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Infrastructure Transit Travels

The streetcar returns to Detroit – but who benefits?

After sixty-one years, streetcars have returned to Detroit’s famed Woodward Avenue. But without integration with other transit systems, its usefulness is limited.

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Infrastructure Roads Travels Walking

The Halifax Department of Silly Walks

As part of our trip through the Maritime Provinces a few weeks ago, we visited Halifax. Nova Scotia’s capital and largest city is the economic, cultural and transportation hub for Atlantic Canada. In 1996, the City of Halifax was merged with surrounding towns and suburbs, as well as rural Halifax County; the Halifax Regional Municipality […]

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Infrastructure Transit

Province to look at hydrogen-powered GO trains, but it is it simply hot air?

Electrification for GO Transit and UP Express has been proposed for years At GO Transit’s Willowbrook Maintenance Centre in Mimico today, the Ontario Minister of Transportation, Steven Del Duca,  announced the start of the transit project assessment process (TPAP) that will allow GO to move forward with its plans for electrification. GO RER, the $13.5-billion regional […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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.