I have literally never heard a single family member or friend from Scarborough mention the DRL. The only ones that ever do are people I know who live downtown.
The marketing on this has been terrible....when it comes to the average Joe. Most of the push has been on LRT vs. subway. Very little discussion and coverage on the DRL. Particularly if you look at the mainstream media.
So I really am curious to see which way the tories go. On one hand, Hudak actually had the DRL in his platform the last time around. On the other hand, if you look at the raw politics of it (and note that I am not saying this a good idea....I think transit planning should be done by a regional bureaucratic agency), the DRL would be super expensive and no real electoral payoff compared to Sheppard and Yonge North.
Having grown up in "6dad Norm's" riding, and with family still living there, I can say the terrible marketing is due in large part to the absolutely awful local councilors Scarborough keeps electing.. washed up has-beens like Karygiannis are only interested in riling up the electorate with wedge issues and silly subways to nowhere than supporting projects that would actually help and benefit Scarborough. Even the 6dad has been ridiculously quiet on the DRL front, even though his riding and North Scarborough would be significant benefactors of the DRL. It's an absolute travesty, because Scarborough has a lot of untapped potential, and probably has the most beautiful parks and natural scenery in the 416.
Often times they seemed much more concerned about downtown issues and acting out their regular obstructionist soap operas in council, than actually thinking about how to make their local wards a better place.
Norm was also dismissive of "bike lanes", and they got rid of the bike lanes on Huntingwood instead of improving it with bollards, etc. Now everytime I'm walking around the neighbourhood, I'm almost mowed down by people who are biking on the sidewalks, cause it's too dangerous to bike on the streets.
I still get Norm's monthly newsletter, and it's often nothing more than a laundry list of paltry "accomplishments" and NIMBYism gone awry.
Now living downtown, its a breath of fresh air seeing how much more committed councilors to their ward's growth and livability. It's almost like night and day.
DRL Long, is I think, just out of the question. The cost would be incredible. The timeline to deliver very long (spanning at least 2 full terms) And there's no way either the Liberals or the Tories will deliver that in the next decade.
I utterly abhor this Liberal government. But they probably are the only chance of shovels in the ground for the DRL in the next half decade.
I agree the stars will have to align to get it built, but I'm crossing my fingers common sense will prevail. This and the Stouville GO RER (plus feeder LRT routes) would be the absolute game changers that Scarborough deserves.