[Steve X]

Most people properly judge distances and oncoming vehicles speeds so that they can cross mid-block safely. Many people will continue to do this even when the line is in revenue service.
My only hope is that the TTC does not overreact to this and change their operations substantially because of this incident.

If there is no fencing and people don’t change their behaviours, this is the first of many incidents. People might not realize they can’t stand on the edge of the tracks. If this stuff continues, TTC will slow down.

Let I said before, nothing is done in Chinatown and Queens Quay to stop people from stepping on the tracks. So TTC adapted to a slower operation for a whole decade now.

 

[dowlingm]

If this is what it’s like now, what’s it going to be like when all the towers replace the commercial along that stretch?

Mind you, I think there should be some consideration that this is in fact now a mixed rail and road environment and the rail part has a higher speed limit (60km/h, by council decision, as is Finch) and thus tolerating pedestrian crossing other than at signalled crossings is not an answer.

We don’t tolerate pedestrian crossings of the 400 series or Gardiner/DVP, and therefore there should be pressure on the City to figure out how to provide mid block crossing above or below grade to provide a reasonable alternative and permit barriers to be erected along such stretches at grade.

 

[a2z]

Frankfurt's at-grade portion of its A-line has the same characteristic as Eglinton where there are crossings that are spread quite far apart. It historically has had ~1 death per year (33 deaths in 42 years), albeit the trains have higher frequency there. (The point being they have gone through the challenges we currently / are about to face, for decades)

The safety measures it has introduced since (I am making the assumption that these did not exist from the get-go) include:
- they added barriers to all areas that weren't crossings to discourage jaywalking (but they aren't too high, so technically could be hopped over)
- and for the crossings that do exist, you can see how (like below) they are designed in a way to attempt to get someone to take more time to "look" both ways and judge the situation (which we already use at some of the bike trail crossings, e.g. Beltline Trail & Oriole, Lower Don & Pottery)

And at certain stations, there are underground pathways that are necessary to access the station / allow you to cross a busy intersection without having to worry about being sandwiched by passing trains

But even with all these measures, I wouldn't be surprised if there are still a non-zero number of accidents each year there, since the problem of people being forced to take lengthy detours to cross one single street will still persist (and therefore they may hop a fence / use a straight road crossing / or simply miscalculate the situation at a crossing if they are in a hurry)

 

[Amare]

I dont know why the solution always has to be rocket science in Toronto.

Not to say that the entire at-grade corridor needs fencing, but a healthy dose of it would be wise to implement.

Something like this (as seen in Santa Monica) would be easy enough to implement, but it's not going to happen:

 

[kev1n1m]

I noticed something the DAY they lay the grass down:

The grass doesn't extend to the curb, it stops at the rail. The grass therefore does not extend the full width of the LRT vehicle. This will give pedestrians the impression that there is a gap you can stand in safely, but there isn't. The LRT extends at least another foot I'm sure, plus mirrors, etc. extending further. The very first day I saw this I thought it was stupid, people will think they can cross mid-block, stand on the concrete median, and wait, but they cannot.

As a result, more people will be hit, or LRTs will constantly be on the lookout for pedestrians, or they will add fences. Or they will rip out the grass. One year max after opening. Mark my words. I don't know how it's possible that none of the 12,000 VPs at Metrolinx saw this design and didn't spot the immediate flaw.

 

[rdaner]

As sad as this is I wonder if this reaction is a bit pointless as pedestrians will be hit crossing illegally along any road at some point and this is likely not above average. According to ChatGTP a jaywalker was hit by a wheelchair van on Eglinton/Allen. This person took a calculated risk and must have been very close to the moving 30 ton vehicle and kept going.

 

[ThenWhat]

What I find particularly interesting is how not a single politician at City Hall or Queen’s Park (either side of the aisle) is actively demanding an independent investigation. That’s because Crosslinx Transit Solutions includes SNC-Lavalin and EllisDon…..two companies deeply tied to Ontario’s political elite across party lines.

Adil Shamji, MPP for the Don Valley East riding, is asking for a public enquiry into ELRT. He is circulating a petition to that effect, which you can sign.

 

[ThenWhat]

I agree with what you posted above but I only wonder if adding even more traffic lights will delay the line even further and also make the surface section slower than it already is

Adding more traffic lights would not be a problem if they were set up to give priority to the trains. We can have a traffic light every 100 meters as long the LRT always has the green light.

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

Just put a low fence down the devilstrip (the section between the opposite direction tracks. Let squirrels, raccoons, coyotes, and geese be able to cross, but give a suggestion to automobiles, humans, cattle, and bisons not to.

 

[hawc]

As long as the bisons can get from the north side safely across to graze on the south side.

 

[crs1026]

As long as the bisons can get from the north side safely across to graze on the south side.

No, it's the racoons that Toronto needs to give priority....let Winnipeg deal with the Bison.

Seriously, if one of the things we accept when planning LRT is that a street becomes uncrossable, we are making bad decisions.... especially if we plan to develop the street with high density. There's a lot of "cuts both ways" here... if crossing alternatives are too limited, we are creating the hazard.... but if we provide some reasonable standard, then people who don't make the effort to use them may lose our sympathy somewhat. I won't take a firm and hard position, but my gut says Eglinton isn't in the sweet spot yet.... and Finch has at least the same room for improvement. Hopefully we wake up and deal with this before more incidents happen.

- Paul

 

[Bojaxs]

Adding more traffic lights would not be a problem if they were set up to give priority to the trains. We can have a traffic light every 100 meters as long the LRT always has the green light.

Ah jeez! We should have just restarted construction on the Eglinton subway after Mike Harris was voted out. This is ridiculous!

In regards to keeping pedestrians off the track. We could do what Calgary does with the C-train. Just put up jersey barriers dividing the track from the road. It works 100% of the time, keeping both pedestrians and automobiles off the track. Unfortunately though it makes for a rather ugly streetscape.

Street View · Google Maps

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[Monarch Butterfly]

Why did the chicken cross the light rail right-of-way?

To get a ride on the LRV.

The chicken shows it is not chicken to ride the subway.

What should P,O.O. do in this case?

 

[goodcitywhenfinished]

Knowing the risk tolerance of the TTC, yeah the Scarborough section of track will be operating at 30km/h pretty soon.

 

[Sauga89]

I would worry more about people jaywalking to and from platforms, rather than about those trying to cross the street between stations. I've never seen anyone jaywalk across Hurontario, but I imagine some people won't wait at the crosswalk for the pedestrian signal.