Toronto: Metrolinx price tag for Scarborough subway leaves councillors fuming

[marmar]

from the Toronto Star:



Metrolinx price tag for Scarborough subway leaves councillors fuming
Toronto councillors want to see a breakdown for the stated $1 billion extra it will cost to put subway rather than light rail on the old SRT route.

By: Paul Moloney City Hall Bureau reporter, Published on Tue Jul 02 2013


[font size="1"]Carlos Osorio / Toronto Star
The obsolete Scarborough Rapid Transit system needs to be replaced, but city council has dithered for years about what should replace it. Last November's master agreement with Metrolinx was supposed to have settled it.[/font]


Estimates that it would cost almost $1 billion more to convert the aging Scarborough RT to a subway rather than light rail have Scarborough councillors shaking their heads.

“Unbelievable,” said Councillor Michael Thompson, who, along with other Scarborough councillors, has been pushing for a subway alternative to LRT from Kennedy station to Scarborough Town Centre.

Officials met Tuesday to go over the numbers and the issue is expected to be discussed at Wednesday’s meeting of the executive committee, chaired by Mayor Rob Ford.

Ford has long championed subways but has never unveiled a concrete plan to fund them. ..................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2013/07/02/metrolinx_price_tag_for_scarborough_subway_leaves_councillors_fuming.html