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Scarborough transit on its last wheels
PAUL MOLONEY
CITY HALL BUREAU
The wheels have started turning on plans to replace the Scarborough rapid transit line.
The Toronto Transit Commission yesterday voted to spend $136,815 for a study of whether the line should be substituted with a subway, streetcars or buses.
The aging, elevated six-stop line, running 6.4 kilometres from Kennedy subway station to the Scarborough Town Centre, is both obsolete and overcrowded, said Councillor Howard Moscoe, the TTC's chair.
"The cars are obsolete, they don't manufacture them any more," said Moscoe (Ward 15, Eglinton-Lawrence). "The line itself is obsolete because we can't squeeze everybody who wants to be there onto it."
More than 44,000 passengers ride the line every day. Ridership is expected to grow 20 per cent by 2011 and the line can't handle the growth, the TTC says.
Transit consultant Richard Soberman has been hired to help figure out the best alternative. Options include:
Extending the Bloor-Danforth subway.
Introducing new light-rail technology.
Bringing in bus rapid transit, where buses would run in their own roadways.
"I tend to favour extension of the Bloor-Danforth subway out to the Scarborough Town Centre," Moscoe said. "Scarborough really has gotten the raw end of the stick when it comes to public transit. Ridership is huge and service is probably the weakest anywhere."
The commission voted to ensure city councillors from Scarborough are kept informed.
"They need to know the SRT is coming to the end of its life," said Councillor Bas Balkissoon (Ward 41, Scarborough-Rouge River). "A lot of people don't know that."
The 28 SRT cars are expected to be out of service by 2015.
The commission also decided to examine extending streetcar service through Exhibition Place west to Roncesvalles Ave.
PAUL MOLONEY
CITY HALL BUREAU
The wheels have started turning on plans to replace the Scarborough rapid transit line.
The Toronto Transit Commission yesterday voted to spend $136,815 for a study of whether the line should be substituted with a subway, streetcars or buses.
The aging, elevated six-stop line, running 6.4 kilometres from Kennedy subway station to the Scarborough Town Centre, is both obsolete and overcrowded, said Councillor Howard Moscoe, the TTC's chair.
"The cars are obsolete, they don't manufacture them any more," said Moscoe (Ward 15, Eglinton-Lawrence). "The line itself is obsolete because we can't squeeze everybody who wants to be there onto it."
More than 44,000 passengers ride the line every day. Ridership is expected to grow 20 per cent by 2011 and the line can't handle the growth, the TTC says.
Transit consultant Richard Soberman has been hired to help figure out the best alternative. Options include:
Extending the Bloor-Danforth subway.
Introducing new light-rail technology.
Bringing in bus rapid transit, where buses would run in their own roadways.
"I tend to favour extension of the Bloor-Danforth subway out to the Scarborough Town Centre," Moscoe said. "Scarborough really has gotten the raw end of the stick when it comes to public transit. Ridership is huge and service is probably the weakest anywhere."
The commission voted to ensure city councillors from Scarborough are kept informed.
"They need to know the SRT is coming to the end of its life," said Councillor Bas Balkissoon (Ward 41, Scarborough-Rouge River). "A lot of people don't know that."
The 28 SRT cars are expected to be out of service by 2015.
The commission also decided to examine extending streetcar service through Exhibition Place west to Roncesvalles Ave.