At last we can
examine the proposal to run an express service from downtown to
Pearson International Airport. In the late 1990’s former federal
Liberal transport minister David Collenette proposed a fast rail
link for Toronto, much like those found in cities across the world.
Alas, the
planning process was secretive. It emerged that the winning bidder
would be a private firm, charging over $20 to shuttle passengers by
railcar between Union Station and the airport. Some critics scoffed
that the project, called Blue 22, would never attract enough
customers, especially since thousands of airport workers and
travelers live far from the proposed route.
Last year
residents of the Weston neighbourhood of Toronto learned that
several local streets would close to make way for high-speed trains
-- and there was to be no local stop. The proposal became so
contentious during the recent federal election that a full
environmental assessment was promised.
Readers of In
Transit regularly suggest building a subway to the airport, perhaps
up Highway 427 from Kipling station, or maybe a brand new line along
Eglinton Ave. One proposal from private bus companies called for an
express bus-only road along the Georgetown rail corridor.
Some transit
advocates have suggested a shuttle train could run between the
airport and the nearest GO Transit station near Woodbine racetrack.
Riders would transfer onto trains headed downtown or west toward
Brampton and Georgetown.
Independent of
this whole process, the airport authority is set to open a “people
mover” between terminals 1, 3 and a long-term parking garage. This
1.5 kilometer line starts up July 6 and no major extensions are
planned.
Now concerned
citizens can discuss the proposed airport link at public sessions
next week. The Blue 22 proposal is currently on hold while GO
Transit conducts a full Ontario environmental assessment (EA)
process, with a federal study to begin later.
The website
www.georgetownpearsonstudy.ca [
http://www.georgetownpearsonstudy.ca/index.asp has plenty
of useful information, including public meeting details.
The EA will
consider a variety of transportation options across a wide swath of
the city. As welcome as this expanded scope is, the mandate of the
study focuses only on moving tourists and business people between
the city core and Pearson.
The public
could choose a subway option, but a separate EA would then be
required. If we want faster, congestion-free access to the airport
from locations other than downtown, then this project has to connect
with the TTC and GO at multiple points -- and the fare must be
reasonable. Will that happen?
Allowing the
private sector to operate the express link might ensure it is
actually built, but unless travelers across the region also get
better airport access, what’s the point?