Pop-up event answers questions about Yonge North Subway Extension to Richmond Hill

Metrolinx manager hopes subway sound lab and other engagement opportunities will continue to aid understanding

Yorkregion.com
April 13, 2023
Melissa Wallace

A community engagement team from Metrolinx answered questions and distributed info sheets at a pop-up event at Thornhill Community Centre on April 11.

The team was there to discuss the Yonge North Subway Extension, which stretches the Line 1 subway service nearly eight kilometres north from Finch station to Richmond Hill. It will serve 94,100 riders on the subway daily and will connect Toronto, Vaughan, Markham and Richmond Hill.

Azim Ahmed has worked for Metrolinx since 2014, and has looked after the project since 2020 as the manager of community relations. He spoke to YorkRegion.com at the pop-up.

Q: WHAT’S THE PURPOSE OF THESE POP-UP EVENTS?

A: We want to engage the community and we like hearing from people, whether they have positive or negative experiences. It’s why we’re here and we want to continue doing that.

WHAT'S THE FEEDBACK YOU'RE RECEIVING ABOUT THIS PROJECT?

A lot of people are happy because they want more transit, and they want the subway. Some people have concerns about the alignment or where it's going. But generally, it's been very positive, and we've had good feedback about the subway, because it's something that has been talked about for many years, and it's finally happening.

WHAT DOES THE TIMELINE LOOK LIKE?

We started some early work construction by Finch Station already earlier this year, but the heavy tunnelling will begin probably in the next year or two. We don't have a firm date yet, but the subway will be in service by early 2030. That's the goal. Once the Ontario line, which is another subway project in Toronto, is complete, then this will be in service so we can funnel the traffic in the right way.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MITIGATE CONCERNS PEOPLE HAVE WITH TUNNELLING AND NOISE?

People do have concerns about how much noise it will make if it's underneath their homes. We're trying our best to show them what the levels of noise might be and give them other examples from other subway projects.

We're also opening a community office in Richmond Hill (Highway 7 and Yonge, just east of Yonge) which will have a sound lab so people can go in and experience how a subway would sound and feel. Once people actually feel it, then they can get a better sense of what it’s like. That will open later this year and probably in the summer.

WHAT ELSE ARE YOU DOING TO COMMUNICATE WITH AFFECTED RESIDENTS?

Pop-ups are one way, town halls and virtual meetings. We also have construction liaison committees, which are smaller groups of stakeholders who are interested. People receive regular monthly updates and more intimate conversation. So we're trying to find different ways of reaching people. We also have a newsletter that goes out every couple of weeks, which gives out more information about the project as well.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO HAVING THIS SUBWAY EXTENSION?

It’s going to help connect people. So, for example, where the Richmond Hill subway will end, there will be a GO station, VIVA bus, subway and the 407. It will be a multiple transportation node. People have options to connect from one to another; it isn’t just about the subway, it’s about different ways of travelling.

It’s also going to help alleviate traffic congestion. It's good for the environment, getting some of the fossil fuels out and getting people in transit. So instead of driving downtown and being stuck on the DVP, if you want to head downtown for a show, for work or an appointment, it will be so much more convenient.

The population is always increasing, so it will be exciting to help people travel in a much easier and more seamless way.

Keep informed about the Yonge North subway extension project at metrolinx.com/YongeSubwayExt.