Toronto taxpayers are facing a potential loss of nearly $100 million on two SmartTrack stations – King-Liberty and Finch-Kennedy – that have been indefinitely shelved due to escalating costs, documents reveal. The stations, originally envisioned as key components of former mayor John Tory’s ambitious transit plan, were deferred in , leaving the city and the provincial transit agency, Metrolinx, with substantial sunk costs.
The original SmartTrack proposal, pitched during Tory’s election campaign, promised a 53-kilometre, 22-stop transit line to be completed within seven years. By , however, the scope had been significantly reduced to just five stations on existing GO Transit lines. The latest cuts bring the total number of planned stations down to three, highlighting the challenges of delivering large-scale infrastructure projects in the Greater Toronto Area.
A confidential attachment to a report debated by the city’s audit committee earlier this month detailed the financial fallout. According to estimates from , approximately $50 million was spent on each of the cancelled stations, totaling roughly $97 million. The city of Toronto is responsible for approximately $43 million of these costs, with the remainder covered by Metrolinx.
The lack of transparency surrounding these costs has drawn criticism. While a public report presented to city council in did not disclose the extent of the spending on the deferred stations, the confidential attachment revealed the significant financial burden. Metrolinx has largely kept cost figures classified, adding to concerns about accountability.
The SmartTrack program, currently budgeted at $1.689 billion, is funded through a combination of city, provincial, and federal contributions. The breakdown includes $878 million from the City of Toronto, $585 million from the Government of Canada, and $226 million from the Province of Ontario. This funding is intended to deliver five new GO stations on existing GO train lines, integrating them into an urban rapid transit network.
The remaining stations under development include East Harbour, Bloor-Lansdowne, and St. Clair-Old Weston. Construction on the East Harbour Transit Hub began in , awarded to a joint venture of AtkinsRéalis and Bird Construction, alongside Hatch Ltd. The Bloor-Lansdowne station is also progressing, with plans for bike parking, multiple entrances, and connections to existing greenways.
The cost overruns on the SmartTrack project are not a new issue. A report to the city’s executive committee revealed an additional $234 million would be required to complete the five originally planned stations due to “numerous unanticipated factors.” City staff recommended requesting the Province of Ontario to cover these additional costs, a request that remains under consideration.
The situation underscores the complexities of large-scale infrastructure projects in Toronto, where rising land costs, construction delays, and unforeseen challenges frequently lead to budget increases. The cancellation of the King-Liberty and Finch-Kennedy stations raises questions about the future of transit expansion in the city and the ability to deliver on ambitious transportation goals within reasonable financial constraints.
The original SmartTrack plan aimed to leverage existing GO Transit commuter lines to create a more frequent and accessible regional rail network. The current focus on the three remaining stations – East Harbour, Bloor-Lansdowne, and St. Clair-Old Weston – represents a scaled-back approach, prioritizing projects with clearer financial viability and logistical feasibility. However, the substantial losses incurred on the cancelled stations serve as a cautionary tale for future transit initiatives.
The financial implications extend beyond the direct costs of the shelved stations. The loss of potential transit access for residents in King-Liberty and Finch-Kennedy raises concerns about equitable access to transportation and the potential for increased traffic congestion in those areas. The project’s evolution from a 22-stop network to a three-station plan also highlights the challenges of maintaining public trust and delivering on long-term infrastructure promises.
The city’s reliance on provincial funding for the SmartTrack program adds another layer of complexity. While the Province of Ontario has committed $226 million to the project, the request for additional funding to cover the $234 million cost overrun will likely require further negotiations and potentially impact other infrastructure priorities.
