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.

-30-

For more information, please contact:

See also: 

Transport Action Ontario, Transit Priorities for Toronto, March 1st, 2011


Sept. 8,  Ontario Political Parties on Transportation Policy

Thursday, September 8, 2011
7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Metro Hall
55 John St., Toronto
Rooms 308/09

Transport Action Ontario will hold a public meeting called "Ontario Political Parties on Transportation Policy: A Dialogue with Voters."   

Panelists
Cheri DiNovo, MPP for Parkdale-High Park and candidate for re-election.  Current NDP Critic for Public Transit.
Frank De Jong, former leader of the Ontario Green Party and Green Party candidate for Davenport. 
Frank Klees, MPP for Newmarket –Aurora and candidate for re-election.  Current PC Critic for Transportation and Infrastructure. 
The Liberal Party of Ontario has declined our invitation.    

Questions and comments from the floor and from across the province are welcome.  Please consult TRANSPORT ACTION  ONTARIO for details as they become available.

Transport Action Ontario
Advocating For Environmentally, Socially & Economically Sustainable
Public Transportation and Freight Movement
 Box 6418, Station A, Toronto, ON  M5W 1X3