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I bet if you were to do a poll, a good chunk or even half of Torontonians don't even believe the line will eventually be built. They have to expect this feudal battles with the only end result being another study.
 
You may have to walk a few blocks from Oakwood and Eglinton to the nearest Crosstown LRT station at either Allen Road or Dufferin, if you don't board the Ossington bus.

From insidetoronto.com, at this link.

Eglinton LRT: Future of Oakwood station murky

York Guardian by Rahul Gupta

A senior Metrolinx official has retracted statements he made at a public meeting this week, which indicated the transit planning agency had ruled out adding an Oakwood Avenue stop to the station map for the Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown light rail transit line.

Responding to a question from resident Claudia Giraldo, Jamie Robinson, director of community relations for rapid transit implementation, said on Oct. 22 that adding Oakwood to the planned list of stations was unlikely to happen.

He later confirmed his remarks following the town hall meeting at the North Toronto Memorial Community Centre. The evening had been organized by St. Paul’s Councillor Josh Matlow.

“What we’ve said is we’ll proceed as if Oakwood will be there, but at this particular point in time Oakwood will not be one of the stations included,†said Robinson on Monday evening.

But on Tuesday morning Robinson retracted that statement and stressed no final decision has yet been made on the fate of Oakwood.

“I did misspeak to some extent,†said Robinson who blamed his error on his lack of familiarity with the issue stemming from being in his current position for only two months.

The planned installation of station headwalls, a series of concrete support columns underneath Eglinton Avenue, at the east and west side of each planned station location, including Oakwood, would theoretically make it possible to build the stop if approved.

Getting Oakwood onto the list of planned LRT stations, however, would require amending the existing environmental assessment which would require additional approval from the province’s ministry of the environment.

Such a process might also require a further public consultation on the idea depending on whether the amendment is deemed “significantâ€, said Robinson.

Robinson said no EA amendment is planned at the moment, but that decision could be re-considered in the next few months.

Further hurting Oakwood’s candidacy for inclusion is its relative proximity to the planned stations - Dufferin in the west and Eglinton West station (at Allen Road) in the east - as well as the desire of Metrolinx to locate efficiencies to reduce costs related to construction of the Crosstown, said Robinson.

“When we look station-by-station Oakwood would have lower ridership and it’s fairly close to other stations in the area,†said Robinson.

There has been vocal community support for an Oakwood stop of late

A petition brought forth by local city councillor Josh Colle earlier in the year has gained signatures of support from 400 residents as of July.

In August, Colle said a stop at Oakwood Avenue was “50 per cent closer†to reality.

“We’re going to keep pushing, but it’s good to hear they’re at least clearing the path so to speak to make sure an Oakwood Station is possible,†said the representative for Eglinton-Lawrence.

"An EA amendment to add Oakwood would need to be completed by late 2014, when station construction is slated to begin,†said Robinson.

The Eglinton Crosstown LRT is scheduled to begin running in 2020.
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I always thought Oakwood was superfluous, since it is reasonably walkable to Eglinton West or Dufferin and also a short bus ride on the 63 for those who can't hack the 400 m walk.

Also, just looking at the block layouts, the network buffer distance is such that Oakwood would be of limited use to anybody not actually wanting to go to exactly the corner of Oakwood and Eglinton. Block lengths between Times Road and Marlee are roughly 300 meters, so somebody living mid-block on a parallel sidestreet like Livingstone wouldn't save that much time wrapping around the corner to get to Oakwood station. Plus, Eglinton West has better network connectivity, being the intersection of two rapid transit lines, and this usually compels people to walk slightly further distances. I think that an Oakwood station would only give a decisive advantage to somebody who lived in the area heading west, but that's probably a pretty small number of people and not worth lavishing $50-100 million and bumping back the EA/construction schedule for.
 
While Oakwood may not be needed, since when was it ever not approved? As far as I can recall it has been just as much on the list as the other stations.
 
So... There would need to be a bus between Keele and Dufferin since there's only one station between them which is a longer walk. Run the bus from Eglinton West on the west side.
 
M II A II R II K said:
So... There would need to be a bus between Keele and Dufferin since there's only one station between them which is a longer walk. Run the bus from Eglinton West on the west side.
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Rather than running a spur route, there's nothing stopping the TTC from making a branch of the Keele bus run along Eglinton to say Eglinton West Station. That way it covers the 'gap' in coverage. But I'm sure stuff like that will be ironed out later on.
 
M II A II R II K said:
So... There would need to be a bus between Keele and Dufferin since there's only one station between them which is a longer walk. Run the bus from Eglinton West on the west side.
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There is to be at station for the Barrie Line, but that still a fair walk between it and Dufferin.

The density is not there to support a station between the 2.
 
M II A II R II K said:
So... There would need to be a bus between Keele and Dufferin since there's only one station between them which is a longer walk. Run the bus from Eglinton West on the west side.
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The Caledonia station is NOT located at Caledonia Road. The Caledonia station is located between the entrance ramps to the Westside Shopping Centre and just west of the railway overpass, about three blocks west of Caledonia. The bus loop would be at Croham Road (east of the railway) for the 47B & 47C Lansdowne buses, which BOTH northbound and southbound buses would use and travel along Eglinton Avenue West, to reach. The main entrance would be at Croham Road and a secondary entrance at Westside Shopping Centre.

You can download the Caledonia presentation in PDF form from this link.
 
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Parallel bus service along that section of Eglinton cannot be reliable, due to congestion at the peak hours and even shoulder hours.

For that reason, I'd rather build Oakwood station; so the residents don't have to rely on any bus.
 
Rainforest said:
Parallel bus service along that section of Eglinton cannot be reliable, due to congestion at the peak hours and even shoulder hours.

For that reason, I'd rather build Oakwood station; so the residents don't have to rely on any bus.
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Ill assume chaplain cresent will be eliminated as well... SAD :(
 
Modified LRT master agreement puts Oakwood station on the map: Colle

From insidetoronto.com at this link:

York Guardian by Rahul Gupta

A portion of a master agreement between the TTC and Metrolinx for the operation of four future light rail transit lines in Toronto has been modified following “high level†discussions, a city councillor confirmed Friday, Oct. 26.

Josh Colle, who is also a member of the TTC board of commissioners, said the discussions have led to changes in the scope of Metrolinx’s power to add or remove stations from the projects after city councillors raised concerns. See our earlier story at www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/13...city-could-change-future-of-light-rail-lines/

The agreement, which covers the TTC’s role in operating the LRT lines, which are owned by the provincial government and whose construction will be co-ordinated by Metrolinx, is scheduled to be debated next week at city council

“This is their commitment (to modify the master agreement),†said Colle, who represents the ward of Eglinton-Lawrence.

Colle also said the changes to the agreement mean an LRT station will be constructed at Oakwood Avenue if the agreement is ratified by council.

“I’m obviously thrilled and the community is going to be very excited,†said Colle. “We’ve got to get this master agreement ratified at council next week because that’s what locks it in.â€

Provincial Minister of Transportation Bob Chiarelli also indicated Friday in a tweet directed at Toronto Community News’ TOinTransit and Colle that an Oakwood stop on the Crosstown LRT is confirmed.

“@OntLiberal plan = we stop at Oakwood! Master Agreement makes that crystal clear. @JoshColle @TOinTransit,†tweeted the minister.

The minister declined to comment in depth on the matter but did respond briefly via email. “I’m committed to a stop at Oakwood. We’ll do the work we need to do to make it happen,†said an email sent from David Salter, press secretary for Chiarelli, to Toronto Community News on behalf of the minister Friday.

Colle said the decision to include the Oakwood stop was “historic†for the area and was planning an event early next week in the neighbourhood.

Metrolinx officials could not be reached for comment.
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