Thoughts:
Eglinton East - There's already the Eglinton East LRT plan. Why downgrade to BRT?
The LRT here isn't particularly likely to go forward in the near term; nor should it. The current proposal would fail to achieve any material improvement on current bus travel times.
I'm very pro LRT; but for the time being, this proposal needs to lay dormant for a re-think.
Finch - The entirety of Finch should be LRT from end to end.
That is the proposal, from Finch West Station (where the LRT begins) to Neilson in the east (Finch doesn't meet any major roads, in a major form east thereof, which is Rouge National Park.)
Jane - Again, there's already a long existing LRT plan. Also, it should terminate at Pioneer Village station, not randomly at Finch.
There will not be a Jane LRT in the next 15 years. Its on no one's radar to move forward. Its already a top priority for reserved lanes under Tory's RapidTO program, this is essentially just a beefier version in that it would plan for level boarding and more souped up platforms.
Sheppard West - This small gap between the Yonge and University subway lines should be an extension of the Sheppard subway. I'd say BRT would be fine going west on Sheppard from Sheppard West station (at Dufferin), but he doesn't mention that at all.
Sheppard East - Isn't the province planning to extend the subway along here? What would be the point of BRT?
We need to hear from the province what their ballpark dates are for Sheppard, and whether Sheppard West will factor into their plans (either it has to, or they have to build a new yard and connecting track to any eastern extension.
I have an idea of what the province's timeline is, currently, but its very much written in pencil. I would say you need to get 15 years out of any infra designed for level boarding to justify the investment. Assuming an ambitious delivery plan to have it done/open in 4 years, that means you don't want subway construction interfering for 19 years. I think that's probably feasible. But if the province's plans are more ambitious, then this should be scaled back here to reflect that.
Dufferin - This street definitely needs a transit upgrade, but BRT won't work with the narrow road widths south of Eglinton. That chunk needs to be underground LRT. North of that, LRT/BRT is fine on the surface.
Bathurst - Same issues as Dufferin south of Eglinton. North of that BRT would be fine.
I would agree, with the caveat that nothing underground is coming on either of these corridors. Dufferin south of Eglinton can see improvements (ban on-street parking, curb lanes reserved to buses), but there isn't room for elaborate boarding facilities.
Other: I don't think the plan is ambitious enough as far as scope. There are many other wide arterial roads he ignores that would be perfect for easy and cheap BRT implementation. Also, like so many other transit plans we've seen before, frustratingly there is nothing proposed west of Jane. Huge oversight.
Score: C-
A bit harsh, I think.
What I like bout Gil's plans is that he's purposefully aimed for things he believes he can deliver, at relatively low incremental cost to existing budgets and plans, so that we don't end up discussing fantasies for 10 years that go nowhere.
This plan could be improved on, to be sure; but I think its scope and intent are mostly reasonable.