Toronto City Council gives support toward provincial agreement to move transit expansion forward

The City Council of Toronto, Ontario, voted to endorse a plan developed between the city and the province that will see the city retain ownership of the existing subway system, deliver four subway projects that were priorities of the province and allow for the city to fund state of good repair work on the existing system, as well as its own transit priority project.

The agreement between the city and province was announced in mid-October and this endorsement of the City Council provides staff of Toronto the authority to negotiate and enter into agreements with the province on future transit projects for Toronto.

"This is a deal that is good for our city and one that is consistent with the direction given by City Council a year ago when we were faced with a very challenging situation…I believe this is our very best way forward,” said Toronto Mayor John Tory.

The key elements of the arrangement between the city and province include:

• An agreement to advance the Ontario Line; a three-stop east extension of Line 2 further into Scarborough; the Eglinton West LRT extension; and the Yonge North Subway Extension.
• These expansions will be funded by the province, with the help of the federal government, with a commitment of C$28.5 billion (US$21.7 billion).
• The province and the city agree to work together to get the four projects built as quickly as possible.
• The C$5 billion (US$3.81 billion), which would have been Toronto’s contribution to the four-project expansion, will be applied toward state of good repair work on the existing transit system and other city priority transit projects such as the Eglinton East LRT and Waterfront transit.
• Toronto will retain ownership of the existing subway network.
• Toronto Transit Commission retains operations of the transit network.
• Costs the city has incurred planning transit up to this point will be covered by the province along with staff costs incurred in building out the new lines.
• The province will cover any cost overruns of its four priority projects.
• A commitment to listen to public input and address concerns of residents to protect the city’s neighborhoods.

Toronto city staff will negotiate more detailed agreements regarding the operation and maintenance of the four expansion projects for future city council consideration and staff will provide the council with semi-annual updates on discussions with the province.

“As part of our partnership, both levels of government acknowledge that the current approach to building transit in Toronto must be improved,” said Ontario Premier Doug Ford. “But to genuinely embrace this historic opportunity to take a massive leap forward in delivering transit for the region, we need Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the federal government to commit to increasing their contribution and funding their fair share of the entirety of our subways program. The transformative and lasting benefits to transit riders, the regional economy and the environment associated with these projects is undeniable and we believe it to be of national importance.”

Ontario Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney and Ontario Associate Minister of Transportation GTA Kinga Surma issued a joint statement that read in part:

"Today's vote marks a pivotal moment in the history of Toronto transit. After years of discussions, the city of Toronto and the province of Ontario have endorsed one single unified plan for subway expansion in Toronto.

Finally, commuters will get the transit they deserve - an integrated, modern and efficient network that expands across the region.

We applaud Mayor Tory and Council for saying ‘Yes.’ Yes, to the province's transit plan - a plan that will transform Canada's largest city and the lives of its citizens for the better.

With an agreement that balances city and provincial priorities, we begin a new era of cooperation and partnership that will make our government's vision for subway expansion a reality.”