Following a lengthy day at city hall, councillors voted in favour of the Scarborough subway extension Wednesday evening.
Councillors voted 28-15 in favour of the plan at around 7:30 p.m.
The estimated $3.1 billion, one-stop extension was included in a list of major transit projects that council was set to vote on today but a group of opponents had pushed for a reversal in plans that would see the city instead revert to a previously scrapped seven-stop light rail transit line that would follow the route of the aging Scarborough Rapid Transit (RT) line.
The savings that would be accrued from constructing the cheaper light rail line could then be put towards the estimated $1.7 billion cost of building a 17-stop extension of the Eglinton Crosstown to the University of Toronto Scarborough campus, opponents said.
It should be noted that Mayor John Tory has supported the construction of the 17-stop LRT line as well, though there is currently insufficient funds to build it due to a rise in the price tag of the Scarborough subway extension.
“We have an option within the same envelope of funds to either build one subway station in Scarborough or to provide Scarborough residents with 24 LRT stations,” Coun. Josh Matlow told CP24 earlier on Wednesday.
“What I am arguing today is that if we only have a finite number of dollars to spend, let’s provide residents with the most service possible for the fewest dollars possible.”
While a number of councillors have argued that a light rail transit line would provide Scarborough with more transit at a lower price point, others have said that providing a subway connection to Scarborough Town Centre is vital to the area’s future growth.
For his part, Tory has also said that he remains committed to constructing the 17-stop LRT and plans to seek additional funding from the provincial and federal governments to get it done.
“My determination is complete to have the entire plan funded and built because the entire plan is needed,” he told reporters during a break in the meeting on Wednesday. “You can’t just pull out one part of this plan or another because then it is not a plan.”
Tory said he was “hopeful” that council will ultimately affirm its support for the Scarborough subway extension, which he said will have a 80-year lifespan instead of a 30-year lifespan with the seven-stop LRT.
The mayor also warned that there would be “substantial additional expenses” in cancelling the project.
“I am ready to proceed, I think the council is ready to proceed and most importantly I think the people of Toronto are ready to proceed,” he said.
