A seemingly straightforward station renaming in Toronto has spiraled into a complex web of hidden costs, internal friction, and questionable decision-making, potentially costing City Hall upwards of $400,000 – and possibly much more. The transformation of Dundas station to TMU station, driven by a partnership with Toronto Metropolitan University, was decided swiftly, yet the details surrounding the deal remain shrouded in secrecy.
Freedom-of-information requests revealed hundreds of emails detailing the renaming process, but crucial sections concerning the financial implications and the specifics of the TMU agreement were heavily redacted. This lack of transparency immediately raised concerns within the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), particularly for one key official.
Josh Colle, the TTC’s chief strategy and customer experience officer, expressed visible discomfort with the “very contentious issue” and the escalating price tag. An initial estimate of $400,000 was flagged for map updates alone – a “significant one-time cost” that hadn’t been budgeted for. City officials were warned that this expense needed to be addressed to align with council’s directive of no net budget impact from the station name changes.
Colle’s initial reaction was disbelief – a simple “Oh come on.” But as the scope of the potential costs became clearer, his tone shifted to urgency. He questioned why updates couldn’t be integrated into naturally scheduled replacements, fearing a wasteful expenditure. Internal estimates began to surface, suggesting a total cost ranging from $780,000 to a staggering $2.2 million for renaming both Dundas stations.
While the TTC maintains that TMU is “fully covering” the costs, emails suggest a potential for corners to be cut. One exchange revealed that initial cost breakdowns included only temporary signage, with the more durable, sandblasted tile representing a future – and unquantified – expense. The true financial burden remained elusive.
The internal correspondence paints a picture of a project championed by Mayor Olivia Chow and TTC Chair Jamaal Myers. Colle’s emails subtly hint at the political pressure driving the initiative, noting it was a “priority” for both leaders. He expressed hope that extra time could be used to accurately capture all potential costs before the TTC board’s May meeting.
However, Colle also voiced serious reservations about the process. He discovered a push to rename Dundas, despite it not being aligned with existing board direction. He questioned whether the TTC was bending its own rules to accommodate a request from the mayor’s office and the chair, potentially opening themselves up to criticism.
“Doesn’t your recommendation to rename Dundas contravene your very own new policy?” Colle wrote in a draft email, outlining the potential pitfalls of proceeding without clear board authorization. He worried about reopening a divisive debate and facing uncomfortable questions about the source of this unexpected directive.
The Mayor’s office defends the deal as a compromise that saves taxpayers money compared to previous plans, highlighting the value of TMU’s ongoing research partnership with the TTC. However, the emails reveal a clear tension between adhering to established procedures and fulfilling the wishes of political leadership. The final cost, and the full extent of the TMU partnership, remain largely undisclosed.
City Hall acknowledges the $400,000 preliminary estimate for sign updates but claims costs are being reviewed and potentially reduced through competitive procurement. The responsibility for funding the updates, and further details about the renaming, have been deferred back to the TTC, leaving many questions unanswered and a lingering sense of unease surrounding this ambitious, and costly, transformation.
