Metrolinx won't reveal cost to rename Toronto LRT station before it even opens

The public was fuming last year when the Province suddenly shuttered the Ontario Science Centre and announced its future relocation to the Ontario Place redevelopment, and now, more evidence that the attraction ever existed in Flemingdon Park is being erased.

While we will likely never know all the details behind the decision, what we do know is how unnecessary the whole ordeal seems to be, with experts saying the attraction's Flemington Park building was fine to continue operating, contrary to Ford's assertion that it had structural deficiencies. (The allegedly problematic roof, in fact, has withstood rain storms and record snowfall since the closure.)

It will also come at a huge cost to taxpayers: nearly $1.5 billion over 50 years — more than the estimate to maintain the existing facility included in the Province's own business case for the move — on top of the price for things like the rebranding of an entire LRT station before it even opens.

Aptly-named at the time, Science Centre Station on the still-unopened Line 5 Eglinton Crosstown LRT was named for its location at Don Mills Road and Eglinton Ave. E, kitty-corner from where the eponymous institution had sat since 1969.

But, of course, with the former centre now suspiciously shuttered for good, the name doesn't make much sense, aside from perhaps a nod to history. Metrolinx last year started to quietly drop it from promotional materials for the Ontario Line, which will also run through the stop, before confirming this spring that the terminus was getting a new moniker (something that had become obvious).

And now, the final touches have been made to officially deem the stop Don Valley Station, instead.

Residents have started noticing the new livery in recent days, with official TTC signage showing the new station name installed above its entry points in the last week or so.

blogTO reached out to Metrolinx on Tuesday to inquire about the timeline and total price tag for the rebranding project, but was only told that the agency "can confirm the station has been renamed to Don Valley Station" and that "the cost will be covered through the overall [Crosstown] project budget."

Pressing further for the actual figure has yielded no response at the time of publication, though similar initiatives are pegged at $1.5 million (for the potential future renaming of Pioneer Village Station) and $1.7 million (to change the title of Dundas Station). 

Of the new name, though, Metrolinx did say that "a list of names was provided for consideration... ultimately, Don Valley was selected as it reflects the station's proximity to the Don Valley Parkway, Don River and the Don Valley itself."

Some have wondered if the Science Centre move in general was partly to justify the $800 million parking garage that the Province is contractually obligated to build for the Therme megaspa at Ontario Place, especially seeing as one of the three tenants, ÉcoRécréo Group, backed out of the revitalization early on.