Item - 2026.EX30.11

Mayor Olivia Chow recommends that:

1. City Council establish the Scarborough East Rapid Transit Line as its top transit expansion priority that has yet to receive financial commitments from Provincial and Federal governments, inform both Provincial and Federal governments of this priority, and request that each order of government commit to funding an equal, one-third share of the cost to build the SERT.

2. City Council increase the 2026 Capital Budget for Transit Expansion by $10 million, fully funded by the City Building Fund Reserve, from funds specifically allocated for the purposes of investing in Scarborough transit, to expedite the work to advance the SERT to 30 percent design, and direct the Executive Director, Transit Expansion, to report to City Council by Q2 2027 on the progress of this work and recommendations to continue to advance the SERT.

3. City Council request the Provincial Government establish streamlined regulatory requirements for the SERT to expedite and reduce costs for the SERT’s design, planning, early works, and other stages of development.
 

4. City Council request the Government of Canada’s Toronto Caucus to write a letter of public support for tri-government funding of the SERT.
 

5. City Council request the Federal Ministry of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities and Ontario Ministry of Transportation to provide input on the City of Toronto’s SERT plan to inform what version of the project they would support funding and to ensure it connects with other transit expansion projects.
 

6. City Council request the City Manager, in consultation with the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture and Executive Director, Transit Expansion, to conduct an analysis of the national economic impact of building the SERT, including number of Canadian jobs created, impact on Scarborough’s growth and development, and the projected economic loss for Scarborough residents and businesses if the project is not built.

7. City Council direct the City Manager to establish a Scarborough Transit Working Group, consisting of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor for Scarborough, City Manager, Executive Director, Transit Expansion, Federal Minister of Transportation, Provincial Minister of Transportation, Chair, Toronto Transit Commission, CEO, Toronto Transit Commission, and CEO of Metrolinx, or their designate(s), with the following purpose:

a. advancing an integrated, multi-modal transit network for Scarborough that includes the SERT; and

b. identifying funding from all levels of government to support implementation of the SERT.
 

8. City Council direct the City Manager to establish a SERT Program Advisory Body (PAB) for the purpose of advocating for tri-government funding of the SERT and maximizing the benefit of the SERT to Scarborough communities. The PAB is chaired by the Deputy Mayor for Scarborough and a non-elected member of the Scarborough community and composed of Members of Scarborough Community Council and Scarborough community leaders.

9. City Council request the Mayor allocate funds during the 2027 Budget process from the City Building Fund to support future advancement of the SERT.

10. Executive Committee request the City Manager, in consultation with the Executive Director, Transit Expansion, provide a supplementary report to the April 22, 23 and 24, 2026 meeting of City Council that resolves the Council direction to report in 2025.EX20.9 and includes any additional recommendations to advance the SERT, including recommendations related to advancement of overall project design, a maintenance and storage facility, and expediting permitting and approvals processes, as well as recommendations to authorize capital expenditures and negotiation and execution of necessary agreements related the next phases of work on the Waterfront East Transit.
 

11. City Council endorse changing this project’s name from Eglinton East LRT to Scarborough East Rapid Transit Line.

Scarborough residents deserve fast, reliable and affordable transit. We must build the Scarborough East Rapid Transit (SERT) Line. To get it done, we need a concerted effort to bring the Provincial and Federal Governments to the table to help fund it.

For a number of years, Toronto has been designing both the Waterfront East LRT and SERT (formerly Eglinton East LRT) in tandem. All along, we have been working to demonstrate the value of each line to our Provincial and Federal partners and secure funding to build them both.

Over the past few weeks, the Provincial and Federal governments have committed to funding their one-third shares of the Waterfront East LRT. That’s $2 billion secured to build more transit. I am grateful for their partnership on this new line.

Now it is time to redouble our efforts and land a funding deal to build the Scarborough East Rapid Transit Line. Scarborough cannot be left out.

As Mayor, I am not waiting. The City of Toronto is ready with our share of the funding and moving forward designing the line, while we work on landing a funding deal. Some of the work to date includes:

- In 2023, as soon as I arrived as Mayor, we approved funding to proceed with designing the SERT, even though we have no provincial or federal commitment. To date we’ve invested over $18 million of City funds to design the SERT.

- In my 2026 budget, I provided additional funds to look at how we could separate the line from street traffic, so it is truly rapid transit.

- My 2026 budget also increases the contribution to the reserve fund for Scarborough transit by over $4.3 million every year, to a total of $45 million per year dedicated to build new transit in Scarborough.

- By the end of this year, we will have $377.9 million set aside to build the SERT. This is enough for the City to put a down payment on the SERT and finance the capital costs of the City’s share of the SERT.

Since becoming Mayor, I’ve raised the need for intergovernmental partnership to fund and build the SERT with two Prime Ministers, the Premier, local MPs and MPPs, and community groups. The chorus of support is growing. I know that Provincial and Federal decision-makers are listening. It’s time to turn up the volume.

That is why I recommend allocating a further $10 million to expedite design work. These additional funds will move up the completion of the 30 percent design milestone. Further, I am seeking the Province’s support to expedite the planning and design phases of work based on their learnings from Provincially-led transit expansion projects.

To support this work, I recommend establishing two bodies: a Scarborough Transit Working Group (STWG) with multi-government and multi-agency representation and a Public Advisory Body (PAB) composed of Scarborough community leaders and councillors. The STWG will bring together key decision-makers to ensure financial, technical and political alignment. The PAB will catalyze community support for the SERT, communicate with local stakeholders, and ensure the SERT serves local needs.

My motions below ask all of Council, not just Scarborough councillors, to join me in fighting for this line.