Quiet Suburban Road Considered for Toronto's New Subway

Some are calling one of the proposed routes for an extended Scarborough subway route in Toronto a straw man. The discussion about the route provides insight into the city's current transit planning process.

1 minute read

June 4, 2015, 12:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Jennifer Pagliaro reports on the potential of a subway line along Bellamy Road, "the leafy heart of Scarborough" in Toronto.

Pagliaro describes Bellamy Road: "Buses arrive infrequently on a weekday afternoon; the way is lined with fenced-in backyards butting up on grass-bordered sidewalks and calm pedestrian crossings shaded by a dense tree canopy. Single-family detached homes fan out from the road along quiet cul-de-sacs."

And yet, Bellamy Road is one of three options under consideration by the city for the Scarborough subway extension. According to Paglaino, the Bellamy Road route's farthest east location makes it the most viable of the three for Mayor John Tory.

But, according to the main argument of the article, that option isn't a very good one. "Experts who spoke at length with the Star say it doesn’t appear there’s the density or ridership to justify a subway along the Bellamy Rd. corridor — or the additional costs it would require to build it," according to Pagliaro.

The article goes on to provide a lot more detail about the potential routes of the proposed subway and the political considerations that will influence a final decision. Final studies on the proposed routes are expected in fall of this year.

Sunday, May 31, 2015 in Toronto Star

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