nfitz
Superstar
Fascinating that they could do this DRL pre-EA study in 12 months yet they're taking their sweet ass time with the Don Mills and Jane EAs.
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- Thread starter Ansem
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nfitz
Superstar
Why do you say that? They tendered the contract in April, and it was announced in May.
nfitz
Superstar
Good questions. It's shame they don't have a PIC earlier on to get some brainstorming on issues that might never cross the mind of Omaha-based consultants.
Jaye101
Active Member
I wonder which projects are of greater priority...
Rainforest
Senior Member
There is no point to even start any EA on the Don Mills or Jane lines, until the future of DRL and Eglinton routes is settled.
The original Transit City plan proposed to run both Jane and Don Mills LRT lines all the way to Bloor at surface, but in their own lanes (a strange proposition, just by looking at the width of Jane near Bloor). Once it became officially established that such layout is not physically possible, both lines became dependent on the connecting routes in the south.
Don Mills LRT needs DRL subway running up to Eglinton.
Jane LRT is practical (on the ridership / cost basis) north of Eglinton only, hence it needs either functioning Eglinton route (subway or LRT) to connect to, or DRL West coming north all the way to Eglinton.
If Mr. Ford wins and cans Eglinton plans, and DRL is 10+ years away, then any current Don Mills or Jane EA is irrelevant. In 10+ years, the environment will change so much that new studies will be needed.
The original Transit City plan proposed to run both Jane and Don Mills LRT lines all the way to Bloor at surface, but in their own lanes (a strange proposition, just by looking at the width of Jane near Bloor). Once it became officially established that such layout is not physically possible, both lines became dependent on the connecting routes in the south.
Don Mills LRT needs DRL subway running up to Eglinton.
Jane LRT is practical (on the ridership / cost basis) north of Eglinton only, hence it needs either functioning Eglinton route (subway or LRT) to connect to, or DRL West coming north all the way to Eglinton.
If Mr. Ford wins and cans Eglinton plans, and DRL is 10+ years away, then any current Don Mills or Jane EA is irrelevant. In 10+ years, the environment will change so much that new studies will be needed.
Justin10000
Banned
Interesting, the outcome of the report is dependent on the outcome of GO's electrification report.
Rainforest
Senior Member
That makes sence, at least theoretically. If they add a lot of capacity on the Georgetown corridor and perhaps on one of the north-eastern lines, such as Kennedy - Stouffville or Don Valley - Leaside - Agincourt, they might satisfy the downtown transit needs.
In reality, the issues of fare integration and the transfer point layouts between TTC and GO pose a lot of problems, even if capacity is there.
I would think that it would just weigh into the study of alternative alignments, as opposed to whether or not the line is needed. The line is needed regardless of what GO does, the only question is to what extent GO upgrades, and to what extent those upgrades will have an effect on the chosen alignment. Ie if fare integration and an extremely bumped-up GO service on the Georgetown line is implemented, then that may shift the analysis away from favouring a rail alignment for the DRL.
Dan416
Senior Member
You may be right.
Rainforest
Senior Member
Interesting point ... and makes sense.
jwill
Active Member
I think it could also factor into the stop spacing. If GO electrifies it might add a few stops south of Bloor. This could reduce the perceived requirement for high speed on the DRL, leading to a few more stops along the route. I personally think this is an intelligent option, especially if the route connects with the new GO stations to create a local/express pair through roughly the same corridor.
W. K. Lis
Superstar
Transit City was announced back in 2007, three years ago. The study into a Downtown Rapid Transit line has only started this year, 2010. It could take 4 (four) years before any kind of construction, if passed, even starts.
rbt
Senior Member
It will take a minimum of 4 years to start. Spadina Line had the full backing of 3 governments and has taken longer. Montreal and Vancouver both experience the same type of startup timeframe for projects of this magnitude.
Ford cannot begin meaningful construction of any new (not already engineered) subway line during his first term; and that's with Spadina's TBMs available. He could, however, have one heck of a second term if Hudak gets onboard with McGuinty level transit spending.
One big caveat: Japan has shown us irrefutably that infrastructure investment cannot buy your way out of a recession. Demand higher taxes to pay for it because there will not be a magical economical rebound as a result of building transit lines.
W. K. Lis
Superstar
Changing of any other rapid transit line to heavy rail may require the same. In other words, nothing for another 4 years, which would delay the DRT as well. By which time, the question would become do we do the DRT before or after the others.
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