[allengeorge]

Projected cost of Scarborough Eglinton East LRT has nearly doubled to more than $4 billion, city report says | The Star

Supposedly two major drivers of cost increases:

1. Longer tunnel from Kennedy because of SSE design
2. Requirement for new, dedicated MSF because the province is now “subway!” on Sheppard

Additionally, concern (also voiced in the press conference), that the province may not allow this to be built, and that the money will only come from the city/Federal govt (no provincial support.)

Honestly, that’s a lotta challenges for this project. I think in all likelihood we’re not gonna see shovels in the ground. Kinda ironic that the SSE and the Sheppard plans drove up the costs too.

 

[TheTigerMaster]

Not all of the line is on-street. In addition to the tunnel portal extension as well as an underground Midland Station, the line is also supposed to be tunneled for a short distance in the area around Kingston, Lawrence, and Morningside as well as another underground station. A new MSF has also been added to the project since the line would've used the MSF for Sheppard East. But even then, I agree $4B is too much for this line. This report was an interesting read on why costs for transit projects have been ballooning. Hopefully, later on, the city can refine the cost estimate and find some ways to help cheapen out the cost.

https://www.rccao.com/research/files/RCCAO-STATION-TO-STATION-REPORT-APRIL2020.pdf

Would be pretty neat to see a subway station that far east.

 

[TheTigerMaster]

I presume, the city will delay this project another few years due to funding shortfalls then realize how much it is. And scrap it, and will compromise to a BRT instead.

BRT isn't sufficient for this corridor. IIRC, EELRT peak demand was in excess of 5,000 pphpd.

 

[TheTigerMaster]

Projected cost of Scarborough Eglinton East LRT has nearly doubled to more than $4 billion, city report says | The Star

Supposedly two major drivers of cost increases:

1. Longer tunnel from Kennedy because of SSE design
2. Requirement for new, dedicated MSF because the province is now “subway!” on Sheppard

Additionally, concern (also voiced in the press conference), that the province may not allow this to be built, and that the money will only come from the city/Federal govt (no provincial support.)

Honestly, that’s a lotta challenges for this project. I think in all likelihood we’re not gonna see shovels in the ground. Kinda ironic that the SSE and the Sheppard plans drove up the costs too.

Shovels in the ground are likely… eventually. Just not under this government. This will be one of the most heavily utilized corridors in the city (peak demand in excess of 5,500 pphpd). An extension here should be inevitable.

 

[syn]

These cost escalations are just stupid. I've given up any hope of transit getting built (unless we get these soaring costs sorted out).

Can't wait to see the final costs of the OL and EWLRT which, according to MX, could be up to 50% more expensive than projected 😄 (I'm smiling thru the pain)

Of course they will.

The Fords in particular have a history of drastically underestimating the cost of transit infrastructure.

In this case it's a provincial agency releasing the numbers, but it's hard to take them seriously as they seem to now be a mouthpiece for the government.

 

[TheTigerMaster]

Of course they will.

The Fords in particular have a history of drastically underestimating the cost of transit infrastructure.

In this case it's a provincial agency releasing the numbers, but it's hard to take them seriously as they seem to now be a mouthpiece for the government.

If this government wants to do anything useful, they need to investigate and implement measures to control these spiralling costs. Otherwise we're never going to get anything built. Perhaps start by reading that RCCAO report. The private sector clearly hasn't been the panacea touted by both the Liberals and the Conservatives.

 

[W. K. Lis]

John Tory pushes for work to start on Toronto's Waterfront Transit and Eglinton East lines

From link.

The future of transit is Toronto is shaping up to be a heck of a lot more advanced than it is currently, with a handful of major projects set to transform the city and how its residents move within the next few years.

Among these are things as largescale and well-known as the contentious Ontario Line subway that will span the city or the nearly-completed Eglinton Crosstown LRT and its extension to Pearson Airport, and things as easy to implement as designated transit priority lanes on key thoroughfares.

On top of the aforementioned, there are various GO expansions, plans for the Finch West and Hurontario LRTs, and Scarborough and Yonge subway extensions due from Metrolinx over the coming decade.

And, two other long-awaited lines that we may finally end up seeing sooner rather than later: the Waterfront Transit Network and the Eglinton East LRT, both of which Mayor John Tory revealed yesterday he'll be pushing at the City's Executive Committee meeting next week.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1334543085338939396

The Waterfront solution, which the city endorsed in 2018, is slated to create a cohesive network along the Harbourfront from Lakeshore and Long Branch to Woodbine and Queen, including expanded streetcar service — something the mayor reiterates is integral given the amount of rapid development taking place in the area, which includes but is not limited to the all-new Villiers Island community.

Meanwhile, the Eglinton East LRT, which is in a later stage of planning, will run 21 stops over 15 km eastward from Kennedy Station to Malvern.

Tory is now asking that the latest plans for both lines be approved by City Council ASAP to get the ball rolling.

"These projects will bring more transit to two areas that absolutely need it: Scarborough and the Waterfront," Tory said at a press conference on Thursday, adding that the city needs to "get to work on building" these important transit connections.

"We have to keep moving transit forward in all parts of our city, and that's why we're moving ahead with these two projects and why we're continuing to work with the province to move forward its major transit projects."

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1334543086257659904

Once the proposals are approved, the City will move forward with assessing costs, business plans and schedules for completion of the work.

 

[Towered]

And a north-south LRT along Jane Street, just east of the Humber River.

That's already a proposal, and isn't in Etobicoke. There needs to be another north-south LRT ROW in the west end of the city.

 

[ARG1]

That's already a proposal, and isn't in Etobicoke. There needs to be another north-south LRT ROW in the west end of the city.

Finch West LRT extension to Woodbine GO, I guess... other than that, Kipling?

 

[W. K. Lis]

Finch West LRT extension to Woodbine GO, I guess... other than that, Kipling?

Should Finch West LRT be extended to connect with the Eglinton Crosstown at the Pearson Transit Hub, it would be a partial north-south route in Etobicoke.

 

[JSF-1]

That's already a proposal, and isn't in Etobicoke. There needs to be another north-south LRT ROW in the west end of the city.

Bring back the Etobicoke RT!

 

[robmausser]

That's already a proposal, and isn't in Etobicoke. There needs to be another north-south LRT ROW in the west end of the city.

Etobicoke LRT down the hydro corridor, terminate at the airport and meet with Eglinton and Finch LRT, and convert the campa sub to LRT

 

[Towered]

I don't think running a transit line in a hydro corridor is ideal.

 

[W. K. Lis]

I don't think running a transit line in a hydro corridor is ideal.

People tend avoid hydro corridors.

 

[OneCity]

I know it would be prohibitively expensive, but I wish the Sheppard Subway could be extended further to connect with the EELRT at Neilson/Sheppard.

This will likely be the big debate around 2040-2050 when the Pickering extension gets a bit more serious attention.

Unfortunate to see a gap and moreso it being in Malvern of course, but if we can see both subways and the EELRT delivered in close to 15 years it will be a minor detail in the bigger scheme of overdue progress.