This web page provides a high-level overview of the Ontario Line project. For more information and project news, please visit Metrolinx’s Ontario Line project page or Metrolinx Engage to Get Involved.
Project Background
The Ontario Line is a rapid transit line that will connect the Ontario Science Centre to the Exhibition/Ontario Place grounds. It will be approximately 15.5 km in length with 15 stations, including six interchange/intermodal stations, that will connect to GO train services at Exhibition/Ontario Place and East Harbour, to the TTC subway network on Line 1 at both Queen and Osgoode stations and on Line 2 at Pape station, and to the future Eglinton Crosstown LRT (Line 5) at the Ontario Science Centre.
The Ontario Line was announced as part of the 2019 Provincial Budget. The project has been identified as the sole responsibility of Metrolinx in the Getting Ontario Moving Act (Bill 107) and Ontario Regulation 248/19 Interim Measures – Upload of Rapid Transit Projects.
Project Status
Project planning and design is being led by Metrolinx and is currently underway. Visit the Metrolinx Engage page to ask questions and get involved.
- December 2021: A Downtown Stations – Temporary Road Closures and Community Impacts report has been developed and will be discussed by Toronto City Council. The report outlines the maximum impact traffic changes could have on the community and road users including drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and transit riders. These plans will be refined and traffic impacts reduced as construction contracts are awarded.
- November/December 2021: First Parliament Site: Heritage Interpretation and Commemoration Plan Survey open until December 17.
- November 2020: Metrolinx completed an environmental assessment (EA) for the Ontario Line in accordance with Ontario Regulation (O. Reg.) 341/20: Ontario Line Project under the Environmental Assessment Act. read the final version of the Environmental Conditions Report.
- September 2020: As required under O. Reg. 341/20, Metrolinx released its draft Environmental Conditions Report for public input and feedback.
- January/February 2020: Metrolinx introduced the Ontario Line to the public using a series of public open houses.
- July 2019: Metrolinx published the Ontario Line Initial Business Case.
City Expectations
City staff assessment of the proposed project was included in a staff report to City Council in October 2019. The City and TTC will be working with Metrolinx so that the following key expectations of this project are met:
- Providing a design capacity for the Ontario Line of at least 34,000 passengers per hour per direction at the peak point (pphpd) and opening day capacity for at least 20,000 pphpd.
- Per the Initial Business Case demand projection, reducing the projected 2041 demand on Line 1 to no more than 36,000 pphpd of the line.
- Providing new interchange stations with Lines 1, 2 and 5, and GO Transit.
- Minimizing impacts to existing City and TTC infrastructure and facilities and not causing design alterations or schedule delays to planned capital infrastructure projects, including Lower Don flood mitigation measures and the Gardiner Rehabilitation Project.
- Putting in appropriate measures to mitigate impacts on the local community, such as property, noise, vibration, traffic, and visual intrusion, including in such areas as Riverdale/Leslieville and Thorncliffe Park.
- Demonstrating consistency with the City’s planning framework, including locating stations in areas where the Official Plan directs population and employment growth, with land use designations in the station area that support the development of this growth, benefiting the natural and cultural heritage environments, improving the public realm, achieving architectural and urban design excellence, and being resilient to climate change.
- Providing convenient and safe passenger movement with connecting bus and streetcar routes, while integrating facilities identified by TTC to deliver effective and flexible transit service.
