Majority approve of new Scarborough transit plan

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Majority approve of new Scarborough transit plan

Even in Scarborough, subway/LRT plan is a winner

TORONTO March 23rd - In a random sampling of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll™ among 908 Toronto voters, the majority, well more than half, approve of the revised plan for the Scarborough subway, involving eliminating two of three stops and using the money to build an LRT to Malvern Town Centre (58%). Fewer than 3-in-10 disapprove (27%) and about one seventh have no opinion (14%). 

Approval of the revised plan is especially common to lower income groups ($20K to $40K - 65%), in the downtown (64%), among John Tory voters from the last mayoral election (72%) and among the best educated (post grad - 65%). Even in Scarborough, the plan is as popular as it is across the city (59%).

Downtown Relief Line seen as highest transit priority

The plurality of voters think the Downtown Relief Line is the transit project which should be given the highest priority and finished first (28%), and this is followed by the Eglinton Crosstown (22%), and the Scarborough subway and Malvern LRT (17%). Seen as less pressing is Smart Track (10%), or some other transit project (10%). The DRL is seen as especially important by the youngest (35%), the wealthiest ($80K+ - 36%), in the downtown (40%), among Olivia Chow voters (43%) and the best educated (post grad - 33%).

“It appears the very fact of a decision, any decision, on the much discussed Scarborough subway, has had the effect of creating consensus where none existed before. When we see Scarborough agreeing with the rest of the city on its transit needs, an important milestone has been achieved. Meanwhile, the DRL is still seen to be the most urgent transit priority we have, and that has been the case for several years," said Forum Research President, Dr. Lorne Bozinoff.

Lorne Bozinoff, Ph.D. is the president and founder of Forum Research. He can be reached at lbozinoff@forumresearch.com or at (416) 960-9603.