The Ontario Line - Neighbourhood Updates - West
The following maps show refinements to the alignment, or route of the line, and the proposed location of station platforms. Station entrance buildings and initial designs will be shared as new information is available. Teams have been studying how to speed up delivery, reduce building costs, minimize community impacts and improve connections for customers.
Straightening out the curve and travelling diagonally will give customers a ride that is smoother, more comfortable and faster. This change reduces track maintenance, which means less risk of delays due to repairs making for a more reliable service. Due to the depth of the tunnelling through these areas, we expect any impacts will be comparable to the previous plan and that the majority of buildings overhead will not be needed to accommodate construction. Tunnelling deep into the bedrock below the surface and reducing the curvature of the route reduces the potential for vibration and noise and allows us to deliver the Ontario Line in a way that provides faster service while minimizing or avoiding impacts to the built environment.
- Tail tracks, west of Exhibition, will provide space for the storage of Ontario Line vehicles and protect for a future extension of the line.
- The Ontario Line Exhibition Station will create a connection to the GO network and will bring customers to a popular destination for sports, concerts, the CNE, trade shows and other attractions. It will also bring the subway system closer to many homes and businesses in the growing and increasingly vibrant Liberty Village community. Since the Ontario Line will be above ground through this segment, commuters on the Lakeshore West Line will be able to quickly and seamlessly transfer from one train to the other.
Enabling early works, including new passenger tunnels, an extension to the existing passenger tunnel, a temporary pedestrian bridge, a new north platform, and utility relocation and protection, are anticipated to begin in 2021.
Learn more about Procurement.
- Leaving Exhibition Station, the line runs east at surface level, under the bridge at Strachan Avenue.
- Launch shafts and portals will be constructed at the site of the future Ordnance Park on the north side of the existing GO Corridor for the beginning of the Ontario Line tunnels. From here, the tunnel boring machines will begin to work their way east and then turn north.
In the short term, the future park site will be needed to support tunnel construction. After construction is finished, an opportunity to create a new park above the tunnel will be available for City of Toronto programming, in keeping with their existing plans for the site. - Plans are to preserve Garrison Crossing, the pedestrian bridge that spans the rail corridors in the area and connects with the future park site. While there may be times when it will be closed due to construction work, Metrolinx is studying ways to minimize impacts and maintain pedestrian and cycling access across the rail corridors for the duration of the project.
Tunnel work is anticipated to begin after financial close is reached for the Southern Civil, Stations and Tunnel procurement package.
The King West area is a mixed-use neighbourhood and a hot spot for new housing, tech jobs, restaurants and nightlife, mixed in with some beautiful old buildings. At King and Bathurst, the Ontario Line will have connections to both the 504 King and 511 Bathurst TTC streetcar lines.
Current plans envision maintaining streetcar service in these areas throughout the duration of the project, though there might be times when service is re-routed or reduced to accommodate construction work.
- Underground, the station platform is on a diagonal and shifted to the southeast corner of the intersection which will provide customers a more direct route and avoid significant construction impacts to the historic Wheat Sheaf Tavern. Built in 1849, the landmark building with the distinctive mansard roof is widely believed to be the oldest pub in Toronto.
Work is anticipated to begin after financial close is reached for the Southern Civil, Stations and Tunnel procurement package.
- The Ontario Line station at Queen and Spadina will sit adjacent to Toronto’s thriving Fashion District. It will conveniently connect to the 501 and 510 TTC streetcar lines and bring customers to historic Chinatown and an array of lively nightspots and trendy shopping opportunities along Queen West.
Current plans envision maintaining streetcar service in these areas throughout the duration of the project, though there might be times when service is re-routed or reduced to accommodate construction work.
Work is anticipated to begin after financial close is reached for the Southern Civil, Stations and Tunnel procurement package.
For more detail, visit Metrolinx News.