Love them or hate them (I happen to love them), Toronto’s streetcars are part of this city’s identity. Most North American cities got rid of their streetcars around the middle of the 20th century. But Toronto didn’t. And that has left us with the largest… Read More
A few months ago when I wrote about “Toronto’s great streets” I mentioned that Queens Quay West – while magnificent – has had its share of issues. Cyclists and pedestrians often find themselves battling for space. And drivers are consistently driving in the wrong places.… Read More
Last week the Ryerson City Building Institute published a terrific report on Toronto’s Great Streets. It profiles five streets in the city that have been “redesigned for greatness.” They are: Harbord Street (continuous bike lanes) Roncesvalles Avenue (placemaking and people) St. Clair Avenue West (dedicated streetcar… Read More
Toronto is now a week into the King Street Transit Pilot. It’s still early days and transit guru Steve Munro hasn’t yet published any before and after route performance. He will. But already the sentiment seems to be clear: This shit is working. There are many recounts… Read More
Friend: Ever go to Jilly’s? Me: No, actually. Friend: Same. Me: What about you? [Addressed to random guy in elevator] Random guy in elevator: I’m from Portland. I don’t know what you’re talking about. I went to check out the new Broadview Hotel last night… Read More
Detroit has started testing its new streetcars on Woodward Avenue. Quicken Loans bought the naming rights to the line, so it’s now officially called the QLINE. If you’re British, this name probably won’t instil feelings of rapidity. Here’s a recent tweet from M1-Rail (click here… Read More
Last weekend over dinner, a friend of mine asked me what I thought about the Scarborough Subway Extension debate going on in Toronto right now. Costs are coming in higher than initially projected and the usual back and forth is taking place. Transit blogger Steve Munro… Read More
In grad school, I was fortunate enough to be a teaching assistant for a class called Urban Real Estate Economics, which was taught by Dr. Richard Voith. It was one of my favorite classes. So if you ever find yourself at the Wharton School, I… Read More
https://500px.com/embed.js I think we’ve hit peak millennial. Last Friday the Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, and the Metropolitan Transit Authority, announced that 30 subway stations will be redesigned and that “millennial-friendly amenities” would be added throughout the system. As you might guess, this includes… Read More
This will probably be my last Gardiner East post before the decision goes to City Council next week on June 10th. But I have such good news that I need to share it with you all. This morning 14 “CityBuilders” came together for the first… Read More
BRANDON DONNELLY 