By As part of its pledge to create a modern and reliable transit system for the Greater Toronto Area, the Ontario government is going to the next stage of planning for the 8-kilometer Yonge North Subway Extension. The project’s Initial Business Case and additional analysis, issued by Metrolinx, show that the extension will improve connections to jobs and housing, as well as take thousands of cars off the road and provide more people with access to transit.
“As we continue to keep up with tremendous growth in Toronto and York Region, our government is delivering on our plan to provide people with access to faster, more reliable transit to get them where they need to go,” asserted Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “The release of the Initial Business Case marks an important step towards our vision for a truly connected transit system that people in the Greater Toronto Area deserve.”
The Ontario government is moving forward with plans for the 8-kilometer Yonge North Subway Extension as part of its commitments to build a modern and reliable transit system for the Greater Toronto Area. Metrolinx’s Initial Business Case and additional analysis for the project show that it would increase connections to jobs and housing while also removing thousands of vehicles from the road.
“We’re so pleased to be taking this important step forward with the Yonge North Subway Extension and we’re eager to get out there in the communities to share more details about how this important and much-needed project will benefit people,” stated Phil Verster, President and CEO of Metrolinx. “We know a fast, seamless subway connection between Richmond Hill and downtown Toronto has been envisioned for a long time, and we can’t wait to make that vision a reality.”
Ontario will continue to cooperate with York Region and the City of Toronto to complete the Yonge North Subway Extension and create a transit system that maximizes riders’ benefits.
“Together with our municipal partners and Metrolinx, we are keeping our promise to build this much-needed subway project. With economic benefits totalling over $3.6 billion, along with new investment in the region and the benefit of creating thousands of jobs during construction, this project makes sense,” stated Kinga Surma, Associate Minister of Transportation (GTA). “However, to build projects of this magnitude, we need everyone at the table. We continue to call on the federal government to commit to paying their fair share, at least 40 per cent of these four nationally-significant subway projects.”
“The merits of this transit project are well documented and the Initial Business Case for the Yonge North Subway Extension further justifies the much needed investment in York Region’s top transit priority,” asserted Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti. “The extension to Markham and York Region will meet current travel demands, provide greater access to other rapid transit lines, serve urban growth centres and support a sustainable future. We need to advance this project and get shovels in the ground.”
The province unveiled its historic new transportation vision in April 2019, with a preliminary cost estimate of $28.5 billion. This includes the all-new Ontario Line, a three-stop Scarborough Subway Extension, the Yonge North Subway Extension, and the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, as well as the largest subway expansion in Canadian history.
