Province breaks ground on Ontario Line
By Adam Freill
Construction InfrastructureAll-new subway line will bring additional rapid transit to Toronto, creating thousands of new jobs.
Future Exhibition Station north entrance building and shared GO/Ontario Line concourse, pictured from eastern side of Atlantic Ave. (Source: Handout Image, Ontario.ca)
The premier of Ontario was on hand to officially break ground for the Ontario Line Exhibition Station, marking the start of construction for the new subway line in the Greater Toronto Area.
“This project will be a game changer for the city and region and is a key part of our plan to build the roads, bridges, highways and transit needed to move our economy forward,” said Premier Doug Ford.
The 14 stations along the 15.6-kilometre Ontario Line will provide rapid transit between Exhibition/Ontario Place and the Ontario Science Centre. Initial artist renderings show early planning and design concepts for the Ontario Line stations, which will connect to more than 40 other transit routes, including GO train lines, existing TTC subway and streetcar lines, and the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit line.
“The Ontario Line will be a game-changer for transit here in Toronto and the GTA. It will bring 15.6 kilometres of new subway service to the city that will link up with more than 40 other transit options along the way, including GO trains here at Exhibition,” said Phil Verster, president and CEO of Metrolinx. “These kinds of connections are going to help us speed up travel times and reduce congestion at key pinch points like Union Station. Breaking ground on these improvements puts us an important step closer to giving the people of Toronto the transit relief they need.”
“Public transit plays a pivotal role in reaching our climate goals and reducing congestion on our roads,” added the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, federal minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities. “The Ontario Line will be a major addition to existing transit options in the GTA and will enhance commuters’ ability to get to their destination on time and with ease.”
Upgrades at Exhibition Station will allow GO customers to continue to use the station during the construction of the Ontario Line. These upgrades include opening a new station entrance and exit from Atlantic Avenue, shifting the existing GO rail track and creating a new train platform. A temporary pedestrian bridge will also be constructed over the existing GO tracks to provide customers with additional safe access to trains between Liberty Village and Exhibition Place.
Ontario’s transit plan for the Greater Toronto Area includes a commitment of nearly $17 billion from the province for construction. Last May, the Government of Canada announced over $10 billion in funding for Ontario’s four priority subway projects in the Greater Toronto Area, namely the Ontario Line, the three-stop Scarborough Subway Extension, the Yonge North Subway Extension, and the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension.
It is projected that by 2041, the Ontario Line will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 14,000 tonnes annually and cut overall fuel consumption by more than 7 million litres a year, the equivalent to nearly 120,000 fill ups at the pump per year.
