Proposal a source of controversy in community

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The Blue 22 express train between Union Station and Pearson Airport should be built with respect for the community of Weston, stop and pick up passengers locally, and run using electricity rather than diesel power.

That was the word from board members of Metrolinx, the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Region transportation authority responsible for drafting an inter-regional transportation plan.

The board voted Friday to ask to be consulted before the provincial government decides a final configuration for the controversial rail link to the airport, after hearing from Mike Sullivan, chair of the Weston Community Coalition.

"The people of Weston want you to know and the people I represent as chair of the Weston Community Coalition want you to know that we welcome real public transit," said Sullivan. "We welcome the regional transportation plan as it's described but we fear something else is afoot and we want to make sure you folks tell the Premier to make this the right thing - make it real public transit with public transit fares, not $25 a ride."

Since it was proposed seven years ago by then Transportation Minister David Collenette, the rail line has been a matter of deep controversy in Weston.

Initial designs showed the rail line literally cutting the community in two - separating residences from the business section.

And residents have worried that having diesel-powered trains running through the community would deliver nothing but more pollution to the community, while bypassing it as a transit route.

Mayor David Miller, who sits on the Metrolinx board, was supportive of Sullivan, and said that the environmental assessment, which is still in the early stages, ought not to recommend that early design.

"As it stands, there will be a stop at Dundas West allowing people from the east and west and from Scarborough on and that's a significant link," Miller said. "I believe there needs to be a stop in Weston. And Weston has to be connected with its business community. And there should be a public service rather than a private train."

Board-member Paul Bedford said a diesel-powered train would be a mistake.

"Looking at every rail link with the airport, I couldn't find one that's a diesel," he said. "You have to keep that in mind - it would not be a great precedent to have diesel trains going in to Pearson Airport."