[ do not build surface rail in the downtown core. ]

I'm sorry? There are six or more (depending on how you count them) radiused arms of surface rail running through Union Station, and a superb alignment through "Mid-Town" that are already extant. Is it your view they shouldn't be used? Every other major world city has used such infrastructure generations ago. Toronto is decades behind most anyone else on doing it. RER is still a concept, and there *still* isn't any sign of electrifying the corridors, serial PR announcements from Metrolinx and Queen's Park besides.