The decision to have the provincial government operate the Union Station to Pearson airport rail link through its Metrolinx transportation body will prove to be a benefit to Greater Toronto Area residents and Ontario taxpayers.
We all need to be prepared, however, for a period of short-term pain for long-term gain as this project gets started.The need for the rail link between the airport and Toronto's downtown core and central train station is beyond obvious. The fact that we have gone so long without one is an absolute embarrassment.Now that we are hosting the Pan Am Games in 2015 the pressure is on us to get our act together and to do it on a deadline.Metrolinx has already been charged by the province to build the link, and now it will also take over the operations aspect from private company SNC Lavalin and the Union Pearson Air Link Group. Metrolinx will immediately face a number of political and community challenges as it comes to getting the line complete and running.Weston area residents are concerned the line, which will basically run a spur line to the airport from the existing Georgetown South GO Transit line, will physically split their community apart as track widening would create a number of situations where dead end streets would be created. These concerns need to be addressed in a manner that recognizes Weston's concerns, including overpasses to avoid cutting streets in half. Improvements to the Weston GO station, located in the Lawrence Avenue West and John Street area, are also needed so community members can easily access the line.As envisioned at the moment, the train between Union and the airport would only make stops at Bloor Street and Weston, for a trip of about 20 to 25 minutes. A fair price reflecting the convenience of the direct service as opposed to TTC or GO only routes (which include transfers from train to buses) still needs to be worked out.Also, of huge concern to all Toronto residents living along the route is the question of whether the line runs on diesel or electric engines.Residents living close to the tracks say diesel will cause enormous health concerns and declining property values, and the line will only be acceptable if it can run on electric power. Given the amount of traffic and buses the line will eventually replace, the environment will be among the biggest winners once the line is fully operational with electric engines.In the long term, electrification is the option Metrolinx must pursue. However, given the estimated capital and operational cost of some $445 million for electrification, those living along the line need to cut Metrolinx some slack and realize there may be a short period where the trains run on diesel as the electric conversion work is taking place.