Despite uncertainties about funding and objections from the city's mayor, Toronto's light rail plans are moving ahead, according to transit officials.
Metrolinx president and CEO Rob Prichard said the city's plans to build a network of light rail lines would be delayed only slightly, adding two years to the original eight year timeline. Prichard says that the plans will move ahead, even though more than $4 billion in provincial funding will be delayed.
"'I think we have a plan that is bold, aggressive, doable, that will will deliver major transportation improvements for Toronto,' Mr. Prichard said.
The provincial government announced last year it would commit $8.15-billion to fund four light rail lines that make up Toronto's so-called Transit City. But TTC cost estimates came in about $2.4-billion over budget, Mr. Prichard said today, which is why the first phase is more than twenty kilometres shorter than first envisioned."
FULL STORY: Scaled back Transit City plans “ready to go”, says Metrolinx chief
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
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