52 station underground system?
I'm only counting 48?
As well, this 48 number is really skewed. Many stations are would be considered so close in Halifax terms that I would estimate 50% of these stations wouldn't be needed. I don't know if its because people are lazy here or the metro is so slow, however it doesn't make sense to me. Some stops are literally 3 minute walks from eachother, some are much father apart and therefore relevant to a Halifax comparison. Many bus stops I have to walk to when I'm living in Halifax in the peninsular west end (such as the 52), take me longer to walk to then whole distances between metro stops. Stations are some of the most expensive part of building the network.
Also, there are many more lines than I am proposing, with one of them going to virtually out of Amsterdam itself. I really think following the Toronto model of having like 2-3 lines works best and would signifcantly reduce expenditure, especially the way trains can access the peninsula through the south end. And east-west line maybe as north as Almon would compliment that well.
With regards to the amount spent on the Sheppard Line, its alot longer a distance than I thought it would be when I took it a couple times in the summer. Its a beautiful subway line compared to the most of the old stations on the Bloor-Danforth Line. And the kicker in terms of cost here... the Sheppard Line is underground. A long undeground with several brand new indoor stations is astronomical in cost.
I think that if almost all of the transit was above ground, save maybe key urban areas, with minimalist stations that have connections to buses... this concept is not that infeasible and would definitely help people wanting to come into the city from afar, with outreaching bus lines. Would definitely change the role of Halifax, Dartmouth, and Bedford specifically as a part of the greater HRM.
Does the HRM not own alot of land that they can use with regards to the major parts of this project or to help leverage it? (Imagine the selling of the Cogswell lands leveraged new transportation infrastructure) I don't know, maybe I'm a dreamer, but I think the city council is made up of verrrryyy "downhome" local type people who have their heads in the sand and just produce mountains of studies and worry about cat bylaws. I know one thing, I'm happy I'm living abroad because its difficult to get perspective in Halifax.