Ontario seeks to advance tunnelling work for Yonge North Subway Extension to York Region

Province issues request for proposals (RFP) for the contract to design and build the subway’s tunnels

yorkregion.com
Yoyo Yan
Dec. 4, 2023

Ontario is taking another step forward to get shovels in the ground on the much-debated Yonge North Subway Extension from Toronto to Thornhill and Richmond Hill.

The province issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the contract to design and build the subway’s tunnels for the project on Dec. 1.

“The RFP release is the next critical step in our government’s plan to extend subway service north from Finch Station to communities in Markham, Vaughan and Richmond Hill, for the first time ever,” Prabmeet Sarkaria, minister of transportation, announced in Markham.

The government says the Yonge North Subway Extension is one of Ontario’s four priority subway projects for the GTA and will deliver much-needed rapid transit between York Region and Toronto.

After being shortlisted through a request for qualifications (RFQ) process earlier this year, CrossTransit Group, North End Connectors and Toronto-York Tunnel Connectors are being invited to respond to the RFP with proposals that detail how they will deliver the tunnelling project.

The contract for the tunnelling project is expected to be awarded in late 2024.

“Projects like the Yonge North Subway Extension will help to connect more than 26,000 people between downtown Toronto and York Region,” said Majid Jowhari, member of Parliament for Richmond Hill, on behalf of Sean Fraser, federal minister of housing, infrastructure and communities.

The issuance of the RFP comes as the project reaches another important milestone. Early upgrade work at Finch Station, where the Yonge North Subway Extension will connect with existing Line 1 service, is now substantially complete. The upgrades set the stage for major construction of the subway extension.

“On behalf of the Regional Municipality of York and the more than 1.2 million residents who call our communities home, I commend the Ontario government for taking another positive step forward to advance work on the Yonge North Subway Extension,” said Wayne Emmerson, York Region chair and CEO.

“This is an exciting milestone for the Yonge North Subway Extension. Design and construction of the tunnel is a big part of this project. Going to market for this work demonstrates the strong commitment by all three levels of government to York Region’s number one transportation priority,” said Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti.

Once in service, the approximately eight-kilometre subway extension will provide over 94,000 daily trips, connect more people to jobs and housing, and bring faster transit and more convenience to communities across York Region and Toronto.