The Great Canadian Transit Thread - Page 311

rike5 · #**6201** Posted **Apr 16, 2015, 5:15 AM**

^ I forget, will the new Pont Champlain have dedicated transit lanes (BRT/LRT)?

Chadillaccc · #**6202** Posted **Apr 16, 2015, 5:19 AM**

Looks like it!

http://www.cjad.com/cjad-news/2014/06/27/watch-heres-what-the-new-champlain-bridge-will-look-like

SkahHigh · #**6203** Posted **Apr 16, 2015, 11:59 AM**

Yep it will, for the future LRT line going to Brossard, probably some for buses too.

1overcosc · #**6204** Posted **Apr 16, 2015, 7:58 PM**

Saw this paragraph hidden amongst all the news about Ontario's partial Hydro One privatization and liquor liberalization:

Quote:

Indeed, Wynne’s government will now earmark $31.5 billion for public transit and transportation infrastructure across Ontario over the next decade — half of which is for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. That’s up from the previous $29 billion that had been promised.

http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2...ts-as-part-of-major-ontario-changes.html

The previous amount approved was $13.9B for outside-GTHA, $15B for GTHA. If that ratio is maintained, the new amounts will be $16.3B GTHA, $15.2B non-GTHA.. an additional $1.3B for each.

Innsertnamehere · #**6205** Posted **Apr 16, 2015, 9:28 PM**

hmm good news, give a bit more wiggle room in budgeting.

Innsertnamehere · #**6206** Posted **Apr 17, 2015, 2:42 AM**

There is a provincial government GO transit related announcement in Barrie tomorrow, and given that it is budget season, it is expected to be an announcement on the first phase of GO RER.

1overcosc · #**6207** Posted **Apr 17, 2015, 2:51 AM**

The federal government is apparently going to be giving out a major boost to transit funding in its upcoming budget. "Up to" $1B/year. Implied that it's going to start lower than that and reach $1B over the course of a few years.

Given the massive popular support for transit improvements in the GTHA, and the large political gain the Ontario Liberals are getting for projects like GO RER, it only makes sense that the feds want in on the game and the glory.

Aylmer · #**6208** Posted **Apr 17, 2015, 11:24 AM**

Gosh, public transit must feel like the prettiest girl at the ball!

I'm happy to see the political class starting to realise the (electoral) benefits of transit and transit funding, especially if they can come through on these nice words. That said, the "up to $1B" is definitely not accidental and I have a feeling it won't be without conditions and fine print aplenty. When's the budget due this month?

caltrane74 · #**6209** Posted **Apr 17, 2015, 12:27 PM**

I don't like the idea of raising money by selling public assets. Better to borrow the money and pay back with interest than forfeit those future revenues, and potential rate hikes for ordinary Ontarians.

The_Architect · #**6210** Posted **Apr 17, 2015, 2:17 PM**

GO's 10-year plan:

Barrie:

Lakeshore West and Milton:

Kitchener and Stouffville:

Lakeshore East and Richmond Hill:

Quote:

Oliver Moore @moore_oliver
GO expansion plan to cost $13.5B. That's a lot for suburban rail. Doesn't leave much for other projects, like DRL. #transit #topoli #onpoli

Quote:

Oliver Moore @moore_oliver
There's ~$16.5B in prov money for #transit investment in GTHA. Take RER out of that and all other projects fighting over $3B #topoli #onpoli

caltrane74 · #**6211** Posted **Apr 17, 2015, 2:47 PM**

Way too much money for the suburbs.. I don't like it, and I love HSR/RER.. so go figure.

1overcosc · #**6212** Posted **Apr 17, 2015, 3:02 PM**

Federal funding for the rescue?

I don't have issues with this. GO RER is the single biggest bang for the buck that one can get.

$3B, huh. Didn't they already commit $1B to Hamilton's LRT? That leaves $2B left. Hurontario-Main LRT, and Durham BRT... and that's it, maybe? (Barring federal funding of course).

Innsertnamehere · #**6213** Posted **Apr 17, 2015, 4:07 PM**

That number seems way too high.

Let's wait and see in the coming days on exact costs for them all, not jump the gun.

eemy · #**6214** Posted **Apr 17, 2015, 4:21 PM**

30-minute peak service from Kitchener seems kind of pointless to me. What's needed is all-day service, not peak frequency.

It kind of seems like Metrolinx has a formula for line expansion and I'm not convinced that the formula works for Kitchener and Guelph which are really their own cities and not even remotely bedroom communities of the GTA. All-day service in both directions is far more essential in that sense than high-frequency peak service.

kwoldtimer · #**6215** Posted **Apr 17, 2015, 4:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremy_haak

30-minute peak service from Kitchener seems kind of pointless to me. What's needed is all-day service, not peak frequency.

It kind of seems like Metrolinx has a formula for line expansion and I'm not convinced that the formula works for Kitchener and Guelph which are really their own cities and not even remotely bedroom communities of the GTA. All-day service in both directions is far more essential in that sense than high-frequency peak service.

The GO service Kitchener needs is one that doesn't take two hours to get to Union Station. Cut that time in half and K-W would be fine with less frequent service.

hipster duck · #**6216** Posted **Apr 17, 2015, 5:19 PM**

On the whole, this GO announcement is great news. However, there are a few blemishes.

- 15 minute RER servce ends at Bramalea, rather than the more natural TOD/Places to Grow-designated Brampton, also the terminus of the eventual Hurontario LRT.

- 15 minute service ends at Burlington, rather than Hamilton James St. This is slightly more forgivable than not going to Brampton.

- 15 minute service to Aurora is overkill, especially since so many of the existing stations on the Barrie line largely parallel the Spadina subway extension, and have little redevelopment potential. I suppose it will be useful for people who live on the western side of Toronto between Eglinton and Bloor.

- Why end 15 minute service at Unionville, and not Markham?

- The Milton line continues its legacy as a peak-only service, despite being the second busiest rail line after the Lakeshore pair. Damn CP. I wonder if the investment made into the line to Aurora would be better spent building a separate GO ROW for the Milton line.

red-paladin · #**6217** Posted **Apr 17, 2015, 5:40 PM**

Compared to Metro Van's 1 line of commuter rail that only runs 5 times a day each way in rush hour ... it's fantastic

matt602 · #**6218** Posted **Apr 17, 2015, 6:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

Federal funding for the rescue?

$3B, huh. Didn't they already commit $1B to Hamilton's LRT? That leaves $2B left. Hurontario-Main LRT, and Durham BRT... and that's it, maybe? (Barring federal funding of course).

They haven't committed anything for Hamilton's LRT yet. We'd be fighting for part of that $3B, of which most will be going to Toronto and Mississauga, so Hamilton LRT is probably dead at this point. Council made a different, last minute request for money to pay for a new bus garage and bus things which was seen as effectively derailing and killing the LRT project, since the province is obviously going to take the cheaper route instead of funding both.

SteelTown · #**6219** Posted **Apr 17, 2015, 6:40 PM**

^ Hamilton council also asked for full LRT funding for the B-Line on top of the extra $300 million for bus related upgrades. In total $1.1 billion or so.

ScreamingViking · #**6220** Posted **Apr 17, 2015, 7:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremy_haak

30-minute peak service from Kitchener seems kind of pointless to me. What's needed is all-day service, not peak frequency.

It kind of seems like Metrolinx has a formula for line expansion and I'm not convinced that the formula works for Kitchener and Guelph which are really their own cities and not even remotely bedroom communities of the GTA. All-day service in both directions is far more essential in that sense than high-frequency peak service.

I think there would be opportunity to increase to all-day service on the Kitchener line, once the ridership demands it.

We also need to consider that the proposed High Speed Rail would represent a complementary service (though ticket prices would dictate what kind of customer uses it vs. GO)