I do hope you get a good answer from Metrolinx, but I'm not optimistic. As I understand it, the contracting strategy that Metrolinx is using gives the contractors a lot of latitiude to set and adjust their own schedule so long as overall targets are met. So any one 'bump' in the schedule may not even be disclosable to Metrolinx. (In fairness, all may be well, we sidewalk superintendent junkies just aren't in the loop!)
A big issue for me is the lack of transparency and public oversight (I mean oversight by the average citizen, not some political panel that is sworn to secrecy) on project management of these big projects, transit or otherwise. It's not constructive for everyone in the city- or the media - to make a big issue about some minor schedule slippage, but it's also not good if some major issue arises and months go by with the issue (and potential accountabilities for cost or schedule or quality) swept under the carpet. We saw that with the Spadina line when work halted for months due to unforeseens with foundations of York University buildings, and we saw it with the Niagara Tunnel project when Big Becky hit unexpected rock conditions. In both cases the progress maps simply showed the tunnelling not advancing, and no comment was made for quite a long time. In my view (as a taxpayer) that's not acceptable.
If I ran the world, some level of the project Gantt chart would be publicly accessible, with cost information (at least on a red/green basis), and major changes to the schedule documented over the project lifetime. I'm sure the GO Executive and Board would say that it's their job to oversee this stuff on our behalf, but they simply have too many publicity staff and too much latitude to answer to politicians 'in camera' to trust the governance.
- Paul
