Toronto’s major transit projects -- where they’re at and what Doug Ford might do to them
Thestar.com
April 4, 2019
Jennifer Pagliaro
On Wednesday, the city released nearly 250 pages of reports updating council on transit plans it has said should be built -- including revised cost estimates and timelines for when those lines could be complete. Underlying it all is the spectre of Premier Doug Ford’s provincial government having plans of their own for some of the lines. Here’s what’s on the table:
Relief line south
Premier Doug Ford’s government has expressed its intention of altering some of Toronto’s transit plans.
Current plan: Eight-station subway connecting Line 2 (Bloor-Danforth) at Pape station to Line 1 (Yonge-University-Spadina) at Queen station (Yonge line) and Osgoode station (University-Spadina line).
Estimated cost: $7.2 billion (increased from $6.8 billion and based on very little design).
Estimated completion: 2029 to 2031
Funding available: Staff say $3.2 billion should be allocated from funds promised by the federal government for transit, no other funds committed.
Ford factor: Province promised new, unspecified technology should be use for the line. Studying the line with whatever the provincial plan is would likely delay construction if the available funding was in place for the city’s plan. Unknown how the provincial plan would affect costs.
Scarborough subway
Current plan: One-stop subway extension of Line 2 (Bloor-Danforth) from Kennedy station to the Scarborough City Centre.
Estimated cost: $3.9 billion (Increased from 2017 costs stated by staff of $3.35 billion).
Estimated completion: From the fourth quarter of 2026 to fourth quarter of 2027 for the subway; from the second quarter of 2029 to second quarter of 2030 for finished bus terminal.
Available funding: Staff want to allocate $660 million from the federal government; assumed $1.99 billion from the province; $1.24 billion required from city, which staff say can be achieved from a dedicated tax levy and development charge.
Ford factor: Province wants three stops instead of one, a concept abandoned by council in July 2016. Staff say more work needed on costs and schedule of three-stop version, which would delay possible construction to unknown date. Funding for more expensive option has not been committed.
Eglinton East LRT
Current plan: As many as 21 stops on a light-rail extension of the Crosstown LRT from Kennedy station, along Eglinton Ave., to University of Toronto Scarborough campus and a phase two extension to Malvern Town Centre.
Estimated cost: $1.6 billion to $2 billion (not including unknown costs of necessary maintenance and storage facilities).
Estimated completion: Unknown
Available funding: No funding is committed from any government.
Ford factor: The province has not mentioned this project as a priority.
SmartTrack
Current plan: Six new GO stations on the Stouffville, Lakeshore East and Kitchener GO lines within Toronto, adding to the province’s regional express rail expansion plan.
Estimated cost: $1.5 billion
Estimated completion: Unknown
Available funding: Staff want to allocate $585 billion from the federal government, $885 million committed by the city.
Ford factor: Province has not responded to formal requests from city to confirm commitment to the stations; “SmartTrack” stations were dropped from the RFP process for the province’s regional express rail plan along with other GO stations.
Eglinton West LRT
Current plan: Ten-stop, light-rail extension of the Crosstown LRT from Mt. Dennis station to the Mississauga Corporate Centre and potentially to Pearson airport
Estimated cost: $1.5 billion to $4 billion (depending on line running at-grade or underground and the extension to the airport).
Estimated completion: Unknown
Available funding: No funding is committed from any government.
Ford factor: The province wants to tunnel part of the line, but it is not clear which parts or if they will commit to funding it.
Waterfront transit
Current plan: An expanded streetcar line between Union Station and Queens Quay and a light-rail line along the East Bayfront to Parliament St.
Estimated cost: $612 million
Estimated completion: 2027
Available funding: No funding is committed from any government.
Ford factor: The province has not mentioned this project as a priority.
Bloor-Yonge station
Current plan: Expand Bloor-Yonge station on the existing subway system to deal with chronic overcrowding.
Estimated cost: $1.1 billion
Estimated completion: 2026
Available funding: Staff want to allocate $500 million from the federal government, no other funds committed.
Ford factor: The province has not mentioned this project as a priority, instead calling for an extension of the Yonge line north to Richmond Hill. City staff say the forecasted influx of riders at the station is why it needs to be expanded before 2028.
