[sixrings]

True, it is always hard to get the taxpayer fund transit. However, the dependence between the cost of a new line and the level of tax push-backs is very non-linear; sometimes, getting a cheaper line funded is as hard or harder than getting a more expensive version funded.

I don't have a strong opinion on the Brampton transit options, as either solution won't affect me. It just seems to be that, should the tunnel proponents prevail, transit advocates should't go ballistic. Even if the tunnel solution is not optiomal on the cost-benefit scale, it would still increase the transit coverage and improve the connectivity, versus being locked in the debates and having the line terminated at Steeles.

Brampton gets underground then Mississauga freaks out demands underground and nothing gets built. That's a possibility. Everywhere underground

 

[W. K. Lis]

Why are there some people upset that a light rail going down the center of Brampton's downtown may spoil its historical architecture? What historical architecture?

From link.

 

[OneCity]

True, it is always hard to get the taxpayer fund transit. However, the dependence between the cost of a new line and the level of tax push-backs is very non-linear; sometimes, getting a cheaper line funded is as hard or harder than getting a more expensive version funded.

I don't have a strong opinion on the Brampton transit options, as either solution won't affect me. It just seems to be that, should the tunnel proponents prevail, transit advocates should't go ballistic. Even if the tunnel solution is not optiomal on the cost-benefit scale, it would still increase the transit coverage and improve the connectivity, versus being locked in the debates and having the line terminated at Steeles.

Sadly many vocal "advocate" groups are little more then political extensions with a priority that is anything but ensuring infrastructure is built. It is a good thing to have groups (political or not) with differing views during debate phases but lets call them what they really are. That way when popular democratic decisions are made they will likely be more inclined to back down instead of becoming under the radar political troublemakers not interested in supporting actual progress

 

[sixrings]

Sadly many vocal "advocate" groups are little more then political extensions with a priority that is anything but ensuring infrastructure is built. It is a good thing to have groups (political or not) with differing views during debate phases but lets call them what they really are. That way when popular democratic decisions are made they will likely be more inclined to back down instead of becoming under the radar political troublemakers not interested in supporting actual progress

Doesn't sound anything like what's happening in Scarborough

 

[Adjei]

What the province should do is commit the original funding which would have funded the on street option and tell Brampton to go find funding for the balance if they want it tunneled.

 

[sixrings]

What the province should do is commit the original funding which would have funded the on street option and tell Brampton to go find funding for the balance if they want it tunneled.

And then they will say they will go look for funding with no real intention of building anything and nothing will get built. But they'll win votes for promising underground transit to the deserving Brampton residents who have been neglected for decades. Sound familiar?

 

[Adjei]

And then they will say they will go look for funding with no real intention of building anything and nothing will get built. But they'll win votes for promising underground transit to the deserving Brampton residents who have been neglected for decades. Sound familiar?

Then the line stops at Steeles for the foreseeable future, so be it.

 

[sixrings]

Then the line stops at Steeles for the foreseeable future, so be it.

I'm good with that.

 

[Bureaucromancer]

I'm good with that.

I'm really not. Brampton is supposed to have hourly service sooner than later, and I fully expect to see better than that at some point. Linking Hurontario the rail corridor is of far more regional importance than it is to Brampton. This is a time the province should absolutely be firm (and should have been in the first place) that the link IS being built with or without Brampton's cooperation. Brampton's refusal to endorse, let alone fund, ANY option should have been taken as consenting to Metrolinx' version. Frankly the whole fiasco stank of a government afraid that Bill Davis' asinine moaning about not wanting trains in front of his house would be a serious issue.

 

[sixrings]

I'm really not. Brampton is supposed to have hourly service sooner than later, and I fully expect to see better than that at some point. Linking Hurontario the rail corridor is of far more regional importance than it is to Brampton. This is a time the province should absolutely be firm (and should have been in the first place) that the link IS being built with or without Brampton's cooperation. Brampton's refusal to endorse, let alone fund, ANY option should have been taken as consenting to Metrolinx' version. Frankly the whole fiasco stank of a government afraid that Bill Davis' asinine moaning about not wanting trains in front of his house would be a serious issue.

So let Brampton hold everyone hostage? Or shall we force at grade lrt. Either way people aren't happy.

 

[Hopkins123]

Why are there some people upset that a light rail going down the center of Brampton's downtown may spoil its historical architecture? What historical architecture?

From link.

Are those examples of real rapid transit or are those streetcars? Looks like the latter to me.

 

[Bureaucromancer]

So let Brampton hold everyone hostage? Or shall we force at grade lrt. Either way people aren't happy.

My point is that we have let them hold everyone hostage, and continue to. It's not so much that we will FORCE at grade as that at grade is the regional plan, and if Brampton sees fit to stomp out of the room there isn't anything else on the table.

Are those examples of real rapid transit or are those streetcars? Looks like the latter to me.

You say that as if it makes a meaningful difference to either the aesthetics or what Brampton would have.

 

[Rainforest]

Brampton gets underground then Mississauga freaks out demands underground and nothing gets built. That's a possibility. Everywhere underground

Not necessarily. First of all, the central part of Hurontario is very wide, and it doesn't look like anyone is bothered by a surface LRT there. No pressure groups, no changes in the plan.

Secondly, the timing. If the Mississauga section is Phase 1 and the Brampton section is an add-on, then the former may be well into construction by the time the latter is settled.

 

[Hopkins123]

Not necessarily. First of all, the central part of Hurontario is very wide, and it doesn't look like anyone is bothered by a surface LRT there. No pressure groups, no changes in the plan.

Secondly, the timing. If the Mississauga section is Phase 1 and the Brampton section is an add-on, then the former may be well into construction by the time the latter is settled.

To my knowledge the section south of the QEW to Port Credit GO is supposed to be underground as well. And then there's the elevated guide way proposed for the Square One area, so overall Mississauga's segment of the LRT is getting more grade separation than Brampton's.

 

[Rainforest]

It might not matter much whether Mississauga or Brampton is getting more grade separation; what matters is that we shouldn't try to build every transit line to the lowest specs to cut the costs. In some cases, more advanced features will make the line more appealing and the whole transit cause stronger.