Scarborough residents views mixed on council's transit decision.
Scarborough transit users enter the Scarborough Centre RT station on Thursday. Scarborough residents reaction to changes to the city's transit plans by council were mixed.
Staff photo/DANIELLE MILLEY
The reaction of transit riders in Scarborough about council's vote on transit Wednesday was, well, oblivious. Outside the transit hub at the Scarborough Town Centre late Thursday, Feb. 9, morning most riders declined to comment on the transit issue, or were completely unaware of the showdown that came to a head on the council floor Wednesday.The majority of councillors, led by Eglinton-Lawrence Councillor Karen Stinz, voted to keep the Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown LRT above ground east of Laird Drive and the entire length through Scarborough in an effort to free up an estimated $2 billion to be used for other transit projects in the city. This was contrary to Mayor Rob Ford's plans to have the entire Eglinton LRT underground, while finding funding for a Sheppard subway into Scarborough.Melody Matheson is a life-long Scarborough resident and she's glad with the decision council made yesterday."I'd like to see where we could get the most efficiency and stretch our dollar as far as we can and every area of Toronto gets better transit," she said.She's not on side with Ford's plan to bury the Eglinton LRT through Scarborough because it means less money for other projects, such as the Finch West and Sheppard LRTs.Jake Simon doesn't share that position."I think we were double crossed by (Councillor Karen) Stinz," he said. "We voted for the Sheppard line."Simon said he shares Ford's vision of a subway along Sheppard, not the LRT originally proposed by Transit City. Even though the subway wouldn't go as far east as the LRT, he believes it is the better option because it is faster."How much do you gain if you have to stop at lights?" he asked. "If you could control the lights than it might make more sense."Cajaani Velautham is a Scarborough student who relies on transit to get to school at the University of Toronto Scarborough campus. She shares the same view as Matheson."I'd actually like to see the LRT because it's more efficient and cost efficient," she said, adding a subway would take too long to build.Divyan Panchal didn't have much to say about transit, but he would like to see something that stretches to Malvern where he knows people have to deal with long commutes. There was one urgent request among the riders. Matheson would like to see something done with the Scarborough RT, and soon. She rides it to her job at the Scarborough Town Centre from south Scarborough and is tired of the break downs and delays. The replacement of the line with an LRT was mentioned in several transit plans, but the replacement plan is unclear following Wednesday's vote.