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City report on next steps for Toronto's transit plan is up now: toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2…
The report recommends using up all available federal funding on four projects: Scarborough subway extension, SmartTrack, Relief Line, Bloor-Yonge capacity improvements.
Not on the list for federal funding: the Eglinton East LRT. Council had previously identified that as a priority for federal money, but it has fallen off the list.
This appears to sound the death knell for Mayor Tory's compromise Scarborough transit plan that would have included an LRT line and one-stop subway.
Also not on the list for federal funding: Waterfront Transit. Council had also identified that as a priority for federal funding 2016.
So the report is recommending changing the projects prioritized for federal funding - removing Eglinton East and Waterfront LRT, and adding Bloor-Yonge capacity improvements. Report says changes are "based on the urgent need to address Line 1 capacity and safety."
The report notes that talks with the province about the subway upload are ongoing, and "recommendations in this report are agnostic of asset ownership."
Big caveat in this report about how to spend $B's of public money: “any change resulting from ongoing discussions with the province related to the ‘upload’ of subway infrastructure may alter the funding and financing details for the city’s transit expansion program”
Here's something interesting. The report states SmartTrack stations, which would eat up $1.5 billion in fed/city funding, are ready for procurement by Metrolinx, but: "The City has been requesting confirmation from the Province and has yet to receive a formal response."
