Metrolinx, TTC Clash Over Rail Plans Delay Transit Project

Toronto, Canada (AHN) - Ontario's Metrolix agency and the Toronto Transit Commission are at odds over plans to expand the transit system, delaying the project and long-term transport plans for the province.

Metrolinx planners want to junk TTC's plan to build a $2.2-billion tunneled light rail line on Eglinton Avenue. In lieu, Metrolinx prefers a subway or a tunneled system similar to a subway that use vehicles like those operated by the Scarborough RT and Vancouver's SkyTrain.

The TTC warns it would jack up the cost twice or thrice its original proposal to $6 billion up to $8 billion.

Because of the conflict, Metrolinx moved the release of the draft of its long-range regional transportation plan to Sept. 27, originally slated this week.

Rob MacIsaac, chairman of Metrolinx, defended the company's decision to set aside the TTC proposal because it would not meet the needs of residents for a fast ride and a rising demand for rail services.

"We would like to find a way to speed it up for people who are traveling longer distances... There's little point in spending a lot of money on an LRT line that will end up with passengers whose faces are pressed up against the windows," MacIsaac told the Globe and Mail.

Meanwhile, Skoda, a giant Czech maker of transit cars said it is interested to bid for TTC's $1.25 billion contract to replace its old Red Rocket streetcars, but only if the transit firm would lift the requirement for a 100 percent low-floor streetcar. But TTC chair Adam Giambrone will likely not bow down to Skoda's suggestion.

Skoda has heavy and light rail cars running in eastern Europe, Russia, Austria and Portland, Oregon. It did not participate in the first bidding to supply 364 rail cars for TTC because it was not prepared to shell money and time to develop a car that would suit TTC's specifications.

"We felt the project was leaning to more local firms... We participated up to the point when it started becoming a one-horse show," Skoda Maryland agent Charlie Hahn told the Toronto Star.