TTCriders March 2022 Book Club: Subway-building costs (Week 2)
Join TTCriders as we read "Station to Station: Why Subway-building Costs Have Soared in the Toronto Region," by Stephen Wickens, transit researcher and journalist with a four-decade career at four Toronto-based daily newspapers. NOTE: Stephen Wickens will be joining our 1st discussion session only on March 21.
Each week will start with a brief recap followed by questions and discussion. You should come even if you haven't completed the reading! The TTCriders book club is a friendly place to learn more about transit and from each other so we can better organize for public transit improvements.
Link to report PDF: https://rccao.com/research/files/RCCAO-STATION-TO-STATION-REPORT-APRIL2020.pdf
Week 2 (Monday, March 28 at 7pm) reading:
Read Section 15: "WHAT ELSE IS DRIVING THE COST SPIRAL?" (pages 56-71) of "Station to Station: Why Subway-building Costs Have Soared in the Toronto Region," by Stephen Wickens.
Suggested supplemental articles:
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CBC News, 2022-03-18: "Montreal Metro's Blue line extension finally a go, but province says it's behind schedule," https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/blue-line-metro-stm-government-funding-1.6389902
- Christopher Reynolds, Canadian Press, 2022-03-03: "SNC-Lavalin at a net loss after pandemic stalls major projects," https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/snc-lavalin-at-a-net-loss-after-pandemic-stalls-major-projects-1.1731987
- Ben Spurr, Toronto Star, 2022-01-27: "Top consultant gives up role at Metrolinx amid scrutiny over potential conflict of interest," https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2022/01/27/top-consultant-gives-up-role-at-metrolinx-amid-scrutiny-over-potential-conflict-of-interest.html
- Ben Spurr, Toronto Star, 2021-12-07: "Metrolinx extends Presto supplier’s contract for three years at more than $400 million without bidding process: source," https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/12/17/metrolinx-extends-presto-suppliers-contract-for-three-years-at-more-than-400-million-without-bidding-process-source.html
- Ben Spurr, Toronto Star, 2022-03-03: "Province does about-face, commits to hiring targets for under-represented groups on new transit projects, following Star reporting," https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2022/03/03/province-does-about-face-keeps-hiring-targets-for-under-represented-groups-on-new-transit-projects-following-star-reporting.html.
- Brenda Thompson (founder of Scarborough Transit Action), 2015: "Rapid Transit Rip-Off," https://socialistproject.ca/2015/01/b1073/