When will York Region see shovels in ground for Yonge North subway extension?

Yorkregion.com
May 19, 2023

York Region residents will have to wait at least another year or two before they see any sign of construction on the Yonge North subway extension.

Regional council received an update on the $5.6 billion project from Metrolinx May 18.

Council chairperson Wayne Emmerson conceded the subway extension was not progressing as quickly as hoped. But Phil Verster, Metrolinx president and CEO, said things are well underway.

“Progress, progress, progress,” he said. “This will be a game-changer for Line 1 … We are very excited. It’s momentum now.”

Metrolinx shared details of the latest developments, including the expected date of construction.

“Big spades in the ground by the end of 2024,” Verster said. “A year later, in 2025, expect delivery of the tunnel boring machine.”

The Request for Qualifications (RFQ), the first step in choosing a contractor to complete the design and construction of the tunnel, was released April 27.

Metrolinx is set to finish the RFQ phase this summer, followed by a submission of proposals from selected firms at the end of the year, said Stephen Collins, Metrolinx program sponsor.

The design calls for the boring machine to dig a north and southbound tunnel underground from the Langstaff Gateway area just south of Highway 407 east of Yonge Street, south to the Finch station, he said.

Existing retail, commercial and residential areas north of Hwy 7 should experience no significant impact from the tunnelling, Collins said, but there will be some traffic diversions as well as the acquisition of land along the route south.

This land acquisition will be “founded on the principle of treating owners fairly and compassionately, recognizing the disruption that will have,” Collins said. “We always start wanting to achieve an amicable agreement with property owners, but sometimes we do need to use the expropriation process … treating owners and tenants fairly such that they experience no net financial loss.”

Metrolinx requires a 30-metre buffer on either side of the subway line, something that will be placed on the title of properties en route so that future owners are made aware.

“If they want to build an addition on their house or put a swimming pool in the backyard, they need to work not only with the municipality for permits and approvals but also with Metrolinx to ensure projects are co-ordinated,” Collins said.

There are “tens of thousands” of such properties along the entire subway program that fall within this transit corridor land designation area, he said, and more than 400 corridor development permit applications submitted so far.

“Not one has been denied.”

Metrolinx plans to open a community office at the end of this year on High Tech Road between Yonge Street and Bayview Avenue.

The extension -- roughly eight kilometres with five stations -- is predicted to attract more than 94,000 daily riders, saving each rider up to 22 minutes on their daily trip each way and bringing at least 25,000 more people within a short walk of rapid transit.

The project will also help manage congestion by removing 7,700 fewer kilometres for cars travelling in the morning rush hour, Collins said.