By Jerad Gallinger

Public transit across the GTA got a big boost today from the provincial government, with Premier Dalton McGuinty giving the go-ahead to four major projects worth a combined $9 billion. Included is the $4.6 billion Eglinton LRT line, a key part of the TTC’s Transit City plan. The thirty-kilometre line could be up and running by 2016, assuming construction begins as planned next year. Also receiving funding is the $1.2 billion Finch LRT line, running from Humber College on Highway 427 to Don Mills subway station. Rounding out the pack are $1.6 billion for improving and extending the Scarborough rapid-transit line and $1.4 billion for York Region’s Viva bus system. All of the projects must still go through the environmental assessment process.