In the coming years, how Toronto constructs and manages its transportation network is going to be an absolutely critical component of a successful, vibrant and green city.
Given a scathing report issued last week reviewing the hopefully soon-to-be-completed St. Clair streetcar project, there's ample evidence much remains to be learned. The St. Clair project, due now to be completed in June, is more than double the original estimate and well behind schedule. According to a report from transportation experts Les Kelman and Richard Soberman, open-ended public consultation, poor central oversight and mid-stream changes to the project were all contributing factors to a project that is estimated to be $58 million over budget and has left some hard feelings in the affected community.Looking for an example, how about this? "Construction commenced in the absence of a comprehensive design of what was to be constructed," read one of several jaw-dropping lines. Ouch.While criticism of the handling of the 6.8-kilometre line, running from Yonge Street to Gunns Road, was not solely directed the city's way - the province took its lumps in the report as well - there's no denying a significant degree of responsibility needs to be assumed at the Toronto Transit Commission and city hall.Not only that, but the report is timely given Toronto is on the cusp (or the precipice, depending on whom you talk to) of a significant investment into an ambitious Transit City program, one that has the construction of several light rail lines planned. On a positive note, the report's authors did indicate confidence that a number of the problems experienced with the project are unlikely to resurface with the upcoming projects. The news is encouraging, but let's keep in mind projects like the Sheppard, Finch and Eglinton light rail transit lines are longer, more involved and on a significantly more complicated scale. In the case of the Eglinton line, a significant portion of it is meant to go underground. TTC vice-chair Councillor Joe Mihevc, a strong supporter of the St. Clair line, said the critique was fair, adding the review exercise was a "sign of a mature organization, a healthy ability to critique itself." We'll add that as good as having a "healthy ability to critique itself" is, this is all merely one step. We can hear about lessons, signs and opportunities all we want, but if nothing is done to improve on a poor performance, in possession of a road map of how to avoid the mistakes made on St. Clair, there's a dangerous probability of experiencing similar disappointments in the future.A successful, vibrant and green city deserves better than that.