DonValleyRainbow
Senior Member
I didn't realize the Western terminus of the Crosstown will link with the UP Express. I can imagine the traffic on UP will rise significantly once it links to the Crosstown, and further more if Crosstown East is built.
Why would it? Crosstown West going to the airport is a substitute option, not a complement. It is slower but cheaper rapid transit option between downtown and Pearson.
It likely will increase, we might have a better idea of how much if it were not for the fact that there isn't a direct transfer at Bloor due to classical NIMBYism.
My understanding is that it was not The Crossways being NIMBY, it was asking too much. Metrolinx futureproofed their tunnel under the tracks, but told The Crossways to go fly a kite until they came back with a more reasonable price. Frankly, I don't know why Metrolinx does not pursue some kind of expropriation.
So what happens to the Weston stop?
It stays, unfortunately. And that's been the UPX's problem from the beginning; it's not enough of an express train between Union and Pearson. Making a UPX stop at Mt Dennis is not helping much; while a 15 min UPX ride for ~$5.40 ($4.85 Presto) vs. 27 min Crosstown ride for ~$3.25 ($3.00 Presto) seems like it would be an attractive option (especially thanks to TTC fare hikes), it adds time to the total trip between Union and Pearson, which hurts the key segment of UPX ridership.