The Great Canadian Transit Thread

[J.OT13]

I had a thought for Toronto. Now I know this would be epicly expensive, but considering how many billions are being spent in GO Transit and little light rail lines all over, I think it would be worth the investment.

In conjunction with the Downtown Relief Line passing under Queen Street, they should build Union #2 under Queen between University and Yonge. I'm thinking convert Old City Hall or re-develop the Sheraton Podium into a strikingly modern (commuter) railway station.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I had a thought for Toronto. Now I know this would be epicly expensive, but considering how many billions are being spent in GO Transit and little light rail lines all over, I think it would be worth the investment.

In conjunction with the Downtown Relief Line passing under Queen Street, they should build Union #2 under Queen between University and Yonge. I'm thinking convert Old City Hall or re-develop the Sheraton Podium into a strikingly modern (commuter) railway station.

Are you thinking of finding space for more trains? Why not just tunnel under the existing station?

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

Are you thinking of finding space for more trains? Why not just tunnel under the existing station?

Thinking better distribution of GO Transit riders to alleviate the south end of downtown and the Yonge-University Line while bringing more riders to an eventual DRL. It would also bring a lot of people closer to their work.

Nearly every other world city has at least two inter-modal railway station, including Montreal (Gare Central serving VIA, AMT, Amtrack, situated between two Subway lines, and Lucien-L'Allier connecting the AMT with the Orange Line).

[GreaterMontréal]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Thinking better distribution of GO Transit riders to alleviate the south end of downtown and the Yonge-University Line while bringing more riders to an eventual DRL. It would also bring a lot of people closer to their work.

Nearly every other world city has at least two inter-modal railway station, including Montreal (Gare Central serving VIA, AMT, Amtrack, situated between two Subway lines, and Lucien-L'Allier connecting the AMT with the Orange Line).

there is an intermodal station in Laval - Concorde Station (RTM - Orange Line)
in Montréal, du Parc Station (RTM - Blue Line)
in Montréal, Vendôme Station (RTM - Orange Line)

not downtown, but still, you can transfer easily. The de la Concorde Station has a yearly ridership of about 976,200, second only to du Parc Station.

the de la Concorde Métro station has been a great success.
from 554,500 in 2009
to 1,376,835 in 2015

Traffic at Laval's three Métro stations has more than doubled since they went into service, going from 3.9 million passages in 2007 to 9.2 million in 2016.

[J.OT13]

I was thinking more major downtown stations. I imagine Concorde and Parc are minor transfer stations. I'm sure GO and TTC might have a few like that also...

[WhipperSnapper]

Totally the wrong street. Queen isn't being promoted as an option for the DRL. It is also only a five to ten minute walk from Union Station. Bloor or College would be better. It is now a pretty hellish commute for Union users to work at Dundas, College or, Bloor. Queen wouldn't address those people at all.

[GreaterMontréal]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I was thinking more major downtown stations. I imagine Concorde and Parc are minor transfer stations. I'm sure GO and TTC might have a few like that also...

de la Concorde : 976,200 , +10.6%
du Parc : 1,113,000 , +1%

they are minor, but de la Concorde is growing very fast.

I would say, the biggest surprise is the Mascouche Line , +25% , Gare-Centrale +17%

[p_xavier]

Originally Posted by GreaterMontréal

de la Concorde : 976,200 , +10.6%
du Parc : 1,113,000 , +1%

they are minor, but de la Concorde is growing very fast.

I would say, the biggest surprise is the Mascouche Line , +25% , Gare-Centrale +17%

There are Vendôme and Sauvé stations too that are intermodal. Vendôme with the MUCH must be popular.

[ClaytonA]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

Out of curiosity, where are you getting this number? I know that the 99 B-line is that 56,000, and then there's the 9 and some portions of the 14, 16 and 17. ... I can't see those 5 trolley bus lines contributing 100,000 riders, ...

I base it on pg 11 of this report BAU case; sure it's 2041, but it's currently already at capacity and could more buses be added? BAU is what we already have, approx. 2041=2017. Midday offpeak is already at 75% crush load capacity. https://www.translink.ca/-/media/Documen...natives_Evaluation_Executive_Summary.pdf

10 years of pent up at-capacity demand are in the corridor; note how ridership evolution has flat-lined after 2007/2009: https://voony.wordpress.com/2013/10/15/before-and-after-the-99b-line/ The Arbutus extension opening is still 5+ years away from 2017 too.

...The UBC-Broadway Corridor is already at full transit capacity during peak hours, with an estimated 500,000 pass-ups a year, and off-peak service up to 75 percent of capacity. ...

http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/KPMG-Executive-Summary-UBC-Broadway-Corridor-2013-02-27.pdf

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What's really interesting is using google's trip times and subtracting 10 minutes from options using Broadway. During rush hour when Skytrain's only built as far as Arbutus, 99B wait line ups will increase correspondingly. Some riders on adjacent streets need that street, some don't. Prior to it being extended, given network demands elsewhere (e.g. Burrard Inlet) expect extension holdups, we'll see no time savings as 10 minutes longer lineups will offsetting them around peak times.




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Original planning was to have this line extended west by 2003-2005, but provincial government change defunded Translink and even the Evergreen Line portion got phased and then put on hold. Canada Line queue-jumped. Surrey is queue-jumping. Demand is only part of the equation for choosing projects.

[Horus]

New TTC map, coming to a subway car near you.

[FFX-ME]

Originally Posted by Horus

New TTC map, coming to a subway car near you.

Huh.

I'm always surprised when I see the Toronto subway map by how small it is, particularly when you compare it to far smaller cities like Montreal and Vancouver. Transportation in the GTA is so fractured.

[TorontoDrew]

True, but that will change once the Crosstown opens. You also need to consider our commuter rail lines and frequency they run. Still lots of improvements are needed to catch up with our size.

source: https://upload.wikimedia.org


Source: http://placebonaventure.com
Montreals is pretty good.


source: http://tasteofthedanforth.com

[mistercorporate]

Now we have Presto, they really should include the GO train lines and Pearson Express into our subway map. Same with the subway stations on the GO Map.

[SkahHigh]

The GO system is a game changer for TO though. So much better than the RTM in Montreal in terms of frequency and off-peak service.

[p_xavier]

Originally Posted by FFX-ME

Huh.

I'm always surprised when I see the Toronto subway map by how small it is, particularly when you compare it to far smaller cities like Montreal and Vancouver. Transportation in the GTA is so fractured.

What I dislike about Toronto's system is the naming convention for stations. Oh let's met up at Lawrence, which Lawrence? East or West, not plain old Lawrence... It's ridiculous especially with a system with so few stations.

Let's rename Downsview to Sheppard West! And name the station after, Downsview Park! It will be much less confusing!

[SkahHigh]

Originally Posted by d_jeffrey

What I dislike about Toronto's system is the naming convention for stations. Oh let's met up at Lawrence, which Lawrence? East or West, not plain old Lawrence... It's ridiculous especially with a system with so few stations.

Let's rename Downsview to Sheppard West! And name the station after, Downsview Park! It will be much less confusing!

I always thought the northbound/southbound was confusing as well. When you’re a tourist, surely you don’t know which direction you’re going.

Especially from Union where whether you go Finch or VMC you end up going northbound lol

[DDP]

Originally Posted by FFX-ME

Huh.

I'm always surprised when I see the Toronto subway map by how small it is, particularly when you compare it to far smaller cities like Montreal and Vancouver. Transportation in the GTA is so fractured.

Vancouver is different since there system is basically a mixture of GO and TTC in Toronto.

Surprised TTC doesn't add certain street car routes to it, especially ones that are median separated like Spadina or St. Clair.

[p_xavier]

Originally Posted by SkahHigh

I always thought the northbound/southbound was confusing as well. When you’re a tourist, surely you don’t know which direction you’re going.

Especially from Union where whether you go Finch or VMC you end up going northbound lol

Yup, plus even after the renovations they still call it the Unversity line and Yonge lines while it's one line...

[Innsertnamehere]

It's referred to officially as Line 1.

[p_xavier]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

It's referred to officially as Line 1.