Councillors, public getting stonewalled when asking why the Eglinton Crosstown project is delayed
CBC
As the opening of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT blows past yet another deadline, two Toronto city councillors who say they're fed up with the lack of transparency are planning to ask council to formally request answers as to why the project stalled for a third time this fall.
The 25-stop, 19-kilometre light rapid transit line that will eventually connect the city along Eglinton from Kennedy to Mount Dennis was last slated to be up and running this fall. Work began in 2011 and Metrolinx previously announced completion dates of 2020 and 2021. The overall cost is estimated at about $5.8 billion.
Neither Metrolinx nor the Ontario government would answer CBC Toronto's questions about the delay and timeline and the two councillors say they've also been stonewalled.
"We still don't know the real facts because Metrolinx has been totally secretive about this and is refusing to disclose any kind of information," said Coun. Mike Colle, who represents Ward 8, Eglinton-Lawrence.
"They won't tell the TTC, they won't tell Toronto city council, they won't tell the residents."
In a statement released at the end of September, Metrolinx said construction and testing wouldn't be completed on time, but wouldn't say why or provide a new opening date.
CBC Toronto previously reported the major issues causing the most recent delay are underground engineering complications at Yonge and Eglinton. But the exact cause remains unknown. That's why Colle and Coun. Josh Matlow are planning to table a motion asking council to demand public answers from Metrolinx's CEO and the provincial transportation minister.
"I think there's reason to wonder why they're not being honest and open about it. What are they hiding?" said Matlow, who represents Ward 12, Toronto-St.Paul's.
CBC Toronto requested an interview with Metrolinx's CEO Phil Verster, but was denied. The provincial agency didn't answer a series of questions and instead sent Verster's statement from September when the latest delay was announced.
Ontario's Ministry of Transportation didn't respond to multiple requests for comment or answer a series of written questions.
Colle and Matlow say they've had to field questions from frustrated constituents who have been affected by the ongoing construction, which is causing major traffic delays and is devastating businesses in the area.
"This government and Metrolinx need to remember that as a public agency, they're accountable to not only those of us who represent the people of this city, but those who live here," Matlow said.
The motion the councillors plan to bring next month will ask council to request that Verster and Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney appear before the city's Infrastructure and Environment Committee to provide an update on the project and answer questions.
"There should be, on the public record, some very clear answers," Matlow said.
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