The long-awaited Eglinton Crosstown LRT has finally opened its doors, bringing a mix of excitement and controversy to Toronto's transit scene.
On a chilly Sunday, Torontonians gathered with enthusiasm to board the inaugural trains of Line 5. Despite the cold, the atmosphere was electric as people braved the weather to be part of this historic moment.
However, controversy has always been a companion to this project. The Eglinton Crosstown LRT, which took a staggering 15 years to construct, faced its first challenge just 30 minutes into its launch. A mechanical issue caused delays at O'Connor Station, a hiccup that highlighted the project's rocky start.
The TTC, aware of the potential for fanfare, had downplayed expectations, stating there would be no merchandise or grand celebrations like the Finch West LRT opening last year. Yet, the new platforms at Kennedy and Mount Dennis stations were packed with eager riders, bundled up against the cold.
Among the first riders was Rockwell Cui, a Toronto resident who had camped outside Mount Dennis the night before. He described the opening as a "big milestone" for the city, symbolizing an end to the transit struggles Torontonians have endured.
"It's a big moment for us to have more lines than just four," Cui said, emphasizing the significance of this expansion.
As the first trains set off, passengers cheered and applauded, with the westbound train even departing a minute early. At each stop, a sense of community and excitement was palpable as people waved and celebrated the train's progress.
But amidst the festivities, there was a watchful eye on the train's performance. Riders monitored the speed and the number of red lights encountered, a subtle reminder of the project's troubled history.
The inaugural journey from Kennedy to Mount Dennis, covering 19 kilometers, took 55 minutes. This is comparable to the time it took to traverse Line 6 when it first opened, despite the shorter distance.
The history of the Eglinton LRT is a story of persistence and delays. The project's roots can be traced back decades, with calls for faster transit along Eglinton Avenue dating back to 1983.
In 1994, construction began on a five-kilometer subway project, only to be halted by a cost-cutting provincial government. The ambitious Transit City plan, introduced in 2007, aimed to create a network of seven LRT lines, but it soon became a political battleground and was ultimately scrapped.
Despite these setbacks, the Eglinton project persisted, with a groundbreaking ceremony held in 2011. However, doubts lingered about whether the project could meet its ambitious completion date.
As of last fall, the project's price tag had ballooned to over $13 billion, a significant increase from the initial estimate of $11.78 billion in 2018.
Transit advocate Steve Munro warns that any challenges with the new line will impact Torontonians reliant on transit. He says while the Eglinton LRT may be beautiful and wonderful, it could also be another black eye for Toronto's transit system if it doesn't live up to expectations.
At the opening ceremony, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and Ontario Premier Doug Ford acknowledged the project's delays and the calls for a public inquiry into its mismanagement. Ford described the construction as challenging but expressed optimism about its impact on commuters, stating Line 5 would be a "game changer."
As the Eglinton Crosstown LRT begins its phased rollout, the question remains: Can it avoid the pitfalls of its predecessor, Line 6? Only time will tell, but for now, Torontonians are embracing this new addition to their transit network with a mix of excitement and cautious optimism.
