The Ontario federal government would certainly move obligation for Ottawa’s public transportation system to rural company Metrolinx, according to project pledges made by Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford and Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie on Tuesday.
“With the threat of President Trump’s tariffs continuing to loom over Ontario, it’s never been more important to invest in our economy, support taxpayers and keep costs down for hard-working families. That’s why if elected, a PC government will upload the Ottawa LRT,” Ford stated at a project quit at a home window installment firm in Ottawa.
“Doing so will free up significant funds and capital,” he stated. “This will be more important than ever as the LRT project completes Stage 2 and begins Stage 3 expansion into more communities across the region.”
Ahead of Ford’s news, Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie additionally pledged to raise obligation for the LRT from the city.
“As Premier, Team Bonnie will upload the Ottawa LRT to ensure reliable, affordable transit for the city of Ottawa,” her project stated in a declaration.
Sutcliffe invites news
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe invited Ford’s news as “a big win for Ottawa.”
“I’ve made the case that Ottawa deserves to be treated like other Ontario cities such as Toronto, Mississauga, Hamilton, and Brampton,” he uploaded on social networks. “I’m very glad that Premier Ford agrees.”
Uploading Ottawa’s public transportation system to the district will certainly line up Ottawa with various other Ontario cities, Sutcliffe stated, boosting its financial resources while enabling OC Transpo to concentrate on boosting its solution.
Sutcliffe has actually been suggesting for months that the resources has actually obtained a raw bargain when it involves rural aids for transportation. Not just did the city sustain high prices to construct public transportation, however it’s additionally encountering an architectural deficiency as it attempts to money OC Transpo’s everyday procedures.
Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford went to a home window installment plant in Ottawa onTuesday (Kate Porter/ CBC)
‘We’re mosting likely to take the problem off of Ottawa’
Ford recommended that Metrolinx taking obligation for the LRT would certainly liberate “about $4 billion” for Ottawa to “invest in other priorities.
“We’re mosting likely to take the problem off of Ottawa,” Ford said in response to a question from CBC about whether Metrolinx would assume responsibility for all of OC Transo’s debts and lawsuits, as well as its assets.
Prabmeet Sarkaria, the PC MPP for Brampton South and outgoing transportation minister, said OC Transpo would ideally still operate the LRT, while Metrolink would bring expertise and take the cost burden off the city.
“So it’s a win-win for everyone,” Sarkaria said.
In the Toronto area, the provincial Crown corporation is responsible for the construction of several rail lines being built within city boundaries.
The City of Ottawa started construction on its LRT system before those major projects got approval in the GTA, Sutcliffe has pointed out. At the time, each level of government took on one-third of the cost, leaving Ottawa responsible for more debt that it has had to finance over many years.
$7B worth of LRT projects on the go
In total, Ottawa has embarked on some $7 billion in light rail construction projects over two stages. It opened its $2.1-billion trunk line in 2019, which then saw two derailments and other significant setbacks from cracked wheels to downed wires.
The relationship with contractor Rideau Transit Group has also been rocky, and a damning public inquiry exposed serious problems with the project.
The southernmost extension of Stage 2 opened in January. All told, construction and long-term maintenance for lines 2 and 4 were pegged at about $1.6 billion when the contract was signed in 2019.
The larger, more expensive extensions east to Orléans and west to Moodie Drive and Algonquin College have yet to open. They are being built by the consortium Kiewit-Eurovia-VINCI and will also involve a long-term maintenance contract with Rideau Transit Maintenance.
It’s unclear if Metrolinx would take over that maintenance contract, the rest of the construction costs or debt servicing.
While Ottawa’s LRT has been plagued by delays and cost overruns, Metrolinx has faced similar challenges in Toronto.
Construction began on the the 19-kilometre Eglington Crosstown light rapid transitway in 2011. It was originally budgeted at about $9.1 billion and was set to open in 2020. Costs have since ballooned to at least $12.8 billion, according to documents from 2022.
The long-delayed line is not anticipated to open up prior to mid-2025
Funding variation in between cities
OC Transpo has actually been having problem with a $120-million hole in its budget because of transportation procedures.
In September 2024, the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario set out just how rural transportation aids were dispersed amongst Ontario citizens.
The rural guard dog approximated the average resident in the Toronto region received $196.49 in rural aids for running transportation, while Ottawa obtained simply $31.91 each.
When it involves aids via rural firms Metrolinx or Ontario Northland, the GTA obtained approximately $124.98 each, 14 times greater than Ottawa’s $8.88 each.
