A major public transport shakeup has been expected by the public in the Ontario region since 2007. Increasing subways, trains, bus lines and selected highways are just a few of the 52 transit programs in the 12 year ‘MoveOntario 2020′ plan. The biggest beneficiary is expected to be GTA. Real estate demand is expected to soar in the affected areas with a decisive effect on the environment being seen by those that live in Toronto.

Real Estate: Advancing Values

Convenience to a property is an important variable when working out property prices by real estate agents. Property values near railway stations will elevate according to various studies. For example in Portland, houses within 500m area of light rail way station sold by over 10 per-cent more than houses located further away. Within a recorded half-mileradius of new stations there will be a positive boost in property prices.

The genuine environmental impact: bettering the air quality

Damaging segments of exhaust gases pollute our bodies. Long term these gases cause serious disease and possibly early death. The parts of the body most affected are the lungs, heart and veins.

Pollutants and fine molecules enter our body as we breath. As air is not pure these molecules stay in our lungs causing irritation and in some cases irreversible damage. Respiratory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis and chronic respiratory disease can be caused by pollutants in the air. It can lead to blood clots, heart attacks and a briefer lifespan. Although the research still continues, there are about 1,700 early deaths grouped to the air pollution in Toronto every year.

The affect on drivers

Approximately 300 million car trips will be reduced by the restructuring plan which will cut greenhouse emissions. But will this really work? Is this really the best idea for cleaner air? Every day drivers must not be neglected with this project although the aims are to pin point on the public transport system. The project will extend the capacity of railways, bikers and pedestrians, as mode of transport. Traffic jams are common place amongst road users, the average Toronto motorist spending approximately 67 hours per year stuck in them. Although different means of transport a congestion study shows that in 20 years cars will still form 70% of all journeys in Toronto. (Source: http://www.hastebc.org/haste-news/torontos-war-cars). For instance, I’m pretty sure that the majority of my colleagues working in Toronto real estate will never give up their cars no matter the cost or availability of public transport system.

Since the stop-and-go traffic makes far more exhaust gas than idling, any project claiming its aim is to better the air condition has to include ideas eliminating congestion and increasing traffic flow in general. Or maybe the way to go is to find incentives in the recent plans of Israel or Denmark. The electromobile vehicles are massively endorsed by massive networks of charging stations throughout the country and vehicle exemptions. GTA should not rely solely on developing the quantity of the public transport system. It has to answer the needs of those who chose cars as their primary means for transportation.