Building communities around transit

Ontario is taking a bold, new and innovative approach to city building. The province is bringing faster, more reliable and seamless transit to the Greater Golden Horseshoe by expanding the GO transit network and delivering 4 new priority subway projects including the Ontario Line, the Yonge North Subway Extension, the Scarborough Subway Extension and the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension — the largest subway expansion in Canadian history.

Transit-Oriented Communities Program

The Transit-Oriented Communities Program will build vibrant, mixed-use communities that will bring more housing, jobs, retail, public amenities and entertainment within a short distance of transit stations. These transit-oriented communities and other transit development opportunities, will be located along the province’s 4 subway projects, GO Transit and Light Rail Transit (LRT) projects.

The Transit-Oriented Communities Program will:

  • increase transit ridership and reduce traffic congestion
  • increase housing supply (including affordable housing) and jobs
  • stimulate the economy through major projects
  • bring retail and community amenities (for example, community centres) within a short distance of transit stations
  • offset the cost of station construction, saving taxpayers money

The benefits of transit-oriented communities are subject to negotiations and determined on a site-by-site basis with input from the local municipality, the public and Indigenous partners.

Proposed transit-oriented communities

We’re proposing transit-oriented communities across the Greater Toronto Area.

Subway expansion projects

Corktown

A rendering of Corktown station

The proposed transit-oriented community at the future Corktown Station would:

  • commemorate the site's layered history including Indigenous heritage, the former Lake Ontario shoreline and Canada’s First and Second Parliament buildings — through a public park and new institutional space to support the community, for example, library and community space
  • connect local bus, streetcar and subway service on the future Ontario Line
  • deliver approximately 1,490 residential units, including affordable units
  • support approximately 3,350 jobs in new commercial, retail and community spaces

East Harbour

Conceptual design of the proposed East Harbour transit-oriented community.

The proposed transit-oriented community at the 29-acre East Harbour site would include:

  • approximately 4,000 residential units, including affordable units
  • the creation of a major employment centre expected to support more than 50,000 jobs in the area
  • community amenities surrounding a transit hub — connecting GO Train, Ontario Line subway and streetcar services

Bridge

The proposed transit-oriented community at Bridge Station

The proposed transit-oriented community at Bridge Station on the future Yonge North Subway Extension would:

  • deliver approximately 20,800 residential units, including affordable units
  • support approximately 10,900 jobs in the new commercial, retail and community spaces

High Tech

The proposed transit-oriented community at High Tech Station

The proposed transit-oriented community at High Tech Station will be served by the future Yonge North Subway Extension service, GO regional service, VIVA Rapid Transit and the encompassing major highways. It would:

  • deliver approximately 19,300 residential units, including affordable units
  • support approximately 11,000 jobs
  • offer community and public spaces including parks and plazas

Exhibition

The proposed transit-oriented community at Exhibition Station

The proposed transit-oriented community will transform Exhibition Station into a connected transit hub. It would:

  • deliver approximately 1,448 residential units, including affordable units
  • support approximately 202 jobs in new commercial and retail spaces
  • connect to GO Transit, TTC services, including the future Ontario Line subway

Queen-Spadina

The proposed transit-oriented community at Queen-Spadina Station

The proposed transit-oriented community at the future Queen-Spadina Station would support a vibrant community, while taking into consideration the heritage components of the site. It would:

  • deliver approximately 214 residential units
  • support approximately 60 jobs in new retail space for businesses
  • give transit riders convenient access to public transportation, including the TTC streetcar and the future Ontario Line subway

King-Bathurst

The proposed transit-oriented community at King-Bathurst Station

The proposed transit-oriented community at the future King-Bathurst Station would support the local neighbourhood while also maintaining the heritage component of this site, including the brick façade that was in place at this site prior to demolition. It would:

  • deliver approximately 420 residential units
  • connect to TTC streetcar service and the future Ontario Line service

Gerrard-Carlaw North

The proposed transit-oriented community at Gerrard-Carlaw

The proposed transit-oriented community at the future Gerrard Station on the future Ontario Line would:

  • deliver approximately 1,080 residential units
  • support approximately 225 jobs through new retail and other amenities
  • create approximately 2 acres of public space, including a new public park almost 1 acre in size
  • connect transit users to local TTC bus, streetcar and subway services

Gerrard-Carlaw South

The proposed transit-oriented community at Gerrard-Carlaw South.

The proposed Gerrard-Carlaw South transit-oriented community, located at the south side of the future Gerrard Station. It would:

  • deliver approximately 1,315 new residential units
  • support approximately 460 jobs in new office, retail and general commercial space
  • connect to the new Ontario Line subway and existing TTC streetcar and bus services

Cosburn

Draft concept of the proposed Cosburn transit-oriented community at the intersection of Pape Avenue and Cosburn Avenue, looking northwest

The proposed transit-oriented community at the future Cosburn Station on the Ontario Line would:

  • deliver approximately 620 new residential units
  • support more than 50 new jobs in the new retail at street level

It will also include significant improvements to the streetscape and public spaces, including enhanced sidewalk zones with new landscaping and street furniture to create spaces for people to take a break and gather along Pape Avenue.

Eastern Avenue

Draft concept of the proposed Eastern Avenue transit-oriented community, looking north.

The proposed Eastern Avenue transit-oriented community, located near the future East Harbour Transit Hub would:

  • deliver approximately 160 new residential units
  • support employment opportunities
  • provide convenient pedestrian and cyclist access to the future East Harbour Transit Hub
  • connect to GO Trains, SmartTrack, the Ontario Line subway and future TTC Light Rail Transit

Pape

Draft concept of the public space along Lipton Avenue at the proposed Pape transit-oriented community, with a pedestrian connection to Danforth Avenue, looking southeast.

The proposed transit-oriented community at the future Pape Station would:

  • include new retail and office space
  • deliver approximately 440 new housing units
  • support approximately 50 jobs

Residents and community members will benefit from direct, convenient and accessible connections to the new Ontario Line subway, the existing Bloor-Danforth subway and TTC bus services.

The proposed transit-oriented community at the future Thorncliffe Park Station would:

  • deliver up to 2,660 residential units
  • support approximately 980 new jobs in the increased retail and commercial space

The community would also include enhanced public spaces and a transit plaza, providing easy access to the Ontario Line subway.

Lawrence East

Conceptual design of the proposed Lawrence East transit-oriented community.

The proposed transit-oriented community at Lawrence and McCowan Station, on the Scarborough Subway Extension would:

  • deliver approximately 738 residential units
  • support approximately 312 new jobs in the new retail and general commercial space

Residents and the surrounding community would also benefit from more greenspace and a new park. The transit station design will connect pedestrians to a transit plaza and offer a drop-off area and an underground parking facility for quick and easy access to the Lawrence and McCowan Station.

Partnerships and community engagement

Ontario is working with Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx to deliver transit-oriented communities at or near new subway stations, GO stations and Light Rail Transit (LRT) stops. The province provides oversight to Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx, the agency partners working to deliver these transit projects.

The Ontario logo

We’re leading a multibillion-dollar public transit expansion plan in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and beyond across the GO transit network. This includes the subway expansion plan that will support multi-purpose, vibrant communities through Ontario’s Transit-Oriented Communities Program.

The Infrastructure Ontario logo

Infrastructure Ontario is responsible for the development and delivery of the Transit-Oriented Communities Program, leading negotiations with private sector partners and supporting the province’s engagement with municipalities, the public and Indigenous communities.

The Metrolinx logo

Metrolinx is responsible for leading transit project planning and delivery for the four priority subways, the provincial LRT projects and the entire GO transit service network. 

Infrastructure Ontario, Metrolinx and private partners have been and will continue to collaborate with all parties involved (province, builders, municipalities, and the local community), to deliver new, modern subways and transit-oriented communities at a lower cost to the taxpayer. The province has signed formal agreements with the City of Toronto and York Region that establish common principles and ensures collaboration to enable the expansion and modernization of the subway network across the GTA, including transit-oriented communities.

Learn more about the Ontario-Toronto Transit Partnership and the Ontario-York Region Transit Partnership.

Public consultation is an important part of the process. Learn about upcoming public consultations and share your feedback to help shape the future of transit in your community.