The Ontario government is to officially launch construction on Sunday of a new subway line that will cross Toronto. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Toronto Mayor John Tory and various provincial and federal representatives are expected for this groundbreaking ceremony at 1 p.m., which will be followed by a press briefing.
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Valued at around $11 billion at the moment, the Ontario line should have 15 stops spread over 16 kilometres. The line, which will be partly underground, partly elevated and which will borrow on certain segments the commuter train network, will extend from Exhibition Place to the Ontario Science Center, thus crossing the city center.
The inauguration of the new section is planned for 2030, according to the manager of public transit in the Greater Toronto Area, Metrolinx.
According to the organization’s evaluations, the new line will make it possible to serve 227,500 more people who will find themselves living next to public transit. This could represent approximately 28,000 fewer vehicles on the roads.
Doug Ford’s government has adopted an ambitious development program for its public transit network. In addition to the Ontario line, expansions of the Scarborough and Yonge North subway lines have also been announced, not to mention the extension of the Eglinton Crosstown light rail line.
The federal government had already indicated, in May 2021, that it would pay some $12 billion to finance 40% of the bill for all these projects.