TABE Webinar: Rethinking Transit Projects: Addressing Budget Overruns and Delays
Overbudget and delayed transit projects have become a significant concern in Canada, forcing a rethink of what has gone wrong. Consider the following examples:
- Toronto’s Eglinton Crosstown LRT line: Approved in 2011 and originally slated for completion by 2020, this project is still under construction five years later and over budget by hundreds of millions of dollars.
- Ottawa’s Light Rapid Transit (LRT) service, the O-Train: This project has been plagued with issues, including a derailment in 2021, and has faced significant delays.
- Edmonton’s LRT connecting to the southeast area of the city: Initially approved in 2009, this project has faced structural issues and has been delayed indefinitely.
- Montreal’s REM (Réseau express métropolitain): This project has faced multiple delays and budget overruns, with the initial cost estimate of $6.3 billion now expected to exceed $7.5 billion.
This webinar will delve into the root causes of these issues and explore potential solutions to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of transit project delivery including:
- Common causes of budget overruns and delays in transit projects.
- Case studies of notable transit projects that faced these challenges but also projects that were on time and on budget.
- Strategies for better project management and risk mitigation.
This webinar is being organized and moderated by Natasha Apollonova, a member of TABE’s Board of Directors.
Matti Siemiatycki is a Professor of Geography and Planning and the Director of the Infrastructure Institute at the University of Toronto. His work focuses on delivering large-scale infrastructure projects, evidence-based infrastructure investment decisions, and the effective integration of infrastructure into the fabric of cities. His recent studies explore transit policy decisions, the value for money of public-private partnerships, and the development of innovative mixed-use buildings as a form of place-based infrastructure policy. Matti consults widely on infrastructure policy and is a frequent media commentator on infrastructure and city planning.
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Online (Microsoft Teams) Feb 18, 2025 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm ESTEvent Registration
Public Attendee List
- Almos Tassonyi
- Morteza Nazari
- Alex Kraas
- Andrew Wong
- Andrew Trachsell
- Charles DeLand
- Andrew Dang
- Kari Norman
- Govindadeva Bernier
- Heting Yu
- Jim Whitestone
- Claustre Bajona
- Clifford Halliwell
- Lucas Bernicky
- Max Care
- Stella Lui