Province green lights York Region subway extension

York Region's No. 1 transportation priority got the green light from the government of Ontario, as part of a $28.5-billion transit network expansion announced today.

The province is committing $5.6 billion over the next 10 years for the Yonge North subway extension project, expected to be open "soon after" the $10.9-billion Ontario Line is delivered by 2027, according to a news statement.

The Regional Municipality of York and York Region Rapid Transit Corporation are "thrilled" about the news of the "significant investment" that will move the project forward into construction, according to a York Region news release today.
 
“Subways unlock new travel choices for all commuters. With 52,000 businesses already within York Region, this transit investment will help drive national, provincial and regional prosperity, ” said York Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson.

The subway extension will span Toronto, Markham, Vaughan and Richmond Hill, extending 7.4 kilometres north on Yonge Street from Finch Station to the Richmond Hill/Langstaff Gateway Urban Growth Centre at Highway 7. 
 
“The Yonge North subway extension is the most justified rapid transit investment in the GTA,” said Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti, Chair of the York Region Rapid Transit Corporation, in a news release.

“Today’s announcement is welcome news to the beleaguered York Region commuters and I applaud the provincial government for its bold initiative to connect the 905 and 416.”
 
This critical rapid transit link will include up to six stations at Cummer/Drewry, Steeles, Clark, Royal Orchard, Langstaff/Longbridge and Richmond Hill Centre, as well as two intermodal terminals and 2,000 commuter parking spaces near Yonge Street and Highway 407.

The province will invest $11.2 billion in total to support the four rapid transit projects that Premier Doug Ford announced today, including the new Ontario Line "to deal with the dangerous congestion on Line 1, the Yonge North Subway Extension that will connect the subway to one of the region's largest employment centres, the three-stop Scarborough Subway Extension to better serve communities, and the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension."

QUICK FACTS

• The Yonge North Subway Extension will cost $5.6 billion and should be open soon after the Ontario Line.
• The Scarborough Subway Extension will cost $5.5 billion and will be delivered before 2030.
• The Eglinton Crosstown West Extension will cost $4.7 billion and will be delivered before 2031.
• The projects will require a combined $28.5 billion, of which the province has committed $11.2 billion.
• The government confirmed it will work with the City of Toronto to upload the TTC subway infrastructure.