Ontario, Toronto near TTC plan accord
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefOntario and the city of Toronto Thursday planned to announce a revised C$12.4 billion plan to extend the Toronto Transit Commission’s Sheppard subway line in two directions, and to build a new Eglinton light rail line from Jane Street to Kennedy Station.
The province will spend $8.2 billion on the new 20-kilometer (12.4-mile) Eglinton Crosstown Metro, a light rail line, running underground from Black Creek toKennedy Station and continuing above ground along the existing Scarborough Rapid Transit route, to be converted to conventional LRT use.
Still undetermined is the $4.2 billion in financing sought for the Sheppard subway extensions west to Downsview station and east to Scarborough Town Centre, a project sought by Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, who favors underground rail projects despite the higher per-mile costs. Ford, a vocal opponent of Transit City, vowed to ban additional street running by LRT or streetcar vehicles, claiming such use interfered with vehicular traffic; his opposition has resulted in the elimination of at least one LRT extension on the Finch Line, though light rail advocates continue to challenge the administration’s stance.
The revised funding plan supersedes earlier plans for 56 kilometers (35 miles) of light rail expansion under Transit City, expanding (or converting) the Eglinton, Sheppard, Finch, and Scarborough RT routes.
Construction is scheduled to begin this year, with completion set for 2020.
