City council to vote on Sheppard transit’s future Wednesday

A vote is expected Wednesday on a plan to bring light-rail transit to Sheppard Avenue, a decision Mayor Rob Ford has long opposed.

Ford’s first act upon taking office was to scrap Transit City, a plan that had already received provincial approval and funding.  LRT on Eglinton, Finch, and Sheppard were key components of the transit city plan.

 Earlier this year, Coun. Karen Stintz re-introduced a version of Transit City that was approved by council, bringing LRT lines on Eglinton and Finch to the city.

Earlier this month, an expert panel recommended light-rail transit for Sheppard Avenue East. One panel member said LRT was the best option “as well as the most cost effective one within the funding situation.”

Ford called the panel “biased” and said he would continue to push for subways, despite the high cost.

“It has been remarkable to witness the debate in Toronto where the ‘conservative’ position is one that promotes a costly infrastructure project that is guaranteed to raise taxes by a mayor that spent the first two years in office lowering them,” Coun. Karen Stintz wrote in an editorial in the Toronto Sun on Tuesday.

“Light-rapid transit will bring the needed transit improvements to Scarborough residents and it will do so while respecting taxpayers.”

The panel studied three options:

  • Building the subway out to Scarborough City Centre , which would cost up to $3.7 billion
  • A hybrid plan with a subway to Victoria Park and an LRT to Morningside, which would cost up to $1.8 billion
  • Building the LRT on Sheppard Avenue from Don Mills Road to Morningside Avenue, at a cost of $1 billion.

The panel endorsed the third transit plan. If council also approves it, the move would mean 25 stations on a 13-kilometre stretch between Don Mills and Morningside.

The city would also confirm Sheppard East LRT as a priority transit line within the Metrolinx “5 in 10” plan (formerly known as Transit City).

Of that $1 billion, the provincial government has agreed to pay $650 million, and the federal government will kick in $333 million.

Ford has said he would prefer to use that $1 billion for subways, and have the private sector kick in the remaining $2 billion. Ford has not released the details of that funding plan, however, the idea of increasing property tax and a parking levy have been floated at city hall.

The panel’s transit report did note that a one per cent property tax increase over seven years would pay for the subway extension.

With files from Shawne McKeown

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today