30 stop LRT network preferred to 4 stop Scarborough subway

| Filed under: Toronto

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.