Categories
Intercity Rail Politics Transit

A need for high-speed rail reality (Updated)

With the province moving ahead on high speed rail in Southwestern Ontario, other transportation needs are being ignored

Categories
Infrastructure Transit Urban Planning

GO Transit’s 404 Error?

GO Train at Gormley Station Previously on this blog, I wrote about how new public institutions like hospitals and university campuses are built in isolated, auto-dependent areas without regard to provincial land use policies. In St. Catharines, a new modern hospital on the city’s western outskirts replaced two urban sites, despite available opportunities that would […]

Categories
Politics Toronto Transit

A new low for the Scarborough Subway champion

Note: a version of this article has been cross-posted to Spacing Toronto For 2016’s annual Torontoist Heroes and Villains feature, I nominated Toronto Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker (Ward 38, Scarborough Centre) as villain of the year. (“Pedestrian blaming” won that dubious honour.) But I remain proud of my choice. As I wrote back in December: […]

Categories
Infrastructure Urban Planning

Ontario’s land use scandal: Another greenfield hospital for Niagara

Recently, I discussed the greenfield locations of new hospital and post-secondary institutions in Ontario, focusing on the new St. Catharines Hospital site and the Orillia campus of Lakehead University, but also mentioning the proposed sites of a new hospital for Windsor, and an university campus in Milton. Hospitals and educational institutions are primarily funded by the […]

Categories
Cycling Travels

Cycling the Greater Golden Horseshoe

You never know who you might meet when you ride through Toronto’s ravines Spring is here! One of my favourite things to do is go for a ride, either within town, or on a day trip or an overnight excursion. Toronto’s ravines are a treat; and the further away from Lake Ontario you get, the […]

Categories
History Parks Toronto Walking

Exploring Earl Bales Park

View from the top of the ski hill at Earl Bales Park Last Sunday afternoon, I went for a walk around Earl Bales Park. The large, multiuse green space is located near the corner of Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue in North York; it also descends into the West Don Ravine. It was a delight […]

Categories
Brampton Canada Travels Urban Planning

A check-up on Downtown Barrie

Barrie has a great waterfront and an interesting downtown. However, there are serious social issues that need addressing.

Categories
Infrastructure Urban Planning

Greenfield infrastructure: not so green

I recently visited two Ontario cities, St. Catharines and Orillia, to illustrate the problems of building new medical and educational institutions on isolated greenfield sites. Large greenfield lands have several advantages: they’re easy and inexpensive to build on, they can accommodate large parking lots, and offer room for future expansion. But by the nature of […]

Categories
Brampton Cycling Infrastructure Roads Transit

A better Hurontario Street – an LRT update

When the LRT is opened on Hurontario Street, it will be safer and more pleasant for pedestrians and cyclists.

Categories
Infrastructure Roads Urban Planning Walking

Rethinking Downtown Brampton’s streetscape

The City of Brampton is looking to improve Main and Queen Streets downtown.