Regional transit proposal for Eglinton subway contained in 'old document'

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Reports of a possible rift between regional transit authority Metrolinx and the City of Toronto were greatly exaggerated.

An unreleased preliminary draft of Metrolinx's transit plan for the GTA raised some eyebrows when the report showed discrepancies between the regional transit authority and the City of Toronto.

The draft included some details that were distinctly different from the Transit City plan proposed by the TTC.

Key among the differences is Metrolinx's proposal for a subway line along Eglinton Avenue, a recommendation that appears to be at loggerheads with Transit City's plan to install a light rail line along the route.

Metrolinx chair Rob MacIsaac said that while he has not seen the document that contained those details, it does not seem entirely consistent with the provincially-created agency's current position.

"Our speculation is that it's an old document," he said. "Over the last number of days, a number of reports have come out that do not accurately reflect the current state of play."

MacIsaac said Metrolinx is not currently looking at building a subway along Eglinton, noting that studies suggest ridership would not be enough to support such a venture.

"Our position is, we're trying to match the right technology to the level of projected ridership," he said.

He did note that some of the details included in the early Metrolinx report were accurate, at least in theory, including a long-term plan to build a "downtown relief" subway line running from Dundas West station to Don Mills station, traveling along Queen Street.

"The downtown relief line is something that we feel is ultimately going to prove necessary," he said. "It ought to be part of a long-term plan."

While Metrolinx is tasked with prioritizing and finding ways to implement proposals made under the province's MoveOntario 2020 plan, MacIsaac said the transit authority's scope goes beyond MoveOntario's tentative mandate.

"(MoveOntario) was basically a 10-year plan and we have a 25-year plan," he said.

TTC chair Adam Giambrone, who sits on the Metrolinx Board of Directors, said there was no conflict between the City of Toronto and the provincial agency. He said both the City and Metrolinx share a goal of finding the best possible transit options for riders.

"This city has one of the highest number of transit users in North America," he said. "We've worked with Metrolinx for the past year and a half and I feel confident that we're both moving toward the same goals."

He noted that he would work to ensure that Toronto gets its fair share of attention under the Metrolinx plan, and that proposals impacting the city were focused on serving Torontonians.

"The critical thing is that we work with other regions to make sure we get good service and good local transit," he said. "Our belief is that the Transit City plan that has been supported by Torontonians is the way to go."

The best option, as identified by the City and the TTC, he said, was Transit City's call for light rail routes across Eglinton Avenue, down Don Mills Road from Steeles Avenue to the Bloor-Danforth subway, along Finch Avenue West into Etobicoke, down Jane Street, along Sheppard Avenue East, along the waterfront and from Kennedy station into Malvern.

"We believe strongly that light rail is the way to go," Giambrone said. "Our first priority is to have light rail in each and every neighbourhood."

MacIsaac said a more up-to-date Metrolinx draft plan would be released at the end of this month. He was quick to add, however, that that draft would not be final, and would be subject to feedback and comments.

"It's an ongoing, dynamic process," he said.

Public feedback will be taken into account before a final report is submitted to the province in November.