York subway plans hit wall
Regional News
June 23, 2009 12:46 PM
by David Fleischer
After a brash, bold rush of work, the brakes have been slammed on planning for the Yonge Street subway extension.
York Region completed planning on the line that would take the TTC subway from Finch Avenue up to Hwy. 7, but without funding to proceed with engineering work and the protection of required properties, there is nothing more to be done, the region’s rapid transit committee heard.
Metrolinx, the regional transit authority, was set to review the region’s business case at its May meeting. However, the province restructured the authority’s board, disrupting the calendar so the item did not come up in May or June and may not come up in July.
Complicating things are additional costs and conditions Toronto council attached to its approval of the extension last January.
They include extensive renovations of the at-capacity Bloor-Yonge station, a study of rail yards needs and the prioritizing of a downtown relief subway line.
Despite conditions that could double the $2.4 billion cost, Viva manager Mary Frances Turner took a positive view at the time saying, “I think the project is in good shape.â€
But things look less rosy six months down the road.
“I think they went overboard,†regional chairperson Bill Fisch said of the caveats.
The TTC previously acquired funds for a $400 million automated system deemed crucial to making trains move faster, improving capacity needed for the extension.
Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti said he understood the approval would lead to a green light for the subway, but now wondered if that money could have been better spent elsewhere.
The region hoped Metrolinx would analyze which of Toronto’s requests were truly crucial, but that hasn’t happened yet.
Worse, Mr. Fisch told committee members Metrolinx has spent as much as $10 billion of its initial $11 billion allotment.
When the province announced it’s $11 billion transit commitment in 2007, there were hopes the federal government would ante up a further $6 billion, but this too hasn’t happened.
There are also concerns about what will happen to massive development applications contingent on the subway, particularly in Markham.
Liberty’s plans to build condominium towers at Doncaster Road are well underway and the town recently approved a master plan that would house as many as 30,000 people at Langstaff Road east.
Both proposals have built-in phasing conditions and could remain in holding patterns without the subway.
The region’s Yonge Street Task Force, consisting of local politicians and community members, will meet soon to make sure the project stays on Metrolinx’s radar.
“Things seem to be at a standstill ... we need another push to see where it takes us,†Mr. Fisch said.
The project’s environmental assessment is complete and with funding, shovels could go in the ground by 2012 with trains in service in 2017.
