Public Workshop for Yonge Street Subway and Highway 7 Rapidways
August 21 update: I only received word today that another workshop will be held next Tuesday, August 26 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Again, it will be held at the Premier Ballroom and Convention Centre at 9019 Leslie Street (one block north of Highway 7). This workshop will be only for the subway extension. The VIVA website states:
At this session, we will present our draft recommendations for station locations and crossing the East Don River with the Yonge Subway extension. You will also participate in small groups with our planners and engineers to discuss station configuration alternatives at Steeles Avenue and the Richmond Hill Centre.
NOTE: You must reserve a space by either phoning 416-989-6186 or emailing by Thursday, August 21.
August 22 update: Do the folks at YRT/VIVA really want public input?!? I received an email invitation today that was dated today, August 22, at 1:32 PM. It was inviting me to this workshop, but stated that I had to reserve a space by phone or email by August 21.
Original post and updates follow…
In June, VivaNext presented information about the Highway 7 rapidways and the Yonge Street subway extension at two Open House events. The feedback received - over 600 responses - has been invaluable in helping to shape planning for these important projects.
The public is invited to join an upcoming public workshop as they continue to work together and share information. At this session, you can participate in small groups with their planners and engineers to explore key topics.
This workshop will be held on Thursday July 31 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Premiere Ballroom and Convention Centre, 9019 Leslie Street in Richmond Hill just north of Highway 7.
July 31 update: Sorry I missed this in the original announcement, but it was asked that seats had to be reserved by July 24 (never mind the notices went out July 22). I suspect that there will likely be seats available, so you won’t be turned away at the door - unless you show up with about a thousand friends!
July 28th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
It would be great if the city government will extend the subway up to HW7. The subway is the cheapest, quickest and the most ecological way of transportation.
Cal’s comments: The last time you bought milk, did you buy a 45-gallon drum of it? That would be the cheapest (because of quantity pricing), quickest (to get such a large quantity to your home) and most ecological way to purchase milk (due to reduced packaging and fewer trips to make the purchase). Yes, it would cost you a lot up front, and you would not use it to its full extent, but other than those points, why not?
The same goes for subways to Highway 7. The ‘full extent’ point is slightly different as with subway it will mean that only every second train (or less) will go that far, while with milk it means that it will spoil before it can be all used, but the analogy is valid.
LRT is more appropriate as an extension into York Region. There are two reasons that actually make it quicker for people that are not next door to a proposed subway station, and perhaps even for these people as well. First, as mentioned above, not every subway train will go to Highway 7. At least half will turn back at Steeles, making one’s wait twice as long north of Steeles. On your northbound trip, you will have a 50-percent chance of having to get off at Steeles and wait for another train. Nice and quick, isn’t it?
The other point is that five times the coverage can be built with LRT for the same amount of money as with subway. Sure, subway from Yonge and Highway 7 is quicker, if you are near a subway station and you forget for the moment that the train frequency will be half of what you are used to. What about from Yonge and Major Mac, or Leslie and Highway 7? From those locations, one must take a bus and change at Highway 7 from a surface to an underground mode. This involves corridors and stairs, escalators, or elevators. This takes time away from that “quick” commute.
An LRT ride from those locations down to Steeles where an across-the-platform change to subway is possible makes for an overall quicker trip. More people will be closer to an LRT station than to a subway station, and that will make for more people with a quicker trip.
Combine that with LRTs operating at the same frequency as subways south of Steeles, and LRT will beat out subway for quickness north of Steeles Avenue.
As for ecological, LRT and subway are basically even.
Sadly, politicians have jumped on the we-need-a-subway bandwagon like a kid in a toy store who has just seen the latest playtime gadget. Equally sad, the public buys this hook, line, and sinker, without stopping to consider what the real costs and real alternatives are.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
I’ll definitely try to make it out to this workshop, but I’m not 100% sure if I can. It would be interesting to see you there, though.
Cal’s comments: At least I’m in town for this one, but my daughter has a soccer game at 7 pm. Fortunately, the workshop is a block from where I work and the game is in Markham, so my plans are to be there for at least the first half hour or so.
Amended comment: With so many other open houses starting at 6 pm, I forgot that this one starts at 7. Additionally, the notice of this workshop (not an open house) that went out on July 24 asked that if you planned to attend, that you reserve a space by July 24.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
In a world of endless amounts of funds and cash to waste a Subway would be nice. However, this is a bad idea and a waste of funds. I am not sure why this entire process irritates me so greatly. The Yonge St. line is already overcrowded. Last I remember, this is not New York and we DO NOT have adjacent lines running express to downtown Toronto. If there was another line to downtown Toronto, or some mid-point, than great. However this is not the case. An LRT would be better suited for the extension. Or better yet, extend the Yonge line to Steeles and let York Region better plan its transit needs. If they are going to go ahead with this anyway, then pull the funding for the extension to Vanghan and only go to York University. In either case, LRT is the way to go. Wish I could be at this meeting, I cannot. Seems that they want to make sure that this goes ahead with little public input. Those funds could be used to do so much more for the Greater Toronto region.
Andy MJ / a.k.a The G.T.A Patriot