Mihevc calls for review of St. Clair streetcar success
Posted March 30, 2012 8:13 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – Councillor Joe Mihevc says he wants Mayor Rob Ford to stop calling the St. Clair streetcar right-of-way a disaster unless he has something to back it up.
The mayor has been using the St. Clair line as a springboard in his fight against the LRT.
Mihevic says he knows this is partly political but says he is tired of the mayor slamming the streetcar line and says it is time taxpayers got the truth.
He is calling on the TTC to study its impact of the streetcar on the neighbourhood he represents. He thinks a third party review would set the record straight.
“I am willing to accept the criticism as one of the proponents however if all the data shows that it is successful, then the mayor has to wear that.”
Mihevc says developers and real estate agents are using the St. Clair streetcar to attract buyers, more restaurants are opening up, and more people riding the streetcar.
He said the scope of the job changed to include sewers, sidewalks and hydro and that pushed the cost higher.
TTC Commissioner, councillor Peter Milczyn, says Mihevc has to let it go and that a study would be a waste of money.
He added that any street that underwent construction would see a rebound once the work had finished.
