Company building Eglinton Crosstown sues Metrolinx over delays, but area merchants call lawsuit 'laughable'

The company that is building the EglintonCrosstown LRTline has filed a lawsuit against Metrolinxto compensate it for delays in the $5.3-billion project, but small business owners in the Eglinton West area who are suffering due to the ongoing construction say the lawsuit is too little, too late.

CrosslinxTransit Solutionswas supposed to complete the project in2020, but it's now scheduled to be operationalin 2021. The line will include up to 25 stations and linkto 54 local bus routes, threeTTCinterchange subway stations and GO Transit.

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Jason McDonald, who operates a barber shop in the area, said business has been down between 60 to 75 per cent since work commenced on the LRT.

It's like I'm getting bankrupt right now. I can't pay my rent, I can't pay my credit card, I can hardly find food.- Debbie Edwards

"I find it laughable. That's laughable," was McDonald's response to the lawsuit, filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

"A lot of businesses have closed down. We are just holding on. It's a situation I would not even wish on my enemies," McDonald told CBC Toronto.

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Debbie Edwards said business hasbeenso bad at her store, Rasta Flex, she has resorted to selling mangoes on the sidewalk.

"Ithas damaged me a lot. I can't make no money, I'm backed in. It's like I'm getting bankrupt right now. I can't pay my rent, I can't pay my credit card, I can hardly find food," Edwards told CBC Toronto.

Construction work is particularly intense along Eglinton between Dufferin Street and Marlee Avenue.

The Crosslinx lawsuit mentions "issues regarding permits, licences and approvals" as well as issues regarding design approval processes, including delaysand disruptions.

Crosslinx, while saying Metrolinx hasn't met its end of the bargain, would not disclose the amount of the lawsuit.

The company says it now needs more time and money to complete theproject.

Metrolinxcommitted to achieving 2021 opening

In a statement emailed to CBClate Thursday,MetrolinxCEO PhilVerstersaid his company is committed to achieving the September 2021 opening date for the EglintonCrosstown.

"As with any contract, claims are considered and reviewed thoroughly and we continue to work with Crosslinx to reach an outcome that fairly addresses the challenges that they have encountered on Eglinton," Verster said.

Verster said Metrolinxhas been working closely with Crosslinxs"over several months on their alleged reasons for a claim."

But as the two companies wrangle, Nick Alampi, chair of the Eglinton Business Improvement Area (BIA), is fearful the lawsuit could mean more delays.

Storeowners feartheir windows and doors will be boarded up soon

He doesn't know how many businesses would survive a further delay.

"We're shockedby it, scared, excited. And thereason why I say we're excited, maybe this might get fire behind them so that they can get to what they need to do and get the project done as quickly as possible and hold each other accountable," Alampi told CBC Toronto.

"We're scared because we are not receiving much information. Could this lead to now more information not being given to us? So that's the big scare for us."

Alampi said businesses are doing everything they can to survive.

"Everybody is changing their business model.They're implementing new services or products to their business" to try to stay afloat, he said.

Road closures this weekend

Meanwhile, as the project continues, all southbound lanes on Allen Road from Lawrence Avenue West to Eglinton Avenue West will be closed fromFridayat 11 p.m.untilMondayat 5 a.m, city officials have announced.

A statement from the city said the closure is to accommodate work by Crosslinx to construct a utility service across the southbound off ramp just north of Eglinton Avenue.

"This work is an integral component of the Metrolinx construction of the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit system's Cedarvale Station," the statement said.

"Enhanced signage will inform drivers of the road closures, and signal-timing changes on parallel roads will help manage traffic in the area. Road users should expect to encounter some delays and increased traffic on nearby roads," the statement continued.