Comments on: More LRT Meetings, and Why It’s Important To Go http://www.tritag.ca/blog/2012/01/09/more-lrt-meetings-and-why-its-important-to-go/ Walking, Cycling, and Transit in the Tri-Cities Wed, 16 May 2012 13:41:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Michael Druker http://www.tritag.ca/blog/2012/01/09/more-lrt-meetings-and-why-its-important-to-go/comment-page-1/#comment-6499 Michael Druker Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:54:28 +0000 http://www.tritag.ca/?p=1454#comment-6499 Ben - there is going to be a part that will be BRT-lite, but not a busway like in Ottawa. The idea there is to extend LRT as a second phase, which the BRT-lite won't be an obstacle to. The issue of conversion was a big reason for the choice of LRT over full BRT for the first phase (north Waterloo to south Kitchener). Municipal ownership of marginal rail rights-of-way is a good idea, and that seems to be what the Region is currently aiming in the few remaining cases. (But it's too late for several corridors.) Ben – there is going to be a part that will be BRT-lite, but not a busway like in Ottawa. The idea there is to extend LRT as a second phase, which the BRT-lite won’t be an obstacle to. The issue of conversion was a big reason for the choice of LRT over full BRT for the first phase (north Waterloo to south Kitchener).

Municipal ownership of marginal rail rights-of-way is a good idea, and that seems to be what the Region is currently aiming in the few remaining cases. (But it’s too late for several corridors.)

]]> By: ben novak http://www.tritag.ca/blog/2012/01/09/more-lrt-meetings-and-why-its-important-to-go/comment-page-1/#comment-6497 ben novak Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:43:27 +0000 http://www.tritag.ca/?p=1454#comment-6497 Glad to see that you are still pushing for an LRT surface solution on existing rail corridors as much as possible, throughout the total area. Do not allow the shortsighted politicians to opt for a half way solution with part LRT and part BRT as I saw in a previous report. That will lead nowhere. Just look at what happened in Ottawa. Conversion at a later date is always very expensive, but conversion sounds good and is a political paliative. And by all means insist that the municipalities get to own all the existing rail rights of way. These are preciosu corridors for an administratin to own. But if you use some for bike paths or walkways, you may never be able to take them back as a rail corridor. People in adjacent lots are funny that way... Glad to see that you are still pushing for an LRT surface solution on existing rail corridors as much as possible, throughout the total area. Do not allow the shortsighted politicians to opt for a half way solution with part LRT and part BRT as I saw in a previous report. That will lead nowhere. Just look at what happened in Ottawa. Conversion at a later date is always very expensive, but conversion sounds good and is a political paliative.
And by all means insist that the municipalities get to own all the existing rail rights of way. These are preciosu corridors for an administratin to own. But if you use some for bike paths or walkways, you may never be able to take them back as a rail corridor. People in adjacent lots are funny that way…

]]> By: Michael Druker http://www.tritag.ca/blog/2012/01/09/more-lrt-meetings-and-why-its-important-to-go/comment-page-1/#comment-6491 Michael Druker Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:03:14 +0000 http://www.tritag.ca/?p=1454#comment-6491 Graham - this is the (expedited) provincial review, and it's only really going to focus on things "of provincial significance", i.e. bodies of water, protected species, etc. That said, it certainly won't hurt to bring up the impact on cycling throughout the process. Graham – this is the (expedited) provincial review, and it’s only really going to focus on things “of provincial significance”, i.e. bodies of water, protected species, etc. That said, it certainly won’t hurt to bring up the impact on cycling throughout the process.

]]> By: Graham Roe http://www.tritag.ca/blog/2012/01/09/more-lrt-meetings-and-why-its-important-to-go/comment-page-1/#comment-6488 Graham Roe Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:25:45 +0000 http://www.tritag.ca/?p=1454#comment-6488 Thanks for the info, we'll spread the word as we're con.cerned about cyclist safety during design and implementation. Thanks for the info, we’ll spread the word as we’re con.cerned about cyclist safety during design and implementation.

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