Thread by @BobBrentTO

@JasonParis @frankscarpitti I agree w/ Markham's Mayor (both as former 26yr resident of York Region: Markham & Vaughan & #TTC CMO): The Yonge North extension should have been the first subway extension, not the #TYSSE, currently up & running w/ 1.2m rides/YEAR forecast—way, way less than subway capacity 1/

@JasonParis @frankscarpitti 2/ #TYSSE to FinMin Greg Sorbara's riding was approved by Premier Dalton McGuinty, as a thank you to Mr. Sorbara for his support winning Liberal leadership, election/re-election majorities & his family's deep involvement w/ @YorkUniversity (his brother was Chair). #TOpoli #ONpoli

@JasonParis @frankscarpitti @yorkuniversity 3/ I know from being #TTC ex-CMO and an engaged citizen, the TTC actively thwarted any YUS 🚇 extension to Toronto/YorkRegion Steeles boundary; or extending B/D 🚇 to Sherway Gardens even tho it's in Etobicoke. Its 2001 RTEP study #1 Priority—Sheppard 🚇 subway extension to STC.

@JasonParis @frankscarpitti @yorkuniversity 4/ #TTC Originally planned YUS 🚇 extension from Downsview to @YorkUniversity, but, it was later extended to the Hwy 7, the southern boundary of ex-FinMin Greg Sorbara's riding—as a condition of both Provincial & Canada funding—despite being mostly undeveloped. north of Steeles.

@JasonParis @frankscarpitti @yorkuniversity 5/ The DTRL: downtown relief line has become an almost mythical dream of #TTC Planners & some Execs, as well as transit advocates. Unfortunately, the now RL: relief line is fatally flawed by @TOrontosMayor @JohnTory's #SMARTtrack chimera, moving DTRL to Pape/Queen‚not Pape/King…

@JasonParis @frankscarpitti @yorkuniversity @TorontosMayor @JohnTory 6/ When I asked Snr Toronto Staff why DTRL was to mostly low-density (retail/residential) Queen, not high-density (office/residential) King, they replied "It's a development line"…ie. NOT a relief line! See yourself by walking Queen & King West btw University & Bathurst #TOpoli

@JasonParis @frankscarpitti @yorkuniversity @TorontosMayor @JohnTory 7/ Despite this, Mayor @JohnTory has yet again (#SMARTtrack) pushed half-cocked ExecComm & Council DTRL approvals w/o financial due diligence (# rides, pass.rev $, CAPEX $8B, Op$ubs...). Snr #TTC Finance Staff: "I'd be pleased they're now looking at rides in expansion evaluation!

@JasonParis @frankscarpitti @yorkuniversity @TorontosMayor @JohnTory 8/ A cancer is growing on the #TTC—it's being impoverished by generations of politically motivated low-ride CAPEX expansions dictated by politicians more concerned with their/party (re-) election than their fiduciary duty to ensure #TTC capital & op funds are spent wisely #TOpoli

@JasonParis @frankscarpitti @yorkuniversity @TorontosMayor @JohnTory 9/ How can #TTC approve $8B (0% design) DTRL, w/o first determining its #rides, pass.rev, OpExp, Op$ubs, CAPEX, funding? Well, it's deja vu: original Spadina🚇extension, Sheppard🚇, #TYSSE🚇1.2M rides/yr, $3.2B, #SSE🚇 likely $5B @30% design, #SMARTtrack🚅 6M new rides/$1.7B💲🆘

@JasonParis @frankscarpitti @yorkuniversity @TorontosMayor @JohnTory @30 10/ Many millennials & Gen Z #TTC riders don't know that prior to Megacity Mayors Ford & Tory, a Mayoral transit plan wasn't a prerequisite to getting elected. Mayors Miller & Lastman were both elected 2X w/o unvetted, unfunded transit plans NB #BADtransitMayor @JohnTory #TOpoli

@JasonParis @frankscarpitti @yorkuniversity @TorontosMayor @JohnTory @30 Unroll it @ThreadReaderApp, please! I'm 🇨🇦 🤓😉