superman:
Actually, the original MOU would have prioritized Sheppard subway from Downsview to STC (unfunded), and seen Eglinton fully underground (not simply "grade separated") with nothing left for anything else. Personally I don't consider burying a line through what is predominantly an industrial/industrial related area a good use of money.
AoD
Still a better deal than the mess we're in now. The SRT part remaining elevated merged with Eglinton being buried (elevated would have saved money) is the superior option which even Metrolinx used to want to pursue in the first place.
Cancelling Sheppard and Finch LRT won't make me lose a minute of sleep if it gets the focus back on the DRL. I'm confident that the largest consensus in the
entire city is that the DRL must happen.
So why not focus there after Scarborough and Eglinton Rapid Transit are done the right way right from the beginning and then move on to the DRL after?
Sheppard and Finch can wait because we all know that the debate (Subways vs LRT) for those avenues will be back...again at both the provincial and municipal elections. Those lines are so divisive that it makes this city look like a fool to the province, the Feds and its own citizens.
It's a damn shame because if Councillors could get over themselves, they would realize that the Scarborough-Eglinton Crosstown is as close as they'll get to unanimously agree on a transit plan if they could just let go of Transit City for a second and look at the bigger picture.
I agree, burying Eglinton East is unnecessary but elevating it like Metrolinx had proposed to Rob Ford in the first place is the better choice along with the DRL.
This city needs the Crosstown to be fast and unify the city (Airport-Etobicoke-York-Toronto-Scarborough). We need the DRL along with it. Finch and Sheppard can definitely wait since they are the root of the infighting at city hall because ex-mayor, ex-TTC Chair and some councillors insist to drag their pet project LRT for whatever reason (pro-green, finding streetcars sexy, electoral reasons, whatever) ahead of completing a true Rapid Transit acting as a backbone to the whole grid.
I'm so sick of people bringing up Paris, London and other cities around the world as a model for LRT. Let me tell you something about those cities. First of all, WE ARE a world class city. Most Torontonians might not accept it in their head or hearts but the world think that of us.
So having people like councillor Shelley Carroll saying:
Since Minneapolis and Denver have LRT's we should too!"
Really???
Everyone knows that Paris, Berlin and London have extensive rapid transit lines and built LRT to complement their network. That's not what we're talking about here. We're going on the cheap and substituting Rapid transit for LRT's. I've read from people here that LRT on Don Mills and Jane should act as a DRL...Really?
Let's do this right. Let's built it right. The only positive thing about this council is that they just started to get vocal on how the Feds have abandoned Toronto in the transit files while they invest in other cities across the country. And you know what? We got their attention...
I remember when Baird told us to F*** off. Now, Flaherty was open to additional funds and when the province blindsided the Feds, they were quick on the defensive and remind us that they had a deadline. I honestly think that it's unlikely that they will let the Wynne Government make a fool out of them. We need to keep the pressure on the Feds.
My councillor is Mihevc...I don't agree with the man but hey, I met him, wrote to him and he doesn't agree with my position but at least we share the same view on the Federal government absence on the matter. I did the same with my MPP and MP. What are you doing?
. At this point, I wouldn't put it past council to cancel the Sheppard and Finch LRTs for a bag of magic subway-burrowing beans.
