[Monarch Butterfly]

The Report you refer to was in 2020, I doubt many of us will be alive by the time the St Clair streetcar reaches Jane - it's not a crazy idea but there are many others much further along the way with far greater value. It was originally suggested during Transit City (2008ish) where it would link to the Jane LRT. (See https://stevemunro.ca/jane-lrt-documents/ )

With gauntlet tracks to handle the different track gauges (TTC 1,495 mm; standard 1,435 mm).

From link.

Looking north on Yonge Street towards Aurora just south of the CNR Newmarket Sub overpass. From the left, the first and third rails are on the "Toronto Gauge". Ca 1927. From link.

 

[mrgrieves]

512 St. Clair Converts to Bus Operation Until Summer 2024

From September 3, 2023 until summer 2024 (the exact date is not specified), the TTC will operate buses on route 512 St. Clair during several overlapping construction projects. Updated August 28 at …

stevemunro.ca

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

One problem with extending any sort of 512 ST CLAIR streetcar right-of-way west of Gunns Road is the street width. North of St. Clair Avenue West is the former Toronto Suburban Railway Guelph Line right-of-way. Currently, it is mostly dominated by high-voltage hydro transmission towers. Being only a few blocks north, the 512 could be routed north on Gunns Road to the former radial right-of-way, and continue west along the corridor to Scarlett Road. If not further west.

 

[dowlingm]

With gauntlet tracks to handle the different track gauges (TTC 1,495 mm; standard 1,435 mm).

From link.

Looking north on Yonge Street towards Aurora just south of the CNR Newmarket Sub overpass. From the left, the first and third rails are on the "Toronto Gauge". Ca 1927. From link.

In such a case streetcars would also need to be able to switch to 750V, and to interoperate with stops for 2.65m wide. And that’s before we get into what sort of terminal arrangement. Better to have converted St Clair to “uptown” spec, and the legacy network terminated at Hillcrest, when the ROW was put in place. But the city doesn’t even have the desire to get an extension from Gunns to Jane done, so no need to worry about dual gauging and related issues.

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

In such a case streetcars would also need to be able to switch to 750V, and to interoperate with stops for 2.65m wide. And that’s before we get into what sort of terminal arrangement. Better to have converted St Clair to “uptown” spec, and the legacy network terminated at Hillcrest, when the ROW was put in place. But the city doesn’t even have the desire to get an extension from Gunns to Jane done, so no need to worry about dual gauging and related issues.

The 512 ST CLAIR extension will continue to use the legacy streetcars. They will not mix with the suburban light rail.