DSC
Superstar
As expected, Steve Munro has a very good walk-through of the proposals. See: https://stevemunro.ca/2019/03/05/waterfront-transit-reset-the-union-station-connection/
That project is way beyond crayoning in a streetcar loop.Well in that case, loop it through the new GO Bus Station on the south side. Concept stands, and even better.
New GO Bus Terminal Slated for Massive 45-141 Bay Development | UrbanToronto
Ivanhoé Cambridge and Metrolinx have officially announced what UrbanToronto leaked back in August, that a new Bus Terminal would be built at 45 Bay Street, integrated with a dramatic new office complex for Downtown Toronto.urbantoronto.ca
That project is way beyond crayoning in a streetcar loop.
A 4-5 year shutdown of the streetcar tunnel - or put another way, termination of streetcar options east of Spadina Loop - is to my mind utter madness. Maybe it's time to look seriously at origin/destination data from Union loop and see if we can relieve demand by increasing service or tweaking the routing on services like 121.
4-5 years business as usual - make it 24/7/365 construction instead.
AoD
Thank Jeebus the streetcar option is being chosen. Sanity prevails for once in this city.
If all of SmartTrack, SSE and Waterfront Transit go to Exec and Council at the same time as Steve Munro predicts, I'd be surprised if WT Transit will be debated at all and should pass quietly. The other 2 big ones will steal the show.Don't count your luck yet - it still has to go through Exec and Council, nevermind actually getting funding.
AoD
If all of SmartTrack, SSE and Waterfront Transit go to Exec and Council at the same time as Steve Munro predicts, I'd be surprised if WT Transit will be debated at all and should pass quietly. The other 2 big ones will steal the show.
According to Steve Munro, the loop needs to be dug down four feet because it loses fire code grandfathering. The existing tunnel is frequently subject to water ingress issues. This is no one year project, guys. Just look next door at Union Station's excavation.
You do realize that I'm referring to the QQE LRT? The whole point of using the new GO bus station facility is to completely avoid the present Spadina Loop. Leave it as-is save for superficial tweaks.That project is way beyond crayoning in a streetcar loop.
A 4-5 year shutdown of the streetcar tunnel - or put another way, termination of streetcar options east of Spadina Loop - is to my mind utter madness.
For the period of closure, what about a King-Cherry-QQ-Spadina loop, if even only at weekends?
So build the underground wye and east portal before tackling bay and union loop?
From link.
Should they go with enlarging the streetcar loop at Union, they should build the eastern Queens Quay extension first. With a temporary loop at Cherry Street or vicinity. Then as they are building the enlarged underground loop, they can have temporary platforms before the western portal to allow for transfers to the 6 BAY bus or a shuttle bus to get to UNION Station, whenever to get construction access to the existing streetcar subway.