It is time to take ownership and responsibility for our city, and to move Toronto forward.
I believe great cities build great subways and great subways build great cities.
The subway expansion will unlock a strong and dynamic future for Toronto. It will solve Toronto’s gridlock and congestion problems.
Subway Expansion over next 10 years
Working with early TTC maps and density plans, I have estimated the most needed expansion to be approximately 58 kilometres of subway system with some above ground and some underground. (See map)
Funding Subway Expansion
Funding Subway expansion will be expansive, but Toronto can’t afford not to fund it.
My administration will use 4 funding strategies
1. Rush hour or congestion tolls on the DVP and Gardiner Expressway. Funds from these tolls will go directly to the expansion of our subway system and a sunset clause put in place so that the funds have to be directly solely to subway expansion and can not be used for anything else. The tolls will come off once our subway expansion is complete.
2. Funding from our Provincial Government
While the province has taken 4 billion dollars from Toronto’s transit expansion plans, I believe the funding can be won back with a better transit plan that the people of Toronto want.
There was quite a lot of dissent over the forced Streetcar or Light Rail systems that the Transit Plan imposed. And many communities did not want it destroying their neighbourhoods. This did not go unnoticed by our provincial government.
A subway expansion plan is what the people of Toronto want and my administration will work with the Government of Ontario to provide it.
3. Working with private developers
While private developers will not pay for the entire cost of the subway expansion, they are interested in partnering with the city to increase densities along our transit corridors. The city can offer air rights and long- term land leases that developers want in return for support in building out the subway stations. My administration will also partner up with businesses interested in being part of these subway locations.
4. Creation of a Subway Bond
My administration will create a subway bond to allow people to invest in our subway expansion and to allow the city to build out the expansion more quickly.
