Hayley Goldfarb\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It seems that the Eglinton-Scarborough Light Rail Transit plans may finally be underway. No, really this time. After months of delays, spurred by Rob Ford in an attempt to ditch the project completely in the hopes of saving the city\u2019s money, plans for the LRT are finally in motion, if not in full swing. Soil testing for the LRT that will go between Black Creek Drive and Kennedy Station has resumed after a Ford initiated halt. However, don\u2019t get too excited just yet; the project is scheduled to finish in 2020.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The LRT will be an underground streetcar system that runs beneath Eglinton Avenue. It is an $8.2 billion project, one of the most expensive rapid transit systems in the world. And yet, something tells me it\u2019s not going to be so \u201crapid\u201d, considering it\u2019s going to be operated by the TTC.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Despite the heavy costs that make the term \u201clight\u201d seem like a joke, the city is not actually forking over that much money, despite what Rob Ford might have you think. In fact, the line will be owned by a private company, Metrolinx, and the Ontario government is responsible for most of the costs. It was Premier Dalton McGuinty who contracted out the building of the LRT to Metrolinx.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The project was originally conceived by Mayor Miller in 2007 and has seen an unbelievably small amount of progress since its conception. Although soil testing began in January 2011, the project has barely moved since then. Indeed, Rob Ford announced the cancellation of the project on his first day of work. Four months later, he seemed to have a change of heart and doubled the project\u2019s cost by moving it entirely underground, converting the Scarborough rapid transit to light rapid transit and removing 12 stops along the way.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As TTC rates rise once again this January, it is scary to wonder what Torontonians will be paying to ride the rocket once this massive project is finished. Despite the cost and the setbacks, there is no denying that this will be a great addition to Toronto\u2019s lackluster transit system. Although a subway extension would be nice, an LRT is not too shabby.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And anyone who has ever taken the Eglinton bus can certainly vouch for the importance of the LRT. I personally trek to and from school each day on that bus as I live at Bathurst and Eglinton, as do other NT students like Nicole Kim and Chloe Li. Others, such as Valri Weiss, cannot stand the crowded and unreliable bus and prefer to take their chances with the weather and walk. As Valri says, \u201cthe bus is so annoying, why would I want to take it when I can walk?\u201d It is notable to mention, however, that she lives at Chaplin and Eglinton and thus walks a rather commendable 30 minutes to school. Uphill. Both Ways. In the snow.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The only good side of those frustrating bus rides home is the signs of LRT activity I see springing up along my route. At Bathurst and Eglinton soil testing is successfully underway. Progress has come as far as to give a sort of eviction notice to stores, such as Israel\u2019s, which are located in the plaza where the command station for the LRT will eventually be built. Although the \u201cMoving: Everything Must Go\u201d sign on the stores are sad, at least it\u2019s a sign that something <\/em>is finally happening.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The LRT will certainly be of benefit to future NT students, if not our NT generation. As for now, we all just have to sit tight and wait for the lovable Eglinton bus. And wait. And wait. And wait.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hayley Goldfarb\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It seems that the Eglinton-Scarborough Light Rail Transit plans may finally be underway. No, really this time. After months of delays, spurred by Rob Ford in an attempt to ditch the project completely in the hopes … Continue reading