Transit City gets cut so bad even Miller thinks his baby’s ugly
The ongoing drama surrounding David Miller, Transit City, Metrolinx and some purse strings held by Dalton McGuinty got even more absurd yesterday. Instead of the deep cuts envisioned by Metrolinx, Miller wants the original plan (once approved by both the city and Metrolinx) to go ahead, with the city taking on more debt to do so. He said so in a letter to McGuinty, which arrived just two days into negotiations about how to save the plan. With less than six months left in his career as mayor, Miller has to be as desperate as anyone to see something salvaged from Transit City. But it’s hard to see what’s going to be taken from this:
A chart comparing the two plans, provided by Mr. Miller’s office, shows the revised transit plan cuts Transit City lines by 22.5 km and 25 stops from what was originally proposed.
For example, the original plan for the Scarborough LRT says the line will go from Kennedy to Malvern Town Centre and the revised plan from Kennedy to Sheppard. The original opening date would have been 2015; the revised plan’s date is 2020. The number of stations from the original was cut from 10 to eight and shortened from 12.5 km to 9.5 km. The Finch West LRT would go from 30 stops to 20.
Ontario Minister of Transportation Kathleen Wynne said the mayor’s letter could harm the ongoing work by the TTC, Metrolinx and the province.
Even worse, the signature Eglinton line, which was supposed to cross the city from Pearson to Kennedy, will now end at Jane in the west, leaving it one third incomplete and opening sometime in 2022. Poor Eglinton. It’s been promised and unpromised so many times now the pattern is starting to look a lot like an old Peanuts cartoon, with Queen’s Park playing the role of Lucy with a football.
• Miller won’t support revised Metrolinx plan [Globe and Mail]
• Toronto’s Transit City slower, shorter [Toronto Star]
readers who react negatively are the ones that find this news surprising. most people though, im sure saw it coming. consistency in disappointment has been a hallmark of this man’s tenure.
without doubt, the theory and practice of urban planning varies. but this city outclasses most in failing to deliver.
compared to european transits or the ones in far-east asia, ttc is an utter disgrace.
the irony remains that most drivers WOULD actually ditch their rides if theres an alternative
zan, you’re totally right, although I’m pretty sure you’re blaming the wrong man. The blame lies with Dalton. “consistency in disappointment” sounds about right.
David Miller has lost all credibility with most Toronto residents.
The sooner the leaves the better.
He is Canada’s Donald Rumsfeld.
Lying, bullying, double talking, arrogant, wasteful spending, blaming someone else, I could go on.
ann your comment is out of place and unfounded, you do not give one single example, and that has nothing to do with transit city being given the boot! how ridiculous.
the fact that transit city is being shut down is a disgrace, Ontario’s growing addiction to dirty oil could very well be a deathsentence to our society. i wonder if Mr. McGuinty’s decision to fatally hinder electric rail transit in this province has anything to do with the huge work force that supports automobile construction here. we cant hold onto the past, the dying motor and oil industry will drag us down with it if we stay attached to it so closely. what we need now is people in power that know this,
we are one of the most wealthy nations in the world, york region and toronto are one of the richest areas in Canada and the world. if we dont have transit built here, its not for lack of funds, its because someone doesn’t want it.
well maybe we as Ontarions dont want him. ?