While Mayor John Tory’s office and city staff have concerns about “preliminary” cost estimates to run SmartTrack trains west of Mt. Dennis, there is growing doubt among councillors that plan is viable at all.

Tory continued to deny on Wednesday any knowledge of costs for the Eglinton stretch of his signature transit plan — what was originally pitched during the campaign to connect to the airport employment hub in Mississauga. But his staff have seen those numbers.

“I’m not aware and have not seen any reports that indicate the western spur will cost $5 billion or $2 billion or $1 billion, so I’m just not in a position to comment,” Tory told reporters.

He was responding to a Globe and Mail newspaper report that a city consultant has projected the track would cost between $3 billion and $5 billion, not including the cost of trains.

Tory was elected largely on a promise to deliver a 22-stop heavy rail line — that relies mostly on existing GO routes but also includes a key segment along Eglinton Ave. — in seven years for a total $8 billion.

Spokesperson Amanda Galbraith clarified later in the day that the mayor’s staff had been briefed by city staff on the report by consultants HDR, but she maintained the mayor was not advised of the numbers, saying they don’t bring “interim” reports to his attention.

Last month, city staff released a summary of the report on the so-called western spur without including the submitted cost estimates.

City manager Peter Wallace told the Star that both city staff and the mayor’s office had concerns about publishing the numbers provided by HDR.

“The reason cost estimates were not included . . . is because the staff considered them to be preliminary, so there’s just not enough time to get that information ready before the report deadline,” Wallace said.

Staff continue to work with HDR, he said, adding cost estimates will be released when they are “reasonably solid” — likely in early 2016.

“This is not only the mayor’s office saying, no it’s not ready to go out,” Wallace said. “There’s nothing nefarious. Staff aren’t suppressing information at the interest of the mayor’s office.”

A spokesperson for HDR referred questions to the city.

At city hall, Tory continues to face opposition to the western spur, which he maintains is necessary to connect residents to jobs in Mississauga.

“We might as well tunnel the Gardiner,” said Councillor John Campbell.

The Eglinton spur would run through Campbell’s Etobicoke ward from Scarlett Rd. to Kipling Ave., where Campbell says he’s trying to protect green space.

“People do not want to see an LRT. If you’re going to put a subway or rail, it’s far better for the neighbourhood if it's buried. But is it feasible to bury it?” he said.

He thinks a busway might be more appropriate to cut congestion. But the population density doesn’t justify laying tracks, said Campbell.

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“Why would people take (SmartTrack) to Martin Grove and Eglinton? Where will they go from there? There’s got to be an incentive for people to get on transit and I don’t think the destination evidence shows that people will ride it out there. If it connects to the Mississauga Corporate Centre I still don’t think that’s going to be a destination for people to ride it from east to west in the morning,” he said.

Councillor Joe Mihevc said he takes the mayor at his word.

“He’s said in public debates he’s going to follow the evidence and I think the evidence is pointing in the direction that it should be light rail, just continue Eglinton. The only thing you get by going heavy rail and undergrounding is a few less stops and no need for an interchange if you’re coming from the downtown,” said Mihevc, who like Campbell, sits on the TTC board.

“The buzz among transit advocates is that should be light rail. It shouldn’t be heavy rail. That’s silliness,” said Mihevc

The cost of continuing the Eglinton Crosstown west of Mount Dennis would be very reasonable, he said.

Councillor Gord Perks, who has been one of the most vocal opponents of the mayor’s goals, said Tory risks being out on a limb when the SmartTrack debate returns to council next year.

“One piece at a time we’re going to find out that the mayor can’t meet any of his SmartTrack commitments. This is just the first piece of proof,” Perks said about the reported cost of the western spur. “He’s going have to either come to his senses about SmartTrack or be out there all alone peddling fantasy.”

Meanwhile, Metrolinx said it is still studying an extension of the Crosstown — what is expected to take two years and has yet to produce any cost estimates.

An environmental assessment for the Crosstown had an approved route along Eglinton to Commerce Dr., across Highway 401 to Convair Dr. and north on Silver Dart Dr. in Mississauga, west of Highway 427, north of Highway 401.

Originally Metrolinx approved a first phase of the line to Jane St. But in 2010, following the global economic crisis, the provincial government delayed some Toronto LRT plans.

With files from Betsy Powell and David Rider

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