Less than a week after the TTC announced its upcoming and controversial fare hike, the commission is now figuring out how to recoup the tens of thousands of dollars spent dealing with the subway shutdown fiasco on Yonge Street.
The TTC lays the blame for Wednesday’s train stoppage at the feet of Enbridge after one of its sub-contractors sliced into a subway tunnel near St. Clair station, forcing the commission to halt service between Eglinton and Bloor stations through the afternoon and evening rush.
About 300,000 riders were stranded, with some forced to wait hours to board a shuttle bus.
The overtime pay bill for TTC staff and police is expected to be about $100,000.
TTC Chair Adam Giambrone offered an apology to the thousands of angry riders Wednesday night, but also added an investigation would go ahead to find out exactly who should cover the cost of the six-hour delay.
On Tuesday, the commission announced it had approved a fare hike, which would see riders paying an extra 25 cents on a cash fare -- a fact that only added to riders’ frustration Wednesday.
The contractors from Link-Line were relocating a gas pipe and as they were using a road saw, sliced through Jackes Avenue and into the subway tunnel.
All of the companies involved are co-operating with the investigation being conducted by the Ministry of Labour, according to a published report.