Rob Ford reveals plan for $9B, 32-kilometre subway expansion

ctvnews.ca
Sept. 3, 2014
By Kendra Mangione

Rob Ford has released his Toronto transit plan, calling for 32 kilometres of new subway lines in the city.

The plan, outlined by Ford at a news conference in Etobicoke Wednesday morning, would expand current subway lines while adding short relief lines to connect parts of the Yonge-University-Spadina, Bloor-Danforth, Sheppard, and Scarborough Rapid Transit lines.

"Decades ago, our city took pride in having one of the best subway systems in the world. But after years of underinvestment, our subway system has fallen far behind," Ford said.

"London, Paris, Tokyo, New York have invested billions to build impressive subway networks. To stay competitive as a growing, world class city, Toronto absolutely must invest in a major subway expansion."

Ford said that during the 2010-2014 term of council, the city approved $25 billion of new commercial and residential development. He said it's time that the city put money towards transit, and specifically, more subway tracks.

The TTC is already planning to expand the Yonge-University-Spadina line from Wilson Station to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, including stops at Finch Avenue West, York University and Highway 407.

Phase One of Ford's "Toronto Subway Expansion Plan" would see subway tracks from the future Finch West Station to Humber College, Queen Station to Pape Station, Laird Station to Kennedy Station, and Don Mills Station to McCowan Station.

Phase Two would make further connections, linking Kipling Station to Mount Dennis and Humber College, Queen Station to Dundas West, Pape to the Bloor line and Downsview to Sheppard-Yonge.

The full expansion would cost approximately $9 billion, Ford said, and would be funded by the municipal, provincial and federal governments, advertisement sales, taxes, and the reallocation of funding from proposed light rail transit expansions.

Ford has not said how long the projects are expected to take.

Full details of the Toronto Subway Expansion Plan can be seen on Ford's campaign website in PDF format.