05-19-2017, 08:31 AM
(05-19-2017, 06:59 AM)ijmorlan Wrote:(05-19-2017, 05:49 AM)Canard Wrote: I think we're the guinnea pig for modern LRT in Canada. You can be assured that when other cities come to see what we've done, they'll say "Oh, let's not make that mistake."
Of course, there is also a lot that they'll see that they'll say "Holy crap, these guys are on-point, that was a great idea! Let's do that!"
This sounds reasonable to me. I’m hoping you’re exactly right. In particular, I think that LRT debates occurring after our system opens will look different from previous ones. Most of the “anti” arguments will be proven false on their face by just looking at our system. Right now it’s all theoretical — people who don’t know or can’t imagine are still able to believe that it will snarl traffic or whatever — but once there are systems operating, the Rob Fords and Jay Aissas will find it much harder to convince the people in the middle. I just wish our system had opened earlier so the Brampton and Hamilton debates could have been affected by it.
Don't worry, they're still working hard to get them misunderstood. In London, they did our LRT vs BRT debate and Western University, seeing ION next door going by the quantum nano centre, by grand river hospital, said that LRT could not now or ever (speaking to BRT as precursor for LRT conversion) go through their campus because it would be too dangerous for their sensitive medical and science equipment. They, too, want a station dead center in campus, likely to be even more node-hostile than UW's station. Don't even get started on how they're looking to make their route more vulnerable to blockages and other traffic. They're learning alright.
