Torontonians Strongly Support Eglinton West LRT
In our most recent survey, we asked Torontonians about the Eglinton West LRT transit project. This project was recently debated at Toronto City Hall, subject to public information and consultation meetings as well as increased public debate in the news. There is considerable debate over whether the project should be built at grade, completely tunneled underneath Eglinton Avenue, or with a few grade separations at key intersections.In our most recent survey, we asked Torontonians about the Eglinton West LRT transit project. This project was recently debated at Toronto City Hall, subject to public information and consultation meetings as well as increased public debate in the news. There is considerable debate over whether the project should be built at grade, completely tunneled underneath Eglinton Avenue, or with a few grade separations at key intersections.
There was strong support for this configuration. In fact, 60% of Torontonians supported it. Conversely, 13% opposed it and 27% were unsure. Support for the Eglinton West LRT extension among Etobicoke-York residents was 67%; meanwhile, 8% opposed it. There was over 50% support in every region of the city.
Not surprisingly, the majority of Torontonians likely to vote for Mayor Tory also supported this project’s configuration and cost (66%). Fewer Doug Ford voters supported this configuration (56%).
Interestingly, 70% of Torontonians who would vote for the Ontario Liberal Party supported this configuration and 11% opposed it. 54% of PC voters in Toronto supported it and 22% opposed the configuration and cost. Toronto’s NDP voters’ support for this configuration was 59% and 12% opposed it.
Torontonians were divided (49% support) when it came to complete tunneling of the LRT on Elginton Avenue at $5 billion. 23% opposed it, meanwhile 28% were not sure. Support from Etobicoke-York residents for the tunneled version was consistent with city residents’ support, generally, at 48%. 22% of Etobicoke-York residents opposed it.
51% of Torontonians likely to vote for Mayor Tory supported this configuration and 56% of Doug Ford voters supported the Eglinton West LRT being completely tunneled.
Interestingly, 50% of Torontonians who were likely to vote for the Ontario Liberal Party supported this configuration and 25% opposed it. Similarly, 52% of PC voters supported this configuration and 25% opposed it. NDP voters support was at 50% and opposition was at 23%.
Support for some grade separations at $3 billion was supported by 59% of Torontonians. 14% opposed it and 28% were unsure. Support in Etobicoke-York for this configuration was consistent with city residents’ support, generally, at 59%; meanwhile, only 12% opposed it. Support for this configuration and cost among Mayor Tory voters was at 66%; while, 60% of Doug Ford voters also supported this configuration and its associated cost.
63% of Torontonians likely to vote for the Ontario Liberal Party supported this configuration and only 13% opposed it. 58% of Torontonians who vote for the PCs supported the grade separation and 15% opposed it. 63% of NDP voters in Toronto supported it; meanwhile, 10% opposed it.
A majority of Torontonians support the Eglinton West LRT transit line. The most support, combined with the least opposition, was for the grade version. Residents of Etobicoke-York also find the grade option the most acceptable.
“Despite recent concerns raised by local elected representatives, the at-grade option is most accepted and desired by Torontonians” said Eli Yufest, CEO of Campaign Research. Eli can be reached at eyufest@campaignresearch.ca or at (647) 931 4025, ext. 109
METHODOLOGY
This online poll was conducted by Campaign Research as part of its monthly omnibus study between December 3rd to 6th 2017, The study was conducted among a random sample from an online panel of 683 Toronto voters whose incentives for participation were handled by the panel provider and who were selected to reflect Toronto’s age and gender distributions in line with 2016 Statistics Canada census data.
A probability sample of this size would have a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8%, 19 out of 20 times. Data was weighted by the age and gender of Toronto according to 2016 Statistics Canada census data. If you require more information, please contact us as it is available upon request.
The following screening question was asked in order to determine eligibility for participation in the study
"Are you 18 years of age or older and eligible to vote in federal elections?"
