Transport minister’s claims are doubted

Re Metrolinx transit plans are on a roll, Letter

July 19 Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca suggests that his government, ministry and its agencies stresses progress over process and praises all of the new transit accomplishments in the GTHA. Were that only true.

The facts are that the projects he cites are either late being completed or started and continually over planned budget.

We see reports every day: from illconceived and politicized mass-transit plans, to subway costs that, for whatever reason, exceed other comparable cities, to boondoggles such as the UPX, to ongoing delays in startups, to highway maintenance that seems intent to provide maximum inconvenience to the motoring public, to endless studies and resultant consultant fees.

Even, the simple rebuild of a GO station cannot be finished on time and on budget. And to think, Maple Leaf Gardens was built in five months.

The result is that taxpayers simply do not believe the government’s spin that the GTHA is getting fair value for money spent. Yet, more is wanted.

We all know that upgrading GTHA transit is a huge and daunting task, one that has been delayed too long by successive governments. But to suggest all is going smoothly suggests an apathy to the real sense of urgency that is needed. No minister, all is not well at Metrolinx. Mike Brown, Burlington