LRT Preferred to
Subway in Scarborough
Most want to cancel subway and build something else
In a random sampling
of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll™ among 667 Toronto voters, the
plurality, more than 4-in-10, say a seven stop LRT funded by the province at
about $1.5 billion is best for Scarborough (42%) as opposed to fewer than
3-in-10 who prefer the planned Scarborough subway, with one stop, costing more
than $3 billion (28%). In Scarborough, close to half choose the LRT (45%),
while fewer than 4-in-10 opt for the planned subway (39%). In the city as a
whole, as many as 3-in-10 have no opinion (30%), while half this many are
undecided in Scarborough (16%).
Most want subway cancelled, something else built
When presented with
the cost increases and reduction in stops of the planned Scarborough subway,
the plurality, more than 4-in-10 say the subway should be cancelled and
something else built (44%), while just more than a third think the subway
should go ahead as planned (35%). One fifth do not venture an opinion (21%). In
Scarborough, fewer than half opt for the subway as planned (47%), while more
than a third think it should be cancelled and replaced by something else (37%).
One sixth don’t have an opinion (16%).
Much higher approval for LRT than
subway, especially in Scarborough
When the subway is
described as having one stop and costing more than $3 billion, there is a
relatively even split between approval (40%) and disapproval (43%), with less
than a fifth unsure (17%). For the LRT option, however, described as having
seven stops and being funded by the province at $1.5 billion, more than two
thirds approve (68%) and just a fifth disapprove (21%). In Scarborough,
approval of the subway option is at more than half (56%), but approval for the
LRT is at as much as 7-in-10 (71%).
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.“It appears, after
years of being pummeled by promises of transit, the citizens of Scarborough are
no longer fixated on subways. At this point, they just want transit, and the
sooner the better. Even east of Victoria Park, an LRT is seen to be preferred
to a subway, if it actually goes somewhere” said Forum Research President, Dr.
Lorne Bozinoff.
