(09-03-2015, 07:35 AM)Viewfromthe42 Wrote: Google would also suggest that the 1.6km walk from Weber and Guelph to GRH is 20 minutes, which would not be likely to build any ridership. They decidedly tried to avoid creating temporary stops, ones that would not be served by ION, and 1.6km through more than half a dozen turns is not a conducive travel pattern.
That's not right: it's less than a kilometre-and-a-half, and does not involve more than half a dozen turns. The Ion will stop at Pine, and from Weber/Guelph it is a direct walk down Guelph through the cemetery to Pine Street. Guelph/Weber does seem to be much closer to the future Ion station than Union/Weber. For anyone living in Mount Hope neighbourhood, who would use the Grand River Hospital stop in addition to people using the hospital, this walk would of course be shorter.
It seems like you think the downside to adding a stop along Weber between downtown and uptown is that some people will be served who will not be able to practically use the Ion. I guess the downside is that they will receive good service in the interim, and might become accustomed to good service. The upside is that residents of Mount Hope who will be served by the GRH station will have the opportunity to set their travel routines now, in advance of Ion, instead of adopting travel patterns that might mean they won't use Ion in two years.
One other thought: how temporary is two-and-a-half or so years, really? Are we saying that this stretch of Weber and the surrounding neighbourhoods will never have improved service? Offering this area improved service for the next two years will not only build ridership for Ion in the area west of Weber, but might provide a case for improved service on the 6 or the 8 to serve the neighbourhood west of Weber.