Pullback of transit project cash for Greater Toronto ‘disappointing’

Written by jrood

Ontario's plan to save $4 billion by postponing the construction of Greater Toronto Area transit infrastructure was met with uncertainty by various industry stakeholders, the Daily Commercial News And Construction Record reports.

"The infrastructure
pullback on the transportation initiatives is disappointing," said Clive
Thurston, president, Ontario General Contractors Association. "Besides the rail
lines, there were a number of sizeable projects related to them that were being
prepared for bidding that we know of. We do not know yet how those will be
impacted. We will be looking to find that out as soon as possible."

In its 2010 budget
Ontario’s Liberal government forecasts a deficit of $21.3 billion for 2009-10,
an improvement of $3.4 billion from the $24.7 billion deficit forecast it
published in its Fall 2009 Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review.

Funding for rapid transit
expansion projects have been delayed by the province. Queen’s Park plans to
work with Metrolinx to phase construction of transit projects, which could
result in approximately $4 billion in savings and reduced borrowing over the next
five years.

The possible projects to
be delayed are the rapid transit lines for Finch Avenue West, Sheppard Avenue
East, the Scarborough RT, along with the Eglinton Avenue cross-town line and
expansion of York region’s Viva service. The possibility of these projects
never coming back online is a concern, according to industry insiders.

"We have seen in the
past, with the former Premier Mike Harris government killing the Eglinton
subway, that moves like this can jeopardize momentum," noted Andy Manahan, executive
director, Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario. "May be this
points to the need to start looking at alternative funding tools for projects
moving forward."

The Ontario Road Builders’
Association is concerned about the Metrolinx project delays and the government’s
plan to undertake a comprehensive review of capital to be completed before the
end of 2010. It is anticipated that this review will prioritize where the
limited amount of funds, set aside for infrastructure, will be invested, said
Karen Renkema, director, government relations, ORBA.

"The review leaves it
wide open over the next year for reconsideration what projects they are
actually looking at and whether they will be delaying any more projects," added
Renkema. "However, it is also very clear in the budget that a lot of
Infrastructure Stimulus Fund money was not spent. We now have a ton of ISF
projects headed out the door."

The province saved $1.142
billion thanks to "revised schedules in infrastructure projects," which helped
it table a lower than expected deficit in the budget, noted ORBA. The Ministry
of Transportation’s 2010 capital budget was increased to a total spend of
$2.035 billion but with little detail on how the funds will be divided.

"But the big question
mark is, ‘What is after all this?" said Renkema.

The government’s
intention is to introduce a 10-year infrastructure plan in 2011, it reported.

The Council of Ontario
Construction Associations said the needs of construction can struggle to find
space against the requirements of health care and education.

"It is understandable
that the government had tough choices to make to balance the budget and do as
much as they can with what they have," said David Zurawel, vice president,
policy and government relations, COCA. "Nevertheless, it is disappointing for
infrastructure and construction."

Among other announced
spending delays are investments in government office space by five years,
resulting in over $1.4 billion of savings and delaying construction of the
Toronto West Courthouse by one year, resulting in $130 million in savings over
four years.

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