steveintoronto
Superstar
It is, and from some reports I read on the Ryerson site on the Spadina Line Extension, although without referenced actual numbers, some claim that the line *is already* reaching capacity during morning peak as per packed subway cars.. That is a subjective claim, of course, but believable.Still a problem if you all of sudden you start adding a lot of people at Dupont.
Again, I have to ask, for those claiming that Midtown is has "fallen way down the list"....why is Metrolinx investing in refurbishing the ex-CP spur to the Don Valley? It may be faint on the radar, it doesn't mean it's not a potent or pending option. Presuming Midtown coming into use will determine planning for the Yonge and Spadina lines, as opening Summerhill train station is a given when Midtown rises again, it's best the City be prepared to facilitate for the changes to support that.
I see the Bathurst streetcar line extended along the Midtown RoW to Summerhill as *physically* taking a sizable flow fromthere, but certainly not a trainload crush. It would be a good plan, and very affordable in the big scheme of things, but more will be needed. Distribution of loading will be crucial to making any interchange on the Yonge and Spadina lines workable. Spadina streetcar extension to the same RoW could also play a big part, but the streetcars are trapped from easily going north by the present arrangement at Spadina station. The Spadina cars might already be at capacity during peak anyway, I don't have the figures. Bathurst is an underutilized corridor in a number of ways.
The challenge going forward is going to be funding. It seems to me, and to those casting a critical eye on transit spending in the GTHA, that a lot of money is being spent in ineffective ways. I'm being diplomatic...
It's well past time to start making better use and integration of what we already have. And Midtown is a gem. The Missing Link, for the touted $5B, is a bargain compared to what similar might be spent on SSE and other subway follies. The Missing Link alone renders Midtown and many other transit schemes multiples more doable and affordable.
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