I thought it was common knowledge that the new streetcars would use a proof of payment system. http://www.blogto.com/city/2011/11/this_is_what_the_new_ttc_streetcar_looks_like/ IMO a good proof of payment system, anywhere it is implemented, would be a huge improvement. I don't think it's...

Of course Ford would want to use the DRL as an excuse to remove streetcars. Depending on the alignment I can actually see the DRL replacing the King streetcar, not that I would condone it. I believe, though, that it is very important to preserve the Queen streetcar, in particular, regardless...

The OLG offers to double Toronto's take: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/olg-offers-toronto-special-deal-that-would-double-its-casino-take/article9811329/ Originally I didn't have a strong opinion about this, but as the facts pile up - GO lobbyists, and now this - I find myself...

They talk about congestion because it is a problem a lot of people can relate to, but I agree that there isn't much that can be done to reduce it. The goal of planning as it relates to transportation ought to be, and probably is, about getting people to live closer to where they work (moving...

I'm not going to get into the "who is worse, conservatives or liberals" debate: governments across the spectrum have a tendency to be corrupt and inefficient, and it is the duty of voters to pay attention and punish sloppiness at the ballot box. But I get tired of people harping on the Ontario...

I don't think the sharp corner on the near side of the intersection is a problem that can't be solved, especially at an intersection like Queen and Spadina. The curve of the tracks would just have to move further to the corner as well. A bigger concern is that both King and Queen have a need...

I think the arguments against one way streets are fair, but this is one thing that is absolutely worth doing. Outside of the core, Toronto has made ingenious use of one way streets to calm traffic - reversing one way streets make side-streets practically useless for everyone except residents...

I remember reading in the Star a couple of years ago interviews with business owners who were still adamant 20 years later that the streetcar had ruined Spadina. And I have no doubt you'll find the same thing on St. Clair. There are more vacant storefronts than ever around St. Clair and Oakwood...

I wanted to make the observation that a lot of those detached and semi examples are houses originally designed in a different style that have had the second floor extended in a particular way. Entire neighbourhoods have been converted in this way but sometimes you can find one or two that...

That cluster of galleries had a huge part in making that neighborhood interesting, I wonder where they will move. Mocca is more than a little commercial gallery, if there was any justice in the world a wealthy donor would help fund a new building exclusively for them, maybe designed by Frank Gehry.

I live near Rogers and Dufferin and work near Yonge and Finch. I didn't go to work yesterday but if I had I would have gone south to St. Clair to cross over to Eglinton. For one thing I often do - the travel time is about the same if I go south to St. Clair as if I take the Eglinton bus, even...

I disagree that this is a reasonable alternative to good mass transit - I can't see the Yonge subway replaced by a hundred minibuses. But I am intrigued by the possibilities of combining GPS with small-scale transit as you describe it, especially in suburban areas. With a good computerized...

I noticed in that Star story about Adelaide/Richmond bike lanes a person was complaining that the Sherbourne bike lane was cleared before the road was, and... well, have a look at the pictures: They are clearing the Sherbourne bike lanes...

In Ford's last act as mayor, he admits that we actually have a revenue problem and implements an assortment of new revenue generating tools including raising property tax at a rate slightly higher than inflation and congestion charges in the downtown. A plan to integrate the airport rail...

Thanks, that's an interesting perspective on the Stockyards. On the one hand it's right across the street from another large collection of big box stores so it doesn't seem out of place. But on the other, that larger area including the Junction, the Junction Triangle, Saint Clair around Weston...

Not sure if this is the right thread for this - I'm baffled by the sudden reversal of the plastic bag ban, especially at this moment when Ford's influence is at it's lowest (to say the least). People talked about the issue as though Toronto is the only place in the world that has considered...

I rediscovered a 2008 post on Spacing about a study that was done on the Queen Streetcar. http://spacingtoronto.ca/2008/01/21/the-continuing-saga-of-the-queen-car/ The pdf seems to have been moved. Anyway from what I can tell the only change recommended in this report that was implemented was...

Calgary also has a solution - when when there isn't construction these streets are for LRTs only, I think. But obviously they can accept also cars or busses as required...

But overcrowding is only part of the problem - the Queen Streetcar travels at literally a walking pace from Yonge to Bathurst during the evening rush hour. That renders them practically useless for people not traveling further than, let's say, Lansdowne. It seems like speeding up the movement...

Considering the gridlock on the roads and greater numbers of people moving into condos, I suppose the city can afford to starve the TTC of funds while ridership increases regardless. I'm not sure what it is that causes people to vote for pro-car and anti-ttc people like Ford - it strikes me as...