[Rainforest]

Finch West LRT has solid transportation benefits, and as such, was always supported by the relatively small pool of informed transit advocates.

Speaking of the broader public, and the governments responsible for the funding, term "flying under the radar" is probably the most accurate. The locals aren't eagerly demanding this line, and they aren't against it either. The single councilor who was against it, has lost the recent riding-merging election, and all the opposition is gone.

The Liberals had been eager to show some real progress for all their big transit talk, the Finch line was one relatively simple and straightforward, so it got funded. By the time Ford's Conservatives took the office, the contracts were signed. Ford didn't want to add the cancellation penalties to his record, along with a hard-to-meet obligation to build one more subway instead. Voila, we are actually building the LRT in this corridor.

 

[BurlOak]

I'd like to see a loop with Eglinton through Pearson and Malvern.

Eglinton portion requires subway, while Finch requires bus. Let's take the average and give them all an LRT.

The Liberals had been eager to show some real progress for all their big transit talk, the Finch line was one relatively simple and straightforward, so it got funded. By the time Ford's Conservatives took the office, the contracts were signed. Ford didn't want to add the cancellation penalties to his record, along with a hard-to-meet obligation to build one more subway instead. Voila, we are actually building the LRT in this corridor.

If I recall correctly, this was signed during the writ period, which likely violated the law. However, even if this would have been challenged it would have been the Ford gov't that paid the penalty.

 

[M II A II R II K]

Perhaps one day it could be extended further south to Kipling.

 

[Allandale25]

Finch West LRT has solid transportation benefits, and as such, was always supported by the relatively small pool of informed transit advocates.

Speaking of the broader public, and the governments responsible for the funding, term "flying under the radar" is probably the most accurate. The locals aren't eagerly demanding this line, and they aren't against it either. The single councilor who was against it, has lost the recent riding-merging election, and all the opposition is gone.

The Liberals had been eager to show some real progress for all their big transit talk, the Finch line was one relatively simple and straightforward, so it got funded. By the time Ford's Conservatives took the office, the contracts were signed. Ford didn't want to add the cancellation penalties to his record, along with a hard-to-meet obligation to build one more subway instead. Voila, we are actually building the LRT in this corridor.

I think part of what saved FWLRT and it may have been mentioned above, is that the financial close happened just before the 2018 provincal election started and the cancellation fee was in the range of $300 million from what I understand. That was probably enough incentive for Ford to keep the project moving forward.

 

[thettctransitfanatic]

The fact that this project has survived so many changes in political leadership (e.g. Miller, Ford, and Tory) and the provincial Liberals and Conservatives shows that we have made some progress on the transit file as a society.

A bit off topic, but imagine if Miller was still around, and how differently Hamilton LRT and this project would be handled with him instead of the others.

 

[Rainforest]

If I recall correctly, this was signed during the writ period, which likely violated the law. However, even if this would have been challenged it would have been the Ford gov't that paid the penalty.

Was it signed by Metrolinx executives? If so, then that probably takes care of the legality. Metrolinx is an arm-length agency by statute. Even if it is arm-length in the name only, that's enough to make it immune to the writ period.

 

[Rainforest]

A bit off topic, but imagine if Miller was still around, and how differently Hamilton LRT and this project would be handled with him instead of the others.

That wouldn't necessarily make a difference. Miller was the mayor of Toronto, with no powers to oversee transit construction in the rest of GTA.

Unless he would have moved into a provincial position by now ..

 

[Voltz]

That wouldn't necessarily make a difference. Miller was the mayor of Toronto, with no powers to oversee transit construction in the rest of GTA.

Unless he would have moved into a provincial position by now ..

If anything, Miller staying on as Mayor for another term means we would not have seen further cancellations and delays of LRT in Toronto, 2-3 lines would have been open by now, likely leading to greater public acceptance. And the rise of the Ford's would not have happened.

 

[OneCity]

If anything, Miller staying on as Mayor for another term means we would not have seen further cancellations and delays of LRT in Toronto, 2-3 lines would have been open by now, likely leading to greater public acceptance. And the rise of the Ford's would not have happened.

The rise of the Fords would never of happened without Miller and his stances both with unions and transit. One polarizing legacy extreme led to the other.

If we could have had a Mayor (instead of Miller) that supported building extension and relief subways, with dedicated bus/BRT feeders and LRT only where absolutely needed over BRT we certainly could have seen much more transit built and more then likely no rise of the Fords. No Mayor would or could have came in after campaigning with the support to overturn such a plan, and certainly not in favor of an all LRT plan. There never should have been such a plan to begin with, but with the subways finally moving ahead with the Province, having local feeder lines like FWLRT is a very nice addition

 

[Allandale25]

Eglinton portion requires subway, while Finch requires bus. Let's take the average and give them all an LRT.

If I recall correctly, this was signed during the writ period, which likely violated the law. However, even if this would have been challenged it would have been the Ford gov't that paid the penalty.

Just to understand your point better, you're making a distinction between the contract being awarded and signed? It was awarded before the writ period. From the Metrolinx FWLRT website: "On May 7, 2018, the contract was awarded to the Mosaic Transit Group to design, build, finance and maintain the Finch West LRT." Or were you already aware of that?

The Infrastructure Ontario website says Financial Close was on May 7, 2018. Doesn't that imply it was signed on that day?

The writ was dropped on May 8, 2018 according to this.

 

[denfromoakvillemilton]

Eglinton portion requires subway, while Finch requires bus. Let's take the average and give them all an LRT.

If I recall correctly, this was signed during the writ period, which likely violated the law. However, even if this would have been challenged it would have been the Ford gov't that paid the penalty.

true. 300 million then, likely 900 million today. not worth it.

The rise of the Fords would never of happened without Miller and his stances both with unions and transit. One polarizing legacy extreme led to the other.

If we could have had a Mayor (instead of Miller) that supported building extension and relief subways, with dedicated bus/BRT feeders and LRT only where absolutely needed over BRT we certainly could have seen much more transit built and more then likely no rise of the Fords. No Mayor would or could have came in after campaigning with the support to overturn such a plan, and certainly not in favor of an all LRT plan. There never should have been such a plan to begin with, but with the subways finally moving ahead with the Province, having local feeder lines like FWLRT is a very nice addition

Miller left because of the garbage strike.

Just to understand your point better, you're making a distinction between the contract being awarded and signed? It was awarded before the writ period. From the Metrolinx FWLRT website: "On May 7, 2018, the contract was awarded to the Mosaic Transit Group to design, build, finance and maintain the Finch West LRT." Or were you already aware of that?

The Infrastructure Ontario website says Financial Close was on May 7, 2018. Doesn't that imply it was signed on that day?

The writ was dropped on May 8, 2018 according to this.

It could have been closed May 7 and then "signed" May 8th but not likely. Still was closed quickly, and maybe too quickly imo.

 

[Edward Skira]

Widening between Keele and Sentinel continues. From Saturday.

 

[thettctransitfanatic]

If anything, Miller staying on as Mayor for another term means we would not have seen further cancellations and delays of LRT in Toronto, 2-3 lines would have been open by now, likely leading to greater public acceptance. And the rise of the Ford's would not have happened.

Exactly what I was thinking. Miller would have done everything to ensure that we got the promised LRT lines, including Finch. Hell, we could have had Transit City by now....

 

[Allandale25]

Widening between Keele and Sentinel continues. From Saturday.

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Great to see the on street construction ramping up and beyond utility relocation!

 

[smallspy]

Exactly what I was thinking. Miller would have done everything to ensure that we got the promised LRT lines, including Finch. Hell, we could have had Transit City by now....

With what money?

One thing that a lot of people seem to forget is that while he proposed all of those lines, he didn't offer any funding to allow them to be built.

Dan