Discussions on Dow's Lake Station (formerly Carling).

New rendering of Dow's Lake station compared to its current state. As Derek pointed out on another forum, the elevator shaft (for double elevators) seems to be the only change. I wonder if they will add a lantern as well. No doubt the "O" pylons will be added to all Trillium stations. 

 

Dow's Lake. IMO this is probably the most nonsensical renaming that the city did. This I have case in having this opinion than most of the other station names I've complained about.

1. Anyone to takes the O-Train, I would say 99% AREN'T going to Dow's Lake... The vast majority use that Station as a connection to from Bus and Train service on Carling Ave to get to Preston, Bronson and the hospitals. If there was genuine ridership to Dow's lake, then explain why the city cancelled bus service on Prince of Wales with Route 3 all the way back in 2011? Because there wasn't sufficient ridership (well, under the Watson cut mandate, anyways) to places like Dow's Lake, which became apparent when the Sir John Carling Building was closed and demolished. I highly doubt this has changed since regular service on Route 3 was cancelled 10 years ago.

2. If they really want to pin point Dow's Lake as a point of interest, why can't they just modify the NSAS to announce "Dow's Lake - Lac Dow's". Apparently a lot of you were confused when I said this on the CPTDB, so I constructed a moded NSAS recording that demonstrates that they can get the same effect without confusing the riders with all the station renaming's, let alone, renaming an entire station to an irrelevant point of interest to the majority of Line 2 riders. Carling Station NSAS Concept.mp3

3. Oh yeah, stop changing station names that people are accustomed to... 

 

 

I was actually on board with the name change. I suggested it well before the City renamed it. My reasoning for the name change was that Carling is already served by two rapid transit stations, with this one and Lincoln Fields. Carling also has various major destinations all the way up and down, so giving one station the "Carling" moniker isn't specific enough. With TOD going up at a fast pace, the hospital, and the Lake itself a destination for tourists and locals (Winterlude, Tulip Festival, summer in general),  it brings more prominence to the station and reminds people that transit is a good option to visit. I could see people calling the entire area "Dow's Lake" as time goes on. 

There are several other station names that I strongly disagree with. Mooney's Bay, which you posted about earlier, to me is the biggest offender.