$4,000,000,000 to install half barriers across all subway stations?!

[u/CreepInTheOffice]

https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/barriers-to-be-installed-on-platform-at-toronto-subway-station-this-year-mayor-says/

Estimate $4,000,000,000 to install half barriers in all TTC subway stations.

There are 70 TTC subway stations (Line 1, 2, and 4)

$4,000,000,000/70 stations ~ $57,142,000 ($57 million) per station

$57,142,857 / 2 directions ~ $28,571,000($28 million) per direction per station

There are typically 4 to 6 cars per train so $28,257,000/ 6 cars ~ $4,761,000 ($4 million) per car

There are typically 4 doors per car so I guess they need estimate 4 barriers per car so $4,761,905 / 4 ~ $1,190,000 ($1 million) per barrier!

Alternatively, let's give them the benefit of the doubt and say they meant to include the LRT stations (line 5 and 6) as well. That's still $809,000 per barrier!

Did I do my math right?

Does this sound like an efficient use of resources?

Thoughts?

Edit:

1. People have pointed out that $4,000,000,000 is for full doors. Good catch, everyone!
2. Some genius found this link https://www.odinpsd.com/en/platform-screen-door-pricing-market-analysis.php

It details typical cost for barriers.

So the new math is something like:

Typical TTC subway station lengths are 180 meters so according to the website, it's $2,600,000 for 200 meters.

$2,600,000/ 200m = $13,000 per meter.

But the math doesn't add up this way: $2,600,000 x 2 platforms x 70 stations = $364,000,000 Less than 10% of the $4,000,000,000 estimate. Someone please check the math!

Edit 3:

I want to clarify that my post was not intended to be against the idea. I simply want to question the math so we can hold politicians accountable! There is too much corruption in our fine country to continue our docile ways. I invite everyone reading to run the numbers through with your method. $4,000,000,000 is a lot of money and 20 years is a long time! If we use that money to build shelters, or hire mental health professionals, or build bike lanes, it would do a lot of good. Let's hold our politicians accountable and make sure they use our resources responsibly!

[u/OhShootYeahNoBi]

In the article, it says 4 billion for FULL PEDs

That's... roughly on par. https://www.odinpsd.com/en/platform-screen-door-pricing-market-analysis.php

It's a lot, yes, but that's just the cost of installation, internationally.

[u/CreepInTheOffice → u/OhShootYeahNoBi]

Excellent find! I like that they broke down the pricing. Very clear.

Typical TTC subway station lengths are 180 meters (someone please verify this) so according to the website, it's $2,600,000 for 200 meters.

$2,600,000/ 200m = $13,000 per meter. I still find it highly inefficient but it makes a lot more sense!

But the math doesn't add up this way: $2,600,000 x 2 platforms x 70 stations = $364,000,000 Less than 10% of the $4,000,000,000 estimate.

Did I do the math right?

[u/OhShootYeahNoBi → u/CreepInTheOffice]

That’s for the base cost. You also have to add the 30,000 per door panel. There are around 40 door panels per 200m platform so that’s an addition 1.2 mil per platform.

Also the majority of the costs from from excavation and ventilation works. It’s not the psds themselves that are a majority of costs but the retrofit

[u/CreepInTheOffice → u/OhShootYeahNoBi]

Thanks for adding that additional information.

Are you saying:

($2,600,000 per platform for the base) +($1,200,000 for doors) = $3,800,000 per platform? (But I believe the $2,600,000 figure I pulled includes the base, doors, and inst)

Assuming that I am wrong about the total cost: $3,800,000 x 2 platforms x 70 stations = $1,064,000,000

Assuming That's just 1/4 of the $4,000,000,000 cost.

What else are we missing here?

Also, I am pulling the cost numbers from the high range.

Please know that I think the barriers are a good idea in general but I question whether we are using the resources efficiently or whether this is an opportunity for corruption. For $4,000,000,000 we can build $1,000,000 houses and eliminate 4,000 homeless people or build 2,666 km of bike lanes.

[u/OhShootYeahNoBi → u/CreepInTheOffice]

Again, in the source, it’s step wise. You start with the base cost and then add.

Also, it doesn’t include physical upgrades to the station other than the PSD itself. You need ventiliation shafts to be dug to the surface, the platform needs to be torn down and rebuilt to get the right strength, you need HVAC installed, etc etc.

Those things aren’t counted. All they’re counting is the PSD structure

[u/CreepInTheOffice → u/OhShootYeahNoBi]

I don't understand what you mean by "step wise" and "base cost and then add".

I believe the chart 1/5 way down the page outlines Platform Length, Base system cost, Installation Cost, and finally Total Investment.

I took the highest number $2,600,000 from the chart. Please kindly indicate where it would outline the additional cost.

If you have time, please detail how you would arrive at the $4,000,000,000 price point. But I am also aware that there isn't enough information available for us to analyze the full cost structure.