Scrapping Transit City could cost Toronto $65-million

TORONTO, Ont. - Reports suggest getting rid of Transit City could reportedly cost Mayor Rob Ford's budget around $65 million.

The city has not received an invoice yet, which is why TTC general manager Gary Webster and budget chief Mike Del Grande have not accounted for that cost in the 2012 budget.

At some point, that amount will have to be figured into the city's budget -- but not likely until 2013.

Although opponents of the mayor are asking why the $65-million was not included in current budget talks.

"The TTC and the city manager have said that they don't believe that it should be part of the 2012 budget. There are some councillors at budget committee who suggested that it should be," Councillor Josh Matlow said.

The bill, when it does arrive, will be issued by the provincial agency, Metrolinx.

The agency told the Globe and Mail that it is still working on the final figure with light-rail suppliers who lost the order when Transit City was cancelled, adding that it's important to be as accurate as possible before issuing an invoice to the City of Toronto.

However, Matlow said "it's not been decided by council yet that Transit City is indeed dead."

"Even in the memorandum of understanding between the province and the mayor, the Sheppard line will have to be debated and voted on at both the Ontario legislature and Toronto city council, so it's not been determined what the plan will be for rapid transit for Toronto in the coming years," he added.