The Premier of Ontario was on hand to officially break ground for the Ontario Line Exhibition Station, marking the start of construction for the new subway line in the Greater Toronto Area.
On-Site states that the 14 stations along the 15.6 kilometre Ontario Line will provide rapid transit between Exhibition/Ontario Place and the Ontario Science Centre. The Ontario Line Station will connect to more than 40 other transit routes including:
- GO train lines
- Existing TTC subway and streetcar lines
- The Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit line
"The Ontario Line will be a game-changer for transit here in Toronto and the GTA. It will bring 15.6 kilometres of new subway service to the city that will link up with more than 40 other transit options along the way, including GO trains here at Exhibition. These kinds of connections are going to help us speed up travel times and reduce congestion at key pinch points like Union Station. Breaking ground on these improvements puts us an important step closer to giving the people of Toronto the transit relief they need."
President & CEO of Metrolinx | Phil Verster
Upgrades at Exhibition Station will allow GO customers to continue to use the station during the construction of the Ontario Line. These upgrades will include:
- Opening a new station entrance and exit from Atlantic Avenue
- Shifting the existing GO rail track
- Creating a new train platform
- Constructing a temporary pedestrian bridge over existing GO tracks
According to Ontario News, the new subway line will create thousands of new jobs and spur economic growth.
"Building public transit and critical transportation infrastructure has remained at the forefront of our government's plan to build Ontario and create a better, more successful future for the people who live here. With all three levels of government at the table, we have worked at an unprecedented pace to move each of Premier Ford's four priority subway projects forward. With shovels now in the ground on three of Ontario's four priority projects, we are closer to providing better travel options, alleviating gridlock on our roads, and creating thousands of good local jobs."
Minister of Transportation | Caroline Mulroney
Ontario's bold transit plan for the Greater Toronto Area includes a commitment of nearly $17 billion from the province for construction. Last May, the Government of Canada announced over $10 billion in funding for Ontario's four priority subway projects in the Greater Toronto Area - the largest joint investment in transit in the region's history - which includes:
- The all-new Ontario Line
- The three-stop Scarborough Subway Extension
- The Yonge North Subway Extension
- The Eglinton Crosstown West Extension
By creating a new connection between GO rail and subway services at Exhibition Station, the crowding at Union Station will be relieved. Coupled with another connection to the GO rail system at East Harbour, the Ontario Line could reduce crowding at Union Station by as much as 14 per cent during the busiest travel hour.
By 2041, the Ontario Line will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 14,000 tonnes annually and cut overall fuel consumption by more than 7 million litres a year which is the equivalent of nearly 120,000 fill ups at the pump per year.
Every $1 billion invested in transit helps support 10,000 jobs and boosts Ontario's real GDP by another $1 billion.
