TTCriders criticized the Liberal Government’s decision today to delay the construction of the Sheppard LRT until 2021.
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“While we obviously support the Liberal Government’s move to stay on track with the Finch LRT build out, delaying the Sheppard LRT yet again until 2021, is totally unacceptable,” said Brenda Thompson, of TTCriders. “It seems like they want to delay the Sheppard LRT to the point of killing it,” she said.
Construction of the Sheppard LRT began in 2009. It was stopped in 2011 to build the Eglinton Crosstown. A new completion date was set for 2017 in order to build it privately. Now the line is being delayed until 2021 until after the Finch West LRT is completed.
“Delaying rapid transit to our outer neighbourhoods in Scarborough is unjust,” said Brenda Thompson. “ It deprives commuters of precious time with their families, employment opportunities and access to services. It is especially hard on the women, seniors, students and people with disabilities who live in these communities,” she said.
A 27-stop Sheppard LRT would bring faster, more reliable, and more convenient service to neighbourhoods like L’Amoreaux, Tam O’Shanter, Agincourt, Malvern and Rouge River.
A recent York University City Institute report “Switching Tracks Towards transit equity in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area” points to the urgency and benefit of bringing rapid transit to our outer neighbourhoods in order to deal with the reality that poorer neighbourhoods have poorer service than richer neighbourhoods.