Why don't we post the actual article since it's pretty germane to our discussions. From the looks of it here, a lot of the cuts are because the TTC was already $2 billion over budget before the cuts. The delay in Eglinton construction is coming from the City and not the Province.
It seems pretty obvious right now that the TTC isn't remotely capable of managing a project of this magnitude. Even with all the money in the world, they couldn't build it in the timeline that they're planning. Either they bring in somebody else to build these projects (i.e. whoever's building Madrid's subways) or they slow down Transit City.
Laz, you make a good point...
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New Transit City slower, shorter
Metrolinx says city agreed to reduce length and stops on four lines even before province delayed $4 billion
Tess Kalinowski
Transportation Reporter
A revised Metrolinx plan shows Toronto's four provincially funded Transit City lines have been cut by 22.5 kilometres and about 25 stops since they were first announced.
Metrolinx CEO Rob Prichard says the city and TTC agreed to reduce the scope of the projects when the TTC's detailed estimates made it clear the plan would cost about $2 billion more than the $8.15 billion the province agreed to provide for Transit City — before the March provincial budget deferred $4 billion from its first five years of funding.
Construction has been delayed from two to five years on the Scarborough RT, Finch and Eglinton lines and they would not be completed until 2020, said Prichard, although a copy of the plan sent to the premier from the mayor says Eglinton won't be complete until 2022.
“We worked on the phasing with the city and the TTC throughout the fall and reached a consensus by the end of February,†Prichard said.
“These are difficult choices because we would all like to complete all the projects and all their phases as quickly as possible. However the original budget of $8.15 billion is a firm limit that we and the city must work within.â€
But the mayor's spokesman, Stuart Green, said the city would never have agreed to the revised plan.
In his letter to Premier Dalton McGuinty, Mayor David Miller says the city's most vulnerable neighbourhoods will be affected by the delays and reductions.
“The first five years of cash flow proposed by Metrolinx is inadequate to ensure completion in the 10-year time frame,†says the letter. “This will result in partial lines, inadequate service, and will cost more overall due to significant additional cost to purchase buses and associated infrastructure to fill the gap created by the reduced plan.â€
Miller's letter asks the premier to reconsider a proposal that Toronto take on the financing of the first five years of Transit City, with the province repaying the money later. But Prichard has said that doesn't help reduce the provincial debt load.
Prichard said that as Metrolinx introduces its Investment Strategy in 2013, the lines can continue to be phased in. He said he's confident the city and agency will have a plan to put before its board on May 19.
