Eglinton Crosstown West Extension LIVE - March 16, 2021

The key consideration is that the area between Scarlett Road and Jane Street is in an identified flood plain zone. Tunneling would require building underneath three flood-prone waterways (under the Humber River) and present significant environmental and technical challenges to building and operating the line. Elevating the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension between Scarlett Road and Jane Street eliminates these challenges and will help to prevent potential service disruptions along the corridor during times of heavy rain and flooding. We appreciate that residents have questions and concerns about the elevated guideway, and we will work with the community to minimize impacts and build the structure with your input.

We’re working towards renderings as part of the early design process and expect to have more to share this year. The elevated guideway, the stations and other major elements of the project that people are very interested in are all part of the second work package. Work doesn’t start on these pieces until approximately 2025. We will be providing updates and seeking feedback from the community many times between now and then.

The stations will prioritize connections made by transit, walking and cycling. We are not building parking lots at the stations.

We recognize the need to deliver more transit quickly and safely. The ECWE was announced with three other priority subway projects in 2019, and since then a significant amount of planning and design work has advanced quickly. Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario are working together to deliver the project by 2030-31. This period of 10 years also includes the design and procurement process.

We’re building the station near the existing Renforth Terminal where local transit access is well organized already. The new station will be designed and built for a seamless customer experience. It will be a mix of underground/above ground like the BRT route is already.

Metrolinx is working with MTO & other Ministries, to develop the requirements for the subway projects. We are hoping to announce this as soon as the requirements are finalized.

We have just recently identified the West End Connectors as the first negotiations proponent for that work. As we continue to finalize details with them, we also expect they will begin work on the launch shaft this summer and the tunnel boring machines to begin digging in 2022. We’ll have a more defined timeline later this year.

We are still in the early design stage for stations and have been looking at both options and the different benefits of each. We will have more information to share during engagement later this year. Stay tuned!

We don’t anticipate any additional stations on this route but we’re also not excluding the potential. In the early design stages, many different stations were considered along the route. The design we’re moving forward with is seven new stations and each of those connect with the major surface, local bus connections available. We’ve maximized the locations based on nearby people, destinations and local transit connections. Although it is not impossible to add an additional tunneled station in the future, it would be a huge undertaking and would likely require shutting down the line.

We’re planning for good connections to TTC at the existing Renforth BRT terminal, however, it’s the City of Toronto and TTC that determine any improvements to their transit routes. You may find more information if you contact them directly.

The community will never lose vehicle access during construction or throughout operations. There will be changes to accommodate construction but at no point will access to the health care centre or the buildings on Emmett Avenue be closed off. We’re still working on the design with the City of Toronto and will bring our thoughts to the community at a future engagement this year.

The surrounding areas are factored into our decision but the key reason the first tunnel portion ends west of Scarlett is because we are building an elevated guideway to go over the Humber River.

Yes, we will need to order additional light rail vehicles however the specific details and number required are part of the stations, rail and systems work that is only in the early design stage. Stay tuned. We do anticipate it will be the same vehicle used on the Crosstown LRT because they’ll be running from end to end across the line and stored in the same facility at Black Creek/Eglinton. Changes to fleet would be made in close partnership with TTC who is operating the line.

The Province is committed to connecting with Pearson Airport. We are looking at the design options now with the GTAA, the City of Toronto and Mississauga. In 2019, the GTAA announced $40 million in funding to advance technical work for the extension and there is a business case underway that will lay out the options and predicted costs etc. When that work is complete, we will share it for review. The GTAA is leading plans for a transit hub at the airport. 

None of the existing community facilities including sports and trail amenities will be lost during construction or operations.

Don and Lea are retired and two new TBMs will be procured for this project. Stay tuned for a TBM naming contest!

Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario are working together to deliver the project by 2030-31.

We will ensure roads will be restored wherever we anticipate impacts from construction.

Construction of the elevated guideway is on the north side of Eglinton and no impacts are foreseen at Topham Pond. If you have specific concerns that we’re misunderstanding here please contact Kelly directly at [email protected]. 

A new bridge over the Humber River will be built on the north side of the existing bridge to carry the tracks.

That type of decision and work is beyond our scope and best addressed with City of Toronto transportation services.

Good idea! Our community relations team will be using video and photo to show progress. We’ll consider this in our toolkit.

That type of decision and work is beyond our scope and best addressed with City of Toronto transportation services.

The work is being done in two separate packages. The first package is the tunneling from Renforth to Scarlett and the second package includes all the infrastructure associated with stations, the elevated guideway, rail and systems installation. That work is still in the early design stage and needs time to complete before going to procurement. A lot of planning and design has been done since the project was announced in 2019, but there is still more to do for that second package.

Access to the park, the services and the homes will always be maintained from Eglinton during construction (and operations). We do anticipate changes to the existing access point to allow for construction of the elevated guideway and will have more to share later this year for public input.

The station naming will certainly be a part of a future update. It’s great to see the interest and excitement for this! Stay tuned and be sure to sign up for the e-newsletter to stay on top of engagement opportunities.

Procurement of the ECWE is being coordinated by Infrastructure Ontario – you can contact them by clicking here. Infrastructure Ontario will be best equipped to answer your questions about the process of bidding for contracts related to the project.

For the ECWE, Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario have already begun procurement activities. To keep the project moving forward as quickly as possible, tunneling will begin first. Separate contracts will be issued in the future for the rest of the work, which includes building the stations, fitting out the tunnel and installing and commissioning the systems to put the line in service. Stay tuned for more info as it becomes available!

Metrolinx is actively collaborating with the GTAA and municipal partners on the potential connection from Renforth Drive to the airport.

In 2019, the GTAA announced $40 million in funding to advance technical work for the extension and there is a business case underway now that will lay out the options and predicted costs etc. When that work is complete, we will share it for review.