Blunt talk on Scarborough transit

Local councillors ask mayor to back their campaign Willing to ‘fight’ for subway to replace RT line

Scarborough city councillors are ready to rumble to win a new subway for their community — and they expect Mayor David Miller to show up in their corner. The Scarborough councillors asked Miller and community council chair Michael Thompson to co- sign a letter to Prime Minister Paul Martin, voicing the community’s support for an expansion of the Bloor-Danforth subway to the junction of Markham Rd. and Sheppard Ave. E. It now ends at Kennedy Rd. and Eglinton Ave. E.

In unanimously supporting the motion from Thompson ( Ward 37, Scarborough Centre), councillors said they’re willing to fight for what they want, when the matter goes to council.

“ We should not be afraid of what they’re going to say downtown,” Councillor Gerry Altobello told the community council meeting in the old Scarborough council chamber.

“ I’m ready at council to stand up and fight for this subway and fight for Scarborough,” said Altobello ( Ward 35, Scarborough Southwest).

“ Let’s not back down.” Councillor Brian Ashton ( Ward 36, Scarborough Southwest) did some verbal chestthumping as well.

“ I’m ready to tussle,” a truculent Ashton announced. “ Hell, I’m from Scarborough. Let’s just get down in the dirt and fight.” The issue threatens to pit two communities against each other, because building a Scarborough subway could make it tough for the TTC to finance the proposed extension of the Spadina subway line to York University at the same time. The subway issue has been triggered because the Scarborough Rapid Transit line (RT) running north and east from the Kennedy subway station to Scarborough Town Centre will reach the end of its life by 2015. Now the TTC must decide whether to replace the aging service with buses, new light rail vehicles or a full- fledged subway. A subway is the most expensive option, estimated at $ 1.6 billion to $2 billion.

Ashton said the time is right to push for a subway, as the federal government is on the verge of an election, while the province has just unveiled a package of new powers for the city. And both governments are newly willing to fund transit. But Miller cautioned in an interview that the Scarborough councillors may have to temper their expectations.

Miller was not at the Scarborough meeting.

“ Obviously, I’d love to replace the RT with a subway, but there is no funding for subways, whether it’s York University or replacing the RT,” he said.

Scarborough isn’t the only part of the city that deserves new transit service, Miller said. “ It’s important to serve Scarborough well. It’s important to link the Scarborough Town Centre with North York Centre and complete the Sheppard subway.

“ And it’s important that the Spadina line to the university be extended into York Region which is where it’s supposed to go. They’re all very important.

“ We can’t debate priorities until we get more information, but that package is probably $6 billion to $7 billion,” he said, adding he has “ no problem” with Scarborough councillors being advocates for their community.

Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker ( Ward 38, Scarborough Centre) joined the chorus demanding better transit.

“ We’re fed up in Scarborough and we’re not going to take it any more,” De Baeremaeker said.

“ Lousy service in Scarborough is not acceptable.”