Toronto mayor-elect deemed transit-friendly

Toronto residents on Monday, Oct. 27, 2014 elected John Tory as the 65th mayor of Canada's largest city, generating cautious optimism among rail industry observers. Tory, a former business executive, will assume office on Dec. 1, garnering 40% of the vote in a three-way race.

The election was tracked closely by the North American rail industry in part due to transit uncertainty generated by current Mayor Rob Ford, who clashed repeatedly with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), attacked any plans for light rail transit expansion, insisted any rail for the city be subways, and voiced his belief that transit backers were fostering a “war on cars.”

Canadian rail industry observers note Tory appears to be more amenable to growing Toronto’s passenger rail infrastructure through various means, possibly restoring Toronto’s luster as a rail transit leader in North America, a shine considerably dulled by Ford’s hostility to most rail transit initiatives.

During the 2014 campaign, Tory’s platform included SmartTrack, a plan to use tax increment financing to raise the C$2.7 billion (US$2.4 billion) for surface rail construction, described by some as “surface subway” development.

The non-partisan website Pollenize.org notes, “Tory proposes the creation of a 53-kilometer, 22-stop, C$8 billion surface rail line called the “SmartTrack,” which would be constructed largely on existing GO Transit tracks. 

In addition, the website notes, “John Tory supports the immediate construction of the council-approved and fully funded three-stop subway extension to the Scarborough RT and the construction of a “Yonge Street Relief Line”.

Mayor Ford, at present battling cancer and hounded by numerous scandals during his four years in office, did not run for re-election, yielding to his brother Doug Ford, who came in second in the balloting. Also running was Olivia Chow, a former federal legislator for the New Democratic Party.

Tory promised “sensible, competent, accountable” leadership, and in addressing supporters Monday night, also said, “Voters want their elected officials to get down to work on the priorities that matter most to them: better transit, more jobs, an end to the gridlock that is choking our streets.”