True about ownership but there are still contractual requirements for Metrolinx to retain freight compatibility, so CN would’ve had to agree.

It’s actually an interchange train with CP between Mac and Lambton yards

It is generally not permitted to build a high platform (enabling level boarding for passenger trains) on a track with mainline freight trains

If this arrangement were possible elsewhere, it would make high speed and regional passenger service much more convenient, faster, and more accessible. But right now, there's no standard to make this possible while making sure we don't hinder Canada's amazing freight rail success.

And yet California's transit ridership is not meaningfully higher (and in many cases lower, especially when controlling for density), than those states with much cheaper gas.

Prices were much higher for nearly a decade after 1973, though, and the effect on ridership was marginal (especially if you take all the new infrastructure opening into account). People largely just switched to more fuel efficient cars.

I think we also massively overestimate the gas price difference. My comparison in article was Santa Ana. Average price in California today is C$1.79/litre by my math. Looking at a random gas station in Brampton, it's C$1.18/litre right now.

If we look at the history, dramatic changes in gasoline prices have had negligible effects on transit ridership in both Canada and the US. The biggest jump in the 1970s resulted in barely any increase in transit ridership. Pre-pandemic, despite gas prices dropping, transit ridership was growing.