While Karen Stintz’s new TTC proposal is gaining support from council’s left, right and centre, Rob Ford’s transit plan is getting support from, well, Rob Ford (also, it can apparently be summed up in just three words: “I’m building subways”). In Stintz’s plan, the Eglinton LRT would be built partially above ground (against the mayor’s wishes), redistributing leftover funds to extend the Sheppard subway and create rapid bus transit on Finch Avenue. In many respects, this looks like as good a compromise as Ford is going to get: it allows him to deliver on his promise of a Sheppard subway extension and serve an underserved area. The Toronto Star’s sources, however, say the mayor doesn’t want to compromise (which, really, isn’t that surprising). Of course, by sticking to his guns, Ford is digging himself into an even deeper hole (transit pun!). Sure, there has been much talk of a new, more conciliatory environment at city hall, but it looks like council might just go in another direction on its own, dragging Ford, kicking and screaming, along for the ride. Read the entire story [Toronto Star] »
(Images: Rob Ford, Christopher Drost; Yonge-Sheppard subway, gloom)
I like subways. I don’t like above ground subways because they’re noisy and ugly. Why would someone want to install above ground subways in leaside? eww. gross.
January 29, 2012 at 2:02 pm | by MattI think that it doesnt matter if the subways were above ground. WE NEED BETTER TRANSIT SERVICE! Other metropolitan cities have better systems than this. Toronto is a large city, so we should get more subways going to more places. And, we cannot afford to make transit city completely underground. On top of that, if we want the money for all of transit city underground, we’re going to end up getting private companies to own the TTC, and so fares are going to rise greatly. David Miller’s plan was completely fine, and it fits Torontonians’ needs for public transit. Rob Ford’s plan simply does not fulfill our needs.
February 2, 2012 at 12:17 pm | by VincentI support Ford building subway plan, subway will be permenent. It saves some money on building RT now, but it takes a lot of surfice room and it’s not good for a long run. N years after, the next generation want the build the subway again, the money and effort to build the RT today will be a huge waste. Please, politicians, think further ahead.
February 9, 2012 at 11:41 am | by JackieI support his subway plan, it’s for the benefit for our next generation. Toronto is a large modern city, actually we are already late for this project. Mass transit is the final conclusion to solve the traffic problem and for the environment.
February 27, 2012 at 9:07 pm | by Amy Chan