[afransen]

For some of the longer TC-style LRT routes, travel time and capacity seem to be major complaints. As a compromise, what about supplementing the LRT with express subway, with stations spaced every 3 to 5 km? Since a significant cost of building subway is the stations, reducing their number could make subway more palatable (as well as relaxing the restriction to follow the ROW strictly). It would also improve travel time significantly for many cross-town trips.

I think it is at least somewhat interesting in that it seems to me that it would be cheaper than a full-fledged subway with 1 km station spacing, while providing equal or better station spacing/coverage and improved travel time for long trips. The main downside would of course be the transfer needed for long trips.

Or, is it the worst of both worlds: the speed and reliability of LRT and the cost of subways?

 

[jn_12]

I agree, but I also think that our subway system is too focused on North-south/east-west. When it comes to subways, one of their greatest assets is being able to break the grid and link nodes no matter their location. While cross town express service is fine (but maybe more suitable for GO) I think we should consider express service linking our most populous/popular areas.

At least in the North you'd have some wide station spacing, and these spaces would decrease in size as you get closer to downtown. This would enable express service to parts of town that deserve a subway stop without having to worry about the growth and potential of an entire road like you would when focusing just on corridors. I think if we want any chance of people ridding their cars for transit, subway is the most effective and attractive means of doing so. The closer someone is to a subways stop, the more likely they'll be to consider transit. Currently, I don't see why anyone would want to take a 30 minute bus ride just to get to a subway stop. If you could cut that down to 10-15 minutes, or ensure that all Torontonians are within a certain distance of a subway stop, I think we'd find ridership increase significantly. Ya there would be a cost (as is always the case with subways) but slow moving local service isn't the answer to all of our problems. It's as though we're content making people feel like they live in their own little villages (re: corridors) when they actually live in a large thriving metropolis.

I don't know where these stations would be located. A quick look at a density map, and maybe some better statistics about where people are going would give us a pretty good answer though. I just know that we need to stop thinking that people's lives revolve around one straight line.

 

[jamesbow]

This arrangement would be the worst of both worlds for Eglinton, but there is an intriguing possibility for Finch West. One of the reasons I support keeping that LRT on Finch Avenue rather than the Hydro right-of-way just north of it is because the LRT is supposed to serve FINCH Avenue, and not the grassy patch above it. But it also leaves the Hydro right-of-way open for a regional LRT or other long distance line. It connects the Airport with York University and the Finch/Yonge area, not to mention Seneca College and north Scarborough. With stations 4 kilometres apart, we can really rocket across the top of the city, and then use the local network to get the rest of the way we're going.

...James

 

[afransen]

Why would it be so bad for Eglinton? I can imagine it becoming one of the longest lines in the city, one day (stretching from Mississauga to STC, perhaps beyond). Seems like it could benefit from something faster than 30 km/h avg speed.