[badc0ffee]

Apparently terminating south of the CP Tracks could still generate about 80% of the ridership of getting to the core, so I think doing a beltline loop wouldn't have been the craziest thing in the world.

But again, there was a concern about overwhelming transfers to the red/blue lines if the green didn't go central enough/far enough into downtown.

 

[Dārayavauš]

Just saw this. Even though It’s from the summer, it’s good news for the future of public transit in Canada.

Trudeau confirms $30 billion annual permanent transit fund by 2026 | Urbanized

The federal government has confirmed the Canada Public Transit Fund will provide $30 billion over 10 years for new and improved projects.

dailyhive.com

I particularly like this, ‘As a condition for both the Metro-Region Agreements and Baseline Funding, the local and regional governments are required to eliminate all mandatory vehicle parking requirements for new buildings within an 800-metre radius of a high-frequency transit aline, and allow high-density housing within an 800-metre radius of post-secondary institutions.’

 

[lemongrab]

But again, there was a concern about overwhelming transfers to the red/blue lines if the green didn't go central enough/far enough into downtown.

4th St SE doesn't link to either line very well (550m+); a 10 Ave/1st SW Station would essentially link to the same red/blue stations as current plan (330m). The bigger concern would be overloading the sidewalks at 1st St and 9 Ave. But seeing as 3rd St doesn't really exist, the smart move might be to move the station 1 block further west in front of the High Park Parkade, which would send people down 4th St SW, which goes under 9 Ave.

It's a compromise to be sure, but I won't be at all surprised if its what we end up with 'temporarily'

 

[InfrastructureEnthusiast]

When politicians talk about ‘running government like a business’ few understand the real world implications for switching from cash accounting to accrual accounting. Money cannot change hands without activity, and unless you lapse approvals eventually, you could end up with imaginary surpluses during the years you had hoped to spend the money and not predicted deficits when the money is actually spent by an activity.

It doesn’t help that municipalities are particularly bad at spending money on infrastructure. 2 years of stimulus funds intended by senior governments typically turn into 5 years of projects at the municipalities, with a bunch of the allocation lapsing due to failure to spend.

Hopefully this is something they try to correct, or at least streamline a bit with the provincial rail corp.

Although ideally, it'd be best if such an agency could have more steady and direct funding than various government grant programs.

I know some US cities have largely built their mass transit systems with gas taxes, maybe AB Rail could be funded similarly?

 

[CalgaryTiger]

We were supposed to get a HSR announcement from the feds (granted for Ontario and Quebec) but I'm wondering if that would've signalled a national strategy to compliment the Provincial Rail Corp and projects like the Green Line and other LRT line extensions (red in the south). Anyways Trump happened and the government got preoccupied with that and the in-fighting so it never happened and I'm not sure if it will before an election.

 

[JTron]

The vast majority (including myself) voted for elevated.
A question for those who voted for the u/g option. Do you think there’s a chance of getting funding for u/g? I’m not challenging your choice, more of curiosity thing.
To me it looks like u/g is completely off the table, but I might be wrong.

 

[Cowtown]

I voted elevated because I don’t feel the u/g would ever come to fruition. I feel like the NDP has a decent chance of coming to power next election, but I'm not confident they’ll pay the extra money for the u/g option which would probably end up costing multiple billions extra by the time the dust settles.
Also I like aspects of the elevated, especially that it’s grade separated which is most important to me.
Now on the other hand, if the province was proposing at grade, I’d wait it out until the next election.

 

[doughflow]

You don't think Nenshi - the leader of the NDP and the biggest supporter of Green Line would pay for the undeground alignment? Can you provide your thoughts on why that would be?

 

[haltcatchfire]

You would never be able to build anything ever with that kind of outlook.

There will always be those opposed to anything. Just ignore them.

Such a simplest perspective for something not so simple.

 

[darwink]

You don't think Nenshi - the leader of the NDP and the biggest supporter of Green Line would pay for the undeground alignment? Can you provide your thoughts on why that would be?

I think what would happen is the province getting out of the city’s business—going back to untied grants.

Again the problem with delay is saying no to a lot of federal money. The issue isn’t follow on future money. Waiting means far less federal money and far less provincial money and many years of waiting.

Is having underground worth an effective cost of $1 billion of extra hard costs, $1.3 billion extra of lost federal grants, 4 years of inflation/not having the project done, and whatever lost provincial funding works out to in the interim?

Remember that if the province under a new government is willing to spend an extra billion, that is not money that can only go to a tunnel. It could go to matching federal money to finish the south green line and getting to 64th in the north.