[ssiguy]

It would be very difficult to get a PPP for any Toronto transit infrastructure. This is not because the ridership isn't there but rather due to Toronto's MUCH higher operating costs than, for example, Vancouver. The thing that makes the Canada Line so attractive to private partners is the fact that the line is automated which saves a fortune on operating costs.

Cities that get the most interest from private incvestors are ussually either in the 3rd World where labour costs are very low or in Western cities where the line will be automated. Even if Toronto decided to make , for example, Eglinton completely grade separated the powerful TTC unions would never allow any automated train operation and would still demand someone making $40/hr be there to make sure the doors close all by themselves.

Vancouver seems to have got PPP to work well on it's mass/rapid transit sue to Translink's desire to have all it's rapid transit corridors grade separated and automated while Toronto will have neither. That doesn't mean it will be impossible to get a PPP partner but reality is that it will be more difficult due to lower returns for the private company and there are too many other cities that want that same infrastructure money that offer better returns on investment.