Mayor Rob Ford should consider a property tax hike along with other possible ways of funding his multi-billion dollar subway vision, says his transit adviser, Gordon Chong.
Chong said Ford shouldn’t reject any funding source at this stage. On Wednesday, city council is to debate whether it favors high-cost subways over much cheaper road-based light rail on Sheppard Ave. E. in Scarborough.
The main obstacle is funding, Chong said.
“It always boils down to money,” he told reporters at city hall. “I think it’s time he (Ford) opened his mind to all the possibilities for building what everybody says they want on Sheppard and everybody would love to have.”
“The argument has always been we can’t afford it. Well, let’s figure out a way to afford it because not only is it what people want, it’s what I think the entire GTA needs.”
It’s time for the mayor to distribute a business plan detailing generally where the money could come from to build subways, said Councillor Josh Colle.
Money from provincial and federal governments, special charges on new development, road tolls, parking levies and other sources have been identified but no formal funding model has surfaced.
“I think right now it’s in the mayor’s court to put forward the revenue tools he’d like to see associated with his alternative and his plan,” said Colle (Ward 15, Eglinton-Lawrence).
“A pie graph would be nice, just something that would show where the source of funding would come from.”
Colle said that so far, there’s been talk of extending the existing Sheppard subway from Don Mills Rd. two stops to the Scarborough border at Victoria Park Ave.
“Beyond that, where’s the business case for Scarborough? My concern is how do you get it deep into Scarborough?”
Public opinion in Scarborough favours subways even if it’s all or nothing, said Councillor Mike Del Grande, who represents Ward 39, Scarborough-Agincourt and is council’s budget chief.
“I know that in my part of town, subway is desired, so much so that people have told me they’d rather have nothing than have something take up road space in Scarborough. There is a bitterness in Scarborough.”
Original Article
Source: Star
Author: Paul Moloney
Chong said Ford shouldn’t reject any funding source at this stage. On Wednesday, city council is to debate whether it favors high-cost subways over much cheaper road-based light rail on Sheppard Ave. E. in Scarborough.
The main obstacle is funding, Chong said.
“It always boils down to money,” he told reporters at city hall. “I think it’s time he (Ford) opened his mind to all the possibilities for building what everybody says they want on Sheppard and everybody would love to have.”
“The argument has always been we can’t afford it. Well, let’s figure out a way to afford it because not only is it what people want, it’s what I think the entire GTA needs.”
It’s time for the mayor to distribute a business plan detailing generally where the money could come from to build subways, said Councillor Josh Colle.
Money from provincial and federal governments, special charges on new development, road tolls, parking levies and other sources have been identified but no formal funding model has surfaced.
“I think right now it’s in the mayor’s court to put forward the revenue tools he’d like to see associated with his alternative and his plan,” said Colle (Ward 15, Eglinton-Lawrence).
“A pie graph would be nice, just something that would show where the source of funding would come from.”
Colle said that so far, there’s been talk of extending the existing Sheppard subway from Don Mills Rd. two stops to the Scarborough border at Victoria Park Ave.
“Beyond that, where’s the business case for Scarborough? My concern is how do you get it deep into Scarborough?”
Public opinion in Scarborough favours subways even if it’s all or nothing, said Councillor Mike Del Grande, who represents Ward 39, Scarborough-Agincourt and is council’s budget chief.
“I know that in my part of town, subway is desired, so much so that people have told me they’d rather have nothing than have something take up road space in Scarborough. There is a bitterness in Scarborough.”
Original Article
Source: Star
Author: Paul Moloney
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