Andy Takagi

Thank you!

Eglinton LRT Crosstown | The Star The latest news on the long-awaited Eglinton Crosstown LRT and ongoing rapid transit issues in Toronto.

Want EVEN MORE Crosstown stories? You can find the rest of my work, and the work of my brilliant colleagues, here: www.thestar.com/news/gta/cro...

The Eglinton Crosstown LRT opens after 15 years of construction Many transit fans braved the cold to be among the first to ride Line 5, which was originally set to open in 2020.

How did opening day go? Some transit enthusiasts braved the -20 degree weather just to get on the first train. Read about the first train ride, 15-years in the making, here:
www.thestar.com/news/gta/the...

From Mike Harris to Doug Ford: Explore 50 years of Eglinton LRT delays, broken relationships, and lawsuits For more than five decades, rapid transit along Eglinton Avenue has been a must-have in any city plan. What took it so long?

Fifteen years of construction is a long time, and the story goes further back than you might think. Here's a beautifully designed timeline from McKenna Hart and me: www.thestar.com/interactives...

Off the rails: The inside story of how the Eglinton Crosstown LRT went from transit dream to cautionary tale Over the past decade and a half, the Crosstown has cast a shadow on a swath of Toronto and is becoming, to many, a symbol of the city’s inability to fulfil its potential.

Want to know how everything went so wrong? Read this tell-all piece from David Rider and me: www.thestar.com/news/gta/off...

After 15 years of construction, the Eglinton Crosstown is finally open!
My life has been consumed by Crosstown coverage over the past few months, (as I assume yours has been, too) so here's a quick recap of my work for the Toronto Star:

Relive the twists and turns in the Eglinton LRT’s 50-year odyssey before Sunday’s launch — if you’re game For more than five decades, rapid transit along Eglinton Avenue has been a must-have in any city plan. What took it so long?

The long-winding saga for the Eglinton Crosstown LRT goes back further than you think...
Check out this super fun and interactive timeline made by McKenna Hart with words from me!

thestar.com/interactives... via
@thestar.com

You’ll be finished by the time the Crosstown opens!

Off the rails: The inside story of how the Eglinton Crosstown LRT went from transit dream to cautionary tale Over the past decade and a half, the Crosstown has cast a shadow on a swath of Toronto and becoming, to many, a symbol of the city’s inability to fulfil its potential.

Here it is: the inside story of how the Eglinton Crosstown LRT went off the rails.
This was the result of months of work, research and sourcing.

www.thestar.com/news/gta/off...

Eglinton Crosstown LRT enters last day of testing Metrolinx CEO Michael Lindsay declined to say whether the long-delayed line would open this year, or provide any timeline for an opening date.

The Eglinton Crosstown has entered its final day of testing, Metrolinx’s CEO announced this morning. Still no opening date or timeline.

www.thestar.com/news/gta/egl...

Eglinton Crosstown LRT testing stopped — source says two trains collided The Eglinton Crosstown LRT had begun its final round of testing on Oct. 7, but two trains collided in the Mount Dennis train yard on Thursday, leading to a pause in the test, according to a source.

BREAKING: Eglinton Crosstown LRT testing stopped — source says two trains collided www.thestar.com/news/gta/egl... via @thestar.com
#onpoli #topoli

Ford government promises to keep Bloor bike lane while restoring lane for traffic Ontario’s transportation minister says a vehicle lane will be restored on the 500-metre stretch of Bloor Street West between Resurrection Road and Clissold Road.

NEW: Ford government promises to keep Bloor bike lane while restoring lane for traffic

thestar.com/news/gta/for... via @thestar.com

#onpoli #TOpoli

Finch West LRT beats Eglinton Crosstown to a major milestone The date for revenue service testing was published in a TTC memo sent to staff that was leaked to social media.

The Finch West LRT will begin a 30-day revenue test on Saturday, beating the Eglinton Crosstown to a major milestone
www.thestar.com/news/gta/fin... via @thestar.com
#TOpoli #ONpoli

TEXT: Toronto Star. Stuck in Toronto's Worst Commute? ILLUSTRATION: Reporter Andy Takagi, looking disheveled, next to a streetcar.

Also, shoutout to the brilliant Susan Kao who drew me for this series (yes, this is how I always look...)

Sticky floors, damp seats, blaring TikToks first thing in the morning: Is this Toronto’s worst commute? The Star is testing Torontonians’ commutes to find the worst in the city. First up: Alisha, a social worker who makers her trip in from Scarborough to downtown every day.

Commuting sucks, but I want to know why and what we can do about it!
In my new series for the Toronto Star, I'm retracing the steps of everyday Torontonians to find the worst commute in the city.
You can check out my first in the series here:
www.thestar.com/news/gta/sti...

Controversial bus lanes on Bathurst and Dufferin could see changes following backlash Proposed bus lanes on Bathurst and Dufferin streets have sparked a debate over how to prioritize road space.

Controversial bus lanes on Bathurst and Dufferin could see changes following backlash www.thestar.com/news/gta/con... via @thestar.com

Eglinton Crosstown LRT documents reveal potential plans for opening, possible delays Confidential documents viewed by the Star show that testing of the Crosstown could extend beyond the expected opening date of September.

🚊 My latest: Star Exclusive
Eglinton Crosstown LRT documents reveal potential plans for opening, possible delays

www.thestar.com/news/gta/egl... via @thestar.com

‘This is the largest award of compensation that I have seen’: Metrolinx ordered to pay tens of millions of dollars more than what it first offered for Ontario Line site The provincial transit agency had initially appraised the property in Corktown at $46 million — instead it was ordered to pay nearly double.

‘This is the largest award of compensation that I have seen’: Metrolinx ordered to pay tens of millions of dollars more than what it first offered for Ontario Line site www.thestar.com/news/gta/thi... via @thestar.com

Ontario Line construction unleashed rats into her home. But Metrolinx has not footed the full bill — and won’t tell her why After Ontario Line work unleashed rats into a retiree’s home, Metrolinx promised to pay for the exterminator. The agency hasn’t said why the payment was $1,000 short.

Ontario Line construction has unleashed a rat problem for some residents living nearby. Metrolinx has promised to pay for exterminators — but many say they’ve been left with the bill. From @andytakagi.bsky.social and me:
www.thestar.com/news/investi...

Metrolinx parts ways with consulting firm that worked on the Eglinton Crosstown and Ottawa LRTs: sources The consulting firm and its owner, Brian Guest, were the subject of scrutiny in 2022 when Guest was awarded a vice-president title at Metrolinx.

From @robertbenzie.bsky.social and me:
Metrolinx parts ways with consulting firm that worked on the Eglinton Crosstown and Ottawa LRTs: sources www.thestar.com/news/gta/met... via @thestar.com

TTC chooses new CEO, nearly a year after Rick Leary’s resignation: sources Mandeep Lali, with experience working for New York and London’s transit agencies, has been picked by the chair of the TTC board to take over as the new head of Toronto’s beleaguered transit agency.

Scoop from me:
TTC chooses new CEO, nearly a year after Rick Leary’s resignation: sources

www.thestar.com/news/gta/ttc... via @thestar.com

The battle for a bus lane: Why rapid transit on this Toronto street is sparking backlash
www.thestar.com/news/gta/the... via @thestar.com

ICYMI: Metrolinx quietly drops Deutsche Bahn, Aecon from multibillion-dollar GO expansion project
thestar.com/news/gta/metro… via @thestar.com

A summer of streetcar chaos is almost upon us. And TTC riders are already frustrated: ‘Is this the best plan?’ Three heavily used downtown streetcars routes are all being funnelled along the same stretch of Queen Street to allow for maintenance and construction.

A summer of streetcar chaos is almost upon us. And TTC riders are already frustrated: 'Is this the best plan?'

www.thestar.com/news/gta/a-s...

Court grants injunction pausing bike lane removals on Bloor, University and Yonge The pause on any bike lane removals will continue until the judge in the Charter challenge case issues his decision.

#Breaking: Court grants injunction pausing bike lane removals on Bloor, University and Yonge

Contractor at centre of Gardiner Expressway lawsuit could face ban on city contracts Montreal-based WSP currently has 88 active contracts with Toronto totaling nearly $175 million, according to the city.

From me and @andytakagi.bsky.social: Company at centre of Gardiner Expressway lawsuit could face ban on city contracts www.thestar.com/news/gta/con...

Metrolinx wanted to pay $14 million to expropriate a Liberty Village property for the Ontario Line. A tribunal ruled they owed millions more thestar.com/real-estate/me… from
VictoriaGibson and me

Doug Ford’s removal of Toronto bike lanes can start in March, court rules CycleTO had sought a temporary injunction to stop the Doug Ford government from ripping up Toronto bike lanes before a Charter challenge that’s scheduled to be heard on April 16.

#Breaking: Doug Ford’s removal of Toronto bike lanes can start in March, court rules

🚨Big news to kick off the year: I’m taking over as the Transportation Reporter for @torontostar.bsky.social covering everything traffic, transit, and train-related.
DM or email me all your tips, complaints, or maybe even some heart-warming stories here or at atakagi@thestar.ca

Superman has deep connections to Toronto. Here’s how the city (and the Star) helped make the Man of Steel Toronto was the birthplace of Superman creator Joe Shuster, whose time working as a newsboy at the Toronto Daily Star inspired the superhero's journalist alter ego Clark Kent.

More interesting, though, is the Superman creator's deep connections to Toronto (and the Toronto Star). Didn't know this! via @andytakagi.bsky.social

www.thestar.com/entertainmen...