'Their heads are going to explode': Councillors balk at $150M price tag for extending West Toronto Railpath by 2 kilometres

The planned two-kilometre extension of a walking and cycling path from Roncesvalles to Liberty Village in Toronto's west end is raising eyebrows for the projected $150 million price tag.

"We all want it to happen, but a $150 million price tag by Metrolinx is absolutely unreasonable," Coun. Josh Matlow told CP24 Tuesday.

The West Toronto Railpath is a 2.1 kilometre trail for walking, running and cycling along a stretch of rail corridor in The Junction. It opened in 2008/09 at a cost of just $3.8 million.

The proposed West Toronto Railpath Extension would add another two kilometres from Dundas Street West at Sterling Road to Abell Street at Sudbury Street, just north of Liberty Village. The trail, which will require four new bridges, will be routed adjacent to the Kitchener GO Rail Corridor.

The project is being built by Metrolinx, which has carriage of the rail lines, but the city and the federal government are funding it. The federal government is putting up $23 million, while the city has committed $125.7 million.

"The extension is part of the City’s Major City-wide Cycling Routes under the Cycling Network Plan and will encourage sustainable transportation options by making it easier for commuters to connect to the Bloor GO Station and the upcoming King-Liberty Station," the city said in a release announcing the funding partnership earlier this month.

Public consultations held back in 2020 found that "people are excited" about the extension, though they wanted to see it built sooner. Now, the ballooning cost has led some councillors to question the price tag.

"I think we need to have a conversation about value for money, and all of us can agree that, you know, extending an existing walkway and cycling corridor makes a lot of sense, but not at any cost," Coun. Brad Bradford told CTV Toronto.

He pointed out the project was estimated to cost around $23 million when it was proposed back in 2016 and the cost now is nearly six times that, coming in at about $75,000 per metre of trail.

"The city can't afford it. We're just coming out of a nearly double digit record breaking tax increase in the City of Toronto, and when people hear the idea of $150 million to extend a cycling path two kilometers, I think their heads are gonna explode," Bradford said. "I mean, people expect us to respect taxpayers and show good value for money, and with all the pressing priorities, I mean you could build two community centres for $150 million."

He did acknowledge that labour and material costs have since increased and working in an area where transit expansion work is happening adds some complexity, however he said the city "can't just write blank checks."

An artist's rendering of the planned West Toronto Railpath Extension is pictured. (City of Toronto)

Matlow also said he doesn't have confidence in Metrolinx given the massive cost and time overruns on the Elginton Crosstown project, which is still without an opening date years after it was supposed to be complete.

"Metrolinx controls the corridors, so it's understandable that we would have to partner with them, but to hand over so many city tax dollars to a provincial agency that has shown no accountability or transparency for many, many years for how they spend tax dollars in general, without challenging them to bring down the cost and demonstrate to us with a very granular cost breakdown on how the money is being spent, I think is irresponsible," he said.

Bradford said the project should go back to the drawing board to find cost savings, or be scrapped, while Matlow said he wants to see the extension built, but at much better value for money.

"Most cities around the world are actually building much larger projects – including high speed rail – for the same price, if not less, per kilometre," he said. "The work has to be done, but I want to see accounting for the money."

Metrolinx said that while they have been asked to assist with construction, the city is "best positioned to respond" to questions about the project and its costs.

In an email to CTV News Toronto, the city said that the "construction complexity" of the trail extension is "unique to the project" due to various factors that were not accounted for in the previous $23 million estimate.  

"This cost estimate did not include property acquisition, major utility relocations, noise walls, engineering and assurance services, nor did it contemplate material cost increases due to COVID-19 and other economic factors," the city said.

In a separate email, a spokesperson for Mayor Olivia Chow said the mayor is "committed" to delivering good value.

"This project has been contemplated by City Council for over a decade. The current plan was designed in 2020, and involves complex work including building four new bridges across the rail corridor to connect neighbourhoods and relocating utilities, while the railway remains active," the statement read.

"The Mayor is always committed to making sure projects are a good value for money, and will continue to work with City Staff and other partners to ensure this project delivers good value for money."

A city spokesperson said the municipality is continuing to work with Metrolinx to find cost savings and efficiencies.

-With files from CTV Toronto's Beth Macdonell

An artist's rendering of the planned West Toronto Railpath Extension is pictured. (City of Toronto)