03-19-2024, 06:27 PM
(03-19-2024, 04:55 PM)Bytor Wrote:(03-18-2024, 04:08 PM)ZEBuilder Wrote: At UWs Civil Engineering Capstone symposium today one of the groups had an interesting proposal for the LRT along Hespeler. It is certainly more ambitious then anything the Region would ever put out. Effectively what they did was reduce Hespeler from 7 lanes in its current form (3 straight through per direction and left turn lanes) to 4 lanes that operate in a 2:1 configuration that changes depending on traffic, similar to the Golden Gate bridge, with the fourth being left turn lanes. With the 3 extra lanes they now have they put in fully protected bi directional cycling lanes, the LRT tracks and then still had ample space for a widened sidewalk as well as a linear stormwater infiltration system.
For as much hate as engineers get for the design of most things, there are certainly good ideas among that are proposed this one included, politics are just constantly screwing over any good idea that might come forward. Just look at how much of a fight was put up against the downtown cycling grid, or just Liggett's/Craig's constant hatred of the LRT.
Who was making the proposals? Student groups? Consultants? Anybody I can expect in my cynicism to have an actual hope in hell of influencing the final functional design plans of Stage 2 on Hespeler Rd.?
It's fourth year civil engineering students doing their final project. In all likelihood there isn't gonna be anything that comes out of it, unless one of the various judges is somehow involved with the design, but it at least shows that there are people in the industry that think what's currently planned is stupid and want to make it better.
Naturally nothing anywhere near what they were planning is going to ever happen because God forbid we get rid of more car lanes than required. If anything it might be a talking point that might come up if it keeps getting delayed.