[Steve X]

This is all performative work, they dont have 1 cent of funding for this. By the time the find that 1 cent, they'll have to re-do the EA.

Needless to say, this thing ain't happening anytime soon so dont read into it.

The city still taxes every property owner with this so called "Scarborough subway levy" since the Ford era. That money is supposedly reallocated to help fund a portion of this LRT but the ballooning cost means only a portion is funded and they would have to get the feds to chip in. It is total BS that the city is still taxing everyone if they don't intend to build anything.

 

[Rainforest]

The city still taxes every property owner with this so called "Scarborough subway levy" since the Ford era. That money is supposedly reallocated to help fund a portion of this LRT but the ballooning cost means only a portion is funded and they would have to get the feds to chip in. It is total BS that the city is still taxing everyone if they don't intend to build anything.

Indeed. I am curious how much has been accumulated, don't know how to find out.

 

[Rainforest]

Perhaps the Eg East LRT will be more viable if a different way of choosing LRT routes is adopted.

Originally, Transit City promised LRT as rapid transit, which means covering large areas and reaching far-away corners. But as we know much more about the implementation details today, Toronto light rail is not rapid transit. It is local transit, capable of moving more riders than the buses, but without much improvements in the travel time.

And that's not wrong, but - light rail should then be built where high density and high transit demand can be achieved. Not striving to reach far-away corners where the demand level is modest, leave that job to express buses.

For the Eg East LRT, that means: thinking less about expanding the system to the north of the 401 (Malvern Centre, the Zoo etc, where high demand level is unlikely), and instead, considering the future companion light rail lines to the south of Ellesmere Road.

 

[Rainforest]

 

[Rainforest]

In the map above, 3 thick lines are existing or potential subways. 4 thinner lines are potential light rail routes:

Eglinton East, from the Kennedy Stn to U of T Scarborough, and possibly to Sheppard & Conlins if the MSF is still there.

St Clair East & Kingston, from the Warden Stn on Line 2

Danforth & Kingston, from the Victoria Park Stn on Line 2

Lawrence East, from the Ontario Line interchange to the Port Unon GO at the edge of the city.

It is unlikely that all 4 LRT lines above will get build. Even if it is just 2 or 3 of them, that would improve the cost/revenue ratio, compared to the standalone Eg East LRT. Because, a single MSF will serve multiple lines, and its cost will be shared.

If a very high density is planned for the Golden Mile, it is not unreasonable to expect something similar along Eglinton on the other side of Kennedy. Kingston Road and St. Clair East, too, why not?

While the northern destinations: Malvern Centre and the Zoo - can be handled by express buses. LRT-level demand is not very likely there.

 

[Bureaucromancer]

My thought on a Lawrence East LRT is that it's best done as an escape hatch for the capacity disconnect between Scarborough and the rest of Eglinton; build and operate it as a through running branch.

 

[Rainforest]

My thought on a Lawrence East LRT is that it's best done as an escape hatch for the capacity disconnect between Scarborough and the rest of Eglinton; build and operate it as a through running branch.

Good point. It should be possible to connect them via Leslie Street.