Pretty sure we just witnessed the unofficial start to her 2014 mayoral campaign. While I didn't like her when she first became prominent a couple years ago, I'm definitely coming around to her. I think Toronto could really use a centrist mayor who knows the meaning of a compromise after all this useless partisan bickering.
This is how I wished that Karen Stinz had handled the special council meeting last Wednesday (or preferably 6 months ago):
Members of council, in March 2011, the Mayor and the Premier signed a memorandum to built the Eglinton LRT as an underground transit line, with some above ground portions. In the year since this was signed, TTC, Metrolinx and our Consultant have explored options that satisfy the spirit of this memo. There are of course cost implications to this change and the TTC board requests a decision from City Council before we proceed. Here is a summary of the cost differences from the original Transit City proposal.
Laird to Don Mills.
Underground
$50M: deeper stations at Laird.
$150M: tunnelling.
$150M: station at Leslie.
$150M deeper station at Don Mills
$500M: total extra.
South Side Alignment:
$10M: new bridge over Don River West.
$40M: twin tunnels through railway embankment.
$5M: reconfigure Celesitica ramps to Diamond interchange.
($5M): less cost for side of road tracks.
($30M): less cost for underground Don Mills station in Science centre parking lot.
$20M: total extra
There is a benefit for having this section grade separated for when Don Mills LRT opens, and transit volumes between Don Mills and Yonge would be increased - trains could short turn at Don Mills instead of Laird.
Don Mills to Bermondsey
Underground
$100M: station at Ferrand.
$200M: tunnelling.
$200M: station at Wynford.
$100M: station at Bermondsey.
$600M: total extra.
Elevated Alignment:
$25M: station at Ferrand at/near surface.
$100M: elevated track.
$50M: station at Wynford.
$25M: station at Bermondsey.
$200M: total extra.
There is a benefit for having this stretch grade separated to ease traffic disruptions at the DVP by avoiding the loss of traffic lanes.
Bermondsey to Kennedy
Underground
$600M: 6 stations.
$500M: tunnelling.
$1100M: total extra.
Elevated Alignment:
$250M: 6 stations.
$200M: elevated track.
$450M: total extra.
Benefit of grade separation is if a continuous line is desired from STC to Yonge with the resulting higher transit volumes. Grade separated in this section would only make sense if it is done in the other sections as well.
Kennedy to STC
Underground
Although this stretch is built at-grade or elevated, underground on the other portions would result in the line only being built to McCowan at this time.
Elevated
This stretch is built at-grade and extended elevated. If the remaining portions of the line were built as elevated, funding would be adequate to build the line to Sheppard.
Vehicles
HRT and ICTS vehicles could also be considered. Since the LRT is already ordered, the cost to switch vehicles is expected to cancel out any saving from using these less expensive vehicles. If ICTS is used, it is expected that $300M could be saved on retrofitting the existing SRT line, and the construction closure could be cut in half. The line could have heaters installed, or be covered with a Plexiglas roof for about $150M to improve performance in winter. When the line is extended, it would have to be grade separated and not at-grade median, however it is quite possible that grade separated would be desired along the extension routes.
My fellow councillors, now that you have the facts and figures, I would like a decision on how to proceed for the Eglinton line.
(Note: costs are my opinion, but I think Metrolinx, TTC, or the consultant could easily have determined costs within +/-20%)