The TTC has confirmed that the $2.6 billion Spadina subway extension to Vaughan will open about a year later than originally scheduled.

It will be at least fall 2016 before service begins on the 8.6-kilometre stretch between Downsview Station and the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre.

The delay is being blamed in part on time lost after a crane operator employed by one of the construction contractors was killed last Oct. 11.That job site was closed until February this year.

The Ontario Ministry of Labour has laid four charges against OHL-FCC GP Canada Inc. in connection with the death of Kyle Knox, 24.

Utility relocation has also been more complex than anticipated and “was further compounded by slow response by non-municipal controlled utilities,” according to a report before the Toronto Transit Commission on Wednesday.

But some of the contractors and sub-contractors responsible for tunneling were also slow to get off the mark, says the report.

Although the TTC is the project manager, two Spanish firms, Obrascon Huarte Lain and Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas, hold the subway construction contracts and are responsible for the safety of those sites.

“We had two issues, really. One was a particular contractor getting going quickly and efficiently. That seems to have worked itself out now. They have been performing very, very well lately, really have stepped it up. So that’s a very positive development in this entire project,” said TTC spokesman Brad Ross.

The TTC has said that the original 2015 opening would be tight. But this summer, transit officials warned they might not be able to recover time lost to the job-site fatality investigation.

The subway was never expected to open in time for the 2015 Pan American Games.

But the delay is almost certain to provoke those who say the TTC should get out of the construction business.

While the TTC is responsible for these projects, events occur that are outside the TTC’s control, Ross said. “That’s not to make excuses. That is a fact,” he said.

The TTC’s portion of the St. Clair streetcar right-of-way — frequently referred to as a boondoggle — was on time and on budget, Ross said. But lawsuits, water main replacements and utilities issues imposed on the project by those outside the TTC added to the cost and timelines.

The Sheppard subway also came in on-time and on-budget, he said.

“Overall, the TTC, despite what some critics would suggest, does have a very good project management record,” Ross said.

Both Metrolinx and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation refused to comment on the delay.

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