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03-10-2022, 09:37 PM
(This post was last modified: 03-10-2022, 09:38 PM by cherrypark.)
(03-10-2022, 06:05 PM)ijmorlan Wrote: (03-10-2022, 03:24 PM)danbrotherston Wrote: Man that is depressing.
No transit aspirations at all...just more cars...our province is doomed...
The whole report does have transit improvements. That map is just the road improvements map.
That being said, part of the problem is treating roads and transit as separate competing interests, rather than complementary parts of a single transportation system.
That being said, we don’t need most of those road improvements. I would only do minor projects to fill in anomalous gaps and optimize interchanges, not build any major new superhighways.
Sure, there are parts of the road and highway network that could certainly be improved, but taking for instance the province thinking 90% of incremental emissions reduction will come from EV adoption is, frankly, a bit insulting.
Next to zero train/rail infrastructure improvements outside of Toronto beyond the same old corridors and some completely obvious connections (GKW to Hamilton) not envisioned even by bus in a 30 year plan is bonkers. The idea that more superhighways and a few more lanes on the 401/403 will take us three decades out is an bold vision to bring us to 1990...
I'm still not even sure how they will fit some of the proposed expansions since I thought most of those routes were essentially at max for the existing government lands to expand. Are we decking or burying the 401?
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(03-10-2022, 09:37 PM)cherrypark Wrote: (03-10-2022, 06:05 PM)ijmorlan Wrote: The whole report does have transit improvements. That map is just the road improvements map.
That being said, part of the problem is treating roads and transit as separate competing interests, rather than complementary parts of a single transportation system.
That being said, we don’t need most of those road improvements. I would only do minor projects to fill in anomalous gaps and optimize interchanges, not build any major new superhighways.
Sure, there are parts of the road and highway network that could certainly be improved, but taking for instance the province thinking 90% of incremental emissions reduction will come from EV adoption is, frankly, a bit insulting.
Next to zero train/rail infrastructure improvements outside of Toronto beyond the same old corridors and some completely obvious connections (GKW to Hamilton) not envisioned even by bus in a 30 year plan is bonkers. The idea that more superhighways and a few more lanes on the 401/403 will take us three decades out is an bold vision to bring us to 1990...
I'm still not even sure how they will fit some of the proposed expansions since I thought most of those routes were essentially at max for the existing government lands to expand. Are we decking or burying the 401?
It is, but I fear also a compelling explanation for far FAR too many centrists/conservatives.
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My impression of those maps is that they just included every single thing that someone has so much as thought of out loud in earshot of an MTO employee. The transit map shows an ION Stage 3 running from Conestoga Mall to Uptown and a Gordon Street BRT/LRT(?) in Guelph, neither which has seen any serious proposal to the best of my knowledge.
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Hadn't realized this had even STARTED construction yet let alone how far along it is (I thought it was still indeterminately delayed), but I drove along manitou for the first time in a year yesterday and the bridge for the river rd extension is well underway
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(04-04-2022, 11:28 AM)GtwoK Wrote: Hadn't realized this had even STARTED construction yet let alone how far along it is (I thought it was still indeterminately delayed), but I drove along manitou for the first time in a year yesterday and the bridge for the river rd extension is well underway
There's been discussion on delaying all stages of the rest of the project by a year, but not sure where that ended up.
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04-04-2022, 01:54 PM
(This post was last modified: 04-04-2022, 01:58 PM by danbrotherston.)
(04-04-2022, 11:56 AM)timio Wrote: (04-04-2022, 11:28 AM)GtwoK Wrote: Hadn't realized this had even STARTED construction yet let alone how far along it is (I thought it was still indeterminately delayed), but I drove along manitou for the first time in a year yesterday and the bridge for the river rd extension is well underway
There's been discussion on delaying all stages of the rest of the project by a year, but not sure where that ended up.
Unlike all the bad decisions that Regional Council didn't overrule staff on this year, like increasing the subsidy for single family homes and hiking the police funding, deferring this project (which is a neutral at worst decision) WAS in fact reversed after a single person came to council to object to it on the grounds that delaying it could devalue their realestate land holdings, and of course, council felt that alone made it worth reversing. I'm not even remotely exaggerating.
Have I mentioned how little I think of our council?
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I'm glad Regional staff have figured out a way to make this crossing safer for pedestrians. Now that there is a sign telling me not to step out in front of cars, this is a great way to cross Weber.
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(04-08-2022, 12:26 PM)jwilliamson Wrote:
I'm glad Regional staff have figured out a way to make this crossing safer for pedestrians. Now that there is a sign telling me not to step out in front of cars, this is a great way to cross Weber.
Honestly...I hate that so much.
Our regional engineers are so bad at their jobs.
This was negligent from the get go, and they should be fired for building it.
Ugh...it's just remarkable.
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Reminds me of these ubiquitous signs, which have always just been background noise to me. I recently actually paid attention to what they say, and was bothered that the crossing instructions for pedestrians involve "Watch For Turning Vehicles". It's just as much of a non-solution as above.
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04-08-2022, 05:47 PM
(This post was last modified: 04-08-2022, 05:50 PM by ac3r.)
I love how on the "Pedestrians Yield to Traffic" picture there is another street sign on the island that was clearly run over haha. Safety first, Waterloo Region style.
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(04-08-2022, 05:47 PM)ac3r Wrote: I love how on the "Pedestrians Yield to Traffic" picture there is another street sign on the island that was clearly run over haha. Safety first, Waterloo Region style.
This one is my favourite... The road was resurfaced and I caught this artistic shot 2 days after it re-opened:
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I couldn't find a specific thread for the 401 Homer to King expansion, but here's the award notice https://www.raqs.merx.com/public/bulleti...=399679354
The PDF states that the bid was $101M for the project.
If anybody could post a map of what the project is supposed to look like when finished, that would be great.
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I remember seeing something at some point, may have been just the letter mailed to my house.
In terms of widening, it is supposed to facilitate future flyover ramps from hwy 8, I assume also add a shoulder. I believe the section is to remain 3 lanes though and it is more a necessity of bridge maintenance.
Project website is
https://401grandriver.ca/
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(05-05-2022, 02:25 PM)Bytor Wrote: I couldn't find a specific thread for the 401 Homer to King expansion, but here's the award notice https://www.raqs.merx.com/public/bulleti...=399679354
The PDF states that the bid was $101M for the project.
If anybody could post a map of what the project is supposed to look like when finished, that would be great.
I think this contract is just for the new Grand River bridge and the rehab of the bridge over King St. It's my understanding that the 401 between King and Homer Watson is to be widened to four lanes per side but that is to happen at a later date on another contract.
The new Grand River bridge will include the provisions for westbound lanes for a future hwy 8 to 401 W on ramp. The lanes for a 401 E to hwy 8 flyover involve a separate bridge over the Grand River and unfortunately, I don't think we'll be seeing that anytime soon.
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(05-05-2022, 03:19 PM)robd Wrote: Project website is
https://401grandriver.ca/
Thanks for that.
I couldn't figure out what those suspension bridge thingies were that appeared then disappeared during construction. It's amazing how just two words, "girder launching", on one of the photos on that site put it all into perspective for me.
...K
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