In The News

The initial business case reins in the estimated $9.6-billion price tag by cutting the number of stations to four from six and having the route veer east at Thornhill then run above ground along an existing CN rail corridor to make the project fit its $5.6-billion funding envelope.

The plan now is to build ground-level stations at Highway 7 and at High Tech Road in Richmond Hill in addition to an underground station at Steeles Avenue. That leaves enough money in the budget for one “neighbourhood station” at either Cummer Avenue, Clark Avenue or Royal Orchard Boulevard to be built at a cost of $400 to $500 million.

Thornhill Coun. Keith Irish quickly registered his opposition to the plan, asking residents to sign a petition against the realigned route.

“They’re asking to tunnel under 60 homes in this mature, established neighbourhood and they’re failing to promise them with even a local subway station of their own,” he said.

He finds it “somewhat unbelievable” Metrolinx thinks this is the proper route to take to save money when the Yonge Street alignment is the clear alternative.