Ontario Line cost balloons to $34 billion, triple the original estimate
Metrolinx CEO confirms the Toronto rapid-transit project has more than tripled from $10.9 billion as supply chain shocks drive costs higher.
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The Ontario Line's cost has skyrocketed to at least $34 billion, more than triple the $10.9 billion estimate when the project launched seven years ago.
Metrolinx CEO Michael Lindsay confirmed the ballooning price Tuesday, citing supply chain shocks and trade uncertainty as major drivers. The 15.6-kilometre line, which will run from Exhibition Place to Don Mills Road with 15 stations, was initially projected to open by 2027. That timeline has since slipped to the early 2030s.
The latest increase follows a $4.3-billion contract awarded last week to two European firms for twin tunnels and two underground stations. Lindsay said the final cost could climb further as remaining contracts for the elevated sections of the line are still being finalized. Each contract is competitively bid, he said, to maintain cost scrutiny.
This is the second cost jump this year. In June, Metrolinx reported the price tag had jumped to $29 billion. The Ontario Line is the latest in a pattern of Metrolinx cost overruns: the Eglinton Crosstown, which finally opened this year after years of delays, cost nearly $12 billion against an initial $4-billion projection. The three-stop Scarborough Subway Extension, initially estimated at $5 billion, is now expected to exceed $10 billion.
Ontario's Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria defended the project's construction, saying the province is committed to building transit and creating jobs. Premier Doug Ford's office did not respond to requests for comment.
What safeguards exist to prevent further cost overruns as remaining contracts are awarded?
How much of the increase is directly attributable to supply chain costs versus project management decisions?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
What is the current cost estimate for the Ontario Line?
The Ontario Line's cost has risen to at least $34 billion, more than triple its original $10.9 billion estimate from seven years ago.
When is the Ontario Line now expected to open?
The Ontario Line was initially projected to open by 2027, but the timeline has slipped to the early 2030s.
How long is the Ontario Line and how many stations will it have?
The Ontario Line will be 15.6 kilometres long and will have 15 stations running from Exhibition Place to Don Mills Road.
What caused the cost increase for the Ontario Line?
Metrolinx CEO Michael Lindsay cited supply chain shocks and trade uncertainty as major drivers of the ballooning price.
