Northern Ontario developments!

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by yotajoe

https://www.saultstar.com/news/local...ansit-projects

Great news!

"The final two projects, which will receive over $27 million and $26 million respectively, will see the design and construction of three major mobility hubs and rapid bus lines along three corridors."

What is a real surprise is the "rapid bus lines". This may lead to BRT, and one day, an LRT....

[ericmacm]

The "rapid bus lines" that they are describing could effectively be considered BRT. I'm glad to see this, it's a very ambitious project for a small city like Sudbury. It's always good to see smaller cities planning ahead, these projects are always so much easier to build earlier than later down the road.

[vid]

Meanwhile Thunder Bay has eliminated bus service and rendered the system nearly unusable. What a contrast!

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by ericmacm

The "rapid bus lines" that they are describing could effectively be considered BRT. I'm glad to see this, it's a very ambitious project for a small city like Sudbury. It's always good to see smaller cities planning ahead, these projects are always so much easier to build earlier than later down the road.

Kinda makes me think of Ottawa's Transitways. They helped lay the groundwork for the LRT system.

[ericmacm]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

Kinda makes me think of Ottawa's Transitways. They helped lay the groundwork for the LRT system.

That's exactly the point. Having a precursor to LRT, like a separated median/shoulder BRT or a BRT transitway makes it easier to upgrade later in the future. Sudbury has a very long way to go before LRT is ever in the picture, but having the ROW already set up will make the transition a lot cheaper and easier.

I suspect in this case, they'll probably go for shoulder or median bus lanes with some separated sections.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by ericmacm

That's exactly the point. Having a precursor to LRT, like a separated median/shoulder BRT or a BRT transitway makes it easier to upgrade later in the future. Sudbury has a very long way to go before LRT is ever in the picture, but having the ROW already set up will make the transition a lot cheaper and easier.

I suspect in this case, they'll probably go for shoulder or median bus lanes with some separated sections.

For once, Sudbury might be doing something right....

[Truenorth00]

Why is everybody talking about BRT? It's a decent development but they aren't building Transitways:

Rapid bus lines will help to reduce bus travel time, increase transit ridership, and improve overall operational efficiency. The new corridors will include intersection improvements with dedicated turn lanes for buses, passenger waiting areas and shelters, fare vending machines and more.

Sounds like Züm in Brampton.

[TbayON]

THUNDER BAY

Preliminary site work and foundation work is wrapping up for the new Motel 6 on Arthur Street. There hasn't been much activity on site the last couple of weeks.

City council voted to go ahead with the new indoor turf facility, estimated to cost anywhere between $32 million and $48 million (depending on who one asks). Construction could very likely begin this year if all proceeds as expected now. The project has been under scrutiny both because of budgetary concerns as a result of the Covid-19 budget shortfalls and a perceived lack of consultation/information.

Sounds like one, perhaps two new breweries are setting up shop in downtown P.A.

[ericmacm]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

Why is everybody talking about BRT? It's a decent development but they aren't building Transitways:

Sounds like Züm in Brampton.

Züm is still a BRT. Bus rapid transit systems aren't exclusively limited to transitways. Some systems run on the shoulder or median in dedicated bus lanes without being fully separated. Mind you, it's definitely not as effective as full separation, but it's still rapid transit.

[Dengler Avenue]

https://kenoraonline.com/local/three...ucture-funding

The Lake of the Woods District Hospital will receive $319,999, the Dryden Regional Health Centre will receive $147,767 and the Riverside Health Care Facilities, in Fort Frances, will receive $108,379.

[yotajoe]

https://northernontario.ctvnews.ca/p...ower-1.5133709

!4-story tower proposed for downtown Sudbury.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by yotajoe

https://northernontario.ctvnews.ca/p...ower-1.5133709

!4-story tower proposed for downtown Sudbury.

It is weird how people are reacting about it. "build this downtown, but move the arena far away". People say there is a problem with parking downtown, but hate the idea of a parking garage.

[yotajoe]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

It is weird how people are reacting about it. "build this downtown, but move the arena far away". People say there is a problem with parking downtown, but hate the idea of a parking garage.

The cost is the issue, Sudbury residents love to complain that they have to pay to have nice things yet complain about not having nice things. The arena discussion is a huge can of worms, but from someone who lived in Sudbury for 20 years if its not all private money it probably wont be built.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by yotajoe

The cost is the issue, Sudbury residents love to complain that they have to pay to have nice things yet complain about not having nice things. The arena discussion is a huge can of worms, but from someone who lived in Sudbury for 20 years if its not all private money it probably wont be built.

While I would like to see the arena stay downtown. However, if you ignore downtown as an option, I do not understand how the best place is right beside the garbage dump of the city. When you stay at a hotel there and if your room faces NW, you will enjoy a view of the garbage dump.

The reality is, this land is not worth much as no one wants to live or work right beside the dump. There is no sound case for an arena that is not subsidized in Sudbury, so private money won't do it.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

While I would like to see the arena stay downtown. However, if you ignore downtown as an option, I do not understand how the best place is right beside the garbage dump of the city. When you stay at a hotel there and if your room faces NW, you will enjoy a view of the garbage dump.

The reality is, this land is not worth much as no one wants to live or work right beside the dump. There is no sound case for an arena that is not subsidized in CANADA, so private money won't do it.

Fixed your post.

Pretty sure the only arenas built without public funds were in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

Fixed your post.

Pretty sure the only arenas built without public funds were in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

Notice how they are all downtown?

[yotajoe]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

Notice how they are all downtown?

And Ottawa?..

Personally I would love for the arena to be downtown and I was a fan of the plan that was revealed by the architecture firm. I know council is allowing a presentation to hear them out but thats a huge stretch. KED is way closer to reality in my opinion thats why I'm okay with it. I also don't think a casino would be bad either, but of course it would be way better downtown..

[DavefromSt.Vital]

Ottawa is in an awful location. They want to move closer to downtown just as Edmonton has done.

I like the reno proposal. Pushing out the envelope of the building to make a proper upper concourse with real concessions makes sense. Whichever proposal is chosen, something needs to happen. I have been to every OHL arena and I would have to say that Sudbury would be about the second worst in-arena experience. (Nothing compares to Flint). The tiny concourses, lack of concessions, lack of accessibility, the stench from the visiting team's dressing room, etc.

Not sure what the resistance is to parking garages. Many OHL arenas are adjacent to one (Saginaw, Guelph, London, Erie, Niagara, Ottawa, Hamilton, etc.)

[yotajoe]

Originally Posted by DavefromSt.Vital

Not sure what the resistance is to parking garages. Many OHL arenas are adjacent to one (Saginaw, Guelph, London, Erie, Niagara, Ottawa, Hamilton, etc.)

Money is the problem, Sudbury is pretty much all hard rock and that makes it really expensive for site prep and excavation. Parking garages just increase that cost way more.

If they would move the rail yard outside the city that would solve the parking problem until the core grows.

[Dengler Avenue]

Did Ottawa need to blast rocks for its arena too? The geology there isn’t all that simple either, with hard rocks here and unstable clay there.