Metrolinx looking to ‘build public trust’ after rocky launch for Finch West LRT
Global News
In late December, the Finch West LRT became the first transit system to open in Toronto since 2022, replacing the bus network with high-capacity rail.
The head of Ontario’s transit planning agency says Metrolinx is working to “build public trust” months after the launch of the problem-plagued Finch West LRT that left riders feeling frustrated with the transit system.
In late December, the Finch West LRT became the first transit system to open in Toronto since 2022 — an 18-stop, 10-kilometre surface line that replaced the bus network with high-speed rail.
It didn’t take long, however, for the line to hit trouble. Freezing temperatures wreaked havoc with its switching systems, suspending service and forcing passengers onto shuttle buses.
Data on the Finch West LRT’s performance, shared with Global News by Metrolinx, shows service availability during a one-week period dropped to 88 per cent.
In a sit-down interview with Focus Ontario, Metrolinx CEO Michael Lindsay struck an apologetic tone and said Metrolinx should have tested the track switches “more rigorously” and ultimately failed to properly set expectations for riders about the potential disruptions they were about to face.
“I wouldn’t say it’s acceptable,” Lindsay said of the constant closures caused by frigid temperatures and heavy snowstorms.
“We get that every disrupted commuter and rider has a very personal story of impact of why the system didn’t work. We acknowledge that and I have a deep empathy,” the CEO added.
Lindsay said, looking back, Metrolinx should have worked with the construction consortium on the “maintenance protocols associated with clearing switches” to ensure a smoother process to get service back on track.
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