Mayor John Tory proposes LRT section for SmartTrack

TorontoMayor John Tory isproposing a significant change to hisSmartTracktransit system, calling for alight rail section on itswestern leg.

• SmartTrackwill 'look similar' to original plan, Tory says
• SmartTracktransit plan'will prevail,' Tory tells CBC Radio

In a Tuesday morningnews conference, the mayor said he has received "objective, professional evidence" to push the city tomake an alteration to the western portion of the plan that would include a mix of heavy and light rail through Etobicoke.

"The fundamental vision forSmartTrackis very sound," Tory told reporters.

Because of the high costs associated with heavy rail ...LRT technology likely makes more sense.- Mayor John Tory in news release

"We are proceeding with a reconfiguration that will provide the same service," Tory said, adding the suggested modifications will be recommended to city council for approval.

His comments come after the release of two city reports that examined ridership projections and options for construction ofSmartTrack'swestern leg.

Previously, Tory had said heavy rail would connect Mount Dennis, the westernmost stop on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, to the Mississauga Airport Corporate Centre, west of Renforth Drive and Eglinton Avenue West.

However, on Tuesday, Tory said that portion should be linked by light rail only, citing "the high costs associated with heavy rail and relatively low ridership anticipated on the western portion versus the rest of SmartTrack."

City staff will now study this modification to the proposed plan, according to the mayor. Three different corridor options arelisted in the report released Tuesday.

Easing subway congestion

Citing one of the reports, Tory also said that with the presentTTC fares and with frequent service, SmartTrack could attract "more than300,000 daily riders, which is more than the daily ridership of the entire GO system."

The mayornoted that the frequency of service is "under discussion" and fare integration is "far from determined."

"The topic of fare integration is incredibly complex," the mayor added.

City officials believeSmartTrack would ease some of the ridership pressure onthe Yonge subway line, saying it could reduce ridership on that line"by as much as 17 per cent."

The numbers were prepared with help from University of Toronto researchers.

TTC chair Josh Collesaid TTC service is "under increasing pressure," even with new and enhanced service across the city.

In October 2015, Toryspoke with CBC Radio's Metro Morning host Matt Galloway about the transit plan he pitched to Torontonians before becoming mayor.

"The idea will prevail," the mayor said."It maytake a different shape, it may have a different cost. That's why we're bothering to do the studies."

Tory campaigned on SmartTrack, a public transportation project that originally called for 53 kilometres of surface rail transit with 22 stations to be built over seven years. On Tuesday, the mayor said the precise number of stations has yet to be determined but addedthere would be a "goodly number of stations" along a "very robust network."

Part of the objectives for the transit plan is toconnect Toronto with employment hubs in Mississaugaand Markhamwhile reducing crowding on the Yonge-Universitysubway line at an estimated cost of$8 billion.

It's unclear how the route would operate in co-ordination with GO Transit and the TTC, how frequently trains would run and how much it would cost ridersacross the Greater Toronto Area to hop on board.