1. Last night's #OntarioLine meeting at Ryerson was very crowded and I came away more than a bit disappointed in what I saw. It was my first time in that building, which is on the site of the old journalism school, where Jack Layton told me (almost 34 years ago to the day) ... 
2. ... that the then-proposed Downtown Relief Line (part of Network 2011) made no sense because a) it would lead to more densification of downtown (something we got) and b) its trains would be packed from Day 1 (a theory we never got to test). #OntarioLine
3. It was discouraging that plans don't seem to have advanced on crucial technical issues since the sketchy IBC report #Metrolinx released last summer. For example, I wonder what Transport Canada will say about light vehicles running so close beside GO's trains. #OntarioLine
4. The indirect and wastefully longer-than-necessary route through the downtown and the steep gradients had some technically knowledgeable people I spoke with last night puzzled and unsatisfied. #OntarioLine
5. But most discouraging remains this issue of capacity. The claims that this line is designed to handle 50+ years of demand growth cannot be taken seriously (except possibly as a serious violation of our public servants' obligation to be honest with the public). #OntarioLine
6. It's ironic that a Canada Line photo (alongside London's Tube trains) was used as an example of a modern urban light railway similar to what #OntarioLine might be: Ironic because Canada Line was badly underbuilt from the start and badly overloaded shortly thereafter.
7. That said, I might end up convinced that smaller trains with less capacity can do the job ... but only if we have in place firm provisions to fund and build a second relief line through the core - and fast - in conjunction with the opening of this #OntarioLine plan.
8. Of the 4 major transit projects proposed for Toronto, the line through downtown is the only one we can't overbuild. We might not get trains full on Day 1 as Layton predicted 34 years ago, but I will predict that within 5 years people will regret going cheap on the #OntarioLine
9. One other reason we might want to go back to big TTC-style trains is that the #OntarioLine, or whatever you we call it, will likely have its greatest long-term potential if linked with the underused Sheppard subway (it might then justify @PasternakTO's NY relief-line dream).
10. Anyway, let's think long term. Let's not deny future generations options. Let's get real about how important Toronto's core is to all of the city, the region the province and the country. Let's think about where we need to economize and where we need to spend. #OntarioLine
