Since I was running over 90 minutes behind schedule, did not cover the areas I wanted to on my visit today, but some hair scratching on what I saw.
From what I can tell, the westbound lanes from Hakim Ave to east of O'Conner Dr has been repave with final top and marked for lanes and bike lane that should be strip shortly. Eastbound lanes have be plane along with the ramp over the tracks. Drivers were a pain not only trying to get on/off the track, but around the raise manholes frames.
Until I have a closure look at the rest of the ROW from the DVP to Kennedy portal, it looks like the only grass well see in the ROW will be from the eastbound platform of Golden Mile Station to the westbound platform of Birchmount Station with various boxes still have to be built in the grass. Saw the sprinkler system in operation as I was walking west. 2 different style and have photos of them working. One is on the north side of the westbound track and standard type that does almost 180 degree swing covering both tracks and not in unison with each over and may requre adjustments or that's the way its to be. The other one is odd and against the concrete edge on the northside like a low fountain that doesn't cover all of the ROW from my point of view. A few areas have a small batch of grab grass and not surprise
Tons of cable work still to be done. Landscaping starting to take place.
Issue 1: In place of the normal 2 transit signals' that are working for each intersection tracks in each direction, there are 4. The standard on coming signal in place like TTC ones, but another set on the opposite facing LRV's coming from the opposite with one point toward the driver if they are stop for a light. I stand to be corrected, but with the crossing signals for pedestrians to either get across the road or the stop is partly blocking the on coming vehicle signal. I try putting myself in the seat of a LRV driver and one signal is block from view and the other partly. The signals for pedestrians are cover up and not fully setup. Have never seen this 4e signal setup anywhere in the world I have been to that has trans/streetcars.
Issue 2: Transportation Toronto continue to make cars the God of the road by forcing the LRV to stop 10 seconds sooner for a red than a car. I time a number of light changes and the LRV must stop 10 second sooner based on the timing I did. Does this meant the LRV's will be running at higher speeds than the cars??
Issue 3: Why is there this huge wide sidewalk across the middle of the block where there is to be no one crossing the tracks between stations??
Issue 4: Why is concrete being pour to fully encase the track from intersection to intersection when it would be better off to either leave it as is or place grass there in the first place?? Total unfriendly to the environment and huge waste of money??
Photos will be on line when I get to them and part of the 506 I shot Sept 19.
