Perhaps that's where it should end up. But that shouldn't be the opening bid. The opening bid is ... Toronto doesn't need this subway. You want it, you pay for it. We have higher priorities and an approaching debt limit.
You know, you may be right. I like to hope/think that this isn't actually how things get built but looking at Toronto's record on infrastructure construction, it just might be.
What SHOULD happen is that Metrolinx is given real transit planning authority and revenue tools that directly fund its work. Then they fund the damned thing (with some muni contributions, even fed $ would be nice) and properly prioritize the infrastructure needed to sustain it (e.g. ensuring the DRL is also built within 5 years or something).
As I said, debt limit doesn't have to be Toronto's only funding source. Indeed, on that measure York is probably in a worse position. There are development charges and other ways to pay. I guess I'd just say that looking at a map and looking at the plans in place and the travel patterns in the city's north, the extension is obviously needed. I totally agree there's a "catch" in that we have "Toronto's" infrastructure needed for a project that also helps other municipalities but that's mostly because we've been in a mindset that everyone takes care of their damned selves and GO is for helping those other poor fools who cross borders. A properly funded Metrolinx should provide operating funds to TTC and any line that crosses a muni border (there aren't bound to be many, at least not subways) should be funded accordingly, IMO. I guess we can quibble about what's "fair" for Toronto to pay, but we certainly agree on the principle.
I understand that regional funding not the 2015 reality but I also think there's no reason it can't become one within the timeframe of a subway being planned and built. I kind of think it has to be, or we're not going to make a lot of progress as a region.
So, the answer to the "have you ever been to Finch?" question was "no."
I forget the exact number but the number of buses that travel along Yonge, from Steeles to Finch every hour is in the HUNDREDS. A bus lane is not tenable. North44's wacky idea for an LRT would be a bare minimum of suitable infrastructure, and it would be at capacity very quickly. The bus lanes do run in HOV lanes, actually, but that's obviously not the same.
I also hope people to understand how this tricky situation was created. YRT was going to build bus lanes, as was TTC on this stretch. It was the province that effectively told them to stop because they were funding the subway. That was 8 years ago now crucial infrastructure in a heavily traveled corridor is in limbo. Everyone should want to see that resolved quickly and appropriately.