Toronto’s Budget for 2010: All Public Trans

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By Elli Davis, December 16, 2009

The 2010 Capital Budget and 10-year (2010-2019) capital plan was approved at Toronto City Council last week. More than half of the budget for 2010, $2.4 billion, will fund public transportation. Transportation and labor issues were the most significant ones during the budget talks.

Over the period of 10 years, $11.7 billion is going to be invested into TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) and transportation in the city, which forms more than 70 percent of the capital budget. The Council claims that if everything goes as expected, at the end of the 10-year plan, 300,000 new jobs will be created. According to Mayor David Miller, the passed plan will help to improve the quality of life for Torontians and make Toronto an even more prosperous and livable city.

It sounds like a great idea if we can afford it. I suppose anything which keeps other people's cars off the streets is welcome. Those of us who must drive professionally will be able to get around faster.

The operating part of the city budget, the part that pays for such services as police, fire, libraries, employment or social programs should be negotiated in early February 2010.