Cost, Ridership Projections Headed the Wrong Direction for Toronto's Scarborough Subway

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.

1 minute read

March 10, 2017, 6:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"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.

Tuesday, February 28, 2017 in The Toronto Star

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Bend, Oregon

Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing

The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.

July 14 - Strong Towns

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14 - Smart Cities Dive

Green Skid Row mural satirizing city limit sign in downtown Los Angeles, California.

LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents

The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.

July 14 - Los Angeles Public Press