow' up/down LRT/subway whatever the fuck it's going to be Transit City yes/no/maybe possibly maybe Finch busway possible Sheppard extension to who-the-fuck-knows because we're totally going by the seat of our pants here..

'Transit Plan'

[armorand93]

http://www.busdrawings.com/Transit/manitoba/winnipeg/d40/1987d40/wt632.jpg - Photo by Peter McLaughlin of http://www.busdrawings.com, site of various transit pictures.



For you guys since this in an CANADIAN, not an TORONTO thread...