Olivia Chow commits to permanent Scarborough Busway and local jobs on LRT project
Mayor Olivia Chow visited Scarborough on October 19 and committed to making the Scarborough Busway permanent, advancing the Scarborough East LRT, and directing 20 percent of construction jobs to local residents.
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Mayor Olivia Chow returned to Scarborough on October 19 to lay out transit and employment commitments for the area, with one week left before voting day on October 26, 2026.
Chow's campaign says it will make the newly opened Scarborough Busway permanent, a dedicated bus corridor that is currently operating in the area. Her campaign also confirmed she will move forward with the Scarborough East LRT, a planned light rail line for eastern Toronto, and that 20 percent of the construction jobs on that project would go to local residents, according to NOW Toronto.
Beyond construction jobs, Chow's campaign committed that 15 percent of apprenticeships on the LRT project would be targeted toward people aged 18 to 35. "Every crane means jobs," Chow said, as reported by NOW Toronto. "Workers buying lunch. Shopping at local grocery stores."
Chow also announced plans to install smart traffic lights and intelligent intersections at key points across Scarborough. These systems change signal timing based on real-time traffic rather than fixed schedules. Her campaign said this would reduce delays for buses and cars in the area, but did not specify how many intersections would receive the upgrade or provide a cost figure for the work.
The Scarborough East LRT has been part of both candidates' platforms throughout the campaign. Brad Bradford's platform also calls for shovels in the ground on the LRT by 2030, though Bradford has not committed to the local jobs or apprenticeship targets Chow announced on October 19. Bradford's transit platform for Scarborough includes removing red bus lanes on Kingston Road, Morningside Avenue, Kennedy Road, and Midland Avenue.
Voters in Scarborough can compare both candidates' full platforms at /on/toronto-2026/candidates/olivia-chow and /on/toronto-2026/candidates/brad-bradford. Voting day is October 26 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at voting places across Toronto; check toronto.ca for the location nearest you.
Questions this story answers
What did Olivia Chow commit to for the Scarborough Busway?
According to her campaign, Chow committed to making the newly opened Scarborough Busway permanent. The Busway is a dedicated bus corridor in Scarborough. Her campaign did not specify an exact timeline or legislation required to formalize this commitment.
What are Chow's commitments on the Scarborough East LRT?
Chow's campaign says she will move forward with the Scarborough East LRT and that 20 percent of the construction jobs would go to local residents. She also committed that 15 percent of apprenticeships on the project would be targeted toward people aged 18 to 35. These are campaign commitments; construction has not begun.
What is the Scarborough East LRT?
The Scarborough East LRT is a planned light rail transit line in the eastern part of Toronto. It is a project that multiple mayoral candidates have discussed in the 2026 campaign. Chow's campaign says she would advance it with shovels in the ground, though no construction start date was specified in the October 19 announcement.
What traffic improvements did Chow announce for Scarborough?
Chow's campaign announced plans to install smart traffic lights and intelligent intersections in Scarborough. These systems adjust signal timing based on real-time traffic conditions rather than fixed schedules. The announcement did not specify how many intersections would receive the upgrade or provide a cost figure.
When did Chow make these Scarborough commitments?
Chow visited Scarborough on October 19, 2026, one week before election day on October 26. The commitments were reported by NOW Toronto on October 19, 2026, in an article covering both candidates' final-week campaign activities.
Where can I find Olivia Chow's candidate page on voche.me?
Olivia Chow's profile, including her platform, background, and sources, is at /on/toronto-2026/candidates/olivia-chow on this site. Her profile links to official sources used in building the research file.
How do I vote in the Toronto municipal election?
Voting day is October 26, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can find your voting place using the City of Toronto's online tool at toronto.ca/vote. You need to be on the voters list; check your registration before October 26.
Has Brad Bradford made transit promises for Scarborough too?
Yes. Bradford's platform calls for removing red bus lanes on Kingston Road, Morningside Avenue, Kennedy Road, and Midland Avenue in Scarborough, and advancing the Scarborough East LRT with shovels in the ground by 2030. He and Chow both support the LRT project, though they differ on the bus lane policy and on the local jobs requirements.
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