Update
Our team is continuing to support our residents, business and communities. During this time, Open Houses have moved to a virtual format and the most recent event can be found below. We received questions that we didn’t get to during the virtual session and have started posting answers at the bottom of this page. We are working to answer the remaining questions and will share them as soon as possible.
Archive – March 15, 2021
On March 15 2021, Metrolinx hosted a virtual open house including speakers from our senior leadership team with 50 people in attendance. During the one-hour open house, we answered as many questions as possible about the Scarborough Subway Extension. Participants voted on questions and were particularly interested in hearing about progress, project design, schedule, property impacts and mitigation measures for noise and vibration.
In case you missed the event, you’ll find the answers in the video recording below. We also received additional questions during the virtual session and are committed to answering those as well. Answers will be posted at the bottom of this page.
Meet the Speakers

Mark Ciavarro
VP, Scarborough Subway Extension Project

Mike Hodge
Program Sponsor, Scarborough Subway Extension Project

Alessandra Lionzo
Technical Director, Scarborough Subway Extension Project
Other Attendees
- Carrie Sheaffer, Senior Manager, Environmental Programs and Assessments
- James Francis – Manager, Environmental Programs and Assessments
- Carolyn Tunks – Manager, Pre-Construction Services
Comments
TTC buses
AnonymousSide street buses for more direct drop offs will be considered? From Kennedy or Lawrence e.g Galloway road bus? Much needed esp. in winter.
Answer
MetrolinxThe TTC will continue to be responsible for their own service plans. We encourage the community to share their thoughts and suggestions about bus services with the TTC.
Ridership at Scarborough Centre station
AnonymousThe Scarborough Centre Station has as a ridership than many subway stations. Can you list the subway stations that have a smaller ridership then this station?
Answer
MetrolinxWe encourage the community to reach out to the TTC regarding current ridership at subway stations.
French language
AnonymousProlongement de la ligne est un projet Metrolinx. Comment les mises à jour, l'affichage et les annonces respecteront-ils la Loi sur les services en français?
Answer
MetrolinxHi Chris, Metrolinx is committed to providing all public-facing project information in both English and French, as required by the French Language Services Act. Project updates in French can be found on our French webpage- http://www.metrolinx.com/fr/greaterregion/projects/scarborough-subway-ex.... Please don't hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected] if you have require any additional French materials.
Scarborough Centre station
AnonymousScarborough Centre Subway Station was to be the 2nd busiest terminus station when build in the one-stop plan. What is the expected ridership on the 3 stop plan?
Answer
MetrolinxThe Scarborough Centre station is forecasted to have 5,100 riders per hour, in both east and west directions, during rush hours (by 2041).
Recording of engagement
AnonymousUnable to attend, but do wish/looking forward to receiving the video of the March 15 update and Q&A session
Answer
MetrolinxHi, you can find a recording of the session at: https://youtu.be/66etQP48vIA. Stay tuned and follow us for more engagement opportunities.
Lawrence station
AnonymousThe station box at Lawrence is currently 40 m below surface in the middle of the intersection. Will this intersection be closed down for any length of time?
Answer
MetrolinxHi, we will be engaging and sharing our construction mitigation plans with the community as design progresses and construction details are confirmed with our proponents. Roadway widening, traffic shifts or temporary roadway decking where possible will be used to minimize impact to traffic and roadway. Expect to see more frequent consultations as construction activity ramps up for the Advance Tunnel contract.
Scarborough RT
AnonymousWhat will happen to the existing Scarborough RT line?
Answer
MetrolinxWe will engage with the City and TTC to understand their vision for the future of the infrastructure, which we understand will be the subject of community consultation.
Commute times
AnonymousHow will commute times be impacted for people currently using Lawrence East, Ellesmere, and Midland Stations?
Impacts at McCowan & Sheppard
AnonymousWhat impacts can the residents at McCowan & Sheppard expect during terminus and tunnel construction (i.e. utilities disruptions, street-level accessibility)?
Station depth
AnonymousAre the stations going to be super deep like the stations of the Line 1 Vaughan extension? Those are inconvenient to go down so many flights of stairs.
Bus terminal at Lawrence East station
AnonymousAt the Lawrence East Station, where will the bus terminal be located?
Answer
MetrolinxWe are finalizing design plans at this station and will have more details to share about bus terminals in the future.
Construction impacts
Anonymoushow construction would impact the residents/existing residental buildings along subject road-Danforth Road? regarding to vibrantion/noise? foundation of homes
YRT buses
Anonymouswill there be YRT bus service to sheppard-mccowan station?
Bus-only lanes on Ellesmere
AnonymousCan you consider using the SRT corridor from Kennedy to Ellesmere as a bus-only road and bus-only lanes on Ellesmere to make the connection easier for 7 years?
Scarborough Centre station
AnonymousWhy are you moving the Scarb Centre station away from the mall/governement offices/civic centre? You are making people walk further. Keep the existing location!
Tunnel depth
AnonymousHow deep will the tunnell boring be. Will it go under the 401?
Property requirements at Scarborough Centre
AnonymousAt the Scarborough Centre Station, will the Jack Astors and Scaddabush need to be purchased for the new TTC Terminal?
Scarborough centre stop
AnonymousScarborough town center is a main employment area\growth center with plenty of commuters. Why won't the subway stop be closer to it?
Parking at McCowan/Sheppard station
AnonymousIn the plan for the McCowan/ Sheppard Station will parking for cars be available? Is the station only accessible by TTC, taxi, cyclists or pedestrians?
Panelists
AnonymousWhere do all the panelists live and work? What is their background / lived experiences with Scarborough Transit?
Line 2 trains
AnonymousWill we receive new Line 2 trains once the stations open?
Supporting the project
AnonymousCongrats on getting Strabag and Arup on board! How best can Scarborough residents support your important work?
SRS work schedule
AnonymousCan any SR&S work begin before TBM extraction at Eglinton and Midland? If not, is it safe to assume tunneling work will finish in 2023 (when SR&S starts)?
Sheppard East Subway Extension
AnonymousWait a second. Why is it that the 'Future Sheppard east Subway extension' is not one of your Metrolinx projects although it'll connect to this extension
Side platforms
AnonymousCan you have at least one or two stations with side platforms
Bus routes
AnonymousWhich bus routes will be available from Sheppard & McCowan station? Will this station have a bus terminal as well or solely be an underground subway station?
Answer
MetrolinxHi, thanks for your question. We are working closely with the TTC to identify which bus services they will be running at this station. Details about bus connections at future Scarborough Subway Extension stations will depend on the TTC’s service planning. We are finalizing design plans at this station and will have more details to share about bus terminals in the future.