[crs1026]

That's my thought. Gift the building (not the land) to the municipality on the condition that ONR can use it as a train station for a nominal cost and let the municipality pay to maintain it.

The best approach for saving old buildings is to find an alternate use that can make the ongoing upkeep and operating costs sustainable (or, in this case, possibly also continue its traditional use).

The question would be, what is the cost to ONR to potentially modify or renovate the building to make it operable on an ongoing basis. I'm going to speculate that plumbing, electrical, and HVAC are all at end of life and all need complete rebuild. Possibly lead or asbestos removal. Possibly roof beams are rotted. Possibly basement leaks. How long until the roof needs redoing? What is needed to ensure accessibility?

In a big city, with ongoing development, these costs might be easily swallowed in the scope of a commercial redevelopment - but one can see why a smaller town with a finite tax base would not leap into gear on this with taxpayer money.

Compare that to the cost of the new "bus shelter". And ongoing upkeep cost and utilities cost for same. Maybe retaining the station is affordable, but paid by whom? Perhaps the town boosters can form a committee of volunteers with the skills to perform the needed renovation themselves. There will still be costs for materials etc.

Ideally one would find a tenant to share with ONR and derive some rent. But again, in a small community - how's the commercial rental market?

- Paul

 

[micheal_can]

The best approach for saving old buildings is to find an alternate use that can make the ongoing upkeep and operating costs sustainable (or, in this case, possibly also continue its traditional use).

The question would be, what is the cost to ONR to potentially modify or renovate the building to make it operable on an ongoing basis. I'm going to speculate that plumbing, electrical, and HVAC are all at end of life and all need complete rebuild. Possibly lead or asbestos removal. Possibly roof beams are rotted. Possibly basement leaks. How long until the roof needs redoing? What is needed to ensure accessibility?

In a big city, with ongoing development, these costs might be easily swallowed in the scope of a commercial redevelopment - but one can see why a smaller town with a finite tax base would not leap into gear on this with taxpayer money.

Compare that to the cost of the new "bus shelter". And ongoing upkeep cost and utilities cost for same. Maybe retaining the station is affordable, but paid by whom? Perhaps the town boosters can form a committee of volunteers with the skills to perform the needed renovation themselves. There will still be costs for materials etc.

Ideally one would find a tenant to share with ONR and derive some rent. But again, in a small community - how's the commercial rental market?

- Paul

You are absolutely right about the cost burden to keep it. I doubt Black River - Matheson has the tax base to be able to afford to do anything with it.

The station sits close to the junction of Highway 11 and 101. Looking at Google streetview, it looks like it is visible from the highway. So, maybe make it a Time Hortons or something like that. Then the cost of rebuilding it can be justified and it can remain open. The nearest Tim Hortons to Matheson is in Iroquois Falls.

 

[lenaitch]

The best approach for saving old buildings is to find an alternate use that can make the ongoing upkeep and operating costs sustainable (or, in this case, possibly also continue its traditional use).

The question would be, what is the cost to ONR to potentially modify or renovate the building to make it operable on an ongoing basis. I'm going to speculate that plumbing, electrical, and HVAC are all at end of life and all need complete rebuild. Possibly lead or asbestos removal. Possibly roof beams are rotted. Possibly basement leaks. How long until the roof needs redoing? What is needed to ensure accessibility?

In a big city, with ongoing development, these costs might be easily swallowed in the scope of a commercial redevelopment - but one can see why a smaller town with a finite tax base would not leap into gear on this with taxpayer money.

Compare that to the cost of the new "bus shelter". And ongoing upkeep cost and utilities cost for same. Maybe retaining the station is affordable, but paid by whom? Perhaps the town boosters can form a committee of volunteers with the skills to perform the needed renovation themselves. There will still be costs for materials etc.

Ideally one would find a tenant to share with ONR and derive some rent. But again, in a small community - how's the commercial rental market?

- Paul

Agree. Tenants don't have to be rail or transportation related but I suppose that would be a bonus. Gravenhurst station is owned by the town and has tenants, Huntsville is privately owned and has tenants (or used to). Temagami is a community hub although I don't know who owns it.

Having a transportation-related business, like a restaurant, make a go of it for very few trains and buses would be a challenge.

 

[Fritter]

Possibly the Markham GO Station could offer a template. The building is owned by the town of Markham. Metrolinx only rents the small ticket booth area, otherwise both the small waiting area and larger back room is the town of Markham's space to use as it sees fit. It is often rented out as community space for community group meeting space, small yoga classes and the like.

 

[ShonTron]

I'm taking the train from Toronto to Penn Station NYC this summer. Once you account for the hour to get to Pearson, plus arriving at the gate at least three hours beforehand, and then the flight delays and other nonsense, and then the two hours of having to get from one of the three NY airports to downtown Manhattan, the thirteen hours on the Amtrak doesn't seem so bad.

If we can get passenger rail from Union to NYC (and one day, Chicago) to below eight or nine hours, AC will have trouble competing.

As much as I love train travel (my brother, who was one of many people stuck on VIA near Cobourg for many hours two winters ago, says I’m a glutton for punishment) I can’t imagine enjoying the Toronto-NYC Amtrak train because of the very long ride aboard old Amfleet equipment, sub-par food options in the diner car, and having to get out for the slow customs inspection.

I’d rather fly Porter to Newark.

 

[Bojaxs]

Article is a couple months old.

The plan is to have the Florida Transit Department (FDOT) no longer fund commuter rail and instead have the individual counties/ cities with stations to fund the network. I guess the thinking is Florida tax payers who don't live in cities with train stations shouldn't have to pay for the system.

I can't see this being a good idea. The comments made by a member of the "Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission" were concerning. Higher fares on weekends???

As FDOT funding ends, SunRail to look at fare increases

Starting in 2025, FDOT will no longer fund the light rail service, leaving a gap in SunRail's budget of more than $65 million.

mynews13.com

LAKE MARY, Fla. — The end of the year means a bigger responsibility for those counties and cities with SunRail stops.

The Florida Department of Transportation will stop footing the bill after Dec. 31, and then it will be up to the local government partners to pay up.

For fiscal year 2024-2025, that will mean a shortfall of more than $65 million that counties and cities with SunRail stops will have to make up.

---

What You Need To Know​

• Starting in 2025, the Florida Department of Transportation will no longer fund SunRail
  
  
• The move will create a budget shortfall of more than $65 million that counties and cities with SunRail stops will have to make up
  
  
• A study is being conducted to see if riders should pay more to ride SunRail

---

“We want to find the sweet spot of supplementing from local government and riders paying fares,” said Seminole County Commissioner Amy Lockhart, who is also a member of the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission.

Lockhart said a fare study is being conducted to see if riders should be paying more to use SunRail.

“We want to make sure that it's fair — fares are fair, that we have the people who are riding it share enough of the cost," she said. "Not too much that it's prohibitive and no longer useful, but we don't want people who aren't riding it to unnecessarily subsidize it to the point that it's too much of a burden on those who don't benefit."

Lockhart suggested implementing variable pricing, increasing fares depending on the day and location.

Those taking SunRail for work would pay less than those using SunRail for leisure, she said.

“We certainly don't want people who rely on (SunRail) to get to their job or for child care to price them out,” Lockhart said. “That is not the goal at all. We want to make sure that it is still affordable for the people who need it most."

Lockhart said she is also looking to pilot a program with service on weekends for special events, like Seminole County did for the Lake Mary Little League parade back in August.

“I think it would be fine, a small increase,” said SunRail Rider Denise Lipscomb. “It's definitely worth it to me.”

The following is an estimation of how much each city and county will have to pay to fund SunRail in fiscal year 2024-2025:

• Volusia County: $5,479,779
• Seminole County: $12,098,668
• Osceola County: $12,215,300
• Orange County: $9,433,404
• Orlando: $20,208,199
• Maitland: $1,562,831
• Winter Park: $4,346,159

 

[micheal_can]

Article is a couple months old.

The plan is to have the Florida Transit Department (FDOT) no longer fund commuter rail and instead have the individual counties/ cities with stations to fund the network. I guess the thinking is Florida tax payers who don't live in cities with train stations shouldn't have to pay for the system.

I can't see this being a good idea. The comments made by a member of the "Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission" were concerning. Higher fares on weekends???

As FDOT funding ends, SunRail to look at fare increases

Starting in 2025, FDOT will no longer fund the light rail service, leaving a gap in SunRail's budget of more than $65 million.

mynews13.com

The AMT/EXO in Montreal partially does this.That is why the Vaudreuil–Hudson line no longer goes to Rigaud.

 

[Bordercollie]

Article is a couple months old.

The plan is to have the Florida Transit Department (FDOT) no longer fund commuter rail and instead have the individual counties/ cities with stations to fund the network. I guess the thinking is Florida tax payers who don't live in cities with train stations shouldn't have to pay for the system.

I can't see this being a good idea. The comments made by a member of the "Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission" were concerning. Higher fares on weekends???

As FDOT funding ends, SunRail to look at fare increases

Starting in 2025, FDOT will no longer fund the light rail service, leaving a gap in SunRail's budget of more than $65 million.

mynews13.com

Typical American methodology

 

[Allandale25]

CN Launches New Medium Horsepower Hybrid Locomotive Pilot Project | cn.ca

CN Launches New Medium Horsepower Hybrid Locomotive Pilot Project

www.cn.ca

Tweeted out here with a picture:

 

[Allandale25]

Article is a couple months old.

The plan is to have the Florida Transit Department (FDOT) no longer fund commuter rail and instead have the individual counties/ cities with stations to fund the network. I guess the thinking is Florida tax payers who don't live in cities with train stations shouldn't have to pay for the system.

I can't see this being a good idea. The comments made by a member of the "Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission" were concerning. Higher fares on weekends???

As FDOT funding ends, SunRail to look at fare increases

Starting in 2025, FDOT will no longer fund the light rail service, leaving a gap in SunRail's budget of more than $65 million.

mynews13.com

Reminds me of what the Harris government did to GO Transit before reversing the decision after a few years.

 

[Bordercollie]

Reminds me of what the Harris government did to GO Transit before reversing the decision after a few years.

So if it passes a jurisdiction that won't fund it, are they going to close the station?

 

[just east of the creek]

Mimico Yard today, VIA side, south side. Three, what look to be coaches, which look to be shrink wrapped in white, much like boats are shrink wrapped for winter pull out. Any ideas? Sorry no picture.

 

[Urban Sky]

Mimico Yard today, VIA side, south side. Three, what look to be coaches, which look to be shrink wrapped in white, much like boats are shrink wrapped for winter pull out. Any ideas? Sorry no picture.

Preparations for a repaint?

 

[smallspy]

Mimico Yard today, VIA side, south side. Three, what look to be coaches, which look to be shrink wrapped in white, much like boats are shrink wrapped for winter pull out. Any ideas? Sorry no picture.

Cars owned by the VHA. https://viahistory.ca/home/

Dan

 

[Sauga89]

CN signal workers have given notice that they will go on strike Tuesday if a deal is not reached in the next three days.