No more John Tory the Ditherer: James
It’s become a staple of every new mayor of Toronto: quick, decisive action to fulfill a visible, high profile election campaign promise.
It doesn’t seem to matter whether the action stands the test of time; the key is to appear resolute, to say, “I’m in charge, now.”
So there was John Tory, two days after his official inauguration, declaring: “I’m the mayor of Toronto, not the sheriff. But I can say when it comes to traffic, there is a new sheriff in town.”
His message: Block traffic during rush hour on major streets and you will be towed, beginning Jan. 1. I won’t put up with the scofflaws. “If I have to chip in and drive a tow trucks myself, those vehicles are going to be towed away.”
His intent: Destroy the image of Tory the Ditherer.
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David Miller reversed the decision on the island airport at his first council meeting as mayor. Some 11 years later the island airport is as busy and as commercial as ever, with Porter Airlines still looking to push the boundaries of its operations.
Four years ago, Rob Ford immediately declared the Transit City LRT plan “dead”; quickly got council approval to seek a declaration of the TTC as an essential service; and cut the office budgets of city councillors. The vote banning TTC strikes is destined to remain in place. But Transit City projects are “dead” in name only. They continue to be built.
Now John Tory — exhibiting an impatience that runs counter to his image as indecisive — has lowered the boom on drivers, couriers, delivery trucks, anyone who stops and snarls traffic at rush hour.
And he wants council to immediately approve $750,000 needed to begin studies that would test the viability of his SmartTrack transit plan — a controversial inter-regional commuter line he promised in seven years, should he become mayor.
Tory’s six-point plan to get Toronto’s traffic moving is almost universally embraced. But check back in three years to analyze how much of an impact it has.
If you missed it, Tory plans to speed up road work; curtail through higher fees the practice of construction firms occupying a lane of traffic for months or years as their highrise project proceeds; better coordinate road repairs and highway closures so they don’t coincide with major city events; use modern technology to improve reporting of traffic snarls.
The traffic measures are intended to give Tory a quick win. The SmartTrack plan figures to be a much more difficult sell.
Council will, of course, approve the studies. The first sentence in Tory’s letter to his hand-picked executive committee gives all the reasons why it’s a go:
“The SmartTrack plan is a cornerstone of my election platform,” he writes. “Moving forward on SmartTrack requires an informed public debate and city council’s direction to proceed with this vital transit expansion initiative.
“An analysis of the SmartTrack plan to consider its public policy and cost/benefit implications, based on sound and objective evidence, is the necessary first step in its delivery.”
Everyone at city hall, TTC, Metrolinx and at the province will move heaven and earth to shine the best possible light on the project. But that doesn’t mean it is a slam-dunk.
Councillors will apply several reality checks to the studies and plans. They will question the wisdom of retaining Iain Dobson and Eric Miller, the two persons responsible for Tory’s SmartTrack idea, as the key persons to define the proposal and present it for review and testing by city planners and finance staff.
Who better to present the case for SmartTrack than its authors, city staff counter.
This “quick win” will consume considerable energy and skills of the new mayor. Most of these kinds of early pronouncements require a burst of energy, and then they fade with time. SmartTrack always figured to be the exception.
It runs counter to the transit narrative of many at Metrolinx and at the TTC. It encompasses an ambitious, almost impossible timeline. It’s not funded. It’s untested. Many on city council are skeptical about its efficacy.
It will define Tory’s mayoralty.
Royson James usually appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Email: rjames@thestar.ca
