Transit answers to get taxpayers back on track

How does an $11 levy fit into the never-ending subway saga? Our readers want to know

Before you decide on a compromise you should know what you’re giving up and what you’re gaining in the exchange. Reader Nina makes it clear some readers aren’t even sure what we’re talking about when we toss around descriptors like SmartTrack and Scarborough Subway.

She wanted to know how SmartTrack is linked to the extra $11 subway levy she sees on her tax bill this year. And are Scarborough residents the only ones paying?

First, we are all paying. It’s not linked to SmartTrack. Hope that helps.

Not long ago, mayor David Miller got the province to adopt and pay for a new light-rail line to replace the aging and abused Scarborough RT line from the end of the Bloor-Danforth subway at Kennedy Rd. to the Scarborough Town Centre.

Then Rob Ford started screaming “subways, subways, subways,” with no taxes whatsoever.

Scarborough politicians said their citizens deserved subways and promised one, and before you know it, the fully funded LRT was replaced with a subway costing $3.56 billion.

And, surprise, Toronto property owners had to pay for it. Sneer and call it the FST. The Ford Subway Tax. ’Cause you didn’t have to pay this one.

Next, John Tory announced during the last municipal election that he could bring transit relief to the Toronto area “faster and cheaper” than existing plans. Enter SmartTrack. Who wouldn’t be amped about that possibility?

Instead of drilling new subway tunnels, use the existing GO lines to provide more frequent service on what would, in effect, be “surface subways.” Add GO stops inside the Toronto border, and presto, we have a long, swooping subway line from northwest Markham into down- town and out to the airport in the west.

Specifically, Tory focused on the Stouffville line in the east, from Lincolnville north of Markham to Union Station; and the Kitchener line heading northwest from Union.

The only issues: Was there capacity? Is there a need for more tracks? Who would pay for the upgrades? And how much to charge the Toronto folks for their portion of the ride?

Fortuitously, Metrolinx, in charge of GO, was already planning to electrify those corridors and provide at least every-15-minute all-day GO service. Seems perfect. Do SmartTrack, kill the subway extension. Save wads of cash.

The mayor had two potentially damaging political problems.

One, some constituents would wonder why he’d proposed using Toronto tax dollars to provide service on GO Transit lines owned by the province.

Secondly, how could he kill the subway when municipal and pro- vincial politicians had sworn on a stack of Bibles they would build it. He doubled down.

In the western leg, Tory proposed a spur line off the Kitchener line, west towards the Pearson airport area.

He said this would connect the GTA’s three biggest employment centres — Markham, downtown and the airport corporate centre. Imagine the economic impact to Toronto, Tory preached.

The western leg was immediately criticized as unworkable. It would be almost two years before Tory admitted last week the critics were right and abandoned it.

Why? Tory said SmartTrack would cost $8 billion. The western segment alone would likely cost up to $7.7 billion, studies show.

Then the other shoe dropped. Last week, city staff — and Tory — admitted what critics have insisted. It made no operational sense to put SmartTrack stations at Lawrence and Ellesmere Aves. — not with subway stops planned nearby — both in low-density locales incapable of supporting more than bus service.

The solution? Drop the western leg and replace it with LRT from Weston. In the East, reduce the subway to one stop (Kennedy to Scarborough Town Centre).

Nix the Lawrence stop. And forget about the stop at Sheppard and McCowan. Use the estimated $1billion savings to take the Eglinton Crosstown LRT east past Kennedy and north to U of T’s Scarborough campus out at Morningside and 401. As compromises go, not bad. But Nina — you who live at Sheppard and Warden — you can still take the Sheppard Stubway to Yonge or, depending on new fare structure not yet worked out, take the expanded SmartGO at the Agincourt stop.

When? Watch and wait. Ah, patience. Progress by degrees. Royson James usually appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Email: rjames@thestar.ca