VAUGHAN, ONT. — The Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO) argues that Ontario must continue to invest in Toronto’s transit system and infrastructure even though ridership has declined dramatically due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Ridership on public transit has dropped significantly in the GTA due to COVID-19 and the fact more people are working from home,” said RCCAO executive director Andy Manahan in a recent podcast. “But in large urbanized areas like Toronto we need rail to move a lot of people around and we must keep the pedal to the metal and build transit.”
The podcast, released July 13, features a conversation between Manahan and transit researcher Stephen Wickens, who authored the recent report Station to Station: Why Subway-building Costs have Soared in the Toronto region, that was commissioned by the RCCAO.
Manahan stressed that the province must continue to forge ahead on new projects like the Ontario Line as well as invest in road and highway infrastructure.
“Any leading transportation specialist that we’ve talked to within our network has said that the Ontario Line is necessary,” says Manahan. “If the Yonge Line breaks down, for example, we’re going to need a relief valve to ensure that people can get to and from downtown and to the suburbs.”
The podcast is the third in a series of nine being prepared by the RCCAO to address construction issues of the day. The host is Dave Trafford, a broadcaster on Newstalk 1010 in Toronto. The release dates are scheduled for each Monday.
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