That would be the most horrible scenario, if the LRTs (or at least the Finch LRT) can actually save some operating costs, but the accounting pecularities make it more desirable for the city to continue running buses. Unfortunately, such situations do happen.

I see the point. However, it does have an impact on the desirability of the future LRT lines. Eglinton is an odd duck, with so much of it running underground / elevated. The operational expenses will be much higher than for any surface line (and the benefits higher as well, but one can debate...

One of the LRT tech selling points was that it will be cheaper to operate than the buses, on routes with high ridership. The number of LRT drivers needed is several times smaller than the number of bus drivers needed. If that's not actually the case, then it will be hard to justify any new LRT...

I was momentarily scared when I read "close Union Station". Then realized that's about the streetcar loop, not the subway or GO trains. In the interim, when the east-west Queens Quay route is available but the new Union Stn streetcar loop is under construction, how will the riders get from the...

The education funding schemas differ across the countries though. Maybe that's affordable elsewhere. I imagine the Ontario school boards would make a big fuss, and then if still required to offer both or nothing, would block the parking spots rather than pay for free transit.

Free transit pass means the School Board needs to pay the transit agency on the ongoing basis. Every School Board has a list of unfunded needs, and will not divert their limited funds to transit. While free parking is built once and doesn't require any ongoing payments. The school isn't giving...

Eglinton (through the Golden Mile) is a 6-lanes arterial, with 60 kph speed limit before the construction started. Gazillions of cars, and a frequent bus route. Pedestrians probably have learned that they need to be careful when crossing.

Of course I couldn't read something you didn't write in your previous comments. However, your present comment is very specific and actually clarifies your point. If you believe there exist some maintenance procedures that are particular to TTC, and relevant for both SRT and the subways or the...

Sounds like looking for generic problems in the train on tracks technology. If we were in the first 20 years since the trains have been invented, sure. But today - thousands of variations in the rails field, what's the chance we will find any problem applicable to other rails system that isn't...

I can't expect any findings to be useful for other rail systems, be it TTC subways, streetcars, or GO trains. ICTS implemented in Toronto is one of a kind. Sure, it is trains running on rails, but all implementation details are different from all other rails systems in use here. Thus, why spend...

They should end all work on SRT and say it is gone for good. No point wasting time and money investigating what happened or how to bring it back to service, if it is going to be decomissioned in 3 months anyway. And then, build the busway ASAP. We are definitely not at the highest demand point...

At the end, all depends on the person. But generally, people with technical expertise in the field are more likely to succeed as leaders.

I wouldn't blame our engineers though. Rather, look at those who give them directions ..

This could play a role. However, buses rarely can skip major stops like the intersection of two arterials, those are too popular. Buses can skip minor mid-block stops, where LRT won't stop anyway.

Mandating a hard stop on all crossing arterials would have a side effect of delaying the bus routes that serve those arterials. So, perhaps that's an overshoot. However, the modern powerful and inexpensive controller chips should enable some kind of soft priority, that gives green light to the...

I hope Metrolinx is low-balling the speed and travel time estimates for Finch LRT, just to avoid a future disappointment. I have a couple of reasons to think so. First of all, TTC did speed modeling for Sheppard East LRT about 15 years ago, in the early days of Transit City. At that time, they...

40 min for 10 km would be very slow, 15 kph. Doesn't sound like the correct quote. Other modeling predicted 22-25 kph LRT speed. If so, then the LRT should travel from Finch West subway to Humber College (11 km) in 27-30 min. Maybe, 40 min is the prediction for original Finch LRT plan (Yonge...

There are a few drawbacks here. One is that Line 1 has a 3-rd rail, high voltage. Running along the RH or Barrie line would necessitate elaborate grade-separated crossings everywhere. Or, using dual power trains that feed from 3-rd rail in the tunnel and switch to overhead in the open. The...

I didn't mean airline price regulation is happening now. I meant the government interferes a lot into the private business operations, and sets a lot of regulations. Some for a good reason, some otherwise. Therefore, I don't see why that specific regulation - minimum prices on air routes...

Isn't that happening all the time these days? And in this case, shareholders of major airlines will actually benefit. They will be protected from the new entrants, who otherwise could undercut the prices on most popular routes. I guess, using the existing corridors will be easier in most...