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Originally Posted by Kitchissippi
Define "very good transit service". Sure we have diesel-spewing buses running through Tunney's Pasture and the transitway trench every 5 minutes during rush hour, but we can't get on most of them, and if we do we won't get a seat because they're all taken by commuters from farther out. Ironically we pay higher property taxes to be closer to transit (therefore a higher transit levy), so yeah, we're the "same people over and over" but we are loyal, higher paying customers that deserve better. This isn't like a cell phone plan where better deals are for new customers only.
All I can say is the direction of public transit has never been clearer in this city. We now know what is scheduled to be built for the next couple of decades and it is an obvious path to higher capacity. At this point, if transit and LRT service are that important to you, make the choice and live closer to it rather than expecting it to come to you. Contrary to what you say, there are still lots of homes that are affordable close to future LRT stations, if not in this phase then the next one. The Overbrook and Cyrville area comes to mind as well as areas near the future New Orchard and Iris stations. Look at MLS, there are still plenty of detached houses in the $300K - $400K range within 500 metres of frequent service.
Anyone who would choose to live car-free would never ever live in Riverside South. and it would take more than just great transit service to convince them to move there. Most people I know who are car-free are die-hard cyclists and value being close to cultural amenities more than anything else. You can't will that on a green field, it takes generations to evolve.
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Don't worry, you will get your trains. Remember, how this discussion all came about. How the O-Train extension is being delayed despite being on the TMP priority list. Remember also the other observations about the amount of housing being built without significant supporting transit.
Yes, you are paying more taxes, but despite what you say, you are getting much more transit service than most are getting, even in most areas inside the Greenbelt. Everybody else is putting up with crowded buses too, you know. It is not a phenonmenon restricted to Westboro and Tunney's Pasture.
We are not here to support a carless lifestyle using our taxes. We are here to provide a service. Nothing more, nothing less. We are trying to reduce the pressures on our roadways and that is best achieved by getting people off the roads during peak periods.
The question remains whether we actually want new riders. Based on your comments, I expect the answer is not really.
Regarding, the affordability of housing. Overbrook isn't exactly a stone's throw from the Confederation Line, and Cyrville has only small pockets of developable land within walking distance of the station. Once LRT opens, especially new stations, the price of housing is going to go up and low income families over time will be moving elsewhere. This is what typically happens.
And before putting words in my mouth about wanting LRT within walking distance of my house, I have no expectations of that ever happening. It isn't in the plan and I don't expect it. I do think that there are wide expectations that rapid transit (in some form) be delivered to the major suburbs. Otherwise, prepare for the need to build lots of more roads and to see the quality of life in the city degrade as the city chokes on more and more traffic.