ssiguy2
Senior Member
Sheppard is certainly not going to be completed but I think it will be extended probably from the Spadina Line to possibly Consumers.
He already has $330 million from the feds and effectively $650 million from the province as he will make sure that come hell or high water the line ends with 4650 million to spare. McGuinty is providing $8.2 billion and if Eglinton is built and there is a lot left over I don't think he would refuse to give over any unused funds. If, for example, the Eglinton line comes in at only $7.2 billion it may not be in the contract but I think he would give the city the entire $1 billion as opposed to just the $650 million.
Where this could work in Toronto's favour is if he manages to get the feds to pony up. If the feds give him a cool billion for the Eglinton so the Eglinton only ends up costing Queen's Park $7.2 billion then I don't think McGuinty would refuse the unneeded funds.
My basic point is that I think the $8.2 billion is a guarantee regardless of the eventual cost of the Eglinton which could certainly work in everyone's favour. If the feds kick in a billion then effectively that just a billion more available for Sheppard. Also it could entice Ford {or any mayor after him} to elevate the line {I think the province will demand a total grade separation to avoid another TransitCity headache} from roughly Don Mills to Kennedy as it is purely industrial/commercial and always will be. Again the savings from doing that could go straigt to Sheppard.
I'm not saying it's the best use of funds but I can definately see a good chunk of Sheppard being completed by 2020.
He already has $330 million from the feds and effectively $650 million from the province as he will make sure that come hell or high water the line ends with 4650 million to spare. McGuinty is providing $8.2 billion and if Eglinton is built and there is a lot left over I don't think he would refuse to give over any unused funds. If, for example, the Eglinton line comes in at only $7.2 billion it may not be in the contract but I think he would give the city the entire $1 billion as opposed to just the $650 million.
Where this could work in Toronto's favour is if he manages to get the feds to pony up. If the feds give him a cool billion for the Eglinton so the Eglinton only ends up costing Queen's Park $7.2 billion then I don't think McGuinty would refuse the unneeded funds.
My basic point is that I think the $8.2 billion is a guarantee regardless of the eventual cost of the Eglinton which could certainly work in everyone's favour. If the feds kick in a billion then effectively that just a billion more available for Sheppard. Also it could entice Ford {or any mayor after him} to elevate the line {I think the province will demand a total grade separation to avoid another TransitCity headache} from roughly Don Mills to Kennedy as it is purely industrial/commercial and always will be. Again the savings from doing that could go straigt to Sheppard.
I'm not saying it's the best use of funds but I can definately see a good chunk of Sheppard being completed by 2020.