Tory supports TTC's Spadina subway extension plan


Torontosun.com
March 27, 2015
By Don Peat

The TTC’s plan to spend $150 million to finish the Spadina subway extension by the end of 2017 is the best option, Mayor John Tory says.

A day after transit commissioners endorsed CEO Andy Byford’s plan to give management of the delayed $2.6-billion project to a yet-to-be revealed private company, Tory pledged to support the $150 million fix at city council next week.

But Councillor Rob Ford is calling for a “thorough housecleaning” of the TTC.

Along with the Spadina extension, council will also debate approving a request from TTC chair Josh Colle to have staff examine various project delivery options, including public-private partnerships, for the Scarborough subway extension to avoid the cost overruns that have plagued other projects.

“I think both (those items) are in the interests of getting transit moving as quickly as possible and getting it done without some of these cost overruns that we’ve seen,” Tory said Friday.
He wouldn’t speculate on where he thinks the city’s $90-million share of the $150-million bill for the additional costs will come from.

“We’re obviously going to have to resolve that issue once it is finalized,” Tory said.

Ford said the TTC is in “rough shape” and has to get out of the business of capital projects.

“I think there has to be a thorough housecleaning at TTC,” Ford said. “Top to bottom, things aren’t working, they’re not working and when it is broken you’ve got to fix it.”

The Etobicoke North (Ward 2) councillor - who was mayor when Byford was appointed Toronto’s transit chief - said the housecleaning should be top to bottom, including the CEO.
“People aren’t happy right now with these projects at the TTC,” Ford said.

TTC spokesman Brad Ross said he hadn’t heard Ford’s comments.

“As you know, Mr. Byford, as the CEO of the TTC, took decisive action last week and we now have a plan to open the line by the end of 2017,” Ross said.