Tunnel vision over Yonge subway extension to Richmond Hill threatens Markham neighbourhoods, critics charge

Thornhill residents, councillor, raise concerns over tunnelling under and possible expropriation of homes as a result of realigned route

Yorkregion.com
March 24, 2021

Expropriated homes and tunnelling under neighbourhoods are among concerns being raised about revised plans for the Yonge North Subway Extension released by Metrolinx March 18.

The initial business case reins in the estimated $9.6-billion price tag by cutting the number of stations to four from six and having the route veer east at Thornhill then run above ground along an existing CN rail corridor to make the project fit its $5.6-billion funding envelope.

The plan now is to build ground-level stations at Highway 7 and at High Tech Road in Richmond Hill in addition to an underground station at Steeles Avenue. That leaves enough money in the budget for one “neighbourhood station” at either Cummer Avenue, Clark Avenue or Royal Orchard Boulevard to be built at a cost of $400 to $500 million.

But preliminary analysis by Metrolinx suggests the costs of constructing an underground station at Royal Orchard “far outweigh the benefits.”

Thornhill Coun. Keith Irish quickly registered his opposition to the plan, asking residents to sign a petition against the realigned route.

“They’re asking to tunnel under 60 homes in this mature, established neighbourhood and they’re failing to promise them with even a local subway station of their own,” he said.

He finds it “somewhat unbelievable” Metrolinx thinks this is the proper route to take to save money when the Yonge Street alignment is the clear alternative.

Irish said he hasn’t received a satisfactory answer from Metrolinx as to how it is more costly, and less disruptive, to tunnel under homes versus Holy Cross Cemetery, where the route veers off Yonge Street.

“It can be done, I’m certain, respecting the rights of the cemetery and honouring the dead that are buried there."

He also floated by Metrolinx officials the concept of one “megastation” for Richmond Hill rather than two, only 400 metres apart, that would reduce costs and give York the originally planned five stations.
Irish said Metrolinx’s answer was it would be too far for people to walk with projected development on both sides of Highway 407.

Irish conceded the business case, at least, moves the subway closer to completion.

“I’m pleased, too, given the previous speculation that they could possibly be building portions above ground in Thornhill,” he added.

That possibility, raised in a Toronto Star article last June, was alluded to in an anonymous letter sent to some 160 area homeowners, including Kirk Drive resident George Bartosik, stating their homes would be expropriated for the extension.

Metrolinx was quick to say the information in the letter was “false, misleading and unfortunate,” but Bartosik still has concerns, including the impact of subway construction on his neighbourhood.

“The upheaval to supply a subway for that short space and the number of people who would use it is cost prohibitive,” he said, adding expanding bus service, instead, would provide more bang for the buck, especially with the increase of remote work.

But Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney said the extension, set to begin construction in 2024, is a “critical link” in the province’s integrated and expanded transit system addressing a number of factors, including future population growth.

“We know by looking at jurisdictions that opened ahead of us that transit ridership is coming back and 50 per cent of the people who live in York Region commuted outside of it for work pre-pandemic.”

Nearly 49,000 more people and 23,000 more jobs will be within walking distance of rapid transit with the extension, according to Metrolinx.

Mulroney said there will be an opportunity for stakeholders, including the public, to comment on the preferred alignment, adding it is “too early to comment with any specificity on locations that would be required for the building of the infrastructure.”