Revised Scarborough subway plan eliminates 2 of 3 stations

Mayor John Tory is throwing his support behind a revised plan to build one new station for the Scarborough subway extension rather than three.

The revised planning report, released Thursday, recommends extending the new subway line from Kennedy station on the Bloor-Danforth line directly to Scarborough Town Centre. The original plan included stops on Lawrence and Sheppard Avenues.

At a news conference at city hall Thursday afternoon, Tory said the proposed plan provides “dramatically better value” for the costs of the transit line.

He also said the “high-speed connection” to Scarborough Town Centre would “propel” employment and prosperity in an area that is not currently connected to any rapid transit system.

“It’s about giving Scarborough the right transit for the right reasons,” Tory said.

Tory added that he was “satisfied” that the other two stations in the original proposal are “not justified” at this time.

The shorter subway extension would save the city approximately $1 billion in infrastructure costs. Those savings would be put toward extending the new Eglinton-Crosstown LRT from Kennedy station to the University of Toronto’s Scarborough campus.

The report also says that the Crosstown LRT and subway extension, combined with a future SmartTrack station on Lawrence Avenue, will provide local residents with more access to rapid transit.

Many councillors are championing the subway plan, including Norm Kelly.

“The focus is on job creation in the east end of Toronto,” Kelly told reporters at city hall. “Not everyone has to work downtown.”

The staff report is to be presented at an upcoming executive committee meeting.