A few weeks back, on a cold December morning before the sun came up, transit brass, politicians and riders came together to launch the long-awaited and very expensive Finch West Light Rail Transit line which runs 10.3-kilometres along Finch from Keele Street to Humber College Boulevard in Toronto.
The gathering marked a historic expansion of Toronto’s transit system and a new era of connectivity for communities along the corridor. City and provincial politicians along with Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) officials touted the success of the project before boarding a ceremonial first train.
While the new rail is supposed to offer faster transit, the line initially turned out to be slower than the bus it was meant to replace.
Metrolinx, which oversaw construction of the light-rail line, blames the City of Toronto and the TTC for putting speed restrictions through an intersection. City council is now working on that problem.
The issue of speed was just the latest in a long string of challenges for the long-anticipated and often-delayed project.
The original budget for the project was $2.5 billion but a report released by Metrolinx this past fall indicated the price tag had ballooned to $3.7 billion – 48 per cent over budget. The amount also includes operating and maintenance costs.
The timeline, meanwhile, is one for the record books. The project was first proposed in 2007, 18 years ago. Construction was supposed to start as early as 2015 but kept getting delayed. Then the line was slated to open in 2021, but that deadline also went by the wayside.
Mosaic Transit Group was the consortium eventually selected for the build. It consists of three companies: ACS Infrastructure Canada Inc.; Aecon Concessions, a division of Aecon Construction Group Inc.; and CRH Canada Group Inc.
Work started in 2019 and in 2020 the Highway 400 overpasses over Finch Avenue were removed and replaced over two consecutive weekends using a rapid bridge replacement technique that involved moving the old overpass aside in one piece and installing a new overpass in its place.
The first rails were installed in late 2020. In January 2021, the first of 11 traction power substations to power the trains was installed.
By May 2022, Mosaic had laid about 35 per cent of the total track required to complete the line and by late 2023 all rail and overhead catenary had been installed and all light-rail vehicles had received final acceptance.
It took a full six years of construction and the rail line officially achieved substantial completion this past November.
But on opening day, the train chugged along at less than six kilometres per hour (km/h) instead of the promised 12.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow posted on Reddit that, after riding the light rail herself during the opening, it became immediately clear that the Finch West LRT was too slow.
“We are fixing this,” she declared, promising to direct city staff to make active transit signals a priority on the Finch West LRT and the soon-to-open Line 5 as quickly as possible.
Over the course of the project there have been other issues. The line was delayed for various reasons, including vehicles not being delivered on time, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2024, Mosaic also brought a lawsuit against Metrolinx, the TTC and City of Toronto, alleging they’d breached contractual obligations and the construction agreement. The lawsuit is still ongoing and the case entered the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in August.
But the project plowed ahead. Up to 600 workers were employed on the project at peak times.
The line, designed by Arup, DTAH and Perkins&Will, has two stations and 16 stops. It runs on a dedicated, primarily street-level track along Finch Avenue West and has connections to local and regional transit. All the stops and terminal stations use transparent glass for walls, partitions and skylights. The design is geared to prevent crime by creating a bright and safe environment for riders.
On-street stops will have canopies, lights, cameras and a PA system. Each station and stop will have four screens that provide arrival times and any news about service on the line. The line will carry 40,000 rides a day by 2031.
While there have been challenges, politicians, transit officials and light rail builders are pleased with the outcome.
“The Finch West LRT is more than a transit line – it’s an investment in equity, opportunity, and urban revitalization,” Simon Stephenson, principal and project director at Arup, said in a statement provided to Daily Commercial News. “Arup is proud that the line will reduce commute times, improve access to employment and education, and stimulate local economies along the corridor.”
Metrolinx president and CEO Michael Lindsay said the exceptional work and collaboration between the Metrolinx team, Ministry of Transportation, City of Toronto and TTC, made the milestone possible.
“We recognize that delivering this project has not come without challenges and disruption, and we deeply appreciate residents’ and businesses’ patience and resilience throughout this journey,” he said. “We remain committed to delivering the benefits this new transit line will bring to communities.”
