‘This is the kind of project that threatens companies.’ An exclusive first look inside the Eglinton LRT as Crosslinx breaks silence on what’s gone wrong

A voice warns to stand clear of the yellow line as a screen lights up notifying riders that the next eastbound Eglinton Crosstown LRT train will be arriving in four minutes.

No, this isn't a message from the future. This was the scene Friday morning at the Oakwood LRT Station where the updating train information screens, modern signage and shiny glass staircase would be enough to convince a skeptic that they were inside a station on a functioning transit line. The smooth glide of the train itself, dressed in bright blue seats and yellow poles as it plunged underground into the grey tunnel, would make them none the wiser.

Three days after the consortium building the LRT sued the provincial agencies in charge, accusing them of taking an irresponsibly hands-off approach" to the fraught transit project, that same consortium gave the Star an exclusive interview and tour of the light rail transit line.

It's been under construction since 2011 and still has no opening date. Until now, journalists and the public have had little insight into where the line's construction stands, or what is holding things up.

Despite the slick appearance of some of the LRT's stations and tracks - the Star rode about a quarter of the line, toured several major stations and drove along the at-grade portions - work still needs to be done. Notably, construction continues at the line's flagship Yonge-Eglinton Station, several stations are being repaired for leaking and water damage, and an 800-metre stretch of track needs to be fixed because it's currently too narrow. Time-consuming and extensive testing and commissioning work - in the words of the project director, making sure each device is working and that they speak to each other" - also needs to be done before the line can open for business.

But the biggest threat to the $12.8-billion transit line is the sour relationship between the construction consortium building it, Crosslinx Transit Solutions, and the provincial agencies overseeing it, Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario.

We're not getting along. We're in a broken relationship. It has a big impact," said Geoff Smith, president and CEO of EllisDon, one of the four companies that makes up Crosslinx, calling the LRT the most strife-ridden project" he's worked on in his entire life.

Smith said he was motivated to speak to the Star - which is against the project agreement - because the public needs to hear a balancing voice."

We really do get how frustrated everybody is with this thing ... we're fairly frustrated ourselves."

In a notice of application filed Tuesday, Crosslinx asked the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to let it stop work on the LRT until Metrolinx signs a formal agreement with the line's named operator, the TTC. According to Crosslinx, the TTC has dictated terms outside of Crosslinx's contract, asking Crosslinx to change its plans, designs and sequence of activities," without additional compensation from the province.

Metrolinx has called the lawsuit an unacceptable delay tactic" and promised to fight it. A TTC spokesperson declined to comment for this story, and previously said discussions to finalize (operating) agreements are ongoing" with Metrolinx.

Crosslinx's claims have not yet been proven in court.

This lawsuit is the latest challenge for the LRT, which has for years been beset by drama and delays, causing significant disruption to businesses, residents and commuters on Eglinton Avenue East.

On Tuesday, Metrolinx confirmed the LRT, initially set to open in 2021, would not open this year, but did not say when transit riders could expect to board trains.

Smith was also wary of offering up a timeline, but said Crosslinx aims to have its work done this year. However, he noted, that precludes any final work or testing that Metrolinx wishes to do. Metrolinx has the final say on when the line will open, he said.

Metrolinx spokesperson Andrea Ernesaks said the transit agency will not open the LRT until it is fully operational and safe for transit workers and riders.

All trains must be able to operate at full speed without derailing, and all parts of the line must meet all fire safety regulations," she said. As things stand, there are no stations with standing occupancy agreements rendering them functionally inoperable."

Crosslinx said 13 out of 15 stations are at pre-revenue service occupancy, which is appropriate for a project at this stage."

Spending time on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, it's obvious what the public is missing each time its opening is delayed. The trains feel like a sleeker, steadier, more hi-tech version of Toronto's streetcars - but without the traffic. Whizzing along the street-level portion of the line, past Mount Dennis Station, sun streaming in through the windows, is a transit experience unlike anything else in Toronto.

The stations are big, bright and easy to navigate. At Kennedy Station, there's a big skylight with a mural of fallen leaves that dot the walls with bright specks. Even beyond the orange pylons, exposed cement and piled pieces of cardboard at Eglinton Station, it's possible to envision what a commute might look like when walking through a doorway that connects to Line 1, full of morning travellers. Soon this will be a much larger entrance, joining the LRT with Toronto's busiest subway line.

The tunnels in the underground portions are lighter and smoother than what Toronto commuters are used to - and so far without rats, at least as far as this reporter could see.

The front cab of the LRT, where the operator sits, looks more like a spaceship than a transit vehicle.

It's hard not to think about how completely transformative the LRT will be when it's open. If only we knew when that would be.

Metrolinx has put any issues with the LRT firmly at the feet of Crosslinx. In September, when announcing the latest delay, Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster said in a statement that Crosslinx have fallen behind schedule."

But Smith said the provincial agency shares some of the blame. In his view, Metrolinx's rigid, contractual" response to the many difficulties the LRT has faced - including those arising from issues outside of everyone's control, such as the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and high inflation - has hurt the project.

Everybody underestimated the complexity of this job. We did, and we've paid," Smith said.

This is the kind of project that threatens companies. It's been a really rough experience. But the government misunderstood the complexity, too," he added. Had Metrolinx taken a more collaborative approach, we wouldn't be where we are now, he said.

Ernesaks said Metrolinx has consistently offered to sit down with (Crosslinx) to work through their scheduling and productivity issues," noting any litigation related to the LRT has come from Crosslinx.

With little public information released, rumours have swirled about what problems could be derailing such a massive infrastructure project. By all appearances, construction is mostly finished and the outstanding work, while significant, can be completed in the coming months, according to Crosslinx.

In April, Verster said there were 260 non-conformances - quality issues - that must be rectified," mostly with the quality of the track work. Smith said there is nothing untoward" about the deficiencies remaining, which can be resolved at the same time as testing and commissioning, so as not to push the timeline back any further.

The quality of the work that has been done over the last few years is terrific," he said.

This is going to be a world-class transit system."

There is still work to be done at Eglinton Station, which has been the most challenging aspect of the LRT's construction.

That's been the sort of station that's coming behind the other stations, largely because of its complexity, but also largely as a result of some of the interface issues we've had at that particular location with (TTC) Line 1," said Bill Gifford, the president and project director for Crosslinx on the construction side.

The stop has been built beneath the existing Eglinton subway, and while building it Crosslinx uncovered defects with the old TTC infrastructure that needed to be repaired, causing delays. Standing on the LRT platform there, Line 1 rumbles above.

The bulk of the station work at Eglinton will be done in the next two to three months, Gifford said, while the road restoration work outside on Eglinton Avenue East should be wrapped up by November.

Crosslinx is also currently working to correct that roughly 800-metre stretch of track that is off by up to three millimetres, and should be done in several weeks, Gifford said.

Another outstanding problem is water damage affecting Cedarvale, Eglinton and Kennedy Stations, caused by a fault in the joining of two different water sealants. Upstairs at Cedarvale, floor tiles have been removed to reveal cracked concrete and sandy dust, which Crosslinx says is due to water leaks. Across the room, a red sign reads, Danger due to wet floor." Gifford said Crosslinx has a number of solutions for the leaking, depending on the situation, such as injecting resin into the concrete to seal the area.

Both Gifford and Smith were confident about Crosslinx's ability to get the remaining work done.

What's less certain is how, or when, the issues between Crosslinx and Metrolinx will be resolved. Metrolinx has repeatedly said Crosslinx lacks a credible plan" for completing the project - which Smith said Crosslinx can't create until it has clarity over which TTC demands it's expected to adhere to, and crucially, how it will pay for the work required to meet them. For example, Gifford said, the TTC would like to see a higher connectivity between the Crosstown's vehicles and the TTC's radio network.

Ernesaks said Crosslinx is only expected to carry out work as per the project agreement."

This is the third time Crosslinx has sued Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario.

In 2018, Crosslinx sued for breach of contract, asking for damages and an extension, and was paid $237 million.

In 2020, Crosslinx sued Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario again, alleging COVID constituted an emergency and it was owed financial compensation and a later completion date. In 2021, an Ontario Superior Court Justice ruled in Crosslinx's favour, and the province had to pay Crosslinx $325 million more.

Smith would not say how much money Crosslinx is looking for this time. However, he said Crosslinx is also asking Metrolinx to release $300 million it is withholding from the project fund.

Metrolinx is complying with the payment scheme as set out in the contract," Ernesaks said. Further substantial payments aren't owed until the line is independently certified as ready for use, exactly as set out in the contract."

Ultimately Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario teams continue to work closely with (Crosslinx) in a constructive and engaged manner," she added.

Together, we have the same ultimate objective, namely to complete the Eglinton Crosstown LRT to operate safely and reliably for our Toronto communities."

Lex Harvey is a Toronto-based transportation reporter for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @lexharvs