Future Rapid Transit, LRT, BRT, Commuter Rail in Canada

[OutOfTowner]

Originally Posted by d_jeffrey

It might sound odd for other provinces but the federal government never contributed for any metro construction or commuter rail in Québec. So for a "partner", they sure are not doing a good job at it.

Myth buster, stop busting those myths!

[OutOfTowner]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Now that you mention it...

You got me thinking.

It's true that Gatineau's Rapibus system did not get federal funding. Or if it did, it came in a very indirect, roundabout way. Via a decision made in Quebec City, not Ottawa.

One would certainly hope that the feds will contribute something, as they should with all other transit projects across the country.

We sorely need a national transportation strategy.

And not one that is dependant upon the largesse (or not) of the government of the day.

[p_xavier]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

What difference would this really have made? They are building the LRT like a light metro anyway. It's on a fully segregated exclusive ROW with complete grade separation. I fail to see what difference making it a "metro" would have been.

Paying for conductors while everything could have been automated? Enclosed stations?

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by d_jeffrey

Paying for conductors while everything could have been automated? Enclosed stations?

In the case of Ottawa, I do not think that an automated metro would have ever been considered. Too much of the route runs on the surface. Where automation is being implemented, there is not only an exclusive right of way but also grade separation, tunneling or elevated. This would have made a project of this size unaffordable for a city the size of Ottawa.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by d_jeffrey

Paying for conductors while everything could have been automated? Enclosed stations?

They can automate the LRT too if they really want. And build enclosed stations as well. The choice of rail vehicle really has no bearing here.

I'm going to guess that costs drove their choices to pass on full automation and enclosed stations.

[ue]

Downtown relief line, Yonge subway extension studies get green light

City councillors voted to go ahead with planning work on both the downtown relief line and extending the Yonge line north to Richmond Hill on Wednesday, but not before some councillors warned Toronto is mixing up its transit priorities.

Following the 42-1 vote, city and TTC staff will begin planning the relief line, which is set to run east from the downtown core and north under Carlaw Avenue to Pape Station. Staff will also provide a business case for extending the relief line farther north to Don Mills.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toront...bate-1.4129332

[1overcosc]

Ottawa's LRT is capable of automation and the city's plans call for it to be automated when capacity needs require it.

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by ue

Downtown relief line, Yonge subway extension studies get green light



http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toront...bate-1.4129332

Something I'm missing about the DRL is how it is supposed to relieve pressure on Line 1 (Yonge). The train is already at capacity heading southbound at rush hour when it pulls out of Sheppard-Yonge. I don't see how that's going to cut down on the number of people on the train heading from North York into downtown, and yet I keep hearing that it's needed to relieve pressure on Line 1 before an extension to Richmond Hill can be built. An extension to Richmond Hill is going to make the train full before it reaches Finch, even if there is a DRL.

Now if the DRL were extended north along Don Mills Road to Fairview Mall, that would be a different story, especially as volumes increase rapidly on the Sheppard line (its reputation for being largely empty is no longer deserved). However I also think an LRT along Don Mills would make more sense than a subway.

It seems like it will provide relief more to Line 2 from Pape to Yonge.

[Truenorth00]

The real truth is that the DRL has to go to Steeles to actually be effective at relief. Otherwise, YRT and VIVA and riders from the Finch and Steeles corridor will take every seat and most standing space before the train crosses the 401.

[haljackey]

Some pics I took of York University Station from Saturday's Doors Open Toronto event. An extension of the Spadina subway is scheduled to open at the end of the year.

Cool place!

[1overcosc]

^ Sneak peak! That's always fun!

The Lyon station on the Confederation Line here in Ottawa will be open for a similar event this summer.

[p_xavier]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

They can automate the LRT too if they really want. And build enclosed stations as well. The choice of rail vehicle really has no bearing here.

I'm going to guess that costs drove their choices to pass on full automation and enclosed stations.

No, it was shown that the operating costs would be drastically lower, it was because there might have been a surface section at Iris, which is now grade separated in Phase 2 of the LRT. So the justification to not have a light metro is not even being put in place. Which sections of the Phase 2 of the LRT are not-grade separated with traffic? I can't think of any.

No but if you enclose stations and automated, you end up with a light metro...

[caltrane74]

Those new stations are overkill.

But oh well, whatever.

[Martin Mtl]

Overkill !? Looks rather plain and beige to me.

[caltrane74]

Originally Posted by Martin Mtl

Overkill !? Looks rather plain and beige to me.

too big. There will be like 2 people going through these stations at rush hour.

A hole in the ground with a stairwell would have done the trick.

[Martin Mtl]

Originally Posted by caltrane74

too big. There will be like 2 people going through these stations at rush hour.

Really? I had no idea. I'm not even gonna ask why they builded it in the first place... politics I bet.

[Beedok]

Originally Posted by caltrane74

too big. There will be like 2 people going through these stations at rush hour.

A hole in the ground with a stairwell would have done the trick.

It's on a university campus isn't it? Students are very dependent upon transit, and also notoriously lazy when it comes to walking, so there will be plenty of people boarding for 1 or 2 stop trips...

[niwell]

The York University station should be quite busy - it's largely a commuter school and the express bus from Downsview was seriously overcrowded despite coming what seemed like every minute or less.

The end of the line Vaughan station will be well used as well, simply for the fact that it's the end of the line.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by caltrane74

too big. There will be like 2 people going through these stations at rush hour.

A hole in the ground with a stairwell would have done the trick.

A subway station in the middle of York University (50K students, 7K faculty and staff) will generate only two people at rush hour? I'm not sure what constitutes "rush hour" in a university context, but I feel you may be underestimating the number.....

[caltrane74]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

A subway station in the middle of York University (50K students, 7K faculty and staff) will generate only two people at rush hour? I'm not sure what constitutes "rush hour" in a university context, but I feel you may be underestimating the number.....

That station is so huge, it will swallow up 60,000 people like they are nothing.