New construction timeline for Transit City

New construction timeline for Transit City

Despite 16 months of flailing on the transit file, all four of Toronto’s new provincially funded light rail lines will open within the original timeframe of 2020.

Only the hotly contested Sheppard LRT will be completed much later than it would have been before Mayor Rob Ford came to office and stalled all plans for street-level transit expansion.

Now, instead of the Sheppard LRT opening in 2014 as originally scheduled, work will only begin that year. The Finch LRT is scheduled to break ground in 2015. Both projects are expected to take about four years to complete.

First lower speeds and now road tolls – What’s next?

First lower speeds and now road tolls – What’s next?

Charging non-Torontonians a toll to drive on the Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Expressway is one of the ideas to be presented at a special Thursday brainstorming session of councillors.

Road tolls are “coming on the horizon,” said Councillor James Pasternak, one of the freshman members of council’s so-called “mighty middle,” whose votes can determine council priorities. “Non-residents would contribute to help support the city’s prosperity.”

We love Mayor Rob Ford!

We love Mayor Rob Ford!

According to a new Forum Research poll, more than half of Toronto residents want to scrap the city’s land transfer tax, license cyclists, contract out cleaners, toss out the plastic bag tax and support a subway-based transit plan.

The Forum poll conducted Wednesday found 61% of Toronto residents approve of ending the city’s land transfer tax and licensing cyclists so that traffic laws can be enforced on them.

Ford campaigned on abolishing the land transfer tax but has yet to make any progress on dropping it from the city’s books.

Among those surveyed, support has grown since a Forum poll last month for a subway-based transit plan with 60% now in favour of the idea rather than 36% who favour a transit system based on LRTs.

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