Canadian LRT/RT projects U/C

[GreaterMontréal]

don't forget the Pie-IX BRT, 70,000 ppd , from A-440 in Laval to the Green Line. 24/24 7/7

from the AMT site

The station configuration includes:

-A fare vending machine
-A fare validator
-A variable message sign that displays bus schedules in real time
-Concrete guard rails with railings on each side of the station
-A fence on the median strip, pedestrian push buttons for crosswalks, and wide pedestrian crossings set back from the intersection
-Coloured asphalt and the signage required to distinguish the reserved lane

https://www.amt.qc.ca/en/news/projects/pie-ix-bus-rapid-transit

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

Imagine if we still had Harper in power, he would of told us to fuck right off. It's good to have a local back in charge of things.

But we need money for more of Toronto's Bastard Lines!

[SkahHigh]

I don't get the jealousy of some people. Did any city get refusal from the feds? Calgary probably got some funding for it's Green line, so did Ottawa with phase 2 of the Confederation line. Vancouver doesn't have much proposed.

[MalcolmTucker]

Allocations under the old government were mostly per-capita based. The first tranche of the public transit fund is ridership based so as to get the money out the door fast. We will see what happens with the next round, I'd imagine there would also be 'new start' funds like are seen in the USA, for large investments in areas with low fiscal capacity but high ridership potential.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by SkahHigh

I don't get the jealousy of some people. Did any city get refusal from the feds? Calgary probably got some funding for it's Green line, so did Ottawa with phase 2 of the Confederation line. Vancouver doesn't have much proposed.

I'm jealous of Montreal's Metro system as a whole, not complaining about funding arrangements. We did, and will continue to get, our fair share. We (Ottawa) opted for a commuter rail built on metro standards, stretching as far as possible to serve the suburbs, for better or worse. We also lack a proper interprovincial rapid transit system to serve our largest suburb, Gatineau, because no one seems to be willing to work together (they talk a big game but don't act).

The "bastard lines" comment refers to the short little lines they've build or continue to build (think Sheppard (epic fail), Scarborough R/T, Finch West, Sheppard East) feeding into the older, overcapacity lines.

Bottom line, I believe Montreal's current metro system and planned REM, concentrated in the central core of the metropolitan area, is the best model of how a transit system should be planned and built. Distant suburbs should be served by commuter rail only, not multi-billion dollar metros and subways.

This as opposed to Toronto that continues to build random little lines, forcing transfers all over the place and stretching the Yonge-University farther north to the far-flung suburbs (where GO service already exists). I believe they should start building the Downtown relief line at this point instead of continually investing everywhere else outside Toronto's core.

End of the day, we all seem to get our fair share, more-or-less, and decide for ourselves the way we want to build and invest. I think Montreal has the best approach nowadays.

[WhipperSnapper]

There's a lot wrong with Toronto's transit but, c'mon;

Random little lines? Forcing additional transfer? Where? I can only think of the Sheppard LRT . In turn, the Line 2 extension to Scarborough Centre will remove a transfer. You're ignoring the costly Eglinton line as well.

It's all well and good to say the suburbs should only be served by GO but the reality is the Yonge leg of Line 1's overcapacity is partly to the people transferring from York/Peel Region. I'm sure transit planners are hoping some of that capacity will end up shifted to the underused Spadina leg extension. The Vaughan extension is being sold as part of the relief strategy.

[caltrane74]

The Eglinton Crosstown Project is the largest transportation project currently under construction in Canada. Well over 5 billion dollars, and digging a tunnel under midtown Toronto all the way from Don Mills to Etobicoke..Nothing is small-time or random about it.

Eglinton Crosstown - Project

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I'm jealous of Montreal's Metro system as a whole, not complaining about funding arrangements. We did, and will continue to get, our fair share. We (Ottawa) opted for a commuter rail built on metro standards, stretching as far as possible to serve the suburbs, for better or worse. We also lack a proper interprovincial rapid transit system to serve our largest suburb, Gatineau, because no one seems to be willing to work together (they talk a big game but don't act).

The "bastard lines" comment refers to the short little lines they've build or continue to build (think Sheppard (epic fail), Scarborough R/T, Finch West, Sheppard East) feeding into the older, overcapacity lines.

Bottom line, I believe Montreal's current metro system and planned REM, concentrated in the central core of the metropolitan area, is the best model of how a transit system should be planned and built. Distant suburbs should be served by commuter rail only, not multi-billion dollar metros and subways.

This as opposed to Toronto that continues to build random little lines, forcing transfers all over the place and stretching the Yonge-University farther north to the far-flung suburbs (where GO service already exists). I believe they should start building the Downtown relief line at this point instead of continually investing everywhere else outside Toronto's core.

End of the day, we all seem to get our fair share, more-or-less, and decide for ourselves the way we want to build and invest. I think Montreal has the best approach nowadays.

I tend to agree with you. Another nice feature of the Montreal system is how the lines cross each other allowing for easy transfers. I have always favoured a transit grid and Montreal is creating that. The problem in Toronto is how under-connected the downtown area is.

[ssiguy]

Originally Posted by caltrane74

The Eglinton Crosstown Project is the largest transportation project currently under construction in Canada. Well over 5 billion dollars, and digging a tunnel under midtown Toronto all the way from Don Mills to Etobicoke..Nothing is small-time or random about it.

Eglinton Crosstown - Project

It may be the largest but that doesn't mean they are getting value for the money. When spending $5 billion on just a 20 km line the line should be grade separated but Miller want LRT everywhere lest a line could be automated and hurt his union base. For this kind of money it is scandalous it is not totally grade separated.

[jmt18325]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

It may be the largest but that doesn't mean they are getting value for the money. When spending %5 billion on just a 20 km line the line should be grade separated but Miller want LRT everywhere lest a line could be automated and hurt his union base. For this kind of money it is scandalous it is not totally grade separated.

Obviously 'that kind of money' was not enough to have it totally grade separated.

[caltrane74]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

It may be the largest but that doesn't mean they are getting value for the money. When spending %5 billion on just a 20 km line the line should be grade separated but Miller want LRT everywhere lest a line could be automated and hurt his union base. For this kind of money it is scandalous it is not totally grade separated.

Yes, the plan was for an 8 billion dollar underground line. - But the money was broken up, so other projects could be funded, including the fully grade separated Scarborough line.

Also,don't forget the line is underground through midtown for 12 km.

[flipv]

Originally Posted by caltrane74

Yes, the plan was for an 8 billion dollar underground line. - But the money was broken up, so other projects could be funded, including the fully grade separated Scarborough line.

Also,don't forget the line is underground through midtown for 12 km.

Eglinton is a big waste of money.

The underground portion costs more than a subway due to the larger tunnel diameters and the LRT vehicles cost more than the subway vehicles. So aside from the surface portion in Scarborough (that realistically should have been elevated our routed somewhere off street) we are paying more for less.

I will never ride the line so I don't really care, but too bad for those who do. Enjoy your streetcar in a tunnel.

[niwell]

^And full subway stations cost significantly more than the underground stations being built would. Tunneling at a slightly smaller diameter would have minimal cost differences once you get going. The design of the Scarborough section hasn't been fully completed and rumour has it may be modified for some areas of grade separation. I'm sure you knew all of this though.

[flipv]

Originally Posted by niwell

^And full subway stations cost significantly more than the underground stations being built would. Tunneling at a slightly smaller diameter would have minimal cost differences once you get going. The design of the Scarborough section hasn't been fully completed and rumour has it may be modified for some areas of grade separation. I'm sure you knew all of this though.

Who says we need to be palatial stations for the 'theoretical' Eglinton subway. Spadina seems like a one off.

Either way, palatial, grand stations should be reserved for the downtown portion of the DRL - otherwise, unless it's a very site specific station (Science Centre, etc) - keep it simple stupid.. Like Bloor!

[caltrane74]

The downtown line is coming, no need to get angry at the mid-towners and scarbarians!!!

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by flipv

Eglinton is a big waste of money.

The underground portion costs more than a subway due to the larger tunnel diameters and the LRT vehicles cost more than the subway vehicles. So aside from the surface portion in Scarborough (that realistically should have been elevated our routed somewhere off street) we are paying more for less.

I will never ride the line so I don't really care, but too bad for those who do. Enjoy your streetcar in a tunnel.

Not this stupid elevated in the middle of the street nonsense and rerouted off street where? It would cost billions to buy up property. Eglinton moves very fast in Scaborough too.

[flipv]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

Not this stupid elevated in the middle of the street nonsense and rerouted off street where? It would cost billions to buy up property. Eglinton moves very fast in Scaborough too.

The TTC does not have a single example of working transit priority signalization.

Not. A. Single. One.

Hence why I call this a fancy streetcar line in a tunnel.

[WhipperSnapper]

Doesn't answer anything I said. Not only that, it is wrong. Westbound 503 turning from Kingston road onto Queen.

[flipv]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

Doesn't answer anything I said. Not only that, it is wrong.

Spadina has no prioritization, neither does Queen's Quay, neither does Queensway - or any part of the network called 'LRT'.

Last I heard it was some MTO issue. Either way, does not inspire confidence.



Also, please tell me what are we saving Scarborough by not going elevated. Is it the beautiful and historic strip malls? Big box stores? I'm not following why elevated is not a good idea given the streetcar will be stopping at every light from Laird to Kennedy.

[WhipperSnapper]

You said one and I gave you one.

That part of your problem. You lack vision. An ugly ass elevated train down the middle of Eglinton will do nothing to help build up the street with a mixed use midrise street wall.

I've driven the route plenty of times at all times the day. There are a few bottlenecks like the O'Connor/Victoria Park/Pharmacy section. Everywhere else everyone drives well over the speed limit of 60kms/hr. How much savings would there be to spend billions going underground; billions to build a right of way or, a billion on an elevated track that will forever keep the area a big box wasteland.