In A Hurry? McGinty PROMISES To Get You There On Time

Transit for '21st century'
McGuinty's $9B plan includes two new LRT lines

VAUGHAN -- A TTC token could take you from downtown Toronto to Pearson Airport - rapidly.
That's just one of the benefits of a $9-billion transit investment announced yesterday by Premier Dalton McGuinty.
The Ontario government is putting up $7.2 billion to build two new light-rail transit lines -- along Eglinton and Finch Aves. -- and to upgrade and extend the existing Scarborough rapid-transit line.
There's also money for buses, stations and more than 30 km of dedicated bus lanes for York VIVA Bus Rapid Transit -- a $1.4-billion project that begins construction this fall.
"This is part of our plan to get shovels in the ground quicker on transit projects because we need the jobs they create today, and for tomorrow, we'll need more and better transit," McGuinty said.
The premier has been eager to move forward with transit projects, and has just introduced changes to the board of the regional planning authority, Metrolinx, that replaces politicians with transportation experts who can expedite projects.
Toronto Mayor David Miller was one of the politicians removed from the board, but he wasn't letting it dampen his enthusiasm for yesterday's funding announcement.
'DISAGREEMENT'
"The premier and I had a disagreement about that, but we agree fundamentally on the importance of building rapid transit in Toronto," Miller said.
"This is an incredible day for Toronto and it can't be over emphasized ... there could not be a more important announcement about building a 21st century city."
The new LRT lines will bring modern transit and economic stimulus to many of the city's priority neighbourhoods, and connect Toronto to the entire GTA region through rapid transit, Miller said.
The Finch West LRT will stretch from Humber College on Hwy. 27 to the Don Mills Subway Station at Hwy. 404/Sheppard Ave., crossing through transit-deprived neighbourhoods, such as the Jane-Finch community.
The $1.2-billion route is projected to be ready for riders sometime in 2013, if construction begins next year as planned.
A 31-km Eglinton Crosstown LRT will extend from Pearson Airport to the Scarborough RT line, with a 10-km underground tunnel between Keele and Leslie Sts.
It's a $4.6-billion plan with an estimated completion date of 2016.
The Scarborough RT line would be upgraded along the existing 7.2-km route from Kennedy Station to McCowan, and extended to either Malvern Town Centre or Markham Rd.
The Scarborough work will set the province back about $1.4 billion and wrap up in 2015.
'BROAD BRUSH'
"Will there be construction? Yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely," Miller said.
The mayor said TTC staff came up with the estimated project costs -- "I'm comfortable with them as broad brush numbers," he said.
The VIVA construction will proceed along Hwy. 7 from Markham Centre to Richmond Hill Centre, and is scheduled to wrap up by 2013.
All the projects are subject to environmental and other approvals, although the province has put a maximum time frame of six months on environmental assessments for public transit projects.
A $3-million feasibility study for Hamilton Rapid Transit is also in the works.
McGuinty said he understands riders are impatient for new transit projects after years of discussion.
"We have the money ... and now we want to get going," he said.
"But there are still some things that you have to do to take the time to get it right. That's a lot of money."
TTC chairman Adam Giambrone said light rail was chosen because it's more cost effective than building subways, although there will be some tunnelling on the Eglinton Crosstown line.
The funding announcement fits in with the entire TTC Transit City plan, which calls for seven LRT lines across Toronto, Giambrone said.
ANTONELLA.ARTUSO@SUNMEDIA.CA