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Ontario’s Liberal Caucus is demanding a public inquiry into the delays plaguing the Eglinton Crosstown LRT project — which remains in limbo with no opening date in sight nearly 16 years after construction began.
In December, Premier Doug Ford told reporters the transit line could open in 2026 or “very soon after.” An official announcement for the LRT line’s opening has not yet been made.
When the Eglinton Crosstown finally opens, Ford is sure to claim it as a victory for his government, said provincial Liberal legislator Adil Shamji at a news conference Thursday.
But he said, in order for residents to have confidence in the line, the province, TTC and Metrolinx need to make the following promises:
A public inquiry into the mismanagement and delays behind the Eglinton Crosstown project. Compensation for businesses impacted by construction along the transit line.A rapid response taskforce to be in place from opening day to address any issues. A guarantee that there will not be any issues similar to those seen after the launch of the Finch West LRT.A guarantee that the Ontario Line construction will not face similar delays or mismanagement.
“[Ford] cannot be allowed to call this colossal catastrophe a triumph,” said Shamji, adding millions of dollars have been spent to keep the project on track.
“Three years ago, it was claimed that this project was 97 per cent complete and yet here we are still checking our watches.”
Province points to ‘substantial completion’ of transit projects
In response, provincial spokesperson Dakota Brasier told CBC News that the Ford government has brought both the Eglinton Crosstown and the Finch West LRT to “substantial completion after years of neglect and delays by the previous Liberal government.”
Both the current Progressive Conservative government and the former Liberal government have been in power for long stretches of the beleaguered transit line’s construction. It began in 2011 while the Liberals were in power, while the PCs were elected in 2018.
“Across the province, we are investing $70 billion in the largest transit expansion in Canadian history, keeping goods, people, and our economy moving — investments the Liberals have voted against,” Brasier said.
The TTC said in an emailed statement that it would “continue to work toward the opening of Line 5” with Metrolinx.
WATCH | Ford says Eglinton Crosstown LRT could open in 2026:
Ford says Eglinton Crosstown LRT could open in 2026
Premier Doug Ford said there’s a possibility that the Eglinton Crosstown LRT could finally open in 2026 or “very soon after.”
Shamji and Andrea Hazell, Ontario Liberal critic for transportation, said they’re concerned the line’s opening will echo the “bungled” launch of the Finch West LRT, which has faced countless service shutdowns and mechanical issues since opening on Dec. 7.
Hazell hopes an inquiry will bring some answers to residents on what is going on and where public funds have been spent.
“We’re left in the dark, there’s no information,” she said. “ This is one of the most embarrassing tracks for this government.”
Toronto city councillor Josh Matlow launched a petition in October also calling for a public inquiry into the delays and cost overruns of the Eglinton Crosstown.
WATCH | Finch West LRT has faced issues with the same system use by Ottawa years ago:
Finch LRT uses same switches as Ottawa’s plagued transit line
One of the major issues plaguing the Finch West LRT is the technology system used to melt ice and snow along the line. As CBC’s Dale Manucdoc explains, it’s the same system used by Ottawa years ago that proved to be problematic. Liberals open to transparency during public inquiry
While residents and politicians are hoping the line will open soon, Hazell and Shamji said they want several concerns to be addressed, including the implementation of signal priority and operations in winter conditions.
If addressing those issues meant the Eglinton Crosstown had to be further delayed, Shamji said it would be clear evidence of mismanagement on the project.
When asked by reporters whether they thought a public inquiry might point the blame at the Liberal government, under which the project was first announced and handed over to Metrolinx, Shamji said the party was open to transparency.
But he said he feels Ford and his government would be the ones to come under blame for the delayed project.
The Eglinton Crosstown LRT was initially set to open in 2020, but a series of technical problems and associated cost overruns have plagued the project and repeatedly delayed its completion.
Final testing for the transit line was completed in December.