The Great Canadian Transit Thread

[Innsertnamehere]

I don't think so, that would be really dumb and rather unlikely. Lets wait and see though, everything is very, very vague right now.

Summary of what from my understanding is funded today:

Yellow = Subway
Black (the thicker the line the more frequent the service) = GO transit
Blue = LRT Thick line means grade seperated, thin means at grade
Orange (The thicker the line the higher the quality the right of way) = BRT


Currently existing map of Toronto's transit network for reference:



Already funded expansions:




What was funded today: (From my understanding)




Every funded expansion together:



What our map will look like when everything is finished:

[SteelTown]

New Ontario transit funds will include cash for Hamilton LRT
Dedicated fund would help build projects such as Hamilton's LRT

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/n...-include-cash-for-hamilton-lrt-1.2609990

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne announced Monday that the Liberal government will dedicate $15 billion over the next ten years toward transit and transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, a fund that will help pay for Hamilton's LRT.

According to the plan, proceeds from the dedicated fund being created for the GTHA would help build the next set of priority projects included in Metrolinx's regional transportation plan.

That dedication of funds includes controversial priority projects like the 14km Hamilton LRT line (the B-Line) proposed to run from McMaster University to Eastgate Square running through downtown.

However, the premier did not give any details on the amount of money the province will invest, or how of the project would be funded. However Wynne stated that the plan will be fleshed out in the Spring budget. Hamilton councillors are looking for full capital funding for the $800 million project from Queen's Park.

‎Wynne, who spoke at the Toronto Region Board of Trade, said that she will dedicate 7.5 cents of the gas tax and the HST on fuel tax -- more than $1.3 billion -- to build transit, roads, highways and bridges in the GTHA.

The premier also promised that this plan could be rolled out without raising taxes on gas or personal income taxes on low- to middle-income earners.

Brian McHattie, city councillor and Hamilton mayor hopeful was pleased with the news.

"I congratulate Primer Wynne for staying on the program. She's always been a big supporter of the LRT, " said McHattie.

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by GreatTallNorth2

So are we talking about extending the Pearson train to London with a stop in Waterloo?

Either that or an extension of GO Kitchener Line to London. However, the talk of it being a 'high speed' line to London implies that its an express service, and it was also explicitly mentioned that it would be a project to link 'Toronto, Pearson, Kitchener, and London'. Because of this I think it is indeed an extension of the UPX to London. We'll see more details in the coming weeks.

[vanman]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

What I got from Wynnes announcement a few mins ago:

15 minute electrified GO service on ALL lines.
DRL
Hurontario LRT
Durham BRT
HSR between London and Toronto
Twin the entirety of highway 17

$29 billion in new infrastructure spending in this budget, $15 billion in Toronto.

Great news for Ontario!!!

[ssiguy]

It certainly would help London and all of the SW. VIA service {despite London being the 4th busiest VIA rail station in the country} is poor not so much due to it's frequency or even the trains but rather the service.

The London-Toronto route is essentially a milk-run with stops at every little dick town along the way. London needs a fast service to Toronto and it could work very well if it is coordinated with the trains coming from Windsor and Sarnia.

No mention of London's BRT getting funding but with Ottawa getting money for it's LRT and Hamilton and KWC as well even though both have significantly lower per-capita ridership levels than London Transit, it will be very hard for her deny London and politically dangerous. Many outside the Golden Horseshoe consider both Hamilton and Kitchener as increasingly just outer Toronto suburbs and if they get funding and London doesn't it will reinforce the idea that nearly all of the transit funding is strickly for the GTA and nothing for the rest of the province.

[Innsertnamehere]

If London was asking for an LRT maybe they would get one. But they arent, so they won't. The government can't fund something that nobody is asking for.

[caltrane74]

Plus, they are getting a high speed rail connection to Toronto, that absolutely nobody was asking for..

[Innsertnamehere]

apparently its something that Londons mayor had been seeking. I saw some quote where he was all happy and gloating that he got what he asked for.

[1overcosc]

HSR will be London's thing.

The government is probably going to end up handing out bits and pieces of money to every region to make everyone happy. We've got London's HSR, Ottawa's LRT, 17 twinning in the North all confirmed. Expect lots of little things that will matter to people in the smaller cities--like new arenas in the small towns, the 3rd crossing in Kingston, a road resurfacing grant in Sudbury, etc.

[Beedok]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

No mention of London's BRT getting funding but with Ottawa getting money for it's LRT and Hamilton and KWC as well even though both have significantly lower per-capita ridership levels than London Transit, it will be very hard for her deny London and politically dangerous. Many outside the Golden Horseshoe consider both Hamilton and Kitchener as increasingly just outer Toronto suburbs and if they get funding and London doesn't it will reinforce the idea that nearly all of the transit funding is strickly for the GTA and nothing for the rest of the province.

I wouldn't be surprised if Hamilton's commuting out of the metro is declining, but I don't have the data to prove it either way.

[SteelTown]

^ Seems like the trend lately is more are commuting into Hamilton than the other direction. Especially now that Brantford wants GO service into Hamilton.

People always assumed better GO Transit would make Hamilton more of a bedroom community but it seems to be doing the opposite, attracting GTAers into Hamilton.

[GernB]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Wow! ... but Lethbridge could certainly use a link between the University and Downtown Core.

There are only about 100,000 people here in Lethbridge. IIRC Calgary had ~500,000 when they started contruction on the initial LRT line, so it's very doubtful to say the least that there will be any LRT here in the foreseeable future.

As for a DT to UofL link...well...buses run every 30 minutes DT to the U over a more or less express route now of of less than two miles so I don't see any need at all for a line there.

[Chadillaccc]

Oh I know that for sure. I just mean planning for the future like Saskatoon is starting to do right now. With how fast the Lethbridge area has been growing, 200 000 isn't that long away, maybe 20 years or more? By then a new cheaper version of rail transit tech could come out and be viable for smaller cities. The High Level could probably handle it as the transit bridge while still being a freight bridge.

[Boris2k7]

I think another difference that should be highlighted is that Calgary had an extensive streetcar system and plans for a metro system started being drawn up not long after the streetcar company was bought up and the lines got torn out. There was already a precedent for rail-based transportation in the city.

[Chadillaccc]

I'm sure that Lethbridge had a streetcar back in the day.

[Boris2k7]

Oh, well I'm just ignorant then.

[Chadillaccc]

Lol that's not what I meant. I am not certain they did, but I know my hometown of Woodstock Ontario (37 000 people) had one way back. So I'm sure Lethbridge had at least one line at one time.


EDIT: found a photo


http://peel.library.ualberta.ca/postcards/PC004082.html

[Beedok]

I hope that they extend GO to Grimsby. It should cost much, there's already a Via station I believe.

[eemy]

It seems Lethbridge did indeed have a streetcar system, consisting of three lines and fully abandoned by 1947.

[Mikemike]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Oh I know that for sure. I just mean planning for the future like Saskatoon is starting to do right now. With how fast the Lethbridge area has been growing, 200 000 isn't that long away, maybe 20 years or more? By then a new cheaper version of rail transit tech could come out and be viable for smaller cities. The High Level could probably handle it as the transit bridge while still being a freight bridge.

The Viaduct is something like a mile long, and single tracked, and it's no more direct than the existing highway. It's not going to work for transit.