A major theme of John Tory’s election campaign is gaining traction at city hall.

City Council voted to fast-track plans for the mayor’s SmartTrack transit plan. The proposed 22-stop above-ground route would run primarily on existing rails and is designed to relieve congestion on the subway.

It was the first transit victory for the mayor, as council gave a preliminary endorsement of his plan by a vote of 42-to-1. The lone dissenting vote came from former Mayor Rob Ford. The Ward 2 Councillor said Tory’s election win was not a referendum on transit. But Tory said he campaigned on SmartTrack and the ceremonial chain of office around his neck was at least partly a desire by the people of Toronto to see the plan proceed.