Multi-billion dollar transit plan moving ahead, TTC chair Karen Stintz says
The chair of the Toronto Transit Commission is downplaying suggestions that the province is changing track on its Big Move regional transportation plan.
Responding to a report that Ontario Transportation Minister Glen Murray is reconsidering some of the transit lines in the plan, Karen Stintz said she has no fears that major projects such as the Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown LRT will be delayed or cancelled.
Stintz attributed Murray’s musings to a new minister applying fresh eyes to the file.
“He's looking at the Big Move in a new way as the minister and might find some areas that could be reconsidered or re-adjusted,” said Stintz.
But she suggested those would be tweaks, not significant changes to major lines.
Discussions about revenue tools to pay for regional transit should continue, said the city councillor.
The report says Murray believes the planning process needs more rigour before the Big Move is considered final. It cites the minister’s interest in connecting transit along Eglinton in Toronto to lines in Mississauga and Brampton and, extending them to job centres around the airport.
A source close to Premier Kathleen Wynne said it’s full steam ahead with The Big Move.
“This regional strategy for transportation and public transit will unlock gridlock, create jobs and get people and goods moving in the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area,” said the source.
The government is looking forward to receiving Metrolinx's recommendations on which taxes and fees should be levied to pay for the $2 billion annual transit investment The Big Move prescribes.
“Our government will be undertaking a detailed review of the investment strategy’s recommendations to ensure optimization of The Big Move strategy. And we will work with communities and municipalities as with all projects. There is always room to make improvements over time in response to emerging needs and the views of communities and municipal partners,” said the senior government official.
“This process will be fair and transparent. Any investments from new revenue will be entirely and transparently dedicated to transportation projects, so that the cost is directly tied to a measurable result,” said the source. “People need to know what they are paying for; they need to see where the money is going.”
Metrolinx defended the transportation plan, noting there are projects worth $16 billion already under way in the Toronto region.
“With regard to the next wave of projects, we believe the plan is just about right,” said the agency in a statement.
“Our plan is not static. It needs to evolve as the region evolves and this includes refining and adjusting projects as more information becomes available. If and when there are adjustments, it will need to go through public input, municipal consultation and analysis, before they are considered by the Metrolinx board of directors,” said Metrolinx.
