To:
srt@toronto.ca;
councillor_debaeremaeker@toronto.ca;
councillor_giambrone@toronto.ca;
councillor_mihevc@toronto.ca;
councillor_cho@toronto.ca
Cc:
chume@thestar.ca;
rjames@thestar.ca
The 2009 - 2013 Capital Budget and 10 - year forecast details some very revealing information regarding the planned Scarborough RT (SRT) extension. While there is no doubt that rail service needs to be extended beyond Scarborough Centre into Malvern, the TTC's proposed implementation as detailed below (from the report, pg 10) will be a fiscally irresponsible deployment of transit dollars:
Scarborough Rapid Transit - the TTC’s plans for conversion of the existing SRT line ($254 million) and replacement of the existing fleet of SRT cars ($221 million) could be combined with the MoveOntario 2020 initiative to extend the SRT line into the Malvern community ($1.24 billion) for a total combined project in the order of $1.7 billion.
At the price described for the SRT extension, the cost per kilometre will be more than the cost of the Sheppard subway. How can the TTC justify the expenditure when the potential for ridership growth along the extension corridor cannot justify any system higher than light rail? What's more the proposed ART Mark II vehicles could prove to have insufficient capacity for the Scarborough Town Centre to Kennedy station leg, from the first day of operation. The TTC would also be forced to continue having an additional rail system in its inventory for a relatively short rail line, along with all the attendant costs from lack of commonality with other rail systems in its fleet. And the worst complaint, would be the impact of the SRT extension, a heavy rail line, on those residents would will be the immediate neighbours of the extension in Malvern along the right-of-way that will be used.
The far more sensible and cost effective solution would be to immediately begin studies to extend the Bloor-Danforth subway line to Scarborough Town Centre, and to begin planning for the deployment of light rail (under the Transit City plan) along the proposed SRT extension route from Scarborough Town Centre to Malvern Town Centre. This would:
1) eliminate the transfer at Kennedy station for most Scarborough residents who already use the SRT while keeping the number of transfer for Malvern residents the same: 1 at Scarborough Town Centre
2) increase capacity along the current SRT routing
3) allow the current SRT to be kept in operation during the construction and transition period, instead of using buses as currently planned
4) allow the integration of the SRT extension with other LRT lines in the Transit City plan. For example, the Scarborough-Malvern LRT could be routed back to Scarborough Town Centre instead of having Malvern Town Centre as its terminus
5) save the TTC significant operating expenditures through fleet commonality with other LRT lines
6) reduce the impact (noise, vibration, etc.) on Malvern residents who live along the route of the proposed extension
Most significantly of all, the proposed option could be executed at the same cost or for less than what the city proposing for the refurbishment and extension. At 5-6 km, the extension of the Bloor-Danforth line would not cost more than $1.5 billion ($250 million per km), and the 6km SRT extension could be built for $240 million (using Transit City cost estimates). At a generously overestimated total cost of $1.74 billion, the above proposal would far more effective at serving the residents of Scarborough, and the Malvern community in particular. And would save the TTC significant costs and hassle in its deployment.
I implore you to reconsider your plans and make the appropriate far-sighted decision for the residents of North East Scarborough. A well planned of combination of heavy rail and light rail will serve us far better than a one-size-fits-all SRT extension.
