J. Goss + Associates: Sheppard Subway, Ontario Urged to Dismiss Funding Request

Karl Junkin, Transport Action Ontario

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford yesterday asked the Ontario government to divert $650-million from the Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown to an extension of the Sheppard Subway.

Transport Action Ontario urges the Ontario Government to dismiss this request.

"The TTC's annual operating subsidy is likely about to be cut by tens of millions of dollars. It makes no sense to build unjustified subway extensions that will require a large additional subsidy when the existing subsidy is being cut. This is a recipe for either financial disaster or draconian service cuts in other TTC services," Karl Junkin Transport Action Ontario board member says.

The Sheppard Subway is an unjustified line that would load more riders onto the TTC’s already overstressed Yonge Line. David Gunn, former TTC Chief General Manager, rightly derided the Sheppard proposal as such.

"Even with the new trains and other upgrades, Yonge still has far too little room to grow. That endangers the sustainability of the entire subway system. Our interpretation of the TTC’s own figures suggest the Yonge Subway will run out of capacity in 20 years if there is no system expansion – and in markedly less time if there is system expansion," Junkin says.

Federal and Provincial funding needs to go towards a solution for the Yonge Line, instead of exacerbating its existing problems. Transport Action Ontario believes that a transformative upgrade of the Richmond Hill GO line may be the most cost-effective approach to this challenge, and warrants immediate study. This would include:

· Electrification using electric multiple-unit vehicles;

· Additional stops, and;

· Using the higher-speed CP line between Lawrence Ave and Gerrard St to reduce travel time, instead of the slower CN line used today.

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For more information, please contact:

Karl Junkin