Political staff rejected efforts to tell public more about Eglinton Crosstown issues: documents

After years of missed deadlines on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT line, the board overseeing Metrolinx can’t get a clear timeline for completion and documents obtained by CityNews using freedom of information requests show high-level provincial political staff have rejected efforts to give the public more information on what’s going on with the project as it enters its 12th year.

Across Toronto, business owners, neighbours, realtors and community groups have been awaiting news on the Eglinton Crosstown’s completion. Metrolinx and provincial government officials haven’t given the public a projected end date for the project, a detailed explanation of delays or an updated budget.

During a presentation about major expansion projects at a Metrolinx board meeting on Thursday, the agency’s chief rapid transit capital officer said work continues at a “couple of locations,” including at the flagship Yonge interchange station. He said utility and road restoration will be finished “later this year.”

The presentation prompted a board member to ask a question many have had: “When will the Eglinton Crosstown open?”

“One of the things that we are very, very focused on right now with our contractor is getting a robust and credible schedule to get through — not the construction so much anymore, we can see the end in sight on the construction, but it’s the testing and commissioning activities that are absolutely critical and it’s not something we can shortcut. It’s not something that there’s any way to do faster than it’s going to take. We need that to be done properly,” Andrew Hope, the Metrolinx staff member, said.

“We need that to be done according to all the requirements that are in the contract because we want this line, when it’s completed, to be safe and reliable for the public when it opens and there is nothing more important than that.”

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Officials didn’t publicly explain what the “testing and commissioning” process involves.

Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster jumped in to add because of those activities the agency is “not forecasting dates.”

“We are focused on delivering and completing what we bought and making sure we get what we bought. This is very important,” he said.

On Sept. 23, staff at Metrolinx posted a brief statement on its website about the delay.

“We had expected the Eglinton Crosstown LRT to be fully built, thoroughly tested, and in service this fall in accordance with our project agreement with Crosslinx Transit Solutions, the construction consortium responsible for building the project. Unfortunately, while progress has been made, Crosslinx Transit Solutions have fallen behind schedule, are unable to finalize construction and testing, and therefore the system will not be operational on this timeline,” the statement said.

“We know construction has been difficult for commuters, communities, and businesses along the Eglinton corridor. We are doing everything to hold Crosslinx Transit Solutions accountable and to redouble efforts to meet their commitments and complete the work quickly so we can welcome riders onto a complete, tested, and fully operational Eglinton Crosstown LRT as soon as possible.”

It didn’t offer any fulsome insight into problems plaguing the Eglinton Crosstown. It is the agency’s only public written statement to date.

After the statement was released, reporters repeatedly asked Metrolinx for more information on the situation. The documents obtained under the freedom of information application indicated requests were referred by the agency to government staff for final approval. For example, two broadcasters were looking to speak with Verster soon after the delay announcement to elaborate on Metrolinx’s original statement. A communications manager with the agency forwarded the requests to Ontario Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney’s office with a recommendation.

“Prior direction was to decline all interviews. However, as we are receiving a lot of media requests this morning for more information, media relations recommendation is to have [Verster] speak to [outlets] to reiterate his statement, talk directly to the public about concerns, and answer questions related to the Crosstown,” she wrote.

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A MTO staff member also responded to the email flagging an interview request from a broadcaster.

“[Metrolinx’s] recommendation is to have [Verster] (the agency’s CEO) interview, answer questions and reiterate his statement on Friday. Metrolinx is looking for direction on how to proceed,” she wrote.

The broadcasters’ requests prompted Dakota Brasier (Mulroney’s press secretary) to write to Ivana Yelich (Ford’s then-media relations head and current deputy chief of staff).

“I would suggest letting the statement stand and not opening him up for any more additional questions. Let me know your preferred approach,” she wrote.

Responses to these emails weren’t included in the documents provided. CityNews was among the news outlets at the time pushing to get further information.

Other memos included in the documents, such as a log of every media call made to Metrolinx and the Ministry of Transportation at the time that was sent to Mulroney’s office, noted interviews weren’t granted “per direction.”

The decision by Mulroney’s office to not allow interviews or release detailed information was the opposite of what Metrolinx staff wanted to do.

A source familiar with the Eglinton Crosstown LRT project who is not authorized to speak publicly told CityNews as soon as it was known internally the project wouldn’t meet the latest target date, there was a push inside Metrolinx to conduct tours inside stations and provide detailed information on the latest root causes. However, they said those ideas were overruled by the minister’s office.

Among the documents was a draft communications plan from Metrolinx staff. It appeared they wanted to include a video and a blog statement as part of a broader release of information. However, Jordanna Colwill (Mulroney’s issues director at the time and current communications director) said it was the “[premier’s office’s] preference that Metrolinx does not proceed with a blog of video as proposed…”

Debate over language of Metrolinx CEO’s statement on Eglinton Crosstown delay

In the days leading up to a statement being posted on the Metrolinx website announcing the delay, the documents showed a back-and-forth over how it should be announced.

Colwill drafted a one-paragraph statement to be issued on behalf of Verster, a version that isn’t what was ultimately posted.

“Metrolinx is looking forward to welcoming customers onto the Eglinton Crosstown LRT as soon as possible. We have made significant progress; however it is taking longer than expected to finalize testing and operational readiness for the project. We know construction has been difficult for the communities and businesses along the Eglinton corridor. We remain committed to continuing to work with our partners, including Crosslinx Transit Solutions and the TTC to ensure safe, reliable, and high quality customer service on day one,” she wrote.

“This is misleading. Testing and operational readiness is not the reason for delay,” Yelich wrote back.

There were no documents included in the freedom of information package that suggested what the true reason or reasons were.

What’s next for the Eglinton Crosstown?

Meanwhile, despite the questioning from journalists, document leaks and Freedom of Information requests, residents are still no closer to knowing what the true status of the project that has caused difficulties for communities and business owners for years.

On Tuesday, CityNews asked Ford and Mulroney’s offices about political oversight over communications and an update on the specifics behind the latest delay.

In a written response, Brasier said Metrolinx is responsible for “delivering the largest transit expansion in Canadian history” and as a government agency “naturally the minister’s office works closely with Metrolinx.”

“Our focus is to ensure the Eglinton Crosstown LRT is operational as soon as possible. Metrolinx is working through the most important phase right now, which includes testing, commissioning, certification and documentation and we will not compromise the safety and reliability of the system at any point as we get much-needed transportation infrastructure built,” the statement said.

Brasier didn’t provide a projected timeframe for opening.