04-18-2021, 11:45 AM
(04-18-2021, 10:24 AM)ac3r Wrote: Homer Watson was never a contender for this part of the LRT. I had mentioned it a few pages ago as a potential for another line in the far future and it has indeed been studied regarding the viability of that, but it was never going to be the route into Cambridge for this next phase of the LRT.
Homer Watson doesn't really have much density either. There are very few apartment blocks, most of them low rise. There are a couple townhouse projects, retirement communities, tons of single family homes, lots of low density industrial and lots of protected forest. Just glancing at the satellite maps from far out visually shows that there's not much out there, even 500 meters away from the road. It does not warrant an LRT right now, though in the far future it might be considered...but it's highly unlikely.
Sportsworld may not be a dense area either, but it was chosen because it serves a lot of industry (Toyota, Amazon, Loblaws, Dare Foods, ATS Automation and dozens of other businesses). It also has a nearby Highway 8 and 401 connection as well as the bus stops serving GRT and GO, all of which is important for commuters. It has lots of land that will eventually be redeveloped around the station node, namely the big box stores and some farm lands. It also provides the fastest and most direct way into Cambridge in regards to route headway. In regards to headway, it's a bit like driving: people want to use the route that gets them to their destination as fast as possible, which is why people hop on the Conestoga Expressway and avoid city streets.
Sportworld station serves NONE of those employers. It serves a BUS which could reach those employers, but that bus would connect to any LRT station built. Same as the bus stops you mention, already have to move to the station, obviously would move to the station if it was on Homer-Watson.
We're kind of going around in circles here. The strongest argument people seem to be making for Sportsworld Dr. (the employers on Maple Grove and the bus transfer station) are not actually an argument for Sportsworld Dr.
I don't actually know if Homer-Watson was studied, if not, it should have been. The biggest challenge would have been orphaning Fairway Station.