Subway extension delayed, ‘significantly’ over budget
Posted March 6, 2015 7:23 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Mayor John Tory says he’s “furious” that yet another Toronto infrastructure project is behind schedule and significantly over budget.
TTC CEO Andy Byford told Tory and TTC chair Josh Colle days ago about the “possibility of a significant cost overrun” for the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension — which will run from Line 1 (University-Spadina) through York University and up to Vaughan.
Later this month, the TTC will present an official update about the project, along with various timelines for getting the subway built and the associated costs.
“I am furious that this happens over and over again on the city’s watch,” he said at a news conference on Friday, blaming the lack of accountability and leadership in the previous administrations.
“It is enough. We can’t go on this way.”
The extension was originally pegged at $1.5 billion and later jumped to $2.5 billion. In a report, the Toronto Star said the latest cost overrun is about $400 million.
The paper said the timeline has also changed, moving from the already-revised opening date of fall 2016 to sometime in 2017.
“There’s a number that’s being bandied about — to suggest there’s some number out there that it’s gone over budget is not accurate,” Colle said.
“It’s way too premature to start speculating on a number because there is no number and there is no timetable.”
Colle has said Toronto and York Region may need more help from the provincial or federal governments to complete the expansion on time.
The province has already contributed $870 million and Ottawa, $697 million.
Provincial Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca told the Star that the TTC, York and the City of Toronto are responsible for any cost overruns.
The construction has been mired in delays caused by harsh winters, the 2011 death of worker Kyle Knox at the York site, and legal claims with contractors and sub-contractors.
