I think the streetcar idea has more merit than that. You could build a N/S and E/W line to funnel people into Sheppard West for the cost of a new station nowadays. The developer would also probably be more inclined to fund it in that scenario.Maybe an western extension of Line 4 should go one more stop, to provide a more central station to the Downsview development.
I think the streetcar idea has more merit than that. You could build a N/S and E/W line to funnel people into Sheppard West for the cost of a new station nowadays. The developer would also probably be more inclined to fund it in that scenario.
We really need to get invested in making developers pay for local transit improvements like this. A streetcar isn’t expensive, especially if they’re building a whole set of roads and neighbourhoods from scratch. As it stands, nothing is happening however, and I worry about the possibilities if we do extend Line 4 here with public money…As long as the developer actually funds it. I'm just fearful of the typical Toronto scenario of "it never gets built before all the development happens". I also wouldn't think it would be too much of a hassle to extend the line one additional station if you're going to do that project anyway. Both of these things should probably happen.
If anything, I think if a line is going to run north-south through here the best option would be a reroute of line 1. Even though they just dug some new tunnel there, it would be way cheaper and less annoying for riders to send line 1 under the runway rather than putting a whole new line through there.If you require a developer to extend something that already exists or build a station on a line that's already there... well that's not too bad. But an entirely new system?
This might sound crazy but what if you extended the Finch line east and south. If you want to extend Finch along it's namesake east someday then we will just have branches. We shouldn't be afraid of branches. Maybe we can sneak the "Finch car" down the Barrie line corridor and then send it down the middle. Maybe have a bonus line right to left.
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Maybe just to SW would be fine though idk!
Edit: yeah draw that blue line to Wilson... whoops
If anything, I think if a line is going to run north-south through here the best option would be a reroute of line 1. Even though they just dug some new tunnel there, it would be way cheaper and less annoying for riders to send line 1 under the runway rather than putting a whole new line through there.
Here's a little concept I drew up real quick. Line 1 northbound from Yorkdale would go up onto a guideway before crossing the 401 as it curves left, then over Wilson before going back underground. There would be a new interchange with the Sheppard Line at the centre of the development, and the tunnel would curve to meet up with Downsview park station.
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A new Wilson station would be on the elevated portion on the south side of Wilson. This route would also allow for easy connection to the Wilson Yard, whether than be via the old tracks or a new spur from the guideway north of Wilson. There is even room north of Yorkdale station to squeeze the existing tracks to one side while the guideway gets built, like they did with the Davenport Diamond
(I realize now this is probably better suited for the transit fantasy thread so I apologize for veering somewhat off topic here)