Ontario Construction News staff writer
Excavation work has begun for the launch shaft of the Ontario Line subway tunnels at Exhibition Station, marking a major step forward in the province’s plan to improve commutes across the Greater Toronto Area. The project aims to bring nearly 230,000 people within walking distance of public transit.
The 16-meter-deep shaft will serve as the starting point for two tunnel boring machines. The machines will excavate six kilometers east from Exhibition Station to the Don Yard, west of the Don River. When tunneling is finished, the launch shaft will be transformed into a tunnel portal, allowing Ontario Line trains to transition seamlessly from above-ground to underground operation.
“It’s been more than 60 years since the first subway tunnels were built in downtown Toronto,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, minister of transportation. “Under the leadership of Premier Ford, we’re getting the Ontario Line done to tackle gridlock and increase access to fast, reliable and affordable transit for millions of people across the GTA.”
The Ontario Line will extend 15.6 kilometers and include 15 stations. It will run from Exhibition Place through the downtown core and connect to the Eglinton Crosstown LRT at Don Mills Road. This connection will make it easier for residents to get around, reducing travel time from Exhibition Place to the Eglinton Crosstown LRT at Don Mills Road from the current hour and 10 minutes to approximately 30 minutes or less.
Exhibition Station will be a key transit hub, facilitating connections between the future subway and existing GO rail services. The Ontario Line will offer over 40 connections to various transit services, including subways, buses, streetcars, and regional trains. This extensive network will bring hundreds of thousands of individuals within walking distance of public transportation.
During peak periods, such as the morning rush hour, the Ontario Line is projected to alleviate crowding by up to 15% on the busiest section of the TTC’s Line 1, between Bloor-Yonge and Wellesley.
“By preparing the launch shaft, we’ll soon be able to start tunnelling the Ontario Line,” said Kinga Surma, minister of infrastructure. “By building fast, underground transit, we’re providing people with more options and reducing gridlock. Our government is also seizing a unique opportunity to create vibrant, mixed-use communities known as transit-oriented communities (TOCs), which will bring more housing, jobs, retail and community amenities. These TOCs will be all along the Ontario Line and will create more than 13,000 new homes.”
“The Ontario Line subway is part of one of the biggest partnerships to construct public transportation in Canadian history,” said Ahmed Hussen, minister of international development, on behalf of Sean Fraser, minister of housing, infrastructure and communities. “Work is progressing and today’s groundbreaking is another step toward affordable, reliable and quick public transit for Torontonians.”
The Ontario Line is one of the largest subway expansions in Canadian history, part of the Transportation Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Other priority transit projects include the Scarborough Subway Extension, the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, and the Yonge North Subway Extension.
Ontario is committed to investing nearly $70 billion over the next decade in public transit infrastructure, including the largest subway expansion in Canadian history, which encompasses the Ontario Line, the Scarborough Subway Extension, the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, and the Yonge North Subway Extension.
The new Canada Public Transit Fund (CPTF) will provide $3 billion annually in permanent federal funding to enhance integrated planning, improve access to public transit and active transportation, and support more affordable, sustainable, and inclusive communities, says a statement from the government.
