The ER wouldn't have to be done as they are already done due to the Georgetown GO expansion and the massive waste of money known as the Pearson/Union -for-those-who-work-downtown-and-can-get-a-tax-write-off-or-their-corporations-will-pay-for-their-trip high speed rail.
So you are saying that because an EA was done for the Pearson rail link that they wouldn't have to do an EA for any other at-grade rail line takeover/conversion to subway? Are you sure about that?
For that matter, have you looked at the use of those various CN and CP lines, how many tracks they have, how much space the ROW has for additional tracks and how adding TTC trains to the schedule would impact operations by CN and CP? What are the opinions of CN and CP on that possibility?
Assuming all of the above is totally fine with CN and CP, have you looked at what physical barriers would be needed to be added if you want to put in an electrified third rail at ground level in the corridor? Surely you don't want pedestrians free to wander along the tracks.
BTW, what was the logic of using LRT for the Eglinton Crosstown anyway? Why didn't they just use the SkyTrain and heat the current lines and upgrade to route to accamodate MK11 trains? It would have been a hell of a lot cheaper, had very little interuption on the current SRT schedule, and seeing Ford is going to bury it weather for 90% of the line wouldn't have been an issue.
You mean the logic well-published years ago? Like as explained starting on slide 7?
http://www.toronto.ca/involved/proj...n_lrt/pdf/2009-11-20_display_panels_part1.pdf
Or are you suggesting that they stop work on the central portion and go back to the drawing board to redesign the line (and possibly re-do the EAs) to accommodate your Sky Train? Would you be chipping in to help with the cancellation costs for the LRT vehicle order or will you revert to the 'Bombardier would gladly waive those fees for a chance to showcase their wonderful Sky Train technology' even though it would mean further delay in revenue actually flowing to Bombardier (since the line construction will be delayed, they won't be needing the new vehicles until later)?
What about costs incurred by the construction companies who are expecting to start digging this summer but will have to hold off since you want to redesign the line? Seems kind of strange for someone repeatedly going on about 'saving money'.
It would have even saved money by not having to create a brand new train storage and operational centre. The storage would have to be expanded but that's a hell of a lot cheaper than building an entire new storage and maintenance facility which will have to be done as remember these are different guage than the current legacy streetcar replacements.
It seems so completely illogical but I guess that is transit planning in Toronto as per usual.
Just curious if you've looked at the current SRT facility and the possibility of expanding it to accommodate all the new trains needed for the line. I'm guessing probably not.
Given we don't know when construction of the line east of Leslie will take place (and it is a very real possibility that by the time they are ready, a new municipal regime will be in place that might decide to revert to the previous plan to save money and put the savings towards a revived Finch West line), wouldn't it be a good idea to have a yard that is actually connected to the first part of the line when it opens? Or should they just dig the central tunnel, build the stations and then leave them unused for a few years until they build the rest of the way to the SRT yard?
