FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 26, 2010: Toronto’s new Mayor must make it a priority to get the Province to reverse its misguided decision to cut Transit City funding.

“Torontonians love Transit City,” said Jamie Kirkpatrick, Campaigner for the Toronto Environmental Alliance. “It’s good for the environment, it’s good for business and it’s good for Torontonians who currently don’t have access to fast transit. Toronto’s next Mayor must be working 24/7 to get the Province to reverse its decision to cut Transit City funding.”

Yesterday, the Province announced it would “delay” Transit City. Doing so will essentially kill the proposed Finch West LRT, drastically reduce the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, leave the redevelopment of the Scarborough RT in doubt, and bring into question the possibility of building the remaining 4 Transit City lines.

“Any Mayoral candidate who is serious about helping the environment must step up now and let the Premier know that delaying Transit City is not an option,” said Kirkpatrick. “Delaying Transit City means continued smog, continued traffic congestion and continued frustration for transit riders with no alternative to their over-crowded buses routes.”

Building Transit City will make it much easier for Torontonians to keep their cars at home and use public transit to move around the city and the GTA. By stopping Transit City people will have little choice but to continue using cars which pump smog and greenhouse gases into the environment.

“Torontonians will be looking to see which mayoral candidate will step up to the plate to defend Transit City,” said Kirkpatrick. “We hope every one of them will.”

Jamie Kirkpatrick, Campaigner
Toronto Environmental Alliance
Cell: 416-895-3406
Office: 416-596-0660