TTC’s Leslie Barns project not over budget: Stintz

TTC Chair Karen Stintz has admitted that transit has to do a better job at estimating the cost of projects after coming under fire for the increased cost of the Leslie Street extension.

The estimated cost of the link has risen from $14 million in 2009 to almost $105 million after it was determined they had to replace an 80-year-old sewer rather than lay track over it.

“We now know the extent of the sewer work is larger than we anticipated,” Stintz told reporters during the committee’s regular monthly meeting.

Stintz expressed concern that the increased estimates give council the impression that the TTC cannot control its budget, which is not correct.

“We are required by the city to put estimates in and then those estimates become gospel and it’s only through the further work that we do, do we realize that our estimates have to be revisited,” she explained.

TTC CEO Andy Byford said the initial quoted cost in 2009 should not be used as a comparison because it was purely hypothetical. Track work alone costs $17 million a kilometre, he said.

To avoid confusion in the future, Stintz said the commission needs to report the final figure for the whole project so “it’s clear and transparent.”

“We need to start giving estimates that are more reflective of the work that needs to get done…” she said.

During the meeting, board members voted in favour of purchasing 126 articulated “bendy” buses at a total price tag of nearly $120 million.

In February, TTC announced that more than two dozen new articulated buses would come into service this fall.

The stretch buses will be able to carry up to 112 riders, or nearly twice as many as a standard bus.

Also on the agenda was the sole-source Gateway Newstands deal, which has been heavily criticized by Mayor Rob Ford and his brother Coun. Doug Ford.

Newstands owners packed the committee room to encourage the board to approve the 65 outlets on TTC property deal.

One of the issues discussed was if Gateway was approached by TTC for renovations for the 2015 Pan Am Games before the lease renewal was discussed.

Stintz had previously stated that the TTC approached Gateway for renovations on the basis that over the last 19 years their lease had been renewed several times without issue.

Mayor Rob Ford and his brother Coun. Doug Ford have heavily criticized Stintz for voting against TTC staff recommendations for competitive bids.

On Oct. 24, 2012, the TTC awarded a 15-year lease extension worth about $50 million to Gateway Newstands to continue running 65 outlets on TTC property.

At the time, Stintz said the TTC will get a 67 per cent increase in revenues from Gateway on top of a signing bonus of $1.5 million. The company also plans to undertake another $1.5 million in capital investments.

The decision was re-approved in January, but after the Ford brothers commented on the agreement on their radio show, Stintz offered to take a third look at the deal.

After much debate, the motion was deferred to next month after Byford said he wanted more time to look over the deal.

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