Hub Podcasts Why does Canada have the highest transit building costs in the world?
Jul 30, 2025
Reece Martin, an independent transit consultant, brings insightful expertise on Canada's transit challenges. He discusses the prolonged delays of the Eglinton Crosstown light rail and the staggering costs, revealing a $15 billion taxpayer burden. Delving into the opaque pricing of projects, he advocates for improved transparency and efficient practices. The conversation also highlights Canada's urgent housing crisis and the misperceptions around short-term rentals, all while calling for a reassessment of transit spending to enhance efficiency and environmental benefits.
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Reasons for LRT Delay
- The Eglinton Crosstown LRT delay is due to scheduling inefficiencies and unexpected construction issues.
- Lack of urgency and pressure prolonged the project timeline substantially.
Transit Cost Bundling Issues
- Ontario transit project costs include 30 years of operations and maintenance, inflating upfront cost perceptions.
- Bundling costs reduces transparency and complicates project cost comparisons internationally.
Lack of Cost Transparency
- There is little public, line-by-line cost transparency in Canadian transit projects.
- Transparency exists in countries with lower costs, highlighting Canadian oversight deficiencies.