TORONTO, Ont. – A last-minute plea for underground subways by Mayor Rob Ford did not deter city councillors from approving a master agreement with Metrolinx to build light rail transit lines in Toronto.

City council voted 30-11 in favour of the agreement Thursday that outlines the ownership and responsibilities for the LRT lines to be constructed.

The LRT lines planned for Sheppard East, Eglinton and Finch West are expected to be completed by 2020, while the Scarborough rapid transit line is replaced.

The province has pledged $8.4-billion toward the transit plan.

Ahead of the vote, Ford pleaded with city councillors to reject the LRT lines.

“This is not what the taxpayers want in the city,” Ford said. “You want to support this contract? You’re supporting streetcars, LRTs, whatever you want to call them.”

“People do not want these. They want subways,” he said.

Toronto will clear the land where the LRT lines will be constructed and hand over the ownership of the land and lines to Metrolinx.

According to the agreement, the TTC will operate the LRTs but they will be maintained by Metrolinx.

The agreement is in its final revisions and will be valid for the next 10 years regardless of changes to the provincial and municipal governments.

A process to resolve disputes will also be added in case of disagreements between the TTC and Metrolinx.