TORONTO

There’s no price tag yet on what it’ll cost to change tracks on Scarborough transit, but Mayor John Tory is all aboard.

Despite not having a detailed costing, ridership projections or design plans, Tory on Thursday trumpeted the new subway plan pitched by city staff and declared an end to the transit “civil war” that has been waged for years at City Hall.

The new scheme would see a shorter extension than planned of the Scarborough subway and an 18-stop of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT.

“The civil war is over,” Tory said.

“We’re going to build transit, we’ve brought forward a plan, it’s a plan based on expert evidence and that’s what we should have done from the beginning in every area of the city.”

Tory said the plan will bring together a divided council that has fought over whether a subway or an LRT would best serve the needs of Scarborough. He stressed that he isn’t in favour of swapping pieces in or out.

“I believe the plan all holds together,” he said. “You can start picking at it if you want and pulling pieces out. That’s what’s got us into this mess now.”

In a technical briefing hours after Tory’s announcement, the city’s chief planner, Jennifer Keesmaat, conceded the plan still needs more work. The proposal will come before council for approval without ridership projections, full design details or a timeline for completion.

“We believe further work is required,” she said. “There’s really no point in creating a work program until we have direction from council.”

Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker — who last term championed dumping the Scarborough LRT for the subway extension to Sheppard Ave. — said he now supports Tory’s proposal, but only after serious soul-searching.

“The staff have put together a better package than we got approved at council,” he said. “I, as the subway advocate, have to acknowledge the facts, have to acknowledge the truth, have to be honest with my neighbours.”

Councillor Josh Matlow, a vocal opponent of the Scarborough subway project, said this is something he can work with. But he thinks Scarborough councillors will have to convince their constituents it’s the right move after years of telling them they needed a subway.

“I have no doubt they’re all going to get some interesting e-mails today,” he said. “They’re going to get some calls asking ‘why have things changed?’ But I think they can confidently tell them that the three stop subway was not a sure thing.”

shawn.jeffords@sunmedia.ca

For a mobile link to coverage of Tory's presser, click here.