Mayor John Tory says giving Scarborough a subway extension and LRT line will now cost an additional $900 million, sending the bill up to $4.5-billion without clear indications where the extra money will come from.
The one-stop extension to Scarborough Town Centre is now estimated at $2.9 billion, while the Scarborough LRT line is budgeted higher at $1.6 billion, Tory announced Friday.
That puts the increasingly contentious Scarborough transit bill at $4.5 billion, nearly $1 billion more than earlier figures.
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Tory didn’t provide specific details on where the new funds will come from, saying only that efforts will be made to lower the cost of the projects.
“We’ll now go to work on both sets of numbers and work with the private sector and others to get those numbers down.”
But he refused to back down from his support for the subway extension.
“We’re going to move forward because that is what the people expected us to do, that is what the people elected us to do,” Tory said, adding that the last four elections have been “explicitly contested” on a Scarborough subway.
Tory insisted the subway extension cost is covered due to the earlier and higher three-station budget for the project, and suggested the city will look to trim the needed investment for the 17-stop LRT.
Some councillors criticized the rising cost.
“Quickly moved from a fully paid for project to a giant money pit. More $ for less transit,” tweeted Mike Layton.
“Be honest with residents, responsible with their tax dollars & move forward now with the Scarborough LRT. They’ve been waiting too long,” opined Josh Matlow.