March 16, 2007 - Toronto unveiled its Transit City Light Rail Plan today. The plan calls for 60-80 km of light rail lines that criss-cross the City, particularly to areas that are currently under-served by the City. Total cost of the plan: $6.1 billion.
The plan consists of 7 new dedicated light rail right-of-ways, including lines along Finch, Don Mills, Jane, Morningside/Malvern, Waterfront West, Sheppard East, and Eglinton. The location of these lines are not surprising, as Etobicoke and North Scarborough have long been underserved by public transit.
Perhaps the most ambitious project in the plan is the Eglinton Crosstown line, which would link Kennedy Station to Pearson Airport (the first rapid transit line to the airport?). The section from Laird to Keele would also be placed underground, serving as a mini-subway along the busy midtown section (that means my future condo will be above 2 subway/LRT lines!). Total cost of this 30+ km line is $2.2 billion, approximately the same as the 8.6 km Spadina subway extension to Vaughan.
The catch of this plan is that neither the City or any level of senior government have the funding to implement it. While I believe this plan is a bold vision and it's also sensible and do-able, some critics argue that this plan is a step backwards, as what the city really needs is new subway lines. Sure, subways would be fantastic, but currently the City simply doesn't have the density to support new subway lines. I don't buy the argument that just because we don't have an extensive subway system we're a "second-tier" city - in fact many large cities in Europe, in particular Germany, use LRTs as a substitute to subways.
Sure, the Transit City plan is not perfect (i.e. there is limited integration with the GO train; the Sheppard East LRT should really be the Sheppard subway extension) but it's definitely a solid start. Hopefully this plan will inspire the city and the province/federal government to seriously start looking at expanding and updating TTC system back to its world-class status again.
Note: I was also very impressed by the new Transit City website that the TTC put up just minutes after the 10 am announcement. The site is clear and easy to navigate. My own critique would be they should have used a picture of a LRT vehicle (and not a streetcar) on its homepage. Way to go TTC! It's not every day that I'm impressed by you guys!
March 8, 2007 - I actually watched the announcement live on tv: the future of Nathan Phillips Square looks green as the Plant Architect proposal was announced winner of the $40 M Design Competition.
As I wrote in my review, the Plant proposal isn't my favourite, but it's better than 2 of the other 3 proposals. I'm looking forward to see how the new podium, glass pavilion entry, and permanent theatre will play out with the existing features of the square.
Here's a link to the proposal, along with the Star's article on the announcement. Construction is set to begin next year.
March 7, 2007 - Transit news dominated the headlines today, following yesterday's mega transit and climate change funding announcement by the federal and provincial government:
$697M seals subway deal
All aboard on the Toronto-York subway to the middle of nowhere (well at least for now..).
Is Subway really the better way?
TTC Chair Adam Giambrone says subways are sexy, but money could have been better spent.
Guess who makes the TTC late? We do!
Interesting article on yet another pathetic ad campaign by the TTC - this time, they blame the passengers for subway delays. Someone please nominate the TTC for a customer service award now!
Not a boo from riders in ghost stations
Yet another interesting article about the lack of enthusiasm from subway riders as weekend subway service continues to bring riders into the abandoned Lower Bay station. [edit: March 10/11 may be the last weekend to see Lower Bay as tunnel maintenance finishes ahead of schedule!]
New Street Signs Approved
Toronto City Council approved a new plan to replace all city street signs with a new design. Some councillors argue neighbourhoods will lose their distinct unique street signs.
San Francisco Mayor wants to make public transit free
Apparently it costs more to collect and enforce fares on SF's MUNI transit system than what the fares bring in. With a cost-recovery ratio of only 22% (compare to over 80% on the TTC and close to 90% on GO Transit), no wonder SF can afford to even consider this option...
March 4, 2007 - So I have never liked pigeons and this dislike has grown into hatred in recent years. In my view, pigeons are really just rats with wings - they are a nuisance that do more harm than good in an urban environment. The Hitchcock movie Birds didn't help either - the sight of a flock of pigeons (and seagulls, and crows) gives me chills.
Take my balcony for example: for some reason, pigeons have been hanging outside on my balcony for the past week. They pooped everywhere: the railing, my windowsill, on top of my AC. Frankly it's disgusting.
Then the other night, I heard this banging sound outside. I looked out my window and saw 5 disgusting pigeons staring back at me with their big round eyes. Apparently two of them were "humping" one another on top of my AC unit, hence the banging sound (I guess I interrupted their "fun", but why were the other 3 pigeons just sitting there?). Watching pigeons mate definitely is not hot.
And finally yesterday, when visiting St. Jamestown with B (he was there for a project, not a tour), there were dead pigeons littered all over the grounds. Now I'm not sure how they died, but shouldn't someone have picked up the carcasses? isn't it a health hazard? would the carcasses be lying around out in the open if the birds had died in a different neighbourhood (think like Rosedale or Forest Hill)?
