MEANWHILE... IN COURTICE/BOWMANVILLE...$128 Million contract awarded for #Cooksville @GOtransit redevelopment. https://t.co/92bTBaZG79 #Toronto #transit #GTHA pic.twitter.com/MkWUbnTE4S— UrbanToronto (@Urban_Toronto) November 8, 2017
MEANWHILE... IN COURTICE/BOWMANVILLE...$128 Million contract awarded for #Cooksville @GOtransit redevelopment. https://t.co/92bTBaZG79 #Toronto #transit #GTHA pic.twitter.com/MkWUbnTE4S— UrbanToronto (@Urban_Toronto) November 8, 2017
6 comments:
Also meanwhile, Oshawa Station continues to serve all commuters east of Oshawa--all the way out to Cobourg--so the parking lot is completely full by 7am yet it's the only station on the LSE express without a parking structure. Also no tunnels or bridges over the tracks, so to get to the "accessibility car" from the "accessible" parking spaces requires walking more than 500 metres. We do have a fancy new station with a Tim Horton's in it, though. Priorities.
Dont worry, im sure they'll award the contract to Bondfield and they will take years upon years to complete.
the main issue with the LSE extension is trying to hammer out an agreement with CP on corridor use.
What they should do is setup some parking lots at the future station sites and run shuttle buses to Oshawa in the interim.
We don't need palatial estates nor do we need electrification (initially), Del Dorko is too amused by shiny things (hydrail) and we cant let RER slip any further so lets just keep it simple.
I can confirm that the demographic of the train passengers leaving from Oshawa has changed dramatically in the past 6 years. I have met people driving in from Newcastle, Orono, Cavan, Peterborough, Port Hope, Coburg and even as far as Colborne (three days a week). What is needed as well is better bus service to reach these areas and commuter car lots. Oshawa is a mess. They chose not to build a parking structure back in 2006 assuming that there would be two stations in Oshawa by 2020 - HA HA HA HA HA. Right.
Well, maybe the contrast between the two pictures speaks louder than words, but in a different sense than the post intended it...
I don't have a horse in this race, but the density and population served by Cooksville is many, many times greater than an LSE extension to Courtice and Bowmanville. Not to mention significant capacity needs to be added to LSE to allow for the added train slots for the extension.
Moreover, talking about dealing with unmanageable spread, it's clear that the Bowmanville GO train parking lot will just extend the race further east...
The NIMBYs in Oshawa and beyond haven't had the time to gather yet. As a spectator in a few of the neighborhood meetings, it astonishes me how many people do't give a crap about the greater good, they only want to make sure that it doesn't affect them at all. Even the people living alongside the existing unused tracks don't want any trains on them because it's now a shortcut or a good walking trail. Several people threatened lawsuits and class actions unless they are bribed with taxpayer money to ease their concerns.
The slummy area that was Knob Hill (I loved that store!) is a blight that needs to be redeveloped and there are assholes in the area don't want development as it might impact their lives. Never mind that their property values would immediately rise with commercial and infrastructure improvements.
I'll be actually surprised if this gets done in their time frame simply because MX had to address all concerns and make sure everyone is happy. Yeah right.
Oshawa commuters will continue to suffer, I'm sorry to say until our Liberal turds grow a spine and get this moving.
I love that 2nd picture and I'm not playing NIMBY cause it's close to my backyard, but not quite, but I love the calm peacefulness that brings and reminds me why I choose to leave all the way east (even east of bville). BUT...we need it and it's time. I am not an urban planner so can't evaluate the location itself, however I do suspect we will see issues with the entry/exit plan.
That said, many of us east of Oshawa actually drive to Whitby - easier in and out, waaaaay better parking (esp now Henry is open again) and suuuuuper cheaper. I'm usually well past Oshawa while the lines are still snaking out from the same train.
...And, btw, some of us drive trucks because east of Oshawa some of us have "working" trucks, on farms or bigger properties and we can't afford a special go train vehicle. I am fair enough to admit my truck looks pretty and I LOVE the size for the long daily hiway commute (esp in winter - more metal between my and those massive trucks)but it hauls sod, and logs and dirt and fits my tractor and snowplow. While I agree some trucks can't park and should be polite like not sticking out too far, retracting their mirrors etc, it would be nice if GO didn't have significantly smaller spaces than other parking lots do...most lots, my truck has a good 3/4 foot on either side...barely 1/2 or 1/4 at GO. Also, people freak out when they see the truck, but I can open my door easier and with less room than many 2 doors or luxury cars can. Don't hate the country folks ;)
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