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The Subway That Took a Generation: Why the Eglinton Crosstown’s Delays Were Even Worse Than You Think

  Toronto has a long history of transit projects that drag on, but the Eglinton Crosstown LRT has become the city’s defining example of how complicated, political, and painfully slow building transit can be. Most people think of the project as something that started in the early 2010s and simply ran over schedule. The truth is far messier—and stretches back decades. A Project With Roots in the 1990s Long before shovels hit the ground in 2011, the idea of rapid transit along Eglinton was already alive. In the mid‑1990s, the TTC began digging tunnels for what was then called the Eglinton West Subway . Construction actually started—tunnels were being carved out under the street—until the project was abruptly cancelled in 1995. The partially built tunnels were filled in, and the corridor sat untouched for years. That early false start meant that by the time the Crosstown was revived as part of the Transit City plan in 2007, planners weren’t starting fresh. They were restarting a dr...

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Israel Explores New Governance Options for Gaza Amid Ongoing Conflict


Israel is currently exploring the possibility of establishing an alternative local governing body for Gaza, according to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The goal is to move beyond Hamas, but the specifics of who might replace them remain uncertain. This initiative comes amid new uncertainty in the ongoing eight-month war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces pressure from various quarters, including calls to accept a new cease-fire deal proposed by U.S. President Joe Biden. Meanwhile, far-right allies threaten to destabilize his government if he agrees to the deal. Gallant, a member of Israel’s three-member War Cabinet, has advocated for a detailed postwar plan for Gaza. He stated that the framework for this alternative governance involves isolating certain areas, removing Hamas operatives, and introducing other forces that could facilitate the formation of a new governing body.

In a related development, Israel is seeking Palestinians who are not affiliated with Hamas to manage civilian affairs in planned “humanitarian pockets” within the Gaza Strip. These pockets are designed as testing grounds for postwar administration of the enclave. While the situation remains complex and fluid, efforts to find alternatives to Hamas continue as the conflict persists.


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