Toronto Leslie Barns | ?m | ?s | TTC | SAI

Mr_Praline said:
Definitely shouldn't all be considered an "overrun". The City is trying (trying!) to coordinate infrastructure rehab / replacement to all happen simultaneously wherever possible - so this particular one aligned with goals of sewer / WM replacement as well as other works. With luck, it will be followed by a construction moratorium on Leslie of at least 5 years.
Click to expand...
I do definitely applaud the city for doing more of these things at once. Far better than digging up the street, putting it back, and then digging it up again a year later. It does increase the complexity of projects though, which means more time and more coordination is necessary. I wonder if that might have played some role in the Billy Bishop tunnel delays.
 
TTC Press Release
__________________________________________

Leslie St. to reopen as TTC streetcar facility nears completion

August 7, 2014

The TTC is pleased to announce that Leslie St. between Queen and Commissioners Sts. is scheduled to re-open to all traffic tomorrow, Aug. 8.

Since last May, Leslie St. has been closed between Queen St. and Eastern Ave. Tomorrow, the entirety of Leslie St. will re-open to motorists with some lane restrictions still in place. Lane closures will shift as work continues on curb lanes, as well as on the installation of the overhead power supply for streetcars. That work will be finished this fall.

Since September 2013, major watermain replacement work and other utility relocation work has closed potions of Leslie St. as part of the overall Leslie Barns project and streetcar track connection required to Queen St. When open later this year, the state-of-the-art Leslie Barns will be home to the TTC's new low-floor streetcars.

All landscaping in the area will be finished next spring and includes the planting of trees and shrubs. Streetscaping enhancements are already taking shape in the area, including customized street lights and new sidewalks. Along Queen St. in Leslieville at the corners of Rushbrooke, Curzon, Leslie and Hastings Sts., tree plantings and streetscaping upgrades are also taking shape, all part of the TTC's commitment to help beautify the community as part of the Leslie Barns project.

The TTC wants to thank local residents, businesses, motorists and customers for their considerable patience during this disruptive time.
 
This on TTC site - I knew the Barns had a green roof, not that it is Toronto's largest.

LB_Aerial-Sept-2015-.jpg

Image courtesy of Fred Sandoval.

The new Leslie Barns facility seen from above. The building’s green roof is the largest in Toronto and is irrigated from the storm water management pond on site. Recent streetcar runs to the Barns have been successful, and testing will continue over the coming weeks.
 
Admiral Beez said:
Likely surpassed by a factor of 2. How over budget was the St. Clair ROW?
Click to expand...
I don't think St. Clair was much over TTC budget at all, if any. The post-mortem report was quite clear that the TTC work wasn't the issue. It was the city portion, where there was huge scope creep in terms of other beautification stuff and Hydro work.
 
nfitz said:
The post-mortem report was quite clear that the TTC work wasn't the issue. It was the city portion, where there was huge scope creep in terms of other beautification stuff and Hydro work.
Click to expand...
That's starting to sound awfully familiar. Perhaps the TTC should get that on postcards to hand out when overruns are challenged.
 
Admiral Beez said:
That's starting to sound awfully familiar. Perhaps the TTC should get that on postcards to hand out when overruns are challenged.
Click to expand...

That's not a bad idea. After all, it's quite common for the city to upgrade other parts of the road when the TTC has to dig up its streetcar tracks. The city might upgrade sewers, water mains, improve sidewalks and curbs, reconfigure traffic islands and lane configurations, upgrade the streetscape or bury hydro wires.

None of that work has anything to do with keeping the streetcars running smoothly. If there are delays or cost overruns, people are going to blame the TTC. The track replacement is often the part of the project that's easiest to identify and the reason cited for road closures.
 
junctionist said:
That's not a bad idea. After all, it's quite common for the city to upgrade other parts of the road when the TTC has to dig up its streetcar tracks. The city might upgrade sewers, water mains, improve sidewalks and curbs, reconfigure traffic islands and lane configurations, upgrade the streetscape or bury hydro wires.
Click to expand...
Its all one city, one taxpayer, and the city's budget for the project should include everything that's being done, from tracks, hydro, sewers, landscaping, etc. Then we can truly hold the city to account when they blow the budget on overruns and delays. Otherwise this just a shell game, where the TTC gets a free pass everything claiming that other depts. and projects of the city caused the extra time and expense.
 
Admiral Beez said:
Its all one city, one taxpayer, and the city's budget for the project should include everything that's being done, from tracks, hydro, sewers, landscaping, etc. Then we can truly hold the city to account when they blow the budget on overruns and delays. Otherwise this just a shell game, where the TTC gets a free pass everything claiming that other depts. and projects of the city caused the extra time and expense.
Click to expand...

How is it an extra expense when it is work that would have to be done regardless? We're saving money by doing it all at once.
 
You must log in or register to post here.

Back
Top