[TRONto]

I maintain a spreadsheet purely for construction costs of major projects. Thankfully, I did track viva, 6, and pretty much all the other HOT projects in the GTA.
I have decided to also include all the other notable LRT projects.

Source	Notes	Name	Cost/km ($, 2025, mil/km)	Opening Year	Length	Cost, YOC, ($, millions)	Cost, 2025, ($, millions)
Yonge Street Rapidway / Richmond Hill, frequently asked questions | York Region Rapid Transit Corporation	* Mixed traffic segments not inc.	Viva Phase 1	67	2020	34	1800 (2017 $)	2270
Amid cost overruns and project delays, the Mississauga Transitway is complete Mississauga’s long-awaited bus rapid transit project is finally complete, albeit over budget and behind schedule. www.mississauga.com	* Mixed traffic segments not inc.	Mississauga TW	65	2017	10.3	528 (2017 $)	666
Ion construction costs run $50 million over budget Delays in construction and vehicle delivery have pushed up the cost of the Ion rapid transit line to $868 million. www.ctvnews.ca		ION	58	2019	19	868 (2019 $)	1095
https://assets.metrolinx.com/image/upload/v1763754630/Documents/Metrolinx/Item_13.5_-_Capital_Projects_-_Rapid_Transit_-_FINAL_ENG_Mx.pdf	* Incurred costs taken as of late 2025.	6 Finch West	267	2026	10.3	2548 (2022 $)	2746
https://assets.metrolinx.com/image/upload/v1763754630/Documents/Metrolinx/Item_13.5_-_Capital_Projects_-_Rapid_Transit_-_FINAL_ENG_Mx.pdf	* Incurred costs taken as of late 2025.	5 Crosstown	591	2026	19	9171 (2019 $)	11228
https://assets.metrolinx.com/image/upload/v1763754630/Documents/Metrolinx/Item_13.5_-_Capital_Projects_-_Rapid_Transit_-_FINAL_ENG_Mx.pdf	* O&M included. Preliminary.	10 Hurontario	319	?	18		5742
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/lrt-to-cambridge-regional-council-vote-on-route-recommendation-9.6964717	* Preliminary.	ION Cambridge	182	?	17		3100

Natural caveat that it's pretty difficult to find exact apple to apple numbers for this stuff. It's incredibly easily to only get a portion of the cost, or to get much more of the cost than construction esp. w. MX who for some reason hates to separate O&M with construction.

Some takeaways:
- Though it is apparently possible to build LRT for cheaper than BRT, it seems like ION is a bit of an outlier given ION Cambridge is 3x more expensive.
- Otherwise, assuming ION Cambridge costs, an LRT is about 2.7x more expensive.
- Assuming 6FW costs, an LRT is 4x the cost of a BRT like Viva.
- MX is not involved in ION or ION cambridge, but was in Mississauga TW (Though primarily for the western portion) and Viva phase 1.

For the Finch line (and the others in the same table), you can't use their numbers to calculate cost/km. Check the notes for the table.

 

[urbanclient]

For the Finch line (and the others in the same table), you can't use their numbers to calculate cost/km. Check the notes for the table.

@TRONto you are misinterpreting that. The initial all in cost was quoted as $2.5 billion with roughly $1.2 billion for construction in 2018. The remainder was for maintenance and operations* over 30 years, financing costs and some other insignificant items incurred before or at opening.

Now that Line 6 is complete and running, the construction (capital) costs are fully paid for on the books, which includes the capital financing costs. The remaining $1.2 billion out of the overbudget $3.7 billion current all in cost is [essentially just] for the 30 year maintenance contract. The non-maintenance side of the contract is >$2.548 billion since that figure was already incurred 2 months before opening. Not exactly surprising for construction costs to double for a P3 project in Ontario (change orders).

*Operations is essentially paid for by the TTC, but without going more in-depth, a small part of 'operations' is handled by Mosaic under the [30 year] contract.

If you're insisting that Line 6 Finch West cost only ~$100 million per km to construct, you are wrong.

 

[a2z]

With that said, I oppose the EELRT as currently contemplated as it has failed several tests I've laid out including faster journey times for riders, and comes at a projected cost so high that is plausible to discuss achieving better outcomes with a combination of BRT and Subway for similar sums.

It seems to be treated as a given that the presence of a LRT enables significantly more development and investment than a BRT.

If even this given manages to apply to the slowest of LRTs, then the only positive I can see in EELRT is that it could initiate a "multi-stage revitalization project that hits four priority neighbourhoods in one" (Eglinton East + Scarborough Village + Kingston-Galloway + Malvern)

Of course, there may be other ways not related to transit to achieve this without spending $4bn+ (but would the private sector also see the incentive to invest?), and you cannot easily predict the long-term health of the economy, so that outcome becomes quite a hypothetical...
(hence why I can't blame Metrolinx for claiming such a wide range in their initial study, that the Finch West+Sheppard East LRTs could lead to an increase in $1.4 to 4.7 bn in land value)

I see that the city has already implemented the Jane Finch Secondary Plan & Keele Finch Plus plans. Where would these areas, especially Jane Finch, have fallen into the peaking order without the Finch West LRT?
The only areas with active studies by the City that don't appear to have transit plans in store appear to be Jane & Wilson, and Malvern.

 

[lastcommodore]

For the Finch line (and the others in the same table), you can't use their numbers to calculate cost/km. Check the notes for the table.

Yes, the total costs are for construction, maintenance, and operation.
The number taken was not the total cost, as is explicitly written in the note, but the incurred costs, aka the costs so far by the end of construction.*
The incurred costs by the opening is when construction is paid out, and maintenance and operation has not yet been paid out or started. Thus, Incurred costs can approximate the cost of construction.
Unless you are arguing that MX is paying for O&M before O&M began, or that MX is paying for construction after construction has finished. (The latter of which you would not, because that would make the costs of const. higher)
@urbanclient has already responded this to you (now twice). I am not sure why you are repeating it, again, without addressing the response.
If you are capable of sourcing a more accurate note that explicitly does not contain O&M, and is recent and up-to-date with cost escalations, I would be more than happy to adjust.

The source you have cited is from 2022, and states total cost of 2.5bn. MX in 2025 says 3.7bn total. Things change, and I am inclined to go with the more recent source.

* Yes the numbers are a few months off opening. I probably lose more accuracy to inflation than I do that, as the dollar sum is just summed of that dollar value, each year, which makes it impossible to properly inflate from one value.

 

[hawc]

Total disgrace.

CITY NEWS:
Posted January 20, 2026 9:31 am.

It was another rough day for transit riders using the Line 6 Finch West due to several issues along the line on Tuesday.
The problems started around 6 a.m. and full service resumed around noon. Shuttle buses were running during the delays and continued to run once service resumed to supplement service.
“Line 6 experienced multiple service challenges during this morning’s rush hour, including frozen switches and disabled light rail vehicles,” a TTC spokesperson said in a update on Tuesday afternoon.
The TTC outlined and explained the issues in the summary below:
Just before 6 a.m., ice buildup on the switch at Martin Grove led to limited access to both platforms at Humber College Station. As a result, service was suspended between Humber College and Martin Grove stations while repairs were taking place. Service on the line resumed around 6:40 a.m.
Around an hour later, a light-rail vehicle lost power near Mount Olive Station. Service was reduced to a single track, which resulted in slower service through the area. Shuttle buses were running between Mount Olive and Martin Grove stations. Service resumed on Line 6 once the stalled train was moved just before noon.
Just after 7 a.m., the TTC said another switch issue was discovered at Milvan Rumike. Service was suspended across the entire line but resumed just after 7:20 a.m.
Then, around 8:20 a.m., another light-rail vehicle stalled eastbound as it was departing Sentinel Station. As a result, service was suspended between Tobermory and Finch West. Riders were transferred onto a TTC bus. Service resumed service just after 10 a.m. once the train was moved.
The TTC said due to the earlier issue at Mount Olive, LRT service on the west end of the line was running at a slower speed. Shuttle buses were in place to supplement service until the issue was cleared after noon.
“During the delays, TTC operations staff were in touch with the contracted maintainer of the line infrastructure (track/switches/signals) and vehicles, Mosaic Transit Group. As you know, the TTC only operates the line so we cannot speak to any maintenance issues. We are offering advice and support as an experienced transit operator for more than 100 years. However, both the TTC and Metrolinx are working jointly under this new partnership model and during this soft opening period,” the TTC said in a statement.
The TTC said starting at 5 a.m., shuttle buses were already on standby at Finch West and Tobermory stations in case Monday’s switch issues at Sentinel Station happened again.
Tuesday’s issues add to a growing list of challenges for the line since it opened in December. Line 6 has experienced multiple outages tied to weather, switch issues and mechanical problems in its first weeks of operation. The TTC has said the line is in a “soft launch” period until the spring and during this time, they are still smoothing out the rough edges.
Last week, the line was shut down at least three times due to weather‑related conditions.

 

[Amare]

At this point i'm curious, what's the threshold for firing Mosaic as the maintenance provider?

That's if the lost cause management fools at Metrolinx even provided for a clause for that in the contract.

 

[urbanclient]

Yes, the total costs are for construction, maintenance, and operation.
The number taken was not the total cost, as is explicitly written in the note, but the incurred costs, aka the costs so far by the end of construction.*
The incurred costs by the opening is when construction is paid out, and maintenance and operation has not yet been paid out or started. Thus, Incurred costs can approximate the cost of construction.
Unless you are arguing that MX is paying for O&M before O&M began, or that MX is paying for construction after construction has finished. (The latter of which you would not, because that would make the costs of const. higher)
@urbanclient has already responded this to you (now twice). I am not sure why you are repeating it, again, without addressing the response.
If you are capable of sourcing a more accurate note that explicitly does not contain O&M, and is recent and up-to-date with cost escalations, I would be more than happy to adjust.

The source you have cited is from 2022, and states total cost of 2.5bn. MX in 2025 says 3.7bn total. Things change, and I am inclined to go with the more recent source.

* Yes the numbers are a few months off opening. I probably lose more accuracy to inflation than I do that, as the dollar sum is just summed of that dollar value, each year, which makes it impossible to properly inflate from one value.

Seconded, but they probably have me muted because they don't like reading novels.

If anything though, the $2.548 billion is probably an undercount, because it does not reflect the payment made upon substantial completion (November 12, 2025). They incurred more than $29 million in just Q3 on Line 6.

Now we know the 30 year contract was worth about $1 billion, so really, $2.5 billion for 'construction', not including stuff like contingency etc. is probably fairly accurate. I say this assuming the $500 million withheld until substantial completion is accurate, which would mean total costs incurred would be $3 billion by now, which seems too high because it would mean the maintenance contract is only worth $700 million. 3.7-2.5= $1.2 billion; 1.2-0.5=0.7 billion aka $700 million. IMO part of that $3 billion incurred costs is likely contingency or something, with most of the increase from the original $1.2 billion being due to variation procedures i.e. change orders, non-discretionary/discretionary changes, relief claims post-COVID etc.

Sources:
Table 1: CPG (Rapid Transit) Capital Projects Incurred Costs to June 30, 2025

https://assets.metrolinx.com/image/upload/v1757365661/Documents/Item_14.5_-_Capital_Projects_Rapid_Transit_-_FINAL_ENG_Mx.pdf

Table 1: CPG (Rapid Transit) Capital Projects Incurred Costs to September 30, 2025

https://assets.metrolinx.com/image/upload/v1763754630/Documents/Metrolinx/Item_13.5_-_Capital_Projects_-_Rapid_Transit_-_FINAL_ENG_Mx.pdf

"A sizeable payment will be made by the Province at substantial completion"

https://www.infrastructureontario.ca/contentassets/96f82a0f87c64b68b27d0400547f7993/vfm_finch_west_lrt_2018_en_final-s.pdf

https://globalnews.ca/news/10779971/finch-west-lrt-lawsuit-delays/

Meanwhile...

Frozen switches, stalled light-rail vehicles lead to service issues Tuesday on Line 6 Finch West LRT

It was another rough day for transit riders using the Line 6 Finch West due to several issues along the line on Tuesday.

toronto.citynews.ca

 

[hawc]

This is the equivalent of buying a brand new car and it breaks down the moment you drive it off the lot and is in the shop repeatedly for weeks on end.

What's amazing is no one will get fired over it and it will never get fixed.

 

[Voltz]

This is the equivalent of buying a brand new car and it breaks down the moment you drive it off the lot and is in the shop repeatedly for weeks on end.

What's amazing is no one will get fired over it and it will never get fixed.

If only there is a lemon law clause in the contract

 

[mikey7767]

This is the equivalent of buying a brand new car and it breaks down the moment you drive it off the lot and is in the shop repeatedly for weeks on end.

What's amazing is no one will get fired over it and it will never get fixed.

That's what happens when you have big government. Too big for accountability.

 

[TwoWheelPoli]

That's what happens when you have big government. Too big for accountability.

Incorrect! That's what happens when you have P3's and everyone ends up pointing fingers at each other. That model likely had a key role in transit costs spiraling out of control.

 

[Towered]

Clearly my smooth, 30 minute ride from end to end (twice in one afternoon!) was an anomaly. I'll avoid this line going forward, which thankfully will be easy because I have no reason to be in that part of the city anyway!

 

[TRONto]

If you're insisting that Line 6 Finch West cost only ~$100 million per km to construct, you are wrong.

What I'm stating is that I haven't seen anywhere that clearly states the construction costs aside to the original contract. The other numbers are inferred and could be accurate and obviously much likely to be closer but I can't see anything that one could point to with certainty. As per "If you are capable of sourcing a more accurate note that explicitly does not contain O&M, and is recent and up-to-date with cost escalations, I would be more than happy to adjust." I'm simply saying I haven't seen anything since that clearly states the construction cost numbers. For example, does the cited number include the cost of the maintenance facility? I can't tell.

 

[Voltz]

Clearly my smooth, 30 minute ride from end to end (twice in one afternoon!) was an anomaly. I'll avoid this line going forward, which thankfully will be easy because I have no reason to be in that part of the city anyway!

Buy some lottery tickets.

 

[urbanclient]

What I'm stating is that I haven't seen anywhere that clearly states the construction costs aside to the original contract. The other numbers are inferred and could be accurate and obviously much likely to be closer but I can't see anything that one could point to with certainty. As per "If you are capable of sourcing a more accurate note that explicitly does not contain O&M, and is recent and up-to-date with cost escalations, I would be more than happy to adjust." I'm simply saying I haven't seen anything since that clearly states the construction cost numbers. For example, does the cited number include the cost of the maintenance facility? I can't tell.

Unless someone decides to violate policy and/or their NDA to leak it, the numbers I inferred from in my last post are the closest any layperson is going to get. Here is the $[REDACTED] project agreement for the Finch West LRT from 2018 (frankly useless). Obviously subject to variations i.e. change orders.

https://www.infrastructureontario.ca/48e20f/contentassets/96f82a0f87c64b68b27d0400547f7993/finch-project-agreement-redacted.pdf