Scarborough subway debate will continue on Wednesday

Toronto city council failed to come to a conclusion on Scarborough transit plans after hours of debate Tuesday, and will continue to contemplate a subway extension on Wednesday morning.

Converting the existing Scarborough RT into an LRT has already been approved by the Ontario government under a deal with the provincial agency, Metrolinx, but council is now considering extending the Bloor-Danforth subway into the east end of the city.

After hours of debate, Coun. Denzil Minnan-Wong moved to defer the transit motion until more information could be garnered and financial commitments from the federal government could be confirmed, but it failed in a vote, 12-32, and talks continued.

Eventually, it was decided that the debate and vote would take place on Wednesday and council wrapped up the meeting at 8 p.m.

If council does give the more-expensive subway plan the go-ahead, the city would seek federal funding — money Ottawa has not guaranteed.

“We want a fair federal contribution, anywhere from $400-600 million,” city manager Joe Pennachetti said Tuesday morning as the debate got underway. “After receiving the provincial funding, we would like a (50/50) partnership with the federal government.”

Mayor Ford said he was confident the federal government would support a Scarborough subway if council moved forward in that direction and presented a viable business model.

“The federal government is on board with this plan…they are willing to come to the table,” Ford said.

“Today Metrolinx is just asking for clarity on the master agreement. And today we can show that we are fully committed to subways.”

Ford said Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty told him the city would have to apply for federal infrastructure cash, but he sounded confident that the money would become available.

“Mr. Flaherty came out and said, ‘We are on board, we just want a plan from you and we need clarity.’ ”

Ford also said Transportation Minister Glen Murray was receptive to subways when they met on Monday, but was waiting for council to offer direction before making any sort of commitment.

“We are going to have to sell our plan…but both ministers are on-side, they believe in subways, and they are supporting us.”

“We can’t ask for the money first and then give them a plan. We need the plan first.”

Ford maintained he was fighting for the people of Scarborough, who want subways, not LRTs.

“It’s what the people of Scarborough want, they’ve spoken loud and clear,” he said.

But Coun. Josh Matlow confronted the mayor on his understanding of the LRTs, which Metrolinx says are fully separated from traffic.

“Do you actually understand that it’s grade separated? That it doesn’t rip out traffic lanes?” Matlow asked.

“It does rip out traffic lanes,” the mayor responded, sparking laughter from the gallery. “LRTs go down the middle of a road, they tear up our roads.”

At Mayor Rob Ford’s urging, Pennachetti issued a report on Friday, recommending a tax hike to help pay for the proposed $2.3 billion subway.

The report suggests a property tax hike of between 1.1 per cent and 2.4 per cent over three years starting with 0.5 per cent in 2014.

Ford said on Friday the “minimal” increase would equal 0.25 per cent a year over four years starting in 2015. He also said the subway plan needed the $1.8 billion the province earmarked for the LRT plan it would replace, as well as federal funding.

On Tuesday, Pennachetti expressed concerns that the province was backtracking on its financial commitment and was now throwing around a lower number.

“Our issue right now is they are at the point of saying $1.4B as their contribution, as opposed to the $1.8B that we always assumed was their contribution.”

LRTs would be cheaper, Pennachetti admitted, but his report, in conjunction with TTC CEO Andy Byford, found that subways would be faster and more reliable.

Earlier, Coun. Matlow asked how long a three-stop subway extension would take to build, and Pennachetti said it would be completed by 2023.

But Coun. Janet Davis pointed out that the federal government would require numerous studies before jumping on board, and an environmental assessment alone could take up to two years. She asked Pennachetti if his completion date of 2023 could actually end up being 2025.

“It’s possible,” Pennachetti conceded.

Davis also took issue with the costs of a Scarborough subway plan, pointing out that both the TTC and Toronto social housing had significant financial backlogs, and could use the extra money.

Click here to read the full motion.

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