City
#CodeRedTO prepares to fight for a rational transit plan
One of the chief reasons that the Doug Ford-led plan to take control of the Port Lands redevelopment was ultimately voted down in council was the work of the quickly formed community activist group #CodeBlueTO. Composed of concerned citizens and urban experts, it rallied to inform both councillors and the city at large that Waterfront Toronto's plans for the area were both rational and viable, ultimately proving that Ferris wheels and monorails were less seductive than the mayor's brother might have thought.
Given the success of that campaign, which resulted in what many have argued was Rob Ford's most significant loss on council as mayor, a similar campaign, aptly titled #CodeRedTO, is being put together in an effort to secure "a rational, affordable, and achievable rapid transit strategy for Toronto." Currently at a preliminary stage of development, the group, which is headed by #CodeBlueTO organizer and transit planner Laurence Lui, is looking to shore up its precise mission statement via online feedback.
As to where it's headed, NOW's Ben Spurr put together a good article on #CodeRedTO's mandate and goals earlier this week:
"Code Red is still in its infancy, but will likely mimic Blue's tactics: social media conversations (under the hashtag #CodeRedTO) will bring together experts and interested parties, first online, then in public meetings. Meanwhile, a marketing-savvy education campaign and petition blitz will spread the word to the public and council.
Lui hopes Code Red, like his earlier effort, will be an umbrella organization, bringing together pro-Transit City groups like the Toronto Environmental Alliance, the Rocket Riders and the newly launched Save Transit City website."
The ability to bring together various interest groups proved a boon for #CodeBlueTO, and it may very well be effective in some capacity again. There's no doubt that the Fords will fight tooth and nail to preserve their vision of transit in this city, but depending on how Gordon Chong's February report to the executive committee on funding prospects for the Sheppard subway extension goes, there could be a huge opportunity to put pressure on city councillors to rethink the direction that transit planning has taken over the last year or so in Toronto.
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http://transit.toronto.on.ca/thumbnails/t_streetcar-4106-05.jpg
How does that tie up traffic on the Queensway?
Better picture.
As for Code Red, hear, hear! And I hope that they do succeed just like Code Blue did.
@Jay: What have the unions go to do with this, and why are you bringing them up? Unions are the backbone of a good workforce, and they help keep corporate power in check. Where do you get your info from?
Toronto is getting at bare minumum almost 30 kms of new subways (TYSSE by 2015 + Eglinton-Crosstown by 2018-2022) within the next decade. That and even a modest extension of Sheppard Subway to Victoria Park and an infill stop at Willowdale is still better than all the surface, road median LRT schemes in the world!
Sometimes it is as though some people get off on being obstructionist just for the sake of it without even considering all the parameters of an issue. Tramsit City was a heavily flawed plan which ballooned in cost projections over the years: ADMIT IT and stop lying to yourselves!
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The money is already there, sitting in a trust fund. Ford traded three moderately priced lines for one really expensive line, and this movement is to trade back to the three moderately priced lines.
Again, the money already exists. It's been sitting in a trust fund for half a decade.
There is no bigger group of elitests than the left in this city. Their sense of entitlement is astounding.
Queen and ROncesvalles to Humber Loop: 8 minutes.
That's hardly horribly slow.
At any rate, Scarborough is not getting "2 subways" except in planet Moonbeam.
In fact, in order to get that 3km of undergrounded Eglinton line, they gave up 5km of SRT extension. Scarborough is actually getting LESS rapid transit than under transit city.
Let's sum up the funded, guaranteed rapid transit in Scarborough:
Ford's plan:
3km of rapid transit (Scarborough portion, Eglinton).
Transit City:
5km of rapid transit (SRT extension)
3km of surface LRT (Scarborough portion, Eglinton)
10km of surface LRT (Scarborough portion, Sheppard).
This is the fundamental problem I have with Transfer Chitty advocates, they've blinded themselves from the facts and from considering any other mode of transit besides LRT. Sheppard must be completed as a subway ONLY because there's already a line in place there. That and because the proposed Sheppard East LRT was routed to go in a straight line far removed from the major destinations commuters through Scarborough actually wanted to go to.
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The Queensway is 110 feet wide. The Right-of-way on most suburban arterials is also about 110 feet. They don't need to "tear out a swath" - the space already exists to put it in.
Not to shoot anyone down here, but how many of you live on St.clair near the stockyards? More importantly how many of you live along the eastern half of eglington and call that part of the city home?
The sheer notion that LRT's are a great idea along eglington is a crock.
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/03/28/100m-st-clair-right-of-way-case-heads-to-court-next-week/
And no this article isn't the extent of my argument, just hopefully a valid enough point to shut the peanut gallery down. Queens Quay works for LRT/Streetcar because it is not handling major flow. Cars aren't going anywhere as much as everyone would like to see them disappear thats not reality. Commerce requires speedy logistics and uncontested roadways will always be critical to the pulse of a truly world class city with a flowing economy. St.clair west can handle its current LRT, but it has had many negative impacts that accompany the benefits of that system. Transpose the idea over to a higher volume artery such as the one that is Eglington, Kennedy to Laird, and you will end up gridlocking an already overcrowded area that is still expanding at a fairly good pace.
Simple Physics, X number of vehicles from the entire east end of the city only have a few options to get to the central/west/heart. All the metric tons of traffic have to go somewhere... stripping a few lanes off eglington isn't gonna improve anyones day, and may end up ruining hundreds (literally) of small and large businesses along the route, all because you posters felt you were the only ones with a clue.
There is a reason most major cities have a sweet subway system...
Check this out (http://lrt.daxack.ca/) and THEN you, Jay, & whoever's still deluded can talk about this issue with certainty. Until then, please go away and let the adults continue the conversation.
Ignorant, Rude, and yet a "Dr." ?
Blow me pal. You must have the time since clearly you won't mind the additional commute hours ripping out lanes on a major industrial road will add.