Finch West Line 6 LRT

[raptor]

I can't wait til this thing is started

 

[W. K. Lis]

Two conflicting articles.

From insideToronto.com, at this link:

Mammoliti, Karygiannis to make transit change pitches to Toronto’s executive committee

Subway lines would be better than LRTs along Finch West, Sheppard East, say councillors

York West Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti will try and convince Mayor John Tory’s executive committee to take another look at the Finch Avenue West LRT light rail plan.

At the same meeting on March 25, Scarborough-Agincourt Councillor Jim Karygiannis will be pitching a Sheppard subway.

The two councillors’ member motion asking for those two things is Item 14 on the March 25 executive Committee meeting agenda.

The motion originally came before Toronto Council at its February meeting, and was referred to committee.

Both councillors had campaigned on a change to the city and Metrolinx’ transit infrastructure plans, and since the election have frequently spoken in favour of the change.

Karygiannis opposes the light rail line that will be extending east along Sheppard Avenue from Don Mills station, and has argued that Scarborough residents deserve a subway there.

Mammoliti, meanwhile, has been a strong opponent of the planned light rail line along Finch Avenue West, arguing that the community would be better served by a subway and that the light rail line will hinder truck traffic that services the industrial areas along Finch.

The other from Torontoist.com, at this link:

Duly Quoted: John Tory’s Spokesperson, on the Finch LRT

The mayor's spokesperson gives the most encouraging sign the Finch LRT has seen in a long time.

“The [Finch] LRT will proceed, as planned and funded by the provincial government.”

—John Tory spokesperson Amanda Galbraith speaks to the Sun in advance of council’s executive committee next Wednesday. At the meeting, the executive will consider a motion by Giorgio Mammoliti (Ward 7, York West) to “revisit the debate regarding transit plans on Finch Avenue West in order to provide residents and businesses with a more valuable solution than Light Rapid Transit.” During the mayoral campaign, Tory was less than committed to the Finch and Sheppard LRT lines, and said they were not his priorities.

There are rumours as well that that the second (Torontoist) article also applies to the Sheppard East LRT as well. What is needed is a firm statement from all those in authority on the Finch West and Sheppard East LRTs.

 

[TheTigerMaster]

Finch West deserves subways. We don't want fancy streetcars clogging up our streets. Subways, subways, subway!

 

[TheTigerMaster]

There are rumours as well that that the second (Torontoist) article also applies to the Sheppard East LRT as well.

What makes you think that Tory's comments apply to SELRT as well?

 

[JayBeeGooner]

What makes you think that Tory's comments apply to SELRT as well?

I don't think Tory wants another subway vs. LRT fight. He's committed to his Smarttrack plan, and doesn't want any distractions.

 

[innsertnamehere]

apparently Tory's spokesperson said that the comment applies for sheppard as well.

Tory's position continues to be that he isn't particularly happy with the LRTs but he isn't going to change course on them, its a decision that has already been made.

 

[JayBeeGooner]

Not to mention if the LRT's go over budget, it's the province that'll pay. Not Toronto.

 

[nfitz]

I don't think Tory wants another subway vs. LRT fight. He's committed to his Smarttrack plan, and doesn't want any distractions.

Which is why he and the rest of council deferred this motion last month, sending it to the Executive Committee.

It's already dead. This is just watching it swirl around the bowl, and make it's way to the sewage treatment plant.

 

[innsertnamehere]

The LRTs are P3s, they can't go overbudget. If they go over budget the private contractor pays.

 

[TransitPolicyChanger]

The LRTs are P3s, they can't go overbudget. If they go over budget the private contractor pays.

Depending on what you mean by "over budget" - if it is a result of design or performance issues then i would most likely agree - but if there are unforeseen conditions which effect the performance of the Contract then they will be fully entitled to extras. You can't write a contract which removes all your liability on issues which the P3 could have no way of knowing or budgeting for.

 

[TheTigerMaster]

Tory's position continues to be that he isn't particularly happy with the LRTs but he isn't going to change course on them, its a decision that has already been made.

Has Tory ever expressed that he was unhappy with the LRTs?

 

[rbt]

The LRTs are P3s, they can't go overbudget.

I assume this was in jest?

 

[innsertnamehere]

well they can go over budget, but the province only pays if it is scope creep.

 

[rbt]

well they can go over budget, but the province only pays if it is scope creep.

Or if a utility locations or something else provided in the contract (like groundwater levels, soil conditions, etc.) turns out to be inaccurate (Spadina suffered from this in several different ways), among other things.

Acts of god are also often pushed upstream; flooding for example which I believe Sheppard experienced.


Scope creep is one obvious example but inaccurate information provided as part of the tender is the most common cause of cost increases, particularly where infrastructure pre-dates accurate record keeping (huge issue for the DRL).

 

[Palma]

Mammoliti is an idiot. He cannot actually believe Finch will get a subway. Even if it was a small, small, small possibility, with the Spadina extension over runs, who knows what the cost will be with Scarborough and then there is SmartTrack, there is no way the Executive will pass the motion. Its just the councillor wanting to get his name out there so that his ward thinks he is fighting for them.