kEiThZ
Superstar
no time to fully address the equalization issue, but will say this: i don't necessarily see much of a role for *any* government in financing the RTP out of general revenue. I think it would be a lot better for the future viability of transit in the GTA if it were done via a mix of road tolls, maybe a small special sales tax, parking surcharge, and some creative debt financing. That seems to be what Metrolinx are proposing but we will have to see.
If that's what you are advocating, then there is no role for the feds. Any taxes (ie sales tax) that apply only to the GTA would have been applied by the province. And things like road tolls, parking surcharge, etc. would most likely fall under municipal jurisdiction. The debt issue is interesting. This is what I have been arguing in the other thread. Why not create a special fund with gas taxes (or any other tax) as its revenue stream and allow the fund to issue bonds against that revenue stream? That way we can build that infrastructure well ahead of schedule and amortize the cost over time.
Uh, at present the Scarborough RT is the *only* rapid transit connection available to Durham residents, who access it via Go's 94 Highway 2 / 95 Highway 2 Express services. The planned extension would make this an even easier connection for Durham services.
As for the LRTs, I think that all of the Scarborough LRT routes would have some Durham ridership as Scarborough is a major employment centre for Durham residents.
I just said, with what's revealed so far, there isn't much about these lines because the regional implications aren't as direct as GO Transit or the TTC lines that go into the 905 or the edge of the 416. That's not the same as having a bus drop off a few people at STC or McCowan. And that's not to say Metrolinx won't address them in the final draft. But I highly doubt the lines that strictly serve the 416 will be priority 1.