How Patrick Brown would change Toronto transit plans

Progressive Conservative platform would alter subway plans, but continue Liberal policies on key transit projects.

Thestar.com
Dec. 4, 2017
By Ben Spurr

Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown unveiled his party's election platform last weekend, pledging to deliver "change that works for transit users."

The policy document, dubbed the "People's Guarantee," makes nine promises to improve public transit. Some are sure to prove controversial, such as his proposals to upload part the TTC subway system to the province and revive Rob Ford-era plans for a Sheppard subway to Scarborough.

Despite the promise of "change" however, if elected next June the PCs would continue many of the key policies of Premier Kathleen Wynne's Liberal government, including a major expansion of GO Transit service and the construction of new light rail lines.

Why are the PCs promising to take over TTC subways?

Brown is proposing that the province take ownership of TTC tunnels, tracks and stations, as well as assume responsibility for building new lines.

But Queen's Park would contract the operations of the subways back to the TTC and the city would keep all fare box revenue while maintaining "complete control" of day-to-day service.

The Tories say provincial ownership of the subway network would be more cost-effective for taxpayers. Because the province has the ability to amortize the cost of expensive projects and gradually pay them off over the life of the infrastructure, putting the subways on the province's books would allow the government to "make a dollar go further," said PC transportation critic Michael Harris. That would free up money for maintaining the existing network and building new routes.

It would also be expensive for the province: the TTC is predicting it needs to spend $1.6 billion over the next decade on subway facilities, track and signals.

On Monday, Mayor John Tory expressed reservations about the city giving up ownership of the subway, which is highly integrated with bus and streetcar lines.

"If you were in some way or any way take it apart, I think you'd have to analyze what the consequences are," he said, suggesting the arrangement could damage the "integrity" of the transit system.

Where would the PCs build new subways?

The platform pledges $5 billion for subway construction. Almost $1 billion would go to relieving the city of paying its share of the Scarborough subway extension and the Tories would also cover $200 million in disputed costs for the project the Liberal government says the province isn't obligated to pay.

In return, the Tories would ask the city to make a "significant financial investment" to extend the Eglinton Crosstown LRT to the University of Toronto's Scarborough campus. The line is unfunded and estimated to cost $1.7 billion.

The remainder of the subway money would be put toward up to three projects: the relief line, an extension of the Yonge subway into Richmond Hill, and reviving plans to connect the Sheppard subway to the Scarborough Town Centre.

Together the three projects would cost at least $15.7 billion. To help cover the cost, the party would ask the federal government to match its $5-billion commitment.

Harris wouldn't say which of the three subways would be a priority, saying all of them "should be considered prime candidates for development."

Last term city council voted against building the $3.5-billion Sheppard subway in a dramatic reversal against then-mayor Rob Ford. A city report determined at its busiest time the line would carry just 7,800 people per hour, well below the minimum threshold for requiring a subway. The city and province have endorsed plans for a Sheppard LRT instead, although the line has been repeatedly deferred.

Harris said the province should take another look at the Sheppard subway because "we need to show that transit in (Scarborough) is a priority."

Liberal Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca charged Brown's promise to build the Sheppard line "is not credible because the funds allocated fall far short of what's needed."

Would the PCs complete transit projects already underway?

The Tories would "fulfil the existing commitments" to complete LRT lines in Ottawa, Hamilton and Kitchener, as well as the Finch West line in Toronto.

The party would also complete the Liberals' most expensive transit project - a $13.5-billion expansion of GO Transit service known as regional express rail (RER), under which GO trains would be electrified and run more frequently.

Brown would also move to harmonize GO and TTC fares to support Tory's SmartTrack plan.

The People's Guarantee pledges to complete a study for the proposed high-speed rail link between Toronto and Windsor, which the Liberals advanced earlier this year.

Would the PCs change Metrolinx?

The Tories have sharply criticized Metrolinx, the arms-length provincial agency in charge of transit for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, accusing the organization of bowing to Liberal political demands during projects like the launch of the Union Pearson Express. They have also condemned the agency for approving a new GO station in Del Duca's riding even though internal reports recommended against it.

The PCs have no plans to reform Metrolinx however.

"Metrolinx has commonly been used for the political purposes of the Wynne Liberals," Harris said. "This problem can only be solved by removing the Wynne Liberals from office."