30 stop LRT network preferred to 4 stop Scarborough subway
LRT preferred even in Scarborough
TORONTO, January
25th, 2015 - In
a random sampling of public opinion taken by The Forum Poll™ among 843 Toronto
voters, respondents were presented with the proposition that the $3 billion
plus dollars required to build a four stop Scarborough subway could also be
used to build a 30 stop LRT network covering the entire municipality and were
asked their preference. Fully 6-in-10 (61%) prefer the LRT network, twice as
many as prefer the abbreviated subway (29%). Few say build neither and save the
money (4%), build something else (4%) or that they don’t know (3%). In the
downtown, close to 7-in-10 opt for the LRT network (69%), and even in
Scarborough, the majority prefer it (58% to 33% for the four stop subway).
"When all the cancelled and
planned LRT lines and extensions are added up, with all their stops, it becomes
clear that, if the cost is the same, greater value is delivered by an LRT
network, and even the residents of Scarborough understand this. It may be
Scarborough subway logjam is breaking, and other, more economical alternatives may
be considered," 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.
