Toronto Mayor Rob Ford continued to press for an underground transit solution, suggesting a decision to build above-ground light rail lines across the city alienated suburban Scarborough.

Ford and his brother, Coun. Doug Ford, appeared on CP24's LeDrew Live Thursday evening to deride city council's decision to approve a light rail plan, and doubted the province would consider the plan given the mayor's discouragement.

"The people have spoken loud and clear. Scarborough councillors, Scarborough MPPs. Everyone in Scarborough wants underground (transit)," Ford said on Thursday. "Be it an LRT or a subway. I listen to the taxpayers and I'm sure the premier will do the same."

The Fords were among several members of council who opposed the plan, proposed by TTC chair Karen Stintz and supported by a vote of 25-18 Wednesday.

Doug Ford, who earlier in the day described the plan's supporters as a few "lefty downtowners," said the decision to build above-ground transit lines was a quickie solution.

"We have folks that are short-term thinkers and want to put a Band-Aid solution on transportation for 25 to 30 years… or you can be a long-term visionary like the mayor and think about building subways for 50 to 100 years," he told CP24's LeDrew Live.

The new transit plan is similar to a strategy approved by the city, TTC and Metrolinx, the province's transit agency, in 2009 but shunned by Ford when he was elected mayor in 2010.

Under the new plan:

  • A light rail transit line will be built along Finch Avenue West stretching from the Spadina subway station to Humber College.
  • A light rail transit line will be built along Jane Street to Kennedy subway station with a section running underground between Back Creek Drive and Laird Drive.
  • The Scarborough RT line, currently stretching from Kennedy station to McCowan Road, will be converted to light rail transit with an extension to the Malvern Town Centre as funds become available.

A panel of experts will also consider the benefits of several other transit lines, including an extension of the Sheppard subway line.

An alternate transit plan promoted by Ford would not have included a Finch LRT and would have buried the Eglinton LRT underground. The plan also proposed a Sheppard subway line built with private money.

After Wednesday's vote, Ford dismissed council's decision as "irrelevant" and said he was certain the province would build subways.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, however, shot down Ford's comments, saying he had told Ford that the province would provide $8.4 billion funding for a transit plan that had council approval.

Transportation Minister Bob Chiarelli asked the mayor and council to put politics aside and work together.

Chiarelli said council's transit plan is still a work in progress the province will consider the complete plan once the city's panel of experts weighs in next month.