Toronto council votes to bring subways into Scarborough

Toronto's eastern suburb of Scarborough is now on track to get a subway extension. And maybe, just maybe, if funding can be found and the federal and provincial governments agree to follow Toronto's meandering path toward modernization, they might actually get one.

Someday.

Toronto city council voted on Wednesday to set aside a plan to build an extensive light-rail transit line in the suburbs and instead tilt at the chance of building an underground subway.

The vote came in at 28-16, with Toronto Mayor Rob Ford leading the subway charge.

As became apparent during the debate on Tuesday, it was apparent Ford didn't entirely understand the plan he was voting to dismiss. Regardless, the word "subway" has become a re-election rally cry for Ford, so it probably didn't matter what was standing in the way of his plan.

[ Related: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford confused about current transit plan ]

One would like to declare this the culmination of an extensive battle to bring subways to the Scarborough area. But that would be presumptuous. What Wednesday's vote likely means in that there will be more debate before anything is actually accomplished. The Toronto Star reports that the subway plan relies on the federal government covering half of the cost increase to change plans - from a $1.8 billion LRT plan to a $2.3 billion subway plan. The new plan also relies on the province continuing to provide the $1.8 billion it has promised to the previous plan.

Ford had said it would only cost $5 per Toronto household to fund the project - which worked out to a 0.25 per cent increase to property taxes. Instead of relying on that apparent witchcraft, council adopted a plan to increase taxes by 1.1 to 2.4% over the next four years.

For comparison, here is how the two plans stack up:

The former Scarborough LRT plan would cost $1.8 billion and encompass seven stations over 10 kilometres. The line would run within walking distance of 47,000 people.

The new Scarborough subway will cost $2.3 billion and encompass three stations over 7.6 kilometres. The line would run within walking distance of 24,000, although it would run slighly faster.

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