The capacity challenges for Line 5 are gonna make it even more vital to get the Line 4 extension right. As for the all-white stations, hopefully there's an inexpensive way to make them less so.
When it comes to capacity issues and the development it is spurring it’s important to note just how big the divide is between what was expected and what is happening. Even the wildest Keesmaatian urbanist fantasy of the mid-00’s fell way short of what is being seen.
When you consider the very recent MZO’s that are allowing for taller, denser buildings, improved transit across the entire city, and a demand curve that hasn’t let up, it is possible that Crosstown alone could add another 250,000+ homes along Eglinton (and that number is probably an underestimate). If you had said in the mid-00’s that the population along Eglinton could increase by 500,000 (or more) just because of one transit line few people would have taken that seriously.
Crosstown is in many ways a disaster and there is a lot to criticize about it and learn from. Capacity issues due to new development is the only part of the project I’d consider giving a pass on simply because I don’t think anyone predicted the influence it would have.
Scarborough always loses in transit news. It’s not like connecting to on if the busiest subway stations and bus terminals at Kennedy warrants a high quality connection or anything. No it gets tram with half of trains turning back before even getting there. 🫠
Well said. Considering the popularity of your YT channel, I would hope that the media would reach out to you when discussing transit.
Is there anyway to upgrade the LRT to a metro system (subway or light metro like the Skytrain) now that is almost fully built?
They may need to get rid of certain stations in order to improve frequency (IE Ionview and Hakimi-Lebovic).
I used to take the TTC bus from Kennedy to Don Mills along Eglinton in 2017, it was such a slow ride and a high speed and high frequency line is definitely needed along that section. It's unfortunate those people are getting shafted.
I really hope the surface portion can be converted in the future with active signal priority, railway crossing barriers, bigger fencing around it to stop trespassers (Like 3-4 meters tall, not the regular ones that are there now), and everything we can do to make it as seamless as possible. I know it's unlikely in the short term, but after everyone realizes how much was spent for what's now not fully grade separated, there should be enough outrage to do small things (Small compared to tunneling) to make it seamless.
I know this is an extremely minor detail, but when stating the populations of cities in Northern Europe I don't know about the others, but the number for Odense was wrong. The only reason I noticed this is because I am half danish and know the island that Odense is on fairly well. It seems you replaced the population of Odense, around 200,000 people, with the population of the whole island, of around 500,000 people.
I have been screaming this on Urbantoronto but really this was such a blown opportunity.
A cross-town connector on the ROW that isn't broken by the Don Valley between Bloor and York Mills.
If we were going to spend this much money on this project, dig subway sized tunnels; it should always have been high capacity subway, maybe even quad track it so branches can run along Lawrence.
Former Premier Mike Harris (master of his apprentice, current Premier Doug Ford) cancelled the Eglinton West subway around 1995. Wonder if they would have had the same problems extended the heavy rail eastward from Eglinton West/Allen Road/Cedarvale station (or whatever), if they kept it as a heavy rail subway?
This should have been built as an automated line just like the Ontario Line.
The capacity challenges for Line 5 are gonna make it even more vital to get the Line 4 extension right. As for the all-white stations, hopefully there's an inexpensive way to make them less so.
When it comes to capacity issues and the development it is spurring it’s important to note just how big the divide is between what was expected and what is happening. Even the wildest Keesmaatian urbanist fantasy of the mid-00’s fell way short of what is being seen.
When you consider the very recent MZO’s that are allowing for taller, denser buildings, improved transit across the entire city, and a demand curve that hasn’t let up, it is possible that Crosstown alone could add another 250,000+ homes along Eglinton (and that number is probably an underestimate). If you had said in the mid-00’s that the population along Eglinton could increase by 500,000 (or more) just because of one transit line few people would have taken that seriously.
Crosstown is in many ways a disaster and there is a lot to criticize about it and learn from. Capacity issues due to new development is the only part of the project I’d consider giving a pass on simply because I don’t think anyone predicted the influence it would have.
Scarborough always loses in transit news. It’s not like connecting to on if the busiest subway stations and bus terminals at Kennedy warrants a high quality connection or anything. No it gets tram with half of trains turning back before even getting there. 🫠
Well said. Considering the popularity of your YT channel, I would hope that the media would reach out to you when discussing transit.
Is there anyway to upgrade the LRT to a metro system (subway or light metro like the Skytrain) now that is almost fully built?
They may need to get rid of certain stations in order to improve frequency (IE Ionview and Hakimi-Lebovic).
I used to take the TTC bus from Kennedy to Don Mills along Eglinton in 2017, it was such a slow ride and a high speed and high frequency line is definitely needed along that section. It's unfortunate those people are getting shafted.
I really hope the surface portion can be converted in the future with active signal priority, railway crossing barriers, bigger fencing around it to stop trespassers (Like 3-4 meters tall, not the regular ones that are there now), and everything we can do to make it as seamless as possible. I know it's unlikely in the short term, but after everyone realizes how much was spent for what's now not fully grade separated, there should be enough outrage to do small things (Small compared to tunneling) to make it seamless.
I know this is an extremely minor detail, but when stating the populations of cities in Northern Europe I don't know about the others, but the number for Odense was wrong. The only reason I noticed this is because I am half danish and know the island that Odense is on fairly well. It seems you replaced the population of Odense, around 200,000 people, with the population of the whole island, of around 500,000 people.
Have you written an article or made a video on transit futureproofing when it comes to capacity?
The LRT is a compromise by a government trying to save money and not property planning for future growth it seems.
I have been screaming this on Urbantoronto but really this was such a blown opportunity.
A cross-town connector on the ROW that isn't broken by the Don Valley between Bloor and York Mills.
If we were going to spend this much money on this project, dig subway sized tunnels; it should always have been high capacity subway, maybe even quad track it so branches can run along Lawrence.
Ontario Line's getting narrow toy trains too, so we have no intention of getting back to future-proofing right now
Former Premier Mike Harris (master of his apprentice, current Premier Doug Ford) cancelled the Eglinton West subway around 1995. Wonder if they would have had the same problems extended the heavy rail eastward from Eglinton West/Allen Road/Cedarvale station (or whatever), if they kept it as a heavy rail subway?
Similar issues with capacity and lack of future-proofing are being planned into the Ontario Line.
Top tip, don't costs in the short term as they'll come back to bite you in the future.