You are right. I forgot that it was the Province mostly responsible for the ICTS rollout, and the associated technical choices. But the main point stands; if the public entity overseeing the line had been thinking long-term, we wouldn't have the physical constraints that prevent the deployment...

^ The proprietary nature of the light metro systems adds some complexity. However, the design problems and the teething pains mentioned in the article, seem to be caused more by the poor management and oversight and less by the specific technology. The fact that LRT is modular and...

OK, current TR's on Yonge with the current signal system is 36k, and OL may be able to reach 80% or 85% of that. But, all the same enhancements planned for OL, can be implemented on the Yonge line at a later time. The trainsets have to be replaced every few decades, the next batch ordered can...

In my humble opinion, all variations that connect the Finch and Sheppard routes are tricky, and might create more problems than they solve. Sending the Finch LRT across Yonge to Don Mills, and going down to Sheppard? That kind of bastardizes the transit service on Finch east of Don Mills; the...

The eastern extension to Yonge can be done almost entirely at-grade. Might want to go underground at Beecroft, just 200 m before Yonge, and the Yonge LRT station shouldn't be in the middle of the street because of high volume. But the remaining ~ 5.8 km from Keele to Beecroft can run in the...

That's unlikely, even if Richmond Hill GO trains were running much more frequently than they do today. GO is faster than subway, but that advantage will start shrinking once you start adding stations. And the detour east would be pretty significant, the distance between Yonge&Eglinton and the...

I dunno .. ribbon cutting can be done for BRT just as easily. The reason is that LRT is an established technology for medium capacity, while DA buses are an emerging technology and faces hurdles at this time. Doesn't necessarily mean buses are not suitable, just means going with the buses for...

We might end up with a fully underground option, but with no stations between Steeles and Hwy 7.

Indeed, Scarborough Junction has had grade separation plans for ages. And then during the recent online open house, Metrolinx said that "the change in the OL East Harbour station design allows us to save money by not grade-separating the Scarborough Junction". Don't know if that's off the table...

Outside the very small core bounded by St George Stn, Yonge&Bloor, and Union, nearly every major subway station gets the majority of its riders from the feeder routes, and just a minority are walk-in customers. Stations that don't have frequent feeder routes see light ridership, even if they...

It will be a success compared to doing nothing at all. But it won't be best value for money. We are losing ~ 30% of capacity for maybe ~ 15% cost saving. Just 4 tracks can possibly work, but that requires more advanced interchanges at both Scarborough Junction and the west end of this corridor...

If the Liberals or NDP were to win Queens Park in 2022, and the OL construction wouldn't be totally signed off by that time .. yes, they would probably go for tweaks that keep the locals happier, but retain the main OL design elements to avoid delaying it much.

That rail corridor would be better reserved for more frequient GO service. Placing the OL in the same corridor takes space away from additional GO tracks. Some medium-term cost savings for OL, but makes it harder to expand the GO service in the future.

And speaking of the effect on the land value, it should be broken down by the size of the city, the location of line in question, and presence of other transit lines. Phoenix LRT is one situation, the line goes right through the downtown, and it is the best transit line in town. Naturally...

Good analysis, but some adjustments may be needed: 1. The demand level varies along the route. For example, the Sheppard corridor might see 3,000 at peak between Don Mills and Victoria Park, but a lot less at Conlins or Meadowvale. That will result in a lesser total number of buses needed. You...

Yes, that's the most probable change from the political standpoint. Liberals are very interested in the Yonge North extension, or at least they were during their previous terms in Queens Park. Any significant delay in RL / OL would jeopardize Yonge North. Just burying the Leslieville segment...

Potentially, that may be enough. Two central tracks for electric express RER, diesel GO, and diesel VIA; they all will have to either run express from Scarborough Junction to Union, or serve a common stop in between. Two outer tracks for electric local GO, that will serve all intermediate stops...

I like that LRT extension as it will enhance the network connections. But I don't believe a trip from Jane & Finch to downtown via Woodbine will be faster than a 5 min ride to Keele & Finch and then a subway ride. The GO portion of the trip may be very fast, but the LRT ride to Woodbine will...

For sure, network redundancy is beneficial. But the flip side is the immense difficulty of getting any new line funded. Our 4-years election cycle is good for many things, but not for long-term public investments, including investments in transit. The government that has to spend money is in...

That could be a problem. One possible way around it is to use the Hwy 401 corridor for part of the subway / light metro route. Of course that would mean less local density around some of the stations. If we have a choice: expand the transit network in the imperfect manner, or place so many...