Various local newspapers and blogs have coverage of the Transit City plan announced Friday by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). The plan calls for a $6.1 billion, 120 km Light Rail network throughout Toronto comprised of seven routes that would carry 175 million riders per year. The routes are:
- Don Mills – Steeles Avenue to Bloor-Danforth Subway
- Eglinton Crosstown – Kennedy Station to Pearson Airport
- Etobicoke-Finch West – Yonge Street to Highway 27
- Jane – Jane Station to Steeles West Station
- Scarborough Malvern – Kennedy Station to Malvern/Morningside
- Sheppard East – Don Mills Station to Morningside Avenue
- Waterfront West – Union Station/Exhibition to Long Branch
Some sections including the Laird Drive to Keele Street portion of the Eglinton Crosstown route would be underground but most sections would be in above ground dedicated surface right-of-ways.
In addition Transit City plan is the previously announced fully funded Spadina Subway extension to York Univeristy and the Vaughan Corporate Centre and York Region is planning to improve the Viva rapid bus route down Yonge Street to the Finch subway line with dedicated lanes or a light rail route.
However at this point the Transit City plan is more a manifesto than an actual blue print as the City of Toronto lacks the money to put it into action. However by specifying what the city and transit planners hope to achieve the plan can be raised in future elections and budget processes.
Steve Munro, a well known Toronto Transit activist, and street car proponent gives his take on the announcement and examines the various proposed routes. See his “A Grand Plan” post category.
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