The Toronto Star, Globe and Mail and Canoe.ca have coverage today’s announcement by the Ontario government of MoveOntario 2020, a $17.5 billion dollar plan to increase public transit throughout the Greater Toronto Area. The highlight of the plan for Toronto residents is a commitment of funds for the TTC’s $6 billion Transit City light rail plan and an extension of the Yonge subway line north to Highway 7.
A key part of the plan for 52 rapid-transit improvements in 12 years is that the province will pay for two-thirds of their capital costs. It is hoped that the federal government will pick up the remainder with municipalities paying for operating costs.
The Ontario government a map (PDF) and a list of projects in the plan. I assume that once #29 Yonge subway line extension north from Finch station to Highway 7 (Langstaff) is in place than #37 Yonge Bus Rapid Transit busway from Finch station to Steeles Avenue and #46 VIVA Yonge Street from Steeles Avenue to Highway 7 (Langstaff) will be depreciated.
Unfortunately the plan appears to be a political football already, the Canoe.ca story states that Conservative critic Joyce Savoline said the Conservatives would not follow through with the plan if elected, and would draft their own transit strategy based on gas tax revenue going to transit improvements.