Largest Subway Expansion in Decades Connects Toronto to Vaughan
Six New Stops a Major Milestone as Transit Investments Continue Across the Province

News.ontario.ca
Office of the Premier
Dec. 15, 2017

The largest expansion of Toronto's subway system in nearly 40 years comes into service on December 17, offering a fast and convenient new option for people to get to a job or class -- and home to their families sooner.

Today, Premier Kathleen Wynne -- along with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; John Tory, Mayor of Toronto; Josh Colle, TTC Chair; and Wayne Emmerson, York Region Chairman and CEO; as well as other local transit and elected officials, celebrated the landmark project by taking the inaugural ride on the new stretch of Line 1 linking Toronto with Vaughan. This is among the largest subway expansions in North America in recent decades, with six new stations and 8.6 kilometres of new track. It will allow people to get from the new subway terminus at Vaughan Metropolitan Centre to the Sheppard West station in about 14 minutes, and to Union Station in 42 minutes. And students will be able to take rapid transit to York University for the very first time.

The extension of Line 1 into York Region will strengthen connections across the region. The new extension forges links with other transit connections being built across the region, from the future Finch West LRT to the Barrie GO rail line and the vivaNext rapid-bus network in York Region. The new subway terminus is already helping to encourage business and residential development in Vaughan's emerging downtown. This hub will help create a walkable, urban community with extensive green space and quick access to transit. The fast connection between Vaughan and Union Station in downtown Toronto will help businesses attract the best talent and boost their productivity -- and help families across the region connect quickly and easily.

This milestone marks the first in a series of game-changing transit projects the Ontario government will open in the coming years. The 19-kilometre Eglinton Crosstown LRT is one of the largest infrastructure projects ever undertaken in Toronto; Waterloo Region is set to celebrate the opening of its first light rail project, just as Regional Express Rail is set to better connect it with the Greater Toronto Area; and Ottawa's Confederation Line LRT is expected to open next year.

Expanding rapid transit is part of Ontario's plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change. The plan includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of Medicare in a generation.

Quick Facts
-The Line 1 Extension/Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension (TYSSE) will add an estimated 36 million transit trips and eliminate 30 million car trips per year, helping to ease traffic congestion, improve air quality and fight climate change.
-More than 2,800 parking spots at three commuter lots along the new extension will make it even easier for commuters to get out of their cars and get to work and home to their families more quickly and efficiently.
-The province has provided $974 million for this project through the Move Ontario Trust. The City of Toronto is providing $904 million, the federal government up to $697 million and York Region $604 million.
-The total cost of the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension is about $3.2 billion.
-The six new subway stations are Downsview Park, Finch West, York University, Pioneer Village, Highway 407 and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre.
-The subway’s new terminus at Vaughan Metropolitan Centre is a major new transportation hub in York Region. It connects directly to the vivaNext rapidway on Highway 7 -- part of an extensive rapid transit network of dedicated bus lanes that York Region Transit is building with up to $1.4 billion in funding from Ontario.
-Ontario and the City of Toronto are cutting costs for commuters in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Starting on January 7, 2018, adult, senior, youth and student TTC riders will pay a TTC fare of just $1.50 when they use a PRESTO card to transfer to or from GO Transit or the Union Pearson Express.
-The Line 1 Extension/Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension is the largest subway expansion in the region in nearly 40 years.