[TheTigerMaster]

Want to wager how long it will be before the LRT is ever extended west.

I'd say we could see plans for a western extension within a year, depending on the outcome of the election in October. The campaigns of the two frontrunners are apparently serious about transit.

If an anti-transit candidate (ahem... RoFo) is elected or if there isn't as much of a focus on transit as some people have been expecting, then I'd say the western extension will be pushed back indefinitely.

I still find it hard to believe with all the stops along the LRT (25) with the majority above ground someone in the east will take it to get all the way to the west and to the airport.

Yeah but that's not who we're building this line for. A daily commute from Scarborough to Etobicoke/Pearson is unusual. Most riders on the ECLRT will be alighting at either Kennedy (Bloor-Danforth), Yonge, Eglinton-Allen (Spadina) or maybe even Don Mills if the Relief Line is built to Eglinton. A typical trip on the ECLRT will probably have no more than 7 stops.

If extended west then more stops. Plus how can times for the LRT running below ground be maintained when the same trains are running above ground and facing lights (I think they will be facing lights).

I don't think this will be a problem. Theoretically the LRT could have full priority over vehicles at smaller intersections and only occasionally have to stop at the larger ones. But we'll have to wait to see how aggressive the signal priority is and how they plan to set up the intersections.

 

[denfromoakvillemilton]

The western extension should cost less the 1 billion and can be built by the city without the province.

 

[CharmAlarm]

The western extension should cost less the 1 billion and can be built by the city without the province.

Since this is a provincially funded, built and owned project (I've lost track of who will actually operate it -I know Metorlinx wanted to, but TTC objected), the City won't have much say on any future extension. If the City wants to fund it west of Mount Dennis, are we going to have a line that has one segment owned by the province, and another by the City? If anyone can shed some light on who will be opearating it once it opens, that would be appreciated.

 

[denfromoakvillemilton]

Since this is a provincially funded, built and owned project (I've lost track of who will actually operate it -I know Metorlinx wanted to, but TTC objected), the City won't have much say on any future extension. If the City wants to fund it west of Mount Dennis, are we going to have a line that has one segment owned by the province, and another by the City? If anyone can shed some light on who will be opearating it once it opens, that would be appreciated.

I like the username, but I can't really answer this. I assume the ttc will be operating this line.

 

[ehlow]

The western extension would only take a few years to build right (assuming surface ROW)? The great thing about that is that the politicians who approve it will be the ones there at the opening. I think the fast construction time and the cheap cost/km will make it attractive for politicians.

 

[innsertnamehere]

The city could come to an agreement with Metrolinx for it. It wouldn't be too difficult for its operation to be worked out, as the TTC will be the contractor that operates Eglinton.

 

[TheTigerMaster]

I'm still not comfortable with Metrolinx owning the ECLRT. If we were to ever have a PC government while the TTC's contract to operate the line expires they'd likely try to privatize the entire line like they did with the 407. Hopefully the TTC owning anything west of Mt. Dennis and east of Kennedy will make this an impossibility.

Do we know why Metrolinx is so adamant on owning ECLRT? They don't seem to care at all about not owning the Relief Line or Bloor-Danforth extension.

 

[ehlow]

I'm still not comfortable with Metrolinx owning the ECLRT. If we were to ever have a PC government while the TTC's contract to operate the line expires they'd likely try to privatize the entire line like they did with the 407. Hopefully the TTC owning anything west of Mt. Dennis and east of Kennedy will make this an impossibility.

Do we know why Metrolinx is so adamant on owning ECLRT? They don't seem to care at all about not owning the Relief Line or Bloor-Danforth extension.

I always assumed it was partly because they were paying for it so they have control, partly to prevent Rob Ford from trying to cancel it completely.

It's been funny watching the crosstown website over the years, it used to have a TTC logo and Metrolinx logo, now they've eradicated any trace of the TTC. The vehicles they show are always green as well.

 

[Adjei]

The western extension should cost less the 1 billion and can be built by the city without the province.

I think it will cost more. According to the Stintz One City Plan, it was to cost more than 1 billion.

 

[jtnathan]

Is this any particular station?

Are those platform edge doors?

I honestly have know idea its supposed to be yonge and eglinton station in another rendering the entrance to the station was a large condo tower i have not seen before

 

[TheTigerMaster]

I always assumed it was partly because they were paying for it so they have control, partly to prevent Rob Ford from trying to cancel it completely.

I don't think so. Regardless of who owned it after construction was completed, design of the line was to always be done by Metrolinx. So either way Ford never had a chance of cancelling it without provincial approval.

And honestly I don't mind Metrolinx overseeing the design of the line. Knowing the TTC, they'd bungle the design by building it like 510 Spadina or any other streetcar line and then forgetting to add signal priority and anything else that makes an LRT line not a streetcar.

What I don't understand is why Metrolinx wanted to own, maintain and operate line after construction was completed. I see no possible benefit from that arrangement. Seems like a simple power grab from Metrolinx.

 

[innsertnamehere]

Equity. It makes it easier to pay for as you aren't just giving away free money, you are instead purchasing actual infrastructure with value. The province allowing the city to build the scarborough subway will actually cost the province, despite not giving any new money per se.
Its also a way to reintroduce subsidies to the TTC, if indirectly. TTC costs will go down once the lines open, as they will no longer have to operate their busiest routes, and will post savings from the shorter distances of feeder routes. The fact that they don't have to pay for maintenance or operations of the LRTs is going to be a big cost saver for the TTC, meaning that money can be spent elsewhere. The TTC is going to be dropping roughly 200 buses when the LRTs open, that is big savings.

what I find interesting is that the TTC is going to get very, very close to owning 2,000 buses in 2019 or 2020. its going to own something like 1,983 buses at the peak, and after the LRTs open it will drop down to the 1,700's. When they drop those buses it will probably be a good time to move to 15 year replacement schedules for the buses as well.

 

[salsa]

I'd say we could see plans for a western extension within a year, depending on the outcome of the election in October. The campaigns of the two frontrunners are apparently serious about transit.

Not gonna happen. Those revenue tools are going entirely towards the Metrolinx 2nd Wave projects, starting with the DRL. Eglinton West was never announced.

 

[denfromoakvillemilton]

I think it will cost more. According to the Stintz One City Plan, it was to cost more than 1 billion.

I wonder how they came to that. On the surface, it should not cost that much, especially at grade.

 

[ehlow]

Hoarding going up at the Yonge & Eglinton bus bays a few hours ago: