The Great Canadian Transit Thread

[niwell]

The new public art and expanding seating on the street certainly helps, I imagine. I never really go down to King because it's not my scene but tempted to check it out (Bar Hop is there at least).

[mistercorporate]

That's great to hear, hopefully they expand it to other streets in that case. Socializing on a street or patio with drivers gaping at you is always annoying.

[WhipperSnapper]

I'm not particular. My scene is one I can walk to and one that I can get back home without major injury or my bladder exploding. The subway is a death trap for both. The GO is awesome but, I can buy two more pints for the cost of it.

[niwell]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

I'm not particular. My scene is one I can walk to and one that I can get back home without major injury or my bladder exploding. The subway is a death trap for both. The GO is awesome but, I can buy two more pints for the cost of it.

I'm glad that my local with amazing craft beer is literally a 3 minute walk from me! And my secondary one about halfway on my bike ride home.

[WhipperSnapper]

Craft beer scene is getting better with new restaurant openings however, the older establishments are taking their time to catch on. Beer is so so. Whiskey is amazing. I like the food. I'm faaaar from a foodie though.

[suburbanite]

Originally Posted by niwell

The new public art and expanding seating on the street certainly helps, I imagine. I never really go down to King because it's not my scene but tempted to check it out (Bar Hop is there at least).

Lack of cars has certainly improved the atmosphere on King Street. When I'm going out on Thursday/Friday, 90% of the time it's on King between Spadina and Bathurst. Definitely a younger scene, but if you want to check out how it's changed, I'd recommend grabbing some amazing Mexican food at Wilbur and then hitting the patio at Belfast next door. Not quite as good a beer selection as Bar Hop, but still about 30+ beers on tap.

[lubicon]

Originally Posted by caltrane74

Was out on King Street last night at the bar, and I saw the TTC testing the new streetcars. King Street Project looking so good. So many people out on the street and a pure party vibe, chill vibe. Love it so much, could never imagine a bus on this route. Gotta hold on to our streetcars tight if Dougie Doug is in charge.

Why would the Premier of a province have any say, control, or interest in a local transit corporation?

[mistercorporate]

Originally Posted by lubicon

Why would the Premier of a province have any say, control, or interest in a local transit corporation?

He wants to upload some ttc rolling stock to provincial oversight and control. Not necessarily a bad thing.

[rbt]

Originally Posted by lubicon

Why would the Premier of a province have any say, control, or interest in a local transit corporation?

The Premier has ultimate authority over the city and all city departments. They can restructure the city and/or pass down operational requirements as they see fit.

As to why they might take the time making a legislative order to eliminate rail based surface transit? I couldn't say. They should have more important things to pay attention to right?


Same in Alberta. Calgary exists because the provincial government finds it convenient to not manage the day-to-day operations of the city.

[osmo]

Originally Posted by rbt

The Premier has ultimate authority over the city and all city departments. They can restructure the city and/or pass down operational requirements as they see fit.

As to why they might take the time making a legislative order to eliminate rail based surface transit? I couldn't say. They should have more important things to pay attention to right?


Same in Alberta. Calgary exists because the provincial government finds it convenient to not manage the day-to-day operations of the city.

If I recall as the TTC is a City of Toronto agency it would directly be a holding of the city. TTC can be impacted via subsidy cuts but I do not beleive the Province can, with the stroke of the pen, desolve the TTC. It could maybe order Toronto to restructure how it delivers public transportation but I don't think it could break-apart a Toronto City owned entity. TTC has largely been its own animal, for much of its history as self-sufficient entity.

[J.OT13]

But the province has always been heavily involved in Toronto Transit, and not just through Go Transit. Queen's Park is always willing to give billions in transit funding for constantly changing plans, often more ridiculous than the previous version (Scarborough Subway).

Metrolinx also builds rapid transit lines, 100% funded by provincial tax-payers, before handing them over to the TTC (Eglinton Crosstown).

Meanwhile, the Downtown Relief Line, the one transit project that could be considered essential, is no where near where it should be, because the votes are in the burbs.

[Coldrsx]

Churchill Interchange


Used with permission

[ssiguy]

Originally Posted by lubicon

Why would the Premier of a province have any say, control, or interest in a local transit corporation?

Unfortunately cities in Canada are a domain of the province so legally they do have control. More realistically you are correct that province`s should not be setting local transportation policy but if they don`t want any provincial input then they shouldn`t ask for any provincial money. The province has the legal and moral right to make sure those funds are being used wisely for the general good and to be responsible to the taxpayers of not only the city but all taxpayers across the province who will be contributing to the local project.

[J.OT13]

Has any provincial government vetoed a transit project because it was a bad investment? It seems the Scarborough Subway and Trillium Line extension in Ottawa (around $700 million to extend an unreliable, single track diesel train, with an airport spur that requires 2 transfers to downtown) are good candidates.

Other than Mike Harris who buried the Eglinton Line cause that's just what he did (along with closing hospitals), and Federal Minister John Baird who held the Federal contribution for Ottawa's original N/S rail in 2006 (lack of public support, kill Liberal project, new Mayor who wanted to replace the old plan with an E/W line and downtown tunnel), I can't think of any examples.

[Innsertnamehere]

The Eglinton that Harris killed was going to be even more of a money sink than the Shepard subway. It's a good think that it got cancelled.

[J.OT13]

Granted the Crosstown stretches much further than the original Eglinton West Line, but is it far superior?

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Granted the Crosstown stretches much further than the original Eglinton West Line, but is it far superior?

More than 20 years ago when Harris cancelled the Eglinton subway. Lots of time for further extensions if we had proceeded.

Cancelling projects of this magnitude wastes time and taxpayer's money.

Wasn't a Sheppard extension also cancelled after spending millions?

Politicians are the worst transit planners. This should be left to the experts and once construction begins, it is plain stupidity to cancel a project. We never recover the money or the lost opportunity.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Has any provincial government vetoed a transit project because it was a bad investment? It seems the Scarborough Subway and Trillium Line extension in Ottawa (around $700 million to extend an unreliable, single track diesel train, with an airport spur that requires 2 transfers to downtown) are good candidates.

Other than Mike Harris who buried the Eglinton Line cause that's just what he did (along with closing hospitals), and Federal Minister John Baird who held the Federal contribution for Ottawa's original N/S rail in 2006 (lack of public support, kill Liberal project, new Mayor who wanted to replace the old plan with an E/W line and downtown tunnel), I can't think of any examples.

I live near the Trillium Line and for most potential riders in this area, it is and will be unusable.

[ainvan]

TTC seeking new CEO with salary up to $356Gs

Think you have what it takes to run the Red Rocket?

Six months after Andy Byford left his CEO post at the Toronto Transit Commission to run New York City’s transit system, the TTC has published a job posting for his replacement.

The listing for chief executive officer was posted to the TTC’s careers site with a June 22 deadline to apply. It comes with some perks, including a massive annual salary ranging from $247,556 to $356,046.

http://torontosun.com/news/local-news/ttc-seeking-new-ceo-with-salary-up-to-356gs

Interested? Apply here: https://ttc.talentnest.com/en/posting/35564

[SkahHigh]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

I live near the Trillium Line and for most potential riders in this area, it is and will be unusable.

How come? Just curious.