Province gives Toronto billions for Eglinton light rail line, transit plan
Posted: April 01, 2009, 7:44 PM by Rob Roberts
By Allison Hanes, National Post
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty today handed Toronto $4.6 billion to build a light-rail line along Eglinton Avenue, stretching from Pearson Airport to Scarborough.
The 30-kilometre crosstown line, to be buried through the city’s dense core, was among $8.6-billion worth of public transit projects the Premier handed out cheques for today – the bulk of them in Toronto.
In addition to the Eglinton line, Queen’s Park pledged funding to a Finch light-rail line and the modernization and expansion of the aging rapid-transit line through Scarborough.
The investment in Toronto public transit projects totaled $7.2-billion.
The province also put up $1.4-billion to build dedicated bus lanes in York Region and $3-million to study rapid transit options in Hamilton.
But Mr. McGuinty hinted these could be just the beginning.
“More to come,†the Premier said. “We have $9 billion that we’ve set aside for these projects. We have the money… We have the will, the desire, we have the commitment and now we want to get going.â€
Toronto Mayor David Miller was overjoyed today.
“This is an incredible day for Toronto and it can’t be over-emphasized,†Mr. Miller said. “To have the city’s Transit City plan be funded, the lines that are ready to go get their money. There could not be a more important announcement about building a 21st century city.â€
Transit City is the Toronto Transit Commission’s vision for a network of eight rapid-transit light-rail lines reaching every corner of Toronto. The eight lines are expected to cost close to $10-billion and require the purchase of new light-rail vehicles. But until today he had not secured firm funding from either Ontario or the federal government.
However, missing from the list of funded projects today was the Sheppard light-rail line, which Mr. Miller has repeatedly touted as “shovel ready†and the first piece of the Transit City puzzle.
Echoing Mr. McGuinty’s words, both the Mayor and TTC chair Adam Giambrone insisted the project was still in the works.
“You heard the Premier’s answer on Sheppard. ‘More to come,’ he said,†Mr. Miller stated. “We’re not stopping. I would anticipate we’ll have some good news about that that wasn’t announced today ... We’re planning to have shovels in the ground by late summer.â€
Coming just a week after the provincial budget Mr. McGuinty said the transit investments are part of his economic stimulus package to create jobs and investment, while leaving an infrastructure legacy for cities.
But ground is not expected to be broken on any of the projects until next year. ‘‘If we could start them any earlier I’d love to,†the Premier said.
The Finch light rail line, worth $1.2-billion, would stretch from Humber College in the west to Don Mills subway station in the east, offering residents of poorer neighbourhoods along its length better access to the Yonge-University-Spadina subways. Completion is slated for 2013.
The Eglinton line will extend some 30 kilometres from the airport to the Kennedy subway stop in Scarborough.
It will be buried for 13 kilometres roughly from Keele to Leslie streets, but it will be an underground light-rail line rather than a full subway. It is set to be fully operational in 2016.
Toronto city councillor Karen Stintz (Eglinton Lawrence) said she was “pleased†with the announcement.
“My preference would have been a subway, that being said I appreciate that this is going to go forward,†she said.
Along Eglinton Avenue as well, the announcement was received positively, with a few caveats.
Nick Alampi, president of the York-Eglinton BIA from roughly Dufferin Street to Marlee Avenue, said his first reaction is “excitement.â€
He said rapid transit has the potential to bring investment and customers to the midtown strip – as long as there are enough stops so passengers moving underground stop and spend.
Jordan Applebaum, president of the Eglinton Park Residents’ Association representing the area near Yonge Street, said the crosstown line will be a boon to retail.
“And we think that’s wonderful,†e said. “However we are concerned with some of the congestion issues at the subway and security [of unmanned underground transit stops.]â€
