Rob Ford’s “subway expansion plan” adds to Toronto’s growing pile of fantasy TTC maps

At a press conference this morning, hours after his subway-expansion annoucment had already leaked online, Rob Ford told reporters all about his proposal to build 32 kilometres of new underground transit connections, and all without raising property taxes, somehow. The mayor’s plan, such as it is, calls for a tunnelling spree on Eglinton, Sheppard and Finch avenues, and also between Pape and Queen stations downtown. And that’s just phase one. Sound good? Of course it does—but, as with all Ford promises, there’s a hitch: the proposed funding scheme relies on a number of improbable money sources, including the very same private-sector investment that failed to materialize the last time the mayor tried to build a subway all by himself. Part of the money would come from the outright cancellation of two planned LRT lines. Also, the cost of construction is crudely estimated and the timelines are totally unclear. Details!