This line has already received some negative feedback, especially in urbanist circles, to the point where there were immediate changes proposed after it opened.
So today, I want to focus on the positives. Yes, I think it's less-well-implemented than the Eglinton line. But I think there are good bones there and for many cities I've been in the Finch West would be a major upgrade. Just...not Toronto. But let's look on the bright side today!
1. Clear, Effective Advertising
One critique I have of many transit expansion plans and implementations that I've seen is that there may be very good reasons for the expansion and the expansion may be great on the ground, but it's not clearly communicating to the public what all this disruption and money and time was about.
Finch West, ironically for a project so bedeviled in the implementation, does not have that problem.
The TTC's branding and advertising around the new line are, to my eye, attractive, positive, and direct.
They are not afraid of telling you that this is good, that this is useful, or that this is an improvement for the whole region.
And I think it's a friendly, welcoming font and general color palette as well. Seeing this branding made me want to take this particular train (as opposed to my general orientation that I want to take any and all trains, of course) and that's to the good!
2. A Pleasant Experience
Look, speed is and remains an issue. But actually being on the train itself was a positive experience: that "1 smooth ride" branding isn't just talk.
The seats are comfortable and I like the colors. It's a pleasant LRT/tram/streetcar experience. Is it a metro? No. But for what it is trying to be, it does the on-ride experience well.
The stops are simple, but that helps keep costs down and they are certainly equal to or better than most surface-level tram stops I've encountered. And I like trams!
There's decent cover, clear signage, and a decent waiting experience even in the rain when I took these photos.
Overall the physical experience of the system is a good one, and I think that that's something to build on.
3. Good Final Station
The Finch West LRT runs right into the main subway system, with a good connection at, unsurprisingly, Finch West.
The final stop is underground in a facility connected to the Finch West stop on the subway, and it's both easy to find and easy to get to.
I know this is a repeat picture, but again: very clear.
Now, it's not currently connected to any other part of the network (other than buses). But the potential exists for such connections--in theory it will hit GO trains and maybe even line 5 at the airport. And the fact that the final station is a good one is a sign that if the expansions to the network are done well, there's nothing that means that the other complaints about Line 6 have to be permanent. It could speed up; it can connect better; it can run faster and more often.
The potential is there. As I said, I know of other cities where the speed and frequency of this line would be desired. It's not at the level of Line 5 or the actual metro-type subways in Toronto, but it is, for example, much better than the TTC streetcars downtown.
It's something to build on, and I had a good time on it--even if I'm not going to pretend that it's a perfect system.
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