Repainting Bathurst priority lanes could cost up to $54,000, emails show
City emails show a contractor estimated up to $54,441 to repair peeling red transit-priority paint on Bathurst Street. The city says a spring reassessment will finalise costs.
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By Torontoer Staff
Replacing peeling red paint on Bathurst Street’s new transit-priority lanes could cost the city as much as $54,441, according to internal emails between staff and the contractor who applied the markings. The paint was added in November to mark priority lanes for buses and streetcars ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
The city had budgeted roughly $550,000 to paint Bathurst from Lakeshore Boulevard West to Dundas Street West, and about $500,000 to paint Dufferin Street from King Street West to Dundas Street West.
What went wrong
Within weeks of application, the red paint on Bathurst began to peel. City staff attributed the early wear to road salt, an early freeze and possible contact with snowploughs. The contractor inspected the damage over the winter and provided preliminary cost estimates in December.
Contractor estimate and options
Two emails from the contractor put forward a range of repair costs. The higher estimate assumes removal of damaged material and a pressurised water blast before reapplying paint. The lower estimate assumes a simpler refresh without blasting.
- Full removal, cleaning and reapplication: estimated at $54,441.72
- Simpler refresh without removal and blasting: estimated around $27,000
In short, our ballpark estimate with reasonable buffer allowance of the damage will be $54,441.72. Of course, the damage is only an estimate and the actual damage may be smaller or greater come inspection time in the spring,
contractor email
The contractor proposed a cost-sharing arrangement, suggesting the city cover 75 per cent of repair costs and the contractor cover the remaining 25 per cent. When asked why the company would not cover the full cost, the contractor declined to answer.
City response and next steps
City officials described the figures in the emails as early estimates and said they will reassess the extent of damage and the budget required once conditions improve in spring. The installation contract includes provisions to address early wear.
The final schedule to repair any damaged pavement markings has not been finalized, but we’re working towards a spring timeline. The installation contract includes provisions to address early wear of pavement markings,
City of Toronto spokesperson
The city added that any required refresh will follow contract terms, with some work falling under the contractor’s responsibilities and any remaining work managed by the city as part of routine maintenance. A separate city statement said, "The extent of repairs needed will need to be reassessed in the spring, following which the cost will be finalized."
Local reaction
Councillor Ausma Malik, whose ward includes the priority lanes, said the RapidTO lanes aim to speed transit on busy corridors. Her office acknowledged issues during rollout, including peeling paint and confusion before signs were installed, and said she would press staff to address community concerns.
What to watch for in spring
- An inspection and final assessment of the pavement markings once weather allows work to begin
- A decision on whether the contractor covers some repairs under contract or the city funds the remainder as maintenance
- Any follow-up schedule for repainting or additional protection measures to prevent future peeling
The red lanes were introduced as part of a broader RapidTO program to prioritise buses and streetcars. How the city handles the repainting will affect both the program’s budget and how quickly the lanes can operate at intended capacity.
City staff say they will finalise the repair plan after spring inspections. Until then, the exact cost and the timeline for any work remain provisional.
Bathurst StreetRapidTOtransitCity of Torontoroads
