Eglinton Crosstown delay will continue to hurt small businesses: BIA chair
The latest delay of the Eglinton Crosstown transit line will further hurt small businesses that have already been bearing the “brunt” of the long-term construction project, says the chair of the Eglinton Way BIA.
Maureen Sirois told CP24 on Monday that many Eglinton business owners are frustrated following an announcement from Metrolinx on Friday that it would not be able to meet a previously-set target of September for completion of the project.
“It is outrageous that it should be going on this long,” said Sirois. “This is the third delay that we’ve faced with regards to Metrolinx and it’s really disappointing and people are really frustrated.”
Metrolinx offered no new target date for completion of the LRT.
Sirois said that many businesses have been impacted by the construction for over a decade since it began in 2011, but haven’t had any direct compensation from Metrolinx.
Construction on the line began in 2011 and was initially scheduled to be completed in 2020.
The project, however, has been plagued by repeated delays.
“There’s been absolutely no compensation directly to any of the businesses,” said Sirois. “The businesses have been bearing the brunt of the construction of this important infrastructure project.”
Sirois stressed that none of the businesses in her BIA are against the project and that they celebrate more transit being built in the city, however she said that “transit should not be built on the backs of small business.”
In a statement on Friday, Metrolinx CEO Phil Vester said that Crosslinx Transit Solutions, the construction consortium responsible for building the project, had fallen behind schedule and was unable to finalize construction and testing.
Vester added that Metrolinx would do “everything to hold Crosslinx Transit Solutions accountable and to redouble efforts to meet their commitments” but he did not provide a new timeline.
“This could go on for a year, 18 months, god forbid 24 months,” Sirois said. “We don’t need this, it has to be completed.”
Crosslinx previously filed a lawsuit against Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario in October 2020 in which they argued that they should not be held accountable for delays or cost overruns on the project because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A judge eventually sided with the consortium and the two sides renegotiated an agreement in December that would have seen the line substantially completed by September 2022 and in operation several months later.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
B.C. man fighting for refund after finding someone living at Whistler vacation rental
Edwin Mostered spent thousands of dollars booking a vacation home in Whistler, B.C., for a group skiing trip earlier this year – or so he thought.
Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin suspended at least six months
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league's player assistance program.
Collapsed Baltimore bridge span comes down with a boom after crews set off chain of explosives
Crews conducted a controlled demolition Monday to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Security video caught admitted serial killer disposing of bodies in Winnipeg garbage bins
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
Mortgage companies could intensify the next recession, U.S. officials warn
U.S. officials worry the next recession could be intensified by a cascading series of failures in the mortgage industry caused by crashing home prices, frozen financial markets and soaring delinquencies.