Quote:
Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed
There IS NO at grade option for downtown, without removing 4th, 5th, 6th, or 9th as an automobile road.
Elevated is possible, but with the +15 network, that has to be TWO levels above ground, and that a BAD idea for many reasons. The city studied this thoroughly. There is NO other option than tunneling.
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Just how bad would elevated be, and why would it be unfeasible even if it was still to go down the 2 ST corridor?
It would still terminate in the core of downtown which is a non-negotiable for me, and extension for NCLRT is applicable whether it's over Prince's Island or or Centre Street bridge.
I would sincerely hope the city has done it's due diligence, and strongly considered elevated but it just wasn't possible, or close to the same costs as underground would be. But I find that hard to believe that they couldn't find a way to make that work, and save a considerable amount of money that would allow for the 1st phase to get down to Sheppard. I don't think elevated on 10th Ave in Beltline and 2nd St downtown is a bad alternative at all. You're not taking anything away from those streets currently in regards of urban vibrancy. It can be built to fit the context of the area without it feel detrimental.
But it would be nice if both provincial (LOL) and federal governments acknowledge that the landscape of costs has changed considerably in the past few years, and the initial amount they contributed back in 2015 doesn't correlate with 2024 numbers. The city has chipped in more money, and the other levels of government could do the same. As a Hail Mary for the city, the feds could come in and say they'll cover the UCP's withheld portion to build the latest iteration of the line, as a #### you to Smith. Wishful thinking however.