Overview

Ontario is delivering on its plan for rapid, more reliable and seamless transit that people in the Greater Golden Horseshoe Region deserve.

The Greater Golden Horseshoe is one of North America’s fastest growing regions. It is projected to grow from 10 million to 14.9 million, adding nearly 50 per cent more people by 2051.

We’ve committed to delivering five new priority rapid transit projects that will:

  • deliver subway and light rail transit (LRT) connectivity to new neighbourhoods
  • reduce gridlock and emissions
  • generate significant local, regional, provincial and national economic benefits

About the four new Greater Toronto Area (GTA) subway projects

Map of new Greater Toronto Area subway projects

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Ontario Line

The Ontario Line will bring subway connectivity to currently underserved neighbourhoods such as Liberty Village and Flemingdon Park. It will reduce overcrowding on the TTC’s Line 1 and at Bloor-Yonge Station by up to 15 per cent.

Runs from: Exhibition Station to the Ontario Science Centre
Length: 15.6 km
Stations: 15
Projected daily ridership: 388,000 boardings

About the project

The Ontario Line is a 15.6 kilometre subway line running from Toronto’s waterfront at Exhibition/Ontario Place, through downtown and eastern Toronto, running northward to the Ontario Science Centre. Current plans for the line include 15 stations, including over 40 connections to GO services, existing subway stations, LRT lines, buses and streetcar lines.

Features

The current scope of work includes:

  • 15.6 kilometres of rapid transit between Exhibition/Ontario Place and the Ontario Science Centre
  • a combination of dedicated tracks on existing surface rail corridors, underground, and elevated structures with 15 stations
  • a maintenance and storage facility for the subway vehicles
  • transit connections to GO services (Lakeshore East and West, Stouffville), existing subway stations, the future Eglinton Crosstown LRT, and the King, Queen, Bathurst, Spadina, Harbourfront and Gerrard streetcar lines

Project benefits

  • Improves access to transit by putting over 255,000 people within walking distance to rapid transit.
  • Improves quality of life for commuters by reducing daily travel time by up to 40 minutes.
  • Reduces crowding by up to 15 per cent on the busiest stretch along the TTC’s Line 1 (Yonge-University) subway.
  • Makes 47,000 more jobs accessible by transit (in 45 minutes or less) for Toronto residents.
  • Economic and community growth along the future transit line and job creation opportunities.
  • Reduction in traffic gridlock, greenhouse gases and fuel consumption by providing an affordable and convenient alternative to driving.

Yonge North Subway Extension

The Yonge North Subway Extension will bring the TTC’s Yonge-University Line (Line 1) north from Finch Station to major employment centres in York Region, such as Vaughan, Markham and Richmond Hill.

Runs from: Finch Station to Richmond Hill Centre
Length: Approximately 8 kilometres
Stations: 5

About the project

The Yonge North Subway Extension is an approximately 8-kilometre extension of the TTC’s Yonge-University Line (Line 1) from Finch Station to Richmond Hill.

The project includes four new stations, including a newly proposed transit hub at Highway 7 and Highway 407 (‘Bridge Station’) that will conveniently connect to as many as five future and existing regional transit lines, as well as local bus services.

The Steeles Station transit hub will connect with local bus routes that serve Toronto and York Region, as well as a future TTC rapid transit line proposed to connect communities along Steeles Avenue.

Features

The scope of work includes:

  • an approximately 8-kilometre subway extension, north from Finch Station to Richmond Hill
  • train storage facility
  • bus terminals
  • transit connections to Viva BRT and GO service, and TTC and YRT bus network

Project benefits

  • reduces daily travel times for commuters by up to 22 minutes.
  • opens up new travel options in York Region through a new transit hub at Bridge Station that will bring together as many as five local and regional transit services
  • improves access to transit for area residents where 26,000 more people will be within a 10-minute walk to a station
  • economic and community growth along the future transit line with 22,900 more jobs within a 10-minute walk to a transit stop
  • make 1,650 more jobs accessible within a 45-minute transit commute to Toronto
  • reduction in traffic gridlock, greenhouse gases and fuel consumption by providing an affordable and convenient alternative to driving

Scarborough Subway Extension

The Scarborough Subway Extension will finally deliver the three-stop subway connectivity that residents of Scarborough deserve.

Runs from: Kennedy Station to Sheppard/McCowan
Length: 7.8 km
Stations: 3

About the project

The Scarborough subway extension is a 7.8-kilometre extension of TTC’s Line 2 Bloor-Danforth Subway, from the existing Kennedy Station northeast to McCowan Road and Sheppard Avenue. The line will include three new stations at Lawrence Avenue and McCowan Road, Scarborough Centre and a terminal station at McCowan Road and Sheppard Avenue.

Features

The scope of work includes:

  • 7.8-kilometre extension of Line 2 (Bloor-Danforth) subway
  • tunneling work for the length of the alignment
  • three new stations: Lawrence Avenue and McCowan Road, Scarborough Centre and a terminal station at McCowan Road and Sheppard Avenue
  • emergency exit buildings, traction power substations and modifications at Kennedy Station
  • transit connections to the TTC’s Line 2, Line 5 (Eglinton Crosstown LRT), GO train (Stouffville line) and bus service, Durham Region Transit bus service and local TTC bus connections

Project benefits

  • improves access to reliable rapid transit for area residents
  • reduces daily travel times for commuters
  • economic and community growth along the future transit line with 34,000 more jobs within a 10-minute walk to a station
  • reduction in traffic gridlock, greenhouse gases and fuel consumption by providing an affordable and convenient alternative to driving

Eglinton Crosstown West Extension

The Eglinton Crosstown West Extension will improve connectivity along Eglinton Avenue, including a planned connection to Toronto Pearson International Airport.

Runs from: Future Mount Dennis LRT station to Renforth Drive
Length: 9.2 km

About the project

The Eglinton Crosstown West Extension is an approximately 9.2-kilometre extension of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT (future Line 5), from Mount Dennis to Renforth Drive.

Plans are also being explored for a potential connection to Toronto Pearson International Airport, the single largest employment centre in Canada.

Features

The scope of work includes:

  • a 9.2-kilometre extension of the Eglinton Crosstown westward, with seven stops from the future Mount Dennis LRT station to Renforth Drive
  • ultimately, through future phases, the province is committed to establishing connectivity with Toronto Pearson International Airport
  • convenient links to other destinations throughout the region – UP Express and Kitchener Line GO train service at Mount Dennis, TTC bus services at all transit stops in Toronto, and MiWay and GO Bus services via the Mississauga Transitway at Renforth

Project benefits

  • Improves access to transit for area residents.
  • Reduces daily travel times for commuters.
  • Economic and community growth along the future transit line with 31,000 more jobs within a 10-minute walk to a station.
  • Reduction in traffic gridlock, greenhouse gases and fuel consumption by providing an affordable and convenient alternative to driving.

About the Hamilton Light Rail Transit (LRT)

The Hamilton LRT project will offer frequent and reliable connections on the 14-kilometre line from Eastgate Square through downtown Hamilton to McMaster University.

Map of new Hamilton Light Rail Transit project

View a larger version of this map (.jpg)

Runs From: McMaster University to Eastgate Square
Length: ~14 km
Stations: ~17

About the project

The Hamilton LRT will be a 14-kilometre brand new higher-order transit line running from McMaster University through downtown Hamilton to Eastgate.

Project benefits

  • Increases connections to key anchor institutions and transit hubs including McMaster University, City Hall, Tim Hortons Field and Eastgate Square.
  • Drives greater mode shifts from auto vehicles to public transit, which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help the City meet its transit mode share targets.
  • Helps increase investment, development and land values along the corridor.

Timeline

  • March 27, 2022
    Ontario officially breaks ground on the Ontario Line subway to prepare for future upgrades at Exhibition Station.
  • February 9, 2022
    Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx release the Request for Proposals (RFQ) for the Stations, Rail and Systems work for the Scarborough Subway Extension.
  • December 2, 2021
    Ontario releases the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the second advance tunnel contract for a section of underground works from Jane Street to the future Mount Dennis Station on the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension.
  • September 17, 2021
    Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx release the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Stations, Rail and Systems work for the Scarborough Subway Extension.
  • July 2021
    West End Connectors officially breaks ground on the launch shaft site of the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension.
  • July 16, 2021
    Ontario announces the province is advancing plans for the Yonge North Subway Extension, including adding Clark Station as the fourth station along the line.
  • June 23, 2021
    Ontario announces the ground-breaking of the first of the four priority subway projects with construction starting at the launch shaft site of the three-stop Scarborough Subway Extension.
  • May 25, 2021
    Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx award a fixed-price contract of $757.1 million to Strabag to design, build and finance the tunnel for the Scarborough Subway Extension.
  • May 20, 2021
    Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx award a fixed-price contract of $729.2 million to West End Connectors to design, build and finance the tunnel for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension.
  • May 13, 2021
    The governments of Ontario and Canada announce a joint funding commitment of $3.4 billion for the all-new Hamilton LRT priority.
  • May 11, 2021
    Ontario announces the Government of Canada’s funding commitment of up to $10.7 billion towards the province’s four priority transit projects.
  • March 18, 2021
    Metrolinx releases the Initial Business Case for the Yonge North Subway Extension.
  • February 9, 2021
    Ontario announces Hamilton LRT as a priority transit project, joining the Ontario Line Subway, Scarborough Subway Extension, Eglinton Crosstown West Extension and Yonge North Subway Extension projects.
  • December 17, 2020
    The first two public-private partnership (P3) Request for Proposals (RFPs) issued to shortlisted teams to design, build and maintain Ontario Line. Metrolinx releases the Preliminary Design Business Case (PDF) for the Ontario Line.
  • December 8, 2020
    The Ontario Rebuilding and Recovery Act, 2020, received royal assent becoming law. The Act amends the Building Transit Faster Act and the Transit-Oriented Communities Act providing the province with the tools to streamline and accelerate the planning, design and construction process of other provincial transit projects beyond the GTA.
  • August 20, 2020
    Advance tunneling RFPs issued for the Scarborough Subway Extension and the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension.
  • July 7, 2020
    The Building Transit Faster Act receives royal assent becoming law, providing the province with the tools to expedite the planning, design and construction process of the four priority transit projects.
  • June 2, 2020
    First two public-private partnership (P3) Request for Qualifications (RFQs) were issued to identify and pre-qualify to design, build and maintain Ontario Line.
  • May 28, 2020
    Ontario and York Region announce the signing of the Ontario-York Region Transit Partnership Preliminary Agreement, confirming their partnership to deliver on Premier Ford’s plan and build the Yonge North Subway Extension faster.
  • March 10, 2020
    Advance tunneling RFQs issued for the Scarborough Subway Extension and the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension.
  • February 28, 2020
    Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario release the Preliminary Design Business Case for the Scarborough Subway Extension and the Initial Business Case for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension.
  • February 20, 2020
    Province signs Memoranda of Understanding with select utility companies to Improve Coordination for Priority Transit Projects.
  • February 14, 2020
    Ontario and Toronto announce the signing of the Ontario-Toronto Transit Partnership Preliminary Agreement, including a “Memorandum of Understanding on Transit-Oriented Development,” to fund and build rapid transit projects in Toronto including the four priority subway projects outlined in the “New Subway Transit Plan for the GTA.”