Eglinton LRT

[nobbie48]

‘Eff you pay me, or I won’t reach substantial completion’.

There’s a LOT of things that go into it, and there’s blame to go all around.

That is one thing that worries me when a house needs the building envelop broken. The roof or back wall is ripped open and the contractor sees an unforeseen problem and needs a ton more money. He may have noticed or suspected the problem during the quote stage but held it as an ace up his sleeve.

Agree to pay up within 48 hours or the guys go to a new job and won't be available again for months. It may rain and your house is unlivable.

If you bring in another contractor the original one can place liens for loss of profit etc. This discourages the second contractor from taking on the job.

It happens to government jobs as well. I was involved with one where the lowest bidder became the most expensive and slowest. It was basically blackmail by inconvenience.

Performance bonds seem to be a good idea but if I was asked to guarantee a result I would probably triple my price.

 

[mimico_polak]

Looks like I’ve got some people in my area of work @250R-ICE. I knew about @bastak as he’s mentioned it before.

Both of you get it 100% the challenges we face in delivering these projects.

Recent discussion with a utility provider:

- hey you done?
- yup all yours
- you forgot this that and the other
- you’re right. I did. Sorry.
- cool when can you finish it for real?
- uh….not sure. Maybe in 3-6 months.
- uhmmm….my contractor is waiting for this at the door and you said it’s donr
- ya…about that. Sounds like a you problem not a me problem

And that’s how much 500k gets you.

Zero…and I mean ZERO accountability.

That’s just one utility provided. Add the challenges of every stakeholder with their ridiculous 10 week approval processes….shocking we get anything done in this city.

EDIT: another fun one

Property owner…

- hey why are you on my property?
- were not this is the ROW. Your property starts there
- no it doesn’t. Eff you.
- sir, this is not your property
- eff you. I’ll hit you with my car

Cops show up
2 weeks gone because of reschedule

CLAIM!

 

[mimico_polak]

Here we go...more issues with OL which aren't issues. But people want to complain for the sake of complaining and throwing wrenches into the mix.

‘They’re building next to babies’: Metrolinx under fire from parents for ‘scattershot’ approach to construction safety at Toronto school

Early work on the Ontario Line at Pape Junior School has nearby parents wondering if Metrolinx has a plan to protect their kids.

www.thestar.com

Someone please think of the children!'

The best part is right here...

Moving forward, Metrolinx said it plans to install a sound barrier around the site and will only do work outside of school hours, unless agreed upon by the school.

But according to the transit agency’s presentation to parents, the city has requested the sewer relocation work — set to run from November 2023 through April 2025 — take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, so it can get done as quickly as possible.

MX is willing to let the work be done outside of school hours (guess who pays that claim), and the CoT wants them to run continuously from 7am to 7pm Monday - Saturday to get it done faster...

Decisions decisions.

Everyone wants the END benefit of transit in their communities...they just don't want to deal with it to get there.

 

[TK4]

Here we go...more issues with OL which aren't issues. But people want to complain for the sake of complaining and throwing wrenches into the mix.

‘They’re building next to babies’: Metrolinx under fire from parents for ‘scattershot’ approach to construction safety at Toronto school

Early work on the Ontario Line at Pape Junior School has nearby parents wondering if Metrolinx has a plan to protect their kids.

www.thestar.com

Someone please think of the children!'

The best part is right here...

Moving forward, Metrolinx said it plans to install a sound barrier around the site and will only do work outside of school hours, unless agreed upon by the school.

But according to the transit agency’s presentation to parents, the city has requested the sewer relocation work — set to run from November 2023 through April 2025 — take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, so it can get done as quickly as possible.

MX is willing to let the work be done outside of school hours (guess who pays that claim), and the CoT wants them to run continuously from 7am to 7pm Monday - Saturday to get it done faster...

Decisions decisions.

Everyone wants the END benefit of transit in their communities...they just don't want to deal with it to get there.

NIMBYism at it's finest.

 

[mimico_polak]

NIMBYism at it's finest.

Exactly. This is why we have trouble building transit.

Some of the complaints we get:
- I don't like the look of the machines
- I don't like the noise they make at 10pm (construction stops at 5pm and they clean site until 7)
- I don't like the project
- I don't think it's a good idea to close that sidewalk

This is what we deal with day to day.

And our project isn't building the stations yet.

 

[GreyGhost]

Exactly. This is why we have trouble building transit.

Some of the complaints we get:
- I don't like the look of the machines
- I don't like the noise they make at 10pm (construction stops at 5pm and they clean site until 7)
- I don't like the project
- I don't think it's a good idea to close that sidewalk

This is what we deal with day to day.

And our project isn't building the stations yet.

And this is how we end up with Pickering Airport lands where gov't forces out everyone that could be affected. The project may or may not ever be built (probably not) but if it proceeds, few people are directly affected. After the project is complete (or abandoned), sell off lands that are no longer required. Throw warning clauses on that follow title. Bingo bango, done. People can ***** but they have been legally informed of potential impacts on their property and nobody can argue that the project devalued their property or affected their enjoyment of the property. Those who got their land forcibly taken for a questionable government program are and should be ******.

 

[mimico_polak]

And this is how we end up with Pickering Airport lands where gov't forces out everyone that could be affected. The project may or may not ever be built (probably not) but if it proceeds, few people are directly affected. After the project is complete (or abandoned), sell off lands that are no longer required. Throw warning clauses on that follow title. Bingo bango, done. People can ***** but they have been legally informed of potential impacts on their property.

I think there were reports / articles of people complaining about the smell of animals from a slaughterhouse downtown and also on St. Clair Ave W...

Well yes...the slaughterhouse was there for 50+ years...just because the realtor / builder didn't tell you about it it's on you to do your due diligence of what's around the area.

 

[GreyGhost]

I think there were reports / articles of people complaining about the smell of animals from a slaughterhouse downtown and also on St. Clair Ave W...

Well yes...the slaughterhouse was there for 50+ years...just because the realtor / builder didn't tell you about it it's on you to do your due diligence of what's around the area.

I did one job in Toronto where residents were bitching about a nearby scrapyard. Residents argued that their houses were 1M and therefore the scrapyard should not be in the area as it was impairing value and not compatible with expensive housing. Scrapyard was there decades before housing. The reason the residents were able to afford that housing was presence of scrapyard. Mitigation was proposed but due to grading, it had to be close to residents. No way in hell would they accept that as it blocked their view. Whiners. They were just bitching to try to win the housing lottery at the expense of a family business.

 

[TK4]

I think there were reports / articles of people complaining about the smell of animals from a slaughterhouse downtown and also on St. Clair Ave W...

Well yes...the slaughterhouse was there for 50+ years...just because the realtor / builder didn't tell you about it it's on you to do your due diligence of what's around the area.

The train tracks in the Junction have been there for over a hundred years. You didn't notice before you moved in ?

 

[250R-ICE]

I had bridge reconstruction project where the local residents and farmer complained on how much longer it will take them to use the detour routes while the new bridge replacement was being built. I responded how long do you think it will take you when the existing bridge collapses into the river? Its incredible on the mentality of the people out there.

 

[GreyGhost]

The train tracks in the Junction have been there for over a hundred years. You didn't notice before you moved in ?

Hell, even the name of the neighbourhood should give you some idea.

Consumers are by and large dumb. The fact that marketing departments are allowed to outright lie with impunity doesn't help. Look at the marketing plans for new developments. Any industry/rail will show show as a forest even if it has no trees in real life. They will just argue that it was a marketing image and the legal documents had warning clauses. They will win.

 

[sburns]

And this is how we end up with Pickering Airport lands where gov't forces out everyone that could be affected. The project may or may not ever be built (probably not) but if it proceeds, few people are directly affected. After the project is complete (or abandoned), sell off lands that are no longer required. Throw warning clauses on that follow title. Bingo bango, done. People can ***** but they have been legally informed of potential impacts on their property and nobody can argue that the project devalued their property or affected their enjoyment of the property. Those who got their land forcibly taken for a questionable government program are and should be ******.

Kinda glad there isn't an airport out in the East end, I find it kind weird and annoying seeing and hearing planes overhead. One of the first things I notice when I am out and about someplace close to the airport.

Maybe they can use the land to build all they housing the gov seems committed to. But mind you that Bill 23 seems like another gov scam on taxpayers. Suprised none of you have talked about it around here. Apparently it will impact home owners property taxes to pay for the program.

 

[GreyGhost]

Kinda glad there isn't an airport out in the East end, I find it kind weird and annoying seeing and hearing planes overhead. One of the first things I notice when I am out and about someplace close to the airport.

Maybe they can use the land to build all they housing the gov seems committed to. But mind you that Bill 23 seems like another gov scam on taxpayers. Suprised none of you have talked about it around here. Apparently it will impact home owners property taxes to pay for the program.

I suspect government is holding the pickering lands until value goes to the moon and then will cash out.

As for Bill 23 and taxpayers needing to cover the bill, time will tell. Municipalities are all whining but I haven't seen a detailed costing yet. They are arguing that without extorting new home buyers, they need to charge existing property owners more. Well ya. How did DC's increase by hundreds of percent as dwelling values rose? Did it cost that much more to lay a pipe? Property taxes over the same time increased at a far far slower rate. I suspect if you follow the numbers that municipalities are more hogs at the trough and they are just mad their cash cow has been neutered. Now, as I read it, the DC's being affected were on affordable home. Most municipalities build very few of those so it should make minimal impact on their budgets. Douggie said that he would be happy to audit municipal DC's/expenses and top up a municpality that lost out. It will be interesting to see how many muncipalities welcome the light. If they truly were on the up and up and losing many millions, they would welcome the review and subsequent cheque.

 

[sburns]

I had bridge reconstruction project where the local residents and farmer complained on how much longer it will take them to use the detour routes while the new bridge replacement was being built. I responded how long do you think it will take you when the existing bridge collapses into the river? Its incredible on the mentality of the people out there.

Well to be fair there are plenty of construction projects which seem to take much longer then they should. I had two such projects in my area which took 2 years to complete. One was a bridge overpass repair resurface, curbs, the other was resurfacing and curb repair of 1.5 k. 2 years for that?

 

[mimico_polak]

Let’s also not forget the workers who are literally working themselves out of their job….I’ve found them to be extremely creative in slowing progress…half the fun is finding out how they screw around with the equipment.

 

[hdsomeday]

Kinda glad there isn't an airport out in the East end, I find it kind weird and annoying seeing and hearing planes overhead. One of the first things I notice when I am out and about someplace close to the airport................

I grew up and have lived anywhere from 1km to 10kms from Pearson (Malton, TIA). I remember as a kid visiting my Grandparents in Blue Mountain area and not being able to sleep because it was too quiet, no planes. I still find it disconcerting if I am in an area with no planes. The closer I am to a runway the better I feel. Odd, I know.

Edit. Those Aircraft noise signs really annoy me. You didnt hear one single plane go by while you were looking to buy a house nearby?????

 

[GreyGhost]

I grew up and have lived anywhere from 1km to 10kms from Pearson. I remember as a kid visiting my Grandparents in Blue Mountain area and not being able to sleep because it was too quiet, no planes. I still find it disconcerting if I am in an area with no planes. The closer I am to a runway the better I feel. Odd, I know.

My grandma used to live near a rail bridge. When we stayed over, the late night train would wake me up. She didn't even hear the train anymore but if it didn't pass by on schedule, she would wake up and wonder what was wrong.

 

[klr_guy]

My grandma used to live near a rail bridge. When we stayed over, the late night train would wake me up. She didn't even hear the train anymore but if it didn't pass by on schedule, she would wake up and wonder what was wrong.

We live close, but not crazy close to a rail line and I find it soothing under one of my wife's quilts.

 

[ReSTored]

Here's a YT video of a relatively small train overpass being replaced in 4 days.

Not a huge project, but can you image anything like this being done in the GTA. Does the skillset exist here, but not the will? Who knows.

 

[GreyGhost]

Here's a YT video of a relatively small train overpass being replaced in 4 days.

Not a huge project, but can you image anything like this being done in the GTA. Does the skillset exist here, but not the will? Who knows.

We've done slide in place bridges in ontario before. Getting to the rapid bridge replacement takes many months of construction to prep everything before you pull the trigger.