SlickFranky
Active Member
Your example works only if there exists another rapid link from Eglinton to DT west of Allen. That could be DRL West subway, or that could be a new GO station on the Weston sub with a very frequent (15-min or better) GO service, full fare integration, and a convenient passageway between the LRT station and the GO. Either possibility is not guaranteed at all.
Without that, the sole transfer point from the western leg of Eglinton to DT will be the Allen Rd station. This situation is not much different from Bloor.
Actually, my point was that most ECLRT riders will coming from points between Eglinton and Eglinton West stations. Without the improvements to service on Jane (which no longer seems to be on the table), most of the denser segments of that line would be better off heading directly to YUS. The new Finch West station will draw in a lot of southbound riders. The eastern at grade stretch doesn't concern me much either, though a case could certainly be made to extend the tunnel to Don Mills (future home of DRL ).
That brings me to your next good point. 30 years from now, when the line may have started to fill up, we should have some relief. Whether that's from the DRL (east, west, or hopefully both), or from better integrated GO service that actually works for Toronto residents. If the worst case happens, and none of those improvements are made, crowding on Eglinton would be the least of our problems.
Bonus:
For those not grasping the operation, I haven't seen any detailed plans, but I assume it will similar to the proposed Queen steetcar subway, using interlined West, East, and (if needed) longer Tunnel only LRVs. This provides a great deal of flexibility, allowing frequency to be tweaked exactly where it's needed. Not every LRV will travel the entire length (in fact none will in my example), but every LRV will get you to both major subway transfers. This type of arrangement is used in some form or another on almost every bus route in the city, and with ATO in the tunnel keeping things properly spaced, I'm confident TTC can make this work.
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