Really skeptical of that claim. Earlier this month, our Chief Planner mentioned that in the best case scenario, the SSE offers 5 minute trip time savings over the existing RT (this is presumably for trips to/from STC).
With that knowledge, I really find it hard to believe that, for Malvern residents, it would be faster for them to take a bus all the way to STC to then take the subway downtown, than it would be for them to use the LRT which would stop right in their neighbourhood.
I never mentioned time savings as it would be negligible either way. The real issue is the extra transfer. Most residents would need a bus just to get to the LRT and it really does very little except inconvenience most residents here. Especially those with extensive commutes. Now If the line went to Malvern TC than more people could benefit from the LRT but it doesn't so aside from the optics of transit to Markham and Milner its not that highly lauded and many residents share a longer term view that starts with the overdue subway extension and local transit enhancements are much easier to add in the future.
And remember this is Malvern that clearly supports a subway, and Malvern is a focal point in the sales pitch promoted by SLRT fanatics. Sheppard West is pro subway. The only real LRT support In Scarborough is along Eglinton and Kingston. The support for the SLRT and Sheppard LRT just isn't here. And for good reasons that it really doesn't do that much, adds and extra transfer in odd locations both cases that meshes poorly into the current infrastructure. The subway would be much more effective for these reasons. Subway support is overwhelmingly obvious to almost every Politician outside of the media and the select few opposition on council.
The further they fight to implement the SLRT against such heavy support, the more expensive everything could get and far worse, and the more polarized the City Council will become. If it doesn't bring it to a complete standstill at some point. To me the election in Scarborough will be much about a Ford subway vs. whatever Tory has funded. The SLRT is done if people are really paying attention to voters in Scarborough. The Malvern bi-election should have indicted the writing on the wall, not the start of a new debate given the stage we're at.
I know I harp on the media, and some don't like that. But it really is a one sided assault, which doesn't reflect the views of most of Scarborough as they only highlight the low end of the SSE supporters, absurd voice, slogans, etc. to fit an narrative and attack.
19/20 councilors support the SSE. All MP's and Premier and Opposition Leader. Thats not to say you cant find many people who support the SLRT here. There are many, Scarborough is a large diverse place, but they are the minority and being used to help promote the outside preference. The debate should have long moved on to pressuring for subway savings and stops and questioning the impact of Smarttrack. This SLRT has some merit, so does the subway, Scarborough has chosen the subway and carrying on this debate can only fuel greater Political unrest which has been in dangerous territory for a decade and realistically likely only minor $$ savings can be achieved and more questionable in the bigger picture.
