raptor
Senior Member
I can't wait til this thing is started
Mammoliti, Karygiannis to make transit change pitches to Toronto’s executive committee
Subway lines would be better than LRTs along Finch West, Sheppard East, say councillors
York West Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti will try and convince Mayor John Tory’s executive committee to take another look at the Finch Avenue West LRT light rail plan.
At the same meeting on March 25, Scarborough-Agincourt Councillor Jim Karygiannis will be pitching a Sheppard subway.
The two councillors’ member motion asking for those two things is Item 14 on the March 25 executive Committee meeting agenda.
The motion originally came before Toronto Council at its February meeting, and was referred to committee.
Both councillors had campaigned on a change to the city and Metrolinx’ transit infrastructure plans, and since the election have frequently spoken in favour of the change.
Karygiannis opposes the light rail line that will be extending east along Sheppard Avenue from Don Mills station, and has argued that Scarborough residents deserve a subway there.
Mammoliti, meanwhile, has been a strong opponent of the planned light rail line along Finch Avenue West, arguing that the community would be better served by a subway and that the light rail line will hinder truck traffic that services the industrial areas along Finch.
Duly Quoted: John Tory’s Spokesperson, on the Finch LRT
The mayor's spokesperson gives the most encouraging sign the Finch LRT has seen in a long time.
“The [Finch] LRT will proceed, as planned and funded by the provincial government.”
—John Tory spokesperson Amanda Galbraith speaks to the Sun in advance of council’s executive committee next Wednesday. At the meeting, the executive will consider a motion by Giorgio Mammoliti (Ward 7, York West) to “revisit the debate regarding transit plans on Finch Avenue West in order to provide residents and businesses with a more valuable solution than Light Rapid Transit.” During the mayoral campaign, Tory was less than committed to the Finch and Sheppard LRT lines, and said they were not his priorities.
There are rumours as well that that the second (Torontoist) article also applies to the Sheppard East LRT as well.
What makes you think that Tory's comments apply to SELRT as well?
Which is why he and the rest of council deferred this motion last month, sending it to the Executive Committee.I don't think Tory wants another subway vs. LRT fight. He's committed to his Smarttrack plan, and doesn't want any distractions.
The LRTs are P3s, they can't go overbudget. If they go over budget the private contractor pays.
Tory's position continues to be that he isn't particularly happy with the LRTs but he isn't going to change course on them, its a decision that has already been made.
The LRTs are P3s, they can't go overbudget.
well they can go over budget, but the province only pays if it is scope creep.