Eglinton Crosstown delays should be subject of public inquiry: councillor [Video]

A Toronto city councillor is calling for a public inquiry into the construction of the delayed and over-budget Eglinton Crosstown LRT.

Ward 12 Toronto—St. Paul’s Coun. Josh Matlow plans to table a motion at city council next week asking the province to launch the inquiry.

Matlow says that the inquiry should examine the causes of the ongoing delays and the increased costs of the project as well as the “fractious relationship” between Metrolinx and the consortium building it.

He is also asking council to request that Ontario’s Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria and Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster personally attend an executive committee meeting at city hall next month to take questions from councillors about the delays and cost overruns.

“Residents and businesses along 19 kilometres of Eglinton Avenue have been enduring over 12 years of hardship due to the endless construction. They have suffered incredible disruption and unmanageable traffic and safety …