[quote='dunkalunk' pid='90625' dateline='1618361158']
I'm mostly seeing the increased development potential and technical feasibility of a Homer Watson alignment over anything else.
[quote]
Problem is, at this point it is only potential. The residential areas alongside Homer Watson within 800m walking distance are low density (10-15ppl/ha), and there's no big job nodes, either. There's a paucity of high value nodes between Block Line or Fairway Station and Conestoga College, and redevelopment will take decades to change that, too long for ION Stage 2.
[quote='dunkalunk' pid='90625' dateline='1618361158']
If our trains have a maximum speed of 90km/h (iirc) then why do we have a 4km stretch adjacent to a major highway buffered by environmentally sensitive lands and a major highways that can never be developed? In addition to the 1km long elevated structure over Grand river floodplain.
[quote]
Because it's also the shortest route. If you want ION to be a practical form transportation between Kitchener and Cambridge, you need to shorten it where reasonably possible to reduce trip time. The Homer Watson route to Conestoga College and then to Preston is a third again as long, and if you're imagining stops along Manitou, Homer Watson, and Fountain, that trip time increases even more.
Also, that 4km stretch isn't as bad as it seems. Northfield to R+T is 5km.
I'm mostly seeing the increased development potential and technical feasibility of a Homer Watson alignment over anything else.
[quote]
Problem is, at this point it is only potential. The residential areas alongside Homer Watson within 800m walking distance are low density (10-15ppl/ha), and there's no big job nodes, either. There's a paucity of high value nodes between Block Line or Fairway Station and Conestoga College, and redevelopment will take decades to change that, too long for ION Stage 2.
[quote='dunkalunk' pid='90625' dateline='1618361158']
If our trains have a maximum speed of 90km/h (iirc) then why do we have a 4km stretch adjacent to a major highway buffered by environmentally sensitive lands and a major highways that can never be developed? In addition to the 1km long elevated structure over Grand river floodplain.
[quote]
Because it's also the shortest route. If you want ION to be a practical form transportation between Kitchener and Cambridge, you need to shorten it where reasonably possible to reduce trip time. The Homer Watson route to Conestoga College and then to Preston is a third again as long, and if you're imagining stops along Manitou, Homer Watson, and Fountain, that trip time increases even more.
Also, that 4km stretch isn't as bad as it seems. Northfield to R+T is 5km.