[k10ery]

And I think things will get a lot clearer in the next couple of months. If Ford's Sheppard Subway dies in Council, then Metrolinx and the Province can proceed without needing any "input" from Ford, as his opinion will be basically redundant.

This means that Metrolinx can do what they want with the eastern section, which would likely mean some type of grade separation other than tunnelling.

I really can't see them doing anything like that without complete buy-in from the city government.

 

[Amy Rose]

Seeing as how the south-eastern part of Keele/Trethewey/Eglinton intersection has been fenced for a while, is it possibly the location for the Keele North/Trethewey station entrance?

 

[Dan416]

I really can't see them doing anything like that without complete buy-in from the city government.

I agree. Metrolinx isn't about to do a wholesale takeover of the portions of the TTC. Agreements are in place, and they'll just need to be ironed out a bit. It remains to be seen whether "some other kind of grade separation" will satisfy Ford if it means keeping the line rather than burying it (dead, not tunnelled)

 

[gweed123]

Can Metronlix still go with the Original plan exentding the LRT to Hwy2 and then Extend the Bloor Danforth line the the STC/Sheppard East Gweed?

Personally, I doubt it. The B-D extension to STC hasn't really been studied. 2-3 years ago it would have been possible, but now not so much. Continue with the Eglinton-Scarborough through plan, but go for a non-tunelled grade separation option on Eglinton East.

 

[gweed123]

I agree. Metrolinx isn't about to do a wholesale takeover of the portions of the TTC. Agreements are in place, and they'll just need to be ironed out a bit. It remains to be seen whether "some other kind of grade separation" will satisfy Ford if it means keeping the line rather than burying it (dead, not tunnelled)

I think that when Ford's Sheppard Subway gets shot down, he'll hold little weight in the whole transit planning debate. He had his shot to make an impact, and it's going to get shot down. Why should anyone have to sit through what he has to say on the subject?

The TTC may have a say, but I really don't think Ford will.

 

[BurlOak]

It remains to be seen whether "some other kind of grade separation" will satisfy Ford if it means keeping the line rather than burying it (dead, not tunnelled)

Ford likes Monorails - for Eglinton East, essentially anything that does not run in traffic would be accpetable to him and he could spin it as a win.

I think that the Province might delay funding the Eglinton East line. This would help their finances for the next few years, and the slowdown (in design as well) would open the door for the next Mayor, if not Ford, to still revert back to the old TC plan.

For Sheppard, I think Ford would know he's defeated before he goes to Council, and thus he would not go. He may be able to scape up some money to extend it a half a station, but he may decide to scrap it and try blaming the Province for not funding transit as they promised (i.e. either if they cut funding in the budget, or he would argue the savings from Eglinton where not given for use on Sheppard as promised - a weak arguement, but he may try).

 

[Palma]

I noticed when I have been driving along Eglinton west of Keele I no longer see anyone working there. I don't see anyone nor any machines. What is going on?

 

[Rainforest]

I think that when Ford's Sheppard Subway gets shot down, he'll hold little weight in the whole transit planning debate. He had his shot to make an impact, and it's going to get shot down. Why should anyone have to sit through what he has to say on the subject?

The TTC may have a say, but I really don't think Ford will.

Even if defeated by the Council majority vote, the mayor's office holds certain powers to make the actual construction harder and slower. The builder, be it TTC or Metrolinx, will have to interact with other City departments, such as roads, zoning, utilities etc. If the mayor makes them seek excuses not to act promptly, and in addition takes forever to analyse any complaints from the residents, it is a recipe for any project to be late and over budget.

I hope that we won't have that problem come the end of 2014, but until then, the mayor needs to be kept content if not happy.

 

[rbt]

Even if defeated by the Council majority vote, the mayor's office holds certain powers to make the actual construction harder and slower. The builder, be it TTC or Metrolinx, will have to interact with other City departments, such as roads, zoning, utilities etc. If the mayor makes them seek excuses not to act promptly, and in addition takes forever to analyse any complaints from the residents, it is a recipe for any project to be late and over budget.

I'm not sure how this is any different than the OMB overriding what the cities wishes are. Once approved by the province the city is expected to be co-operative.

Aside from that, the Mayors office holds political power only. The province can do anything, including replace the mayor, if they want. If the Province, City Council, papers (like the star and globe), and organizations like the Board of Trade are on one side and the mayor is on the other; then removing those powers from the mayors office would happen pretty quickly.

 

[gweed123]

Even if defeated by the Council majority vote, the mayor's office holds certain powers to make the actual construction harder and slower. The builder, be it TTC or Metrolinx, will have to interact with other City departments, such as roads, zoning, utilities etc. If the mayor makes them seek excuses not to act promptly, and in addition takes forever to analyse any complaints from the residents, it is a recipe for any project to be late and over budget.

I hope that we won't have that problem come the end of 2014, but until then, the mayor needs to be kept content if not happy.

Realistically, Eglinton East will still be in the planning/engineering phase and will have either just gone for or just gotten the EA approved by the time the 2014 election comes around. Any construction taking place on Eglinton East will be taking place long after (hopefully) Ford is gone.

I agree that he can potentially make life more difficult for some transit projects, but Eglinton East isn't one of them.

 

[denfromoakvillemilton]

City only exist at the will of the province. The province to can creat and dissolve cities. Once Ford loses sheppard he's lost everything else.

 

[ssiguy2]

I tend to disagree with a lot of you on the Sheppard Line.
Come hell or high water, ford will make sure that Eglinton comes in under budget {which in Toronto would bee a novelty} whether that be by getting the feds involved, creating some form of PPP, elevating part of the corridor on Eglinton itself, fewer stations etc. That will leave him the extra $650 million McGuinty has stated he could have for Sheppard and with the already commited $350 million from the feds for the Sheppard line, that leaves him $1.1 billion. Even if he only gets the private sector to put in 10% that means he could atleast build the Spadina to Yonge section of the line.
The idea of getting the private sector to chip in $2 billion is impossible but I think that section is very realistic and will go ahead.

 

[gweed123]

I tend to disagree with a lot of you on the Sheppard Line.
Come hell or high water, ford will make sure that Eglinton comes in under budget {which in Toronto would bee a novelty} whether that be by getting the feds involved, creating some form of PPP, elevating part of the corridor on Eglinton itself, fewer stations etc. That will leave him the extra $650 million McGuinty has stated he could have for Sheppard and with the already commited $350 million from the feds for the Sheppard line, that leaves him $1.1 billion. Even if he only gets the private sector to put in 10% that means he could atleast build the Spadina to Yonge section of the line.
The idea of getting the private sector to chip in $2 billion is impossible but I think that section is very realistic and will go ahead.

The Sheppard line as Ford has proposed it has so many stumbling blocks in front of it, even getting it to tender would be a miracle. Let's list them off (I'm trying my best to keep them in order):

1) Ford needs approval from Council to even start an actual design study on the line (or to update the existing study).
2) If that comes, he would then need to draft a business case as to how the private sector funding is going to come about.
3) He will then need to go back to council to get approval for the EA.
4) Once the EA is complete, he will need to sit and wait until the budget for the Eglinton line comes in, something that likely won't happen until well after his 1st term is expired. Without that, he doesn't even know how much government money he has to work with.
5) He will then likely need to come up with additional funding sources, because the leftovers from Eglinton and the small amount that the private sector is likely to throw in won't even come close to covering the project cost.

Aaaand 6) Steps 3-5 are predicated on the assumption that Ford wins a 2nd term.

So as you can see, in order to get this project to even the pre-construction phase, he will need to get approval from Council at least twice, AND win a 2nd term. Neither of which at this point are looking likely.

Conclusion: Ain't gonna happen.

 

[nfitz]

Come hell or high water, ford will make sure that Eglinton comes in under budget

How would he do that? We're looking at a 2020 completion date, 2022 according to some inside TTC. Ford's 3rd term in office wouldn't start until 2018.

{which in Toronto would bee a novelty}

The last subway construction was Sheppard, and it wasn't over budget. I don't recall the previous extension being over budget either.

 

[superman]

My prediction is that the pro TC crowd will get Eglinton east in buried and in the middle of the street again.... But the cost savings will go to cutting the deficit and not building finch or sheppard.