03-28-2016, 09:09 AM
The map seems to suggest a great deal of the station will exist underneath the tracks. Given that, it makes sense that the pedestrian connection also goes under the tracks, putting users right in the thick of things. Were it to go in a bridge, it would likely wind up connecting on a third or even fourth floor above that underground level, very divorced from the likely only 2 levels of transit/public use.
Seemingly, one might think they feel safer being able to see outside on a bridge, but when you think of the surroundings, there will be no eyes between the elevator from the Waterloo-to-bridge elevator, along the bridge itself, through the bridge-to-Victoria elevator. Reminds me of how I feel at times about some of the less-frequented stairwell areas at Union station in Toronto, or at some OC Transpo stations in Ottawa. It'll be a tricky one, because while a bridge will be worse for construction/safety/cost/integration, it will still feel on first mention like the better idea, and be hard to shake.
Seemingly, one might think they feel safer being able to see outside on a bridge, but when you think of the surroundings, there will be no eyes between the elevator from the Waterloo-to-bridge elevator, along the bridge itself, through the bridge-to-Victoria elevator. Reminds me of how I feel at times about some of the less-frequented stairwell areas at Union station in Toronto, or at some OC Transpo stations in Ottawa. It'll be a tricky one, because while a bridge will be worse for construction/safety/cost/integration, it will still feel on first mention like the better idea, and be hard to shake.