PANAM games

[terrym]

Man oh man are these games going to raise the temperatures. Never mind the inevitable scandals in doubling the reported costs and budgets but looks like the traffic nightmares will be unreal.

http://www.torontosun.com/2015/03/24...-for-motorists

I will make a point of booking some vacation time to avoid that nightmare.

[ninepointer]

Terry,

You mean you're not going to take in the Pan-Am trap & skeet finals in Innisfil? LOL!
As much as I like shooting clays, its got to be a snoozer to watch all day long.

The sole reason for the games is as a pre-qualifier to (attempt to) demonstrate that Toronto can host a summer Olympics.

[DGearyFTE]

Out of curiousity I typed 'busiest highway' into Google. Sure enough all the responses pointed to the 401 corridor thru Toronto. So, even without the increased volume that will come with the PanAm games that area has the highest traffic volumes in the world.

Was there some doubt what was going to happen?

My wife and I have family in the Niagara Region. We will be taking the I-90 into Niagara this summer (actually we do this normally) but it is a hard rule for this summer during the games. No doubt this will be just the first in a long list of reasons why the games have a negative impact on Ontarians

[terrym]

Yeah I don't see trap shooting as a great spectator sport !!!! The Trap shooting venue is a few minutes away but I can't see me going and spending money to watch that. The good thing is apparently a bunch of money is being invested into the Trap club to upgrade for the games.

[terrym]

The thing is people still need to travel within the GTA for work. Trucks and delivery vehicles still need to deliver goods. They almost seem to not care. Telling people to take public transit is bizzare. People who drive typically have to drive. I drive into that cesspool at least a couple times a week and transit is not something I can consider and many are no different. People commute into the GTA from regions around who just don't have the transit capacity or logistics to consider. These idiots think the world revolves around Toronto and it's streetcars.

[DGearyFTE]

I have travelled many parts of the world. One thing in common with most countries is the congestion of traffic in big cities. For this reason along with many others I don't like big cities. Some people thrive in a large cosmopolitan area - me? I wilt, just don't like them. Doesn't matter if its Toronto, NY, Washington, London, Paris... pick one they are all the same in that context.
I have empathy for the situation but it is not going to get fixed in Toronto. Part of the solution could have been the 407 if the rights to it had not been sold. But in truth yet another orbital highway and more light rail is needed to help address some of the problem. Bringing large venues like the games into Toronto is lunacy.
Oh wait! Who would plan to overspend and cause traffic heartache for millions of motorists? We should have a quiz, maybe multiple guess.
Pick an answer:

A. Aliens
B. Atilla the Hun
C. A political party that is neither PC or NDP
D. Homer Simpson

Hint! In multiple guess questions it is always C or the longest answer

[terrym]

There is a need to rethink transit in the GTA and additional rail and subways are needed. The thing is they know what to do but will use it as political cannon fodder and nothing gets done. Whatever the solution is they also knew, or should have known they didn't have the time or money to put in place to cover the games. So, they willfully caused a transportation/business crisis to millions of people. Well connected Liberal supporting companies will reap huge $$ rewards with these games but once again the Libranos give us the finger.

[mosquito]

Uh.... not to be a pessimist but has anyone bought a ticket for ANY event? or even know anyone that has?

[fishermccann]

Yes, I have, the baseball finals in Ajax. I know of lots of people in my curling league, that have bought tickets, syncro swimming , diving, bike races etc. Many have bought just to see the new facilities.

[Hunter John]

Uh.... not to be a pessimist but has anyone bought a ticket for ANY event? or even know anyone that has?

Nope ,Although I do have a buddy volunteering at the cycling venue.