Scarborough mulls new transit wish?

[shambala]

Scarborough mulls new transit wish

Surface lines now favoured over subway

Aug. 23, 2006. 01:00 AM From thestar.ca

JOHN SPEARS

CITY HALL BUREAU

Scarborough councillors are muting their calls for a subway extension to the

city's

easternmost neighbourhoods in favour of a broader network of new surface transit

lines.

The change in tone came following a closed-door meeting of Scarborough

councillors, top

Toronto Transit Commission staff and some TTC commissioners at Scarborough Civic

Centre yesterday.

The Scarborough Rapid Transit line (SRT) is nearing the end of its life, and TTC

staff are

about to make a recommendation whether to replace it with a full-scale subway

line,

costing about $1.2 billion, or a more modest alternative. The TTC will consider

it next

week.

Councillor Michael Thompson, who chairs Scarborough community council, said TTC

officials didn't disclose their recommendation explicitly but "my read is it

isn't a subway."

Alternatives are to revamp the SRT for about $360 million, or rebuild an

expanded and

realigned version for about $550 million.

Scarborough community council took a hard line earlier this year, insisting on

subway

expansion there.

But Thompson said after hearing from the TTC, politicians are thinking more

about a

comprehensive transit plan for Scarborough rather than concentrating only on a

subway

extension.

Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker agreed.

"After two hours of soul-searching and haggling and discussion, I think there

was a

consensus that none of us is going to support building the Scarborough subway."

A subway would greatly benefit the immediate corridor it runs through, but

wouldn't

address transit issues right across Scarborough, he said.

"Instead, what we're going to do is ask the city to spend roughly the same

amount of

money building a dedicated streetcar system to every single corner of

Scarborough."

That would mean streetcars or other light-rail vehicles running on rights-of-way

on major

streets, such as Kingston Rd., Eglinton, Lawrence, Sheppard and Finch Aves.

A dedicated streetcar right of way has aroused opposition along St. Clair Ave.

W., but De

Baeremaeker said they'd be better accepted in Scarborough's less-dense

landscape.

Councillors intend to meet Friday to forge a formal position, Thompson said.

[TTCguy]

I think that is a great idea, because it will cost less and it'll be able to cover a larger area for the same amount of money as building the Scarbourough subway.