Toronto’s Building a New Island (with Trams)? | Villiers Island
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- Опубликовано: 3 авг 2024
- Toronto is undertaking one of the largest climate resiliency & flood protection projects in North America, and building an entirely new neighbourhood and island in the process, all designed to be accessible in transit. This is that story!
More about the Port Lands project: portlandsto.ca/
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Ever wondered why your city's transit just doesn't seem quite up to snuff? RMTransit is here to answer that, and help you open your eyes to all of the different public transportation systems around the world!
Reece (the RM in RMTransit) is an urbanist and public transport critic residing in Toronto, Canada, with the goal of helping the world become more connected through metros, trams, buses, high-speed trains, and all other transport modes.
#toronto #infrastructure #transit
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Seeing Toronto build a walkable, urbanist neighbourhood from scratch is amazing. There's no shortage of cool stuff happening around the city at all times.
5 hours ago on a video released 8 minutes ago? How could you commit such black magic fuckery?
@@sygneg7348 Patreon supporters may have early access to videos.
@Zaydan Naufal ok?
@Zaydan Naufal Copenhagen is in Denmark, Toronto in Canada. I‘ll let you figure out the difference in significance by yourself.
I agree, it's really exciting!
Really impressed with the planned accommodations for different aquatic niches and green space on the river
Agreed.
I agree, its going to be a really biodiverse space!
@@RMTransit I agree! I am in TO now for a few weeks to care for a very close friend who had serious surgery and I realize how much I miss TO and I will even more with all of these huge development changes going forward! Lol! I did some of my graduate school at the U of T and then NYU, so Toronto always feels like a second home! It is a fabulous city. My home city of Vancouver is as well and we typically have progressive planners but they have been shut down by some city council members historically. It is very frustrating.
Definite turnaround for what was earlier just an industrial brownfield eyesore.
I'm just happy they're re-evaluating the mouth of the Don. I remember my mom and sister getting caught in flash flooding after a concert in downtown, and I was completely shocked to learn the Don just hits a wall on its way out. A curved mouth to gradually divert the river into the lake is such an obvious solution it's amazing how long it took to get here. The new neighbourhood being built with modern urban-planning (I hope) on the resulting island is just icing on the cake.
Absolutely, a lot of important things being done all at once!
Liking Toronto's new developments of the Port Lands, and the emphasis on Environmental sustainability.
@Zaydan Naufal Pulau Tekong, you mean?
I agree, its how any new project like this should be!
Good video, I actually worked on this project, specifically in the creation of the bioengineered wood structures, crib walls (the trees with roots that line the outer meander bends) and fabric-encapsulated soil lifts in the river channel and wetland areas. It really is hard to show the scale of the project on video without recording yourself walking around the entire site. It was the first project I ever worked on of that scale and not only is it physically huge, you wouldn't believe the thousands of pages of drawings and specifications that went into the planning of this. It's even more impressive when you're there on a day when everyone is working. The number of people and amount of machinery is incredible. It's a fantastic project and leaving it was a bittersweet choice because it was so cool watching the whole thing unfold day after day before my eyes.
Yout videos have literally become my part of my bedtime routine, before falling asleep, I always listen to the videos. Your voice is usually the last thing I hear in the day.
Haha, thats an honor!
Thank you for making this and taking the time to go out there for us. You are truly one of my favourite channels out. Keep doing you and continue to give us more info in this growing city!!
Thanks! That means a lot!
Can't wait to rewatch this video while sitting along the new river bank in a couple years
Haha, thats a great idea - I should do that!
I had no idea this project was so far along already! Reading the news in Toronto it mostly seems like nothing is being done and the city is falling apart. But then I come to your channel and discover a ton is being done (but maybe still not fast enough when it comes to housing especially)
Just ignore the Toronto Sun! lol
Exactly Gregory, Some news sources make the city sound disastrous. It's terrific to hear about the good things going on!
Good news doesn’t sell unfortunately, another cool project not really talked about is the massive sewer/flood mitigation work going on underneath large parts of the city! At least if the climate is going to change (to the degree that we can’t stop all of climate change even if we stopped polluting right now), then Toronto is going to be among the most prepared cities
and this is only one of about a dozen other massive projects in this area alone. It sounds like you watch too much conservative media whose goals are to make the city and trudeau government look bad. most of the money for these projects are coming form the federal government by the way which a conservative government in Ottawa would love to cut.
It's going to cost a lot more and add more disruptions to build the streetcar right-of-ways later but other than that it's a great project! I believe the current plans are for buses to use the private vehicles bridge but hopefully they'll be able to bypass traffic. Great video as always!
Don't see a region if the streetcar gets delayed that they couldn't!
I do love those bridges. It's going to look really neat when it's all done.
Great video
I think so, and it will be a great place to spend time!
Toronto is still one of Canada’s great cities to visit - especially for culture, dining and shopping. What I don't understand is Why some of the restaurants are encouraging a 20% tip.
Good to see North America building a walkable, nature friendly area
The way we just change landscapes is incredible to me… We’re just like “Oh yeah, let’s move this river and make a new island. It’ll be cool.”
Better than what was there, thats for sure!
What's REALLY crazy, is that this is nothing new. Human's have been doing that at least in small scale for a LONG time. It's only with modern technology and machinery that we can make such large scale changes in such rapid pace. I do wish we could somehow get greener construction equipment though, like hydrogen fueled or something so help cut emissions, making concrete alone is another HUGE factor and I wish Canada would start mass producing hempcrete in industrial scale. But things are certainly looking better. We're breaking away from the NA traditional suburbia planning and using public transit much more. I wish London would catch on, I've been screaming we need to look into it soon before it becomes a NEED and we've kicked it down the road too long.
@@Fenthule I’m over in Calgary and we’re getting a lot better on not being so suburban… But it’s slow. Do you have any resources on hempcrete? I’m really curious about this.
This island project is so exciting. Having reclaimed (essentially virgin) territory like this means so much can be done without relocating utilities and constructing around existing infrastructure - ie designing the island around transit and pedestrians . Trams are a much better idea than the Fords’ previous suggestion of a monorail. Btw I love these bridges! I think I know where I will be visiting this weekend. Happy Thanksgiving Reece!
I don't know! I appreciate waterfront monorails in places like Japan! Its definitely not virgin territory either - tons of remediation needed!
@@RMTransit You're right, there is a phenomenal amount of soil remediation going on on site. The contamination of the existing soils is horrendous. When digging the excavators have pulled up soil so badly contaminated that all workers in the area had to wear respirators because the air quality was so bad. I'm not sure exactly what the contaminants were (I think hydrocarbons of some sort, not my specialty) but the construction management company had environmental technicians whose sole job was to wander around site with air quality monitors to ensure it was still safe to breath. On top of that, sometime the excavators would pull up these contaminants and while the pollutants were within safe parameters for breathing, the smell was so bad that they had to pump what were essentially perfumes into the air to mask it. This site is more of a back-alley prostitute than a virgin.
@@RMTransit Monorails were definitely suggested because they leave space for cars. Also they are a gadgetbahn, which means they are expensive and not so useful and oh so convenient to cancel and put cars instead
Talk about Toronto experiencing a massive RENAISSANCE....not just in the Portlands but also in many other locations, is so very very stimulating.
7:33 THAT'S WHAT THE BIG PILES OF DIRT ARE FOR!!??
I always loved climbing and playing on them as a kid, but I never knew what they were for. You have literally blessed my soul with this piece of information. I got so excited I actually paused the video to tell my girlfriend in the next room😂🤣
wow it's moving along fast! incredible to see
Great video! As someone who has been working on this project on the engineering side, it’s really awesome to see how excited and intrigued the public is, especially over the past year.
I'm just amazed at the size of this project but also, I haven't really read anything on this project... and I live in Toronto... crazy...
Thanks for making this video, I'm really excited about this development and it's nice to see it close up, rather than just from the edge.
Thanks for watching!
The island project is amazing. I had no idea that this is happening. Building such a cool neighbourhood and a walkable community (the only kind of community that I would ever live in - everything within a few blocks) is mindblowingly amazing! The only other city I am aware of with trams is Manhattan but there are probably many cities that use them to transport residents. I am fascinated and I want to read a lot more on this project. The protection from flooding is so important. Excellent.
Manhattan is a borough of New York, no trams - maybe you mean Melbourne?
@@RMTransit My bad! I was thinking of the Roosevelt Island Tramway in Manhattan. I got mixed up when I heard the term tram! Sorry! Now I am on track!
Looks like it will be pretty cool. Thanks for the interesting video.
It looks a lot like IJburg, a new Amsterdam neighborhood built on artificial islands in the IJ lake. Even the bridge has a faint similarity with the entree bridge at Amsterdam East. IJburg also has a tram line in the length of the islands to Amsterdam Central Station.
Years ago this was all empty factories and warehouses. Ford wanted to build an amusement park with a dedicated monorail there and I am so happy that didn't come to fruition. I can't wait to see this project completed
I really love what to guys are doing up there, NYC could absolutely learn a thing or two
Thank you for making such informed and well supported presentations about North American and International public transit. As a resident of Toronto and Hamilton, your videos are so helpful!!
I had a discussion with my aunt about this project over thanksgiving. Wow, I didn't know it was this large of a project. truly amazing.
This looks amazing. Aesthetically and environmentally pleasing it will make a great place to hang out and enjoy a respite from the downtown busyness.
Those bridges are *gorgeous!*
Great video thank you for putting this on RUclips for free really appreciate it
I work in the nearby Distillery District & biked down to the Port Lands the other day, the amount of work being done there really is staggering. It'll be wild returning years from now and thinking back to how different the area used to be. With its easy access by streetcar & (rental) bike, I bet the PL will become an honest-to-goodness destination for urbanist-minded tourists!
Now if only these kinds of resources could also be spent on saving the city's ravines...
Once its done or almost completed and open I will visit the area. I was born and grew up in Toronto this is exciting.
so excited! looking forward to seeing this when i visit !!!
Very nice, would love to return to visit when completed.
You should!
Impressive! You are so lucky to live in Toronto, and lucky to be born Canadian
I didn't know this project was as far along as it is. It looks fantastic, I really like the bridge designs, and I can't wait to get down there to take some pictures the next time I get down to the city.
Toronto is truly on the up & up; now if only it could address the housing/affordability crisis it would truly be awesome.
Ive been driving by those red bridges for months wondering about them. really great video!
I rode my bike across that new CHerry bridge and it's very cool to have a dedicated bike lane on a beautiful bridge. I kayak out of Cherry frequently, so looking forward to when this is fully open, to explore via the water.
As a planning student, the portland project really excites me. I just hope I can actually afford to live in the area lol
I have a good friend who is a city planner in Vancouver and he isn't able to afford to live in the city that he contributes to planning/designing/developing. It has already long become an unlivable city financially for many people. I feel grateful I can live in Vancouver. I was able to buy when prices weren't as outrageous as they are now. I think Toronto is on par with the outrageous prices of buying and renting in YVR.
@@christinecamley sounds depressing haha. Hopefully things can change but I doubt it.
@@nunnil1655 I agree.
I'm sure there will be at least some affordable housing, but yeah it is concerning!
Great Video and thanks for the update!!
This is amazing. I bike and walk around here a lot, but hadn't seen the more recent progress. Thanks for this look. Not everything is horrible, there are some really great things I love about my home that I know many people worked very hard to give us.
Excited to see this in person when I fly in from Calgary briefly next month!
I see this every time I drive by on the gardiner
That was great. I had no idea of this massive new build. Sure has changed since i used to frequent the area in the 1980s
I am very excited for this. thanks for the video. I love the east end of Toronto and this will make it even better.
I’ve been following this project for a while super excited
Good video. I hope the streetcar tracks get started soon, because they will take a long time to finish.
Nah, they can be installed pretty quickly!
it would take about 6 months to install streetcar tracks on Cheery street
Building a river in the Toronto’s portlands is a project of impressive scale. I walk through the area a few times a week.
Fantastic video. Thank you.
I'm excited for it's completion
I was not aware of anything being built in this area! always wondered what they would do with this vast space, and im very impressed and excited to see how it turns out in the end!
Perfect timing! We just went to see the newly opened yellow bridge today.
2:30 the bridge is reminiscent of Mirror's Edge Catalyst aesthetically with the bright primary colour palette and modern design.
Haha, didn't expect to see this but absolutely!
Excellent, informative content.
This is perhaps one of the most important development and urban planning projects in Canada it success will perhaps finally change the way cities are built in Canada. Is also existing to see space for both transit , biking and pedestrians is been allocated
Its actually not the first case of such a neighborhood, but it is good yes
I'd love to hear more details about this! this is a really cool project. Also, hot damn are those bridges gorgeous.
Nice! I tried to visit near there back in May, attempting to check out the architecture of the new stormwater treatment plant at the end of Cherry street but unfortunately it all was blocked off. Cool to see the progress and get a glimpse of what the future may hold.
Looks awesome!
I agree!
Looks like it'll be really nice!
I love those bridges
Oh man, I didn't realize I don't have to ride over that gnarly Cherry St. bridge anymore. I am totally going to ride my bike there.
It's great that Toronto is doing some highly sustainable projects
Thanks for this video, I had no idea this big project is going on right in my city...!!!
There have been plans for the docklands for...well, ever since I can remember, but I did not know that someone was actually implementing some of them. Very interesting.
My buddy works on the Portlands projects, and my god what an enormous uptaking! Very very impressive stuff
Really cool, reminds me of what Chicago did to replace the old airport in Lake Michigan, but not just a big park.
this is gonna be hella cool!
Awesome. I've been wondering for ages what those bridges were.
The "Port Lands" with the "Canary District"... Sounds familiar... Old shipping area, new Islands, new buildings, new infrastructure... even more familiar
Very exciting project! Once the tram comes in, it would make sense to build a gondola across the shipping channel to connect Ward's Island.
yeah i just saw these weird bridges the other day. Thanks for explaining
2:26 I HOPE SO!
Thanks!! I’ve always wondered what that big section was coming into land at YTZ.
I had no idea that's what those bridges they are building down there are meant to serve, its quite phenomenal.
Toronto: Huge new district thats entirely transit oriented
US: wait thats illegal
Europe:welcome to the club!
you really should do a video about lisbon and the lack of good public transit
Could you make a video regarding the metro system plan of Panama city
great video
Thanks Doug!!
The new Cherry Street bridge thus replaces the lift bridge, and forever cuts off access to Keating Channel to larger watercraft.
Further down Cherry St. On the way to the beach is the opening Strauss Trunion Bascule bridge from the '30s over the ship canal. Would we in the future years see its replacement, with an opening version of similar design to the other new bridges?
That would be my guess!
I had no idea this was going on in my own backyard
I wish every city was ballsy enough to do some crazy big project using all the great urban design elements that have been tried and proven in The Netherlands.
The Canary district being a precedent for the urban form here sounds... ominous. Let's hope this new neighbourhood ends up a lot less grey.
Any idea whats next for the crane at 7:11? I used to work underneath (built a boat a Uli's boatyard) and remember it only being used rarely for commerical tugs. Its been fun watching my old hood transform. This is the footage I have been dying to see!
Its being kept as a bit of historical nostalgia!
This project reminds me of the Hamburg Hafencity project. Prior to the construction works 10ish years ago it was an old and kind of out of use Portland area, that has been massively changed to accommodate city needs and upscale the land value. Obviously not everything is good or really needed, and it's still not fully completed, so maybe it could be interesting for you to have a look in terms of urban planning and public transit. If you did I'd be delighted and very curious to see what your points and takes on that were. :D
That looks like a great place for a tent city... wonder how long it will take for new tenants to move in.... think all that money could've been used in in many different, and needed ways. Great video tho 👍
Eliminating the lakeshore east ramp that connects the gardiner to the east end was one of the worst city planning decisions I’ve ever seen toronto make in recent memory. With the woodbine / lakeshore artery serving as the primary means of getting in and out of the core for members of beaches and east York, this was a really careless decision from my POV
You need a drone. Great video, thanks!
When will you bless us with some Cities Skylines gameplay? I'd love to see your transit system design.
Could you make a video about the Bus system in Miskolc? It's really extensive (for a city the size of 150k people) and all of the buses are Low-floor, plus most of them are Natural Gas powered
So basically most of them are really bad for the climate?
I have a lot of planned videos!
@@RMTransit i know, and i also know that you are busy. I have just came up with this idea, knowing it will not be made
Great video, but as someone who doesn't live in Toronto, maybe keep a small mini map in the corner of the screen just highlighting the are you are looking at the in shot
That some impressive engineering - literally re-routing a river to prevent flooding and restore habitat.
When Amsterdam built an island they built the trams before any development. In Toronto we will certainly take a decade to get around to doing that, if ever. Look at the Waterfront West LRT! Still great work on the Portlands though of course.
I mean the Waterfront West LRT is not really a new line so much as a connection between existing ones!
@@RMTransit Oh wow I meant to say East Bayfront! LOL And in regards to the East LRT it is supposed to provide transit to the East Bayfront area. That area is already growing quite a bit. I guess that section on QQE would be included in this portlands extension. I would say built it as soon as possible. Kinda lame if we start building this world class district and have people go around on busses.
Thanks for doing this. Have always been curious about this area when driving through the city.
Thats amazing, is there a website or some place where we can find some render of the projets?
Toronto is finally developing appropriately. It's always just been just a hodgepodge of buildings and neighbourhoods with no long-term plans.
What are your thoughts on a highspeed rail network along the major highways in and around the city as an alternative method of transport from sitting in traffic on the 401?
I didn't hear anything about the 100-year-old seed surprise. Some native plants had sprung up from seeds that pre-date the Portlands. They were carefully relocated after they, and their significance, were noticed.
The Cherry Street and eastern waterfront streetcar extensions need to be built.