Hudak on transit:  World-Class means subways

TORONTO – For Toronto to retain its world-class status, Queen’s Park needs to heed voters, community leaders and the lessons of other major cities when it comes to transit development, Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak said today.

---

“Truly world-class cities build underground – not on street-level,” Hudak said. “They’ve learned to avoid ripping up major arteries, further snarling traffic and harming productivity, commerce and quality of life.” Hudak made the remarks while visiting the Emery Village Business Improvement Area to hear their concerns about the next stages of transit development along their sensitive business corridor. “Subways are once-in-a-generation investments that offer the best return when it comes to speed, quality and value,” Hudak said, noting the province has an $8.4 billion stake in the next stage of transit development for Toronto. Hudak referenced a 2011 Board of Trade study that found Toronto has the worst traffic congestion of any major North American city, now surpassing Los Angeles – the historical benchmark for gridlock. “This requires a focused plan. It’s the biggest infrastructure program in Canada and one of the largest in North America. We’ve got to get it right the first time.” To ensure that happens, Hudak said he would table an Opposition Day Motion in the Legislature March 6th, reflecting his conviction that world-class cities build underground transit, and calling on the Liberals to side with subway proponents in the use of provincial funding. “My Opposition Day Motion next week will bring much-needed accountability and leadership to the provincial government’s role in transit development for Toronto,” Hudak said.

---