Eglinton Crosstown LRT — Six Years Late, Billions Over Budget
The Eglinton Crosstown LRT finally opened in February 2026 after finishing six years late and billions over budget — ballooning from a $4.6 billion original estimate to approximately $13 billion. Premier Ford acknowledged the project was a "nightmare" but refused calls for a public inquiry, calling it a "waste of time." Businesses along Eglinton — particularly in Little Jamaica — suffered through 15 years of construction with little compensation.
🚇 An in effect Transit policy from June 2011 · Well sourced
Updated · Created
"Building Transit for the Future"
The Eglinton Crosstown LRT is a transformative transit project that will connect communities across Toronto. P3 delivery ensures private-sector efficiency and risk transfer.
"It was a nightmare."
— Doug Ford, on the Crosstown delays, February 2026
"Six Years Late, Triple the Cost, Zero Accountability"
The project ballooned from $4.6 billion to approximately $13 billion while arriving six years late. The P3 consortium structure made accountability impossible — private partners blamed each other and Metrolinx, while Metrolinx pointed to the consortium. Ford refused a public inquiry, calling it a "waste of time."
- Cost nearly tripled: $4.6B estimate → over $13B final costsource
- Six years late: targeted for 2020, opened February 2026source
- Hundreds of Black-owned businesses in Little Jamaica closed during 15 years of construction with little compensationsource
- Ford refused a public inquiry — NDP's Stiles called it "an insult to every Ontarian"source
This section represents editorial interpretation of documented evidence.
Figures are approximate, using publicly available Ontario cost data.
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