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.
What’s missing from the article is the reason why the Province wants to take over TTC. Maybe Canadian readers would have been getting this info all along but for us Americans we have no idea. Comments, anyone?
Jeez, guys, Etobicoke (bailiwick of the late Rob Ford) has been part of Toronto for what, 65 years now? And they’re still fighting it out? Seems like politics is the same everywhere.
Meanwhile, a certain son of famous politician is shoveling his foolishness around Ottawa. Much like Carthage Tennessee where the father was distinguished and the son is an idiot.
Looking thru the Toronto Globe & Mail articles over the last few months, my opinion. It looks like the Provincial Premier, Doug Ford, is engaging in a power grab.
For the Province of Ontario to take over the subway is an extremely messy proposition. Many stations have parking facilities as well as multi-modal facilities (bus, heavy rail, lite rail, etc). Another complication is many stations and some right of way is located on private land and is either leased or has an agreement for the encroachment. Additionally the current Mayor has plans to build housing(much needed in urban areas) over the parking areas as well as over exposed ROW.
Look at the Globe & Mail article and follow the links to some of the other articles.
One other comment, I would suspect there is a low level of trust in Doug Ford by some members of the Toronto city council. There was (and continues) a fair amount of friction between some council members and the Ford brothers.
“What’s missing from the article is the reason why the Province wants to take over TTC”
I believe it is missing because there is no clear reason why. His brother, while mayor, cancelled the light rail proposed to serve the Scarborough area in favour of a much shorter one stop subway extension that probably costs more and certainly accomplishes less. But it does put public transit out of sight; I think they felt buses and streetcars were an unnecessary inconvenience to car drivers, just for lesser folks.
The TTC subway is mostly in the City of Toronto but one line was extended into a municipality to the north. The extension was both over budget and late. Metrolinx, a creature of the Province of Ontario, runs the GO Train heavy rail commuter network and a commuter bus operation. Metrolinx is also building an LRT along Eglinton Avenue in Toronto and there are plans to build other LRT routes within the City.
The City of Toronto is in the middle of a large urbanized area. You cannot tell where the borders lie between the municipalities except for signage or a map. Heavy commuter traffic flows in and out of Toronto proper and the roads are seriously congested. Putting all the transit under one authority would probably make sense for better planning, scheduling and coordination across the whole area. At least putting the rail transit infrastructure under a single management should make some sense. Local politicians think otherwise because they will loose control over transit.
Some Toronto politicians are opposed to “uploading” the subway system to the Province for a variety of reasons. One claim is that the Province will sell the air rights above TTC stations and take the money. The City politicians want any such money for their own projects. Talks are underway between the City and the Province.
There is also a piece of history to consider. The current premier of the Province, Doug Ford, is the brother of the late Rob Ford, long time Toronto City Councilor and one time Mayor. Rob was a big promoter of the Scarborough subway while a block City Councilors wanted an LRT instead. Some of the Councilors are still there and resisting the upload.
I don’t know the details, but Doug Ford is a very loose cannon. His brother Rob was the Mayor of Toronto who was photographed smoking crack while Mayor. Their antipathy for the city (they are both from the suburbs of Toronto but the whole thing is now one regional government) is well known.