The Toronto Transit Commission officially launched the first Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) on the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension on June 17. A total of four TBMs will build the tunnels for the 8.6 km extension into York Region. Each of the machines has a name, the result of a popular naming contest. The machines are officially known as Holey, Moley, Yorkie and Torkie.

The official launch ceremony, near the future site of the Sheppard West station, was attended by federal Environment Minister Peter Kent, Ontario Transportation Minister Kathleen Wynne, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, York Region Chairman/CEO Bill Fisch and TTC Chair Karen Stintz.

The Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension will be the first subway expansion crossing the municipal boundary of Toronto. The extension is fully funded, and physical construction is scheduled to be completed in 2015. The project is expected to create up to 20,000 jobs.

When completed, the subway line will feature six new stations: Sheppard West, Finch West, York University, Steeles West, Highway 407 and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre in York Region. To encourage motorists to use the subway, 2,900 parking spaces will be available at three stations (Highway 407, Finch West and Highway 407).

The Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension is jointly funded by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, the City of Toronto and the Regional Municipality of York.

ttc.ca