Scarborough subway versus LRT debate to return to council amid transit confusion
Mayor John Tory's executive committee advanced a transit plan that remains largely unfunded and with a large piece on the future of Scarborough transit undecided

thestar.com
June 28, 2016
By Jennifer Pagliaro

After more than four hours, Mayor John Tory’s executive committee approved taking the next steps on billions of dollars’ worth of proposed subway, heavy rail and LRT stops, as confusion over Scarborough’s transit future escalated.

Whether to fund a subway or LRTs in Scarborough is a decision now headed back to council - nearly three years after council voted to scrap plans for a fully funded light-rail line in favour of a three-stop subway that cost billions more and is now said to have lacked proper planning.

With costs ballooning for the controversial one-stop subway - $3.2 billion that critics say would provide less rapid transit at a higher cost - Tory and his council supporters tried to preemptively shut down any attempt to revive plans for a seven-stop LRT to replace the aging Scarborough RT.

“The people spoke,” Tory told reporters of what he says is a continuing election mandate to build a subway to Scarborough, regardless of the number of stops, the potential ridership or climbing cost.

“I just am confident, that ‘build it and they will come.’ Build it and we will see the investment happen. Build it and we will see people more able to get to jobs in Scarborough and have a better life for themselves and for their families.”

TTC CEO Andy Byford has thrown a wrench into the movement to return to an LRT, saying delays and redesign could mean costs escalated to as much as $3 billion.

A group of councillors outside the mayor’s inner circle questioned using limited funds for a single stop to Scarborough Town Centre at a time when top city officials say lack of revenues could lead to service cuts.

“How much is too much to pay for a one-stop subway?” asked Councillor Joe Cressy (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina). “If your answer is any cost justifies the subway, then ask yourself, why? It’s not in the interest of Scarborough.”

Staff confirmed the $3.2-billion cost could still rise, with little design work done so far. That takes up almost all of the $3.56 billion committed to transit in Scarborough, leaving a second $1.7 billion LRT line with up to 17 stops along Eglinton Ave. East almost completely unfunded.

Tory’s executive, after conferring with senior city officials and TTC staff during the packed meeting, piled on questions to cast doubt on the viability of the seven-stop LRT.

They were following Tory’s lead in an opinion piece published in the Star on Tuesday, which questioned whether the LRT “remains feasible.”

Asked for specifics, the mayor pointed to funding committed for a subway from senior governments. But that money is still available for an LRT, those governments confirm.

The province committed to pay for the seven-stop LRT in a still-signed master agreement. Metrolinx, the province’s transit arm, has said returning to the LRT is still “within the city’s purview.” Before the funding commitment was reduced by the province to $1.48 billion (in 2010 dollars), the original LRT cost was $1.8 billion (in 2010 dollars). When escalated to the year that money would be spent, the cost was $2.45 billion, according to a 2013 city staff report.

A spokesperson for federal Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi told the Star Tuesday that the government maintains its commitment of $660 million and “it is up to the City of Toronto to decide how this funding will be allocated.”

Both the TTC and Metrolinx have stressed there are many unknowns, since work on the LRT stopped when council backed a subway in 2013.

Under questioning by executive members, TTC CEO Andy Byford said Kennedy Station, already planned for reconstruction to accommodate the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, would require redesign.

Byford speculated that extra work and possibly a need to wait until Metrolinx completes the Crosstown construction would mean the LRT could not open until 2026 - a “best guess” estimate. He said the “rough” estimate of costs escalated to 2026 would be as high as $3 billion. He cautioned those costs would need to be “properly” examined.

Byford later told reporters the province would have been responsible for cost escalations. But it’s unclear whether the province would foot that bill if the city is seen to be responsible for the delays. No one was able to provide those answers Tuesday night.

Executive members also asked if there is room to build the LRT in the existing SRT corridor, as once planned. Chief planner Jennifer Keesmaat said the city “would need to investigate that” based on plans for GO Transit expansion.

GO’s Stouffville line runs parallel to the SRT corridor. Metrolinx confirmed, as do reports assessing GO expansion plans from 2014, that the expansion was “compatible” with an LRT and would not require additional properties to be expropriated. According to the original assessment of the LRT in 2010, some property expropriations were required for the LRT.

Subway advocates on council railed against those who would suggest an alternative.

“If you think you can go back to the LRT, you’re dreaming in technicolour,” said Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker. “Naysayers and nitpickers, get out of the way, because we’re building a subway.”

Byford stressed that “regardless of what the agreed solution is for Scarborough,” the unfunded first phase of a subway line to relieve congestion on the Yonge line is the TTC’s top priority. “It remains as important as ever,” he said.

The relief line, estimated to cost $6.8 billion, is completely unfunded.

Tory’s executive committee also voted Tuesday night to refer a KPMG study analyzing a menu of taxes and levies back to staff to be considered as part of city manager Peter Wallace's long-term financial direction report in the fall.

How best to build transit in Scarborough, how to fund that relief line and the fate of other network plans are The transit decisions are now before council, which meets starting July 12.