TORONTO — The province of Ontario has claimed costs for two major transit projects in Toronto have almost or more than doubled, a claim the city denies.
The claim by the province, which wants to take over Toronto’s subway system, came in a letter to the city from an advisor on the takeover plan, the Globe and Mail reports. It came as the province and city negotiate over the future of the subway system.
If the estimate from the province was correct, the cost of the two projects — the Scarborough subway extension and the Downtown Relief Line — would be over $20 million Canadian. Most recent estimates are C$3.35 billion for the Scarborough project and $6.8 for the relief line, which would connect two existing lines and take pressure off the existing line through downtown.
In a follow-up to last week’s original letter, special advisor Michael Lindsay acknowledged that the province’s understanding of the costs are estimates.
A city spokesman told the Globe and Mail by email that “no costs have doubled.”
Earlier, the CBC reported that the plan by Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative party to take over the subway system would be difficult because the subway is part of the larger Toronto Transit Comission system, the ownership structure is complicated, and the system has major funding issues.
