Further increases in vertical circulation between 8th and 6th av platforms would be amazing, so would a surface refurbishment

While they are at it, upgrade the electric and signal systems at the station so that it doesn't disable 2 trunks everytime stuff kaputs.

Oh look it's the Canadian urban critic that I know reacting to Canadian (good) news!

While we are at it, the MPO should have power to release a Declaration of Public Good/Utility if a project under its perview is moving forward with a broad public consensus to shield it from unnecessary, frivolous and/or rent-seeking litigation

Aim for 4, settle for 6, wouldn't be surprised it ended up taking 8. Also wouldn't be surprised that it gets cancelled after 8.
I am tempering my expectations as always.

The consensus building might be less punitive compared other NA projects, but this is where realpolitik must happen again.

youtu.be/6JefalcFjuE?...
The last time Alto made progress I believe there was a tentative alignment chosen.

I have no doubt hell will break loose, but at least it is not freezing over like all the previous attempts.

Siemens has a smaller presence in Quebec already, just need to convince them to invest in a assembly plant. Stadler/CAF/Hitachi would be cool too.

Or CRRC in earnest without the Shenanigans, but I bet Alstom will throw a hissy fit if Carney manage to convince CRRC to do this rodeo again in Canada.

The only concern (so far) is the similarly tabled Buy Canadian requirement in the budget. Though Canadian rolling stock manufacturing capacity and previous Buy Canadian regulations is a complete different story than Buy America/Build America requirements, there is still room to maneuver.

/thread

To point a finer point, the tabled budget comments on Alto HSR is Canada's most defined High-Speed Rail plan in a while. It also ticks 4/5 boxes for our HSR recommendations at the Transit Cost Project.

transitcosts.com/highspeed-ra...

5/thread

"...reaching speeds of up to 300 km/hour to cut travel times in half..."
"...to enable construction of the project to start in four years..."
Clearly defined timeline and scope of work towards intended outcome.
4/thread

"...accelerate engineering, regulatory, and permitting work..."
The federal entity is in charge of overseeing Project management, risk containment, regulatory and permitting fast-tracking.
3/thread

"The MPO will work to accelerate..."

The Major Project Office (MPO) is a Canadian federal entity focused on major project delivery, addressing the current vacuum of federal direction for Canadian High Speed Rail, among other national projects. 2/thread

Why not just use Hypercenter? Seems interpretative enough as a very core activity center above the CBD/CAZ (central activity zone) definition

This question might as well be the thesis for the next 3 rounds of 5-year capital planning for China Rail and its uneasy relationship with provincial/regional railway companies/agencies. In more affluent regions, the "missing middle" remains a key political and economic contention.

Even prompt engineering or ML literacy courses would help immensely