A new city staff report on the proposed Scarborough Subway, still in planning stages in Toronto, made the project a much tougher sell for Mayor John Tory and other project supporters.
"The cost to build a one-stop subway extension in Scarborough has climbed to at least $3.35 billion as the estimate of new people expected to be drawn to the line has fallen," report Jennifer Pagliaro and Ben Spurr.
The previous estimate put the cost of the subway at $3.2 billion. The new $3.35 billion figure, however, doesn't include the cost of financing the project. Much of the new cost arises from planned changes at the new Scarborough Town Centre station. Pagliaro and Spurr detail the other evolutions of the project proposal throughout the article.
The estimates are included in a city staff report released at the end of February, which has inspired "fresh questions of value for money and providing the most transit for Scarborough residents," according to the article.
Mayor John Tory supports the project, so much so that he also pitched an additional light rail line to supplement the subway. The increased price tag for the subway could imperil that light rail compromise, according to the article.
FULL STORY: Cost of Scarborough subway extension rises to $3.35 billion as number of new riders fall
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