Council approves light rail transit agreement between TTC and Metrolinx

Undated file photo of a TTC Streetcar in Toronto

TORONTO - Toronto city council voted 30-11 on Thursday to follow through with a light rail transit deal between the Toronto Transit Commission and Metrolinx.

Toronto will clear the land where the LRT lines will be built and then hand over ownership of the land and lines to Metrolinx.

The TTC will operate the LRT lines, though they will be maintained by the provincial agency.

The master agreement is in its final revisions and will be in effect for the next 10 years regardless of who leads the provincial or municipal governments.

A process to resolve disputes will also be implemented in case of future disagreements between the TTC and Metrolinx.

The 24 kilometres of LRT will roll out in 2020 on Sheppard East, Eglinton, and Finch West, while the Scarborough rapid transit line is replaced.