Johnny Au
Superstar
I always wondered if people in San Francisco, Buffalo, Newark, Calgary, and Edmonton consider the underground portions of their respective LRT systems subways.
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nfitz
Superstar
It's unfortunate the media wasted their questions at the event, trying to nail down the alignment, which Hudak had no chance of ever answering, rather than simply asking "What about Eglinton".
ehlow
Senior Member
Also Boston & Philly. Boston's underground LRT/streetcar is actually considered to be the first "subway" in North America. However above we were talking about a fully underground LRT.
salsa
Senior Member
He can still change the above ground section, which hasn't even started.
TOareaFan
Superstar
perhaps the nuance in language is that I can't find a quote where Hudak said he would cancel all LRTs....I have seen where he said he would cancel "LRTs in the suburbs".
Perhaps, then, he does not view Eglinton as a suburban route...that he views mid-town as very much a part of the city and that he plans to continue with it but would rather see as much (all?) of it buried as possible.
ehlow
Senior Member
There are many ways to interpret his vague comments. He may also change his position from past statements. Often even if a politician gets elected they may not do as they said during the campaign anyways. In addition to all that, I doubt think it's even clear to them what their position is, and I doubt their knowledge in transit matters. That's why I feel it's somewhat of a waste of time speculating on what would happen to Eglinton if Hudak wins.
TOareaFan
Superstar
no doubt, not all statements by parties (any party) during an election become part of the agenda once we pick a winner.
I was simply trying to help people who were struggling with the inconsistency between the "cancel all LRTs" statement and the 'bury Eglinton as much as possible" statement. As I said, I can't find where he ever said " cancel all LRTs" but can find where he says "cancel LRTs in the suburbs"....so I thought that might be the bridge between the positions and might offer some hope to those that fear Hudak's first action would be to halt Eglinton.......of course we do know that Harris stopped a rapid transit route on Eglinton so we really don't have to guess...of course Hudak will cancel Eglinton because of that
TOareaFan
Superstar
I am probably more of a "layman" than most of the regular posters on here and, yes, I consider Eglinton to be, mostly a subway. As for those above, i bet you the average guy's nomenclature would depend on how much of it goes underground. To use Calgary, very little of it goes underground and where it does it is to get around/past something so most probably don't think of it as a subway but as an LRT with some bits underground. Kinda like the Spadina line here or if, say, the Hurontario line went underground from Steeles to Brampton GO (as some would want) it would still be an LRT with a bit underground.
That may "offend' some definitions (it is not meant to) and if it does I think people offended by that may have to get prepped for the years after 2020 when a lot of people talk of getting on the little subway on Eglinton (just my guess at how it will be tagged).
ehlow
Senior Member
I already hear people talking about the "subway construction", and I always feel awkward saying "underground LRT" instead of subway.
The thing with Eglinton is that a lot of people will not use the surface part, and to those people their whole experience using it will be underground.
TOareaFan
Superstar
My (very) un-technical analysis/opinion is that we may be blessed that the first true LRT to open in the GTA is a line like Eglinton with such a long underground section that people may determine to be a "subway".
There has been such a heated and public debate about whether LRTs are rapid transit or if they are just "glorified streetcars" I think a certain segment of the public may have been dissuaded from using an all above ground LRT. With Eglinton, I think people will be attracted to it in the underground section and if their journey takes them out above ground (at either end) they may just see the merits of above ground LRT and be less afraid of it the next time it is proposed. Just a thought....too bad we have to wait 6 more years to see it in action.
Johnny Au
Superstar
The battle of semantics would linger on for a decade over what the Eglinton Crosstown line is.
ksun
Senior Member
People don't want subways. They simply want rapid transit that is not in mixed traffic and doesn't need to stop for traffic lights.
Whether it is technically subway or light rail, I doubt many care except transit geeks. Stopping for traffic is equivalent to slow and unpredictable schedule.
Whether it is technically subway or light rail, I doubt many care except transit geeks. Stopping for traffic is equivalent to slow and unpredictable schedule.
Markster
Senior Member
In casual conversation, I simply talk about how they are building a subway under Eglinton.
TheTigerMaster
Superstar
^May I introduce you to Ford Nation? I think they care .
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ehlow
Senior Member
^May I introduce you to Ford Nation? I think they care
I would say Ford Nation & Ford himself mainly care that the trains aren't inconveniencing their cars in any way, that's their main concern.
Therefore, they don't care whether it's an LRV or a heavy rail car underground, as long as it's underground. Ford was perfectly happy with the 2010 fully underground LRT.