Ontario Advancing Construction on the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension
Seven new stations will bring fast and convenient transit closer to people and jobs in the GTA
March 25, 2024
TORONTO — The Ontario government is issuing a Request for Qualifications for the design and construction of seven stations along the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension (ECWE), marking another milestone in the province’s plan to deliver reliable, rapid transit to communities in Etobicoke and Mississauga.
“Under Premier Ford’s leadership, our government is bringing thousands of people in the GTA within walking distance of public transit,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “For people who depend on transit to get to and from work and other important destinations, the seven-stop Eglinton Crosstown West Extension will be a game changer, connecting commuters from Renforth to Mount Dennis, Kennedy and beyond.”
The stations, rail, and systems (SRS) contract includes the design and construction of all seven stations along the ECWE, as well as connecting the line to the existing Eglinton Crosstown LRT at Mount Dennis Station. Tunnelling work for the line began in 2022 with two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) digging east from the launch site near Renforth Drive to the extraction shaft at Scarlett Road.
“By investing in our infrastructure, we are committed to significantly improving the daily lives of our citizens. The development of public transportation infrastructure in the Greater Toronto Area will improve the network’s accessibility, safety and efficiency”, said the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities. “These improvements will ensure more convenient travel for the Greater Toronto Area residents, contributing to a better quality of life for the entire community.”
Once complete, the ECWE will bring the Eglinton Crosstown LRT another 9.2 kilometres farther west, creating a continuous rapid transit line from the east end of Toronto through the heart of the city and into Mississauga, with an estimated 69,700 rides expected each day. The extension will also connect with other regional transit operators, including UP Express, GO Transit, TTC, and MiWay bus services, making it faster, easier and more affordable to get around, saving commuters up to 24 minutes on a single trip.
“Today’s announcement is another sign of progress in delivering good, reliable transit across the city” said Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto. “I hope that we can soon have thousands of people filling up these stations and excited about exploring all the amazing things that Mount Dennis and the neighbouring communities have to offer.”
Ontario is investing more than $70 billion over the next decade to transform public transit in the province, which includes the largest subway expansion in Canadian history – the Ontario Line, the Scarborough Subway Extension, the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension and the Yonge North Subway Extension.
Quick Facts
- The Eglinton Crosstown West Extension will bring 37,500 more people within walking distance of transit and reduce daily travel times for transit riders and drivers.
- The SRS contract includes architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical work for the ECWE stations from Mount Dennis to Renforth Drive, as well as outfitting the tunnels and the elevated guideway with track and signals.
- The province has released initial renderings to show early planning and design concepts for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension stations.
- In 2021, the Government of Canada announced its commitment to fund over $10 billion toward the eligible costs for Ontario’s priority transit projects in the Greater Toronto Area, including the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension.
- In February 2020, Ontario and the City of Toronto announced the signing of the Ontario-Toronto Transit Partnership Preliminary Agreement, formalizing their partnership to deliver on the province’s plan to build priority transit projects faster, including the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension.
Quotes
“Public transit is more than just a means of getting around. By making transit accessible, affordable, and reliable, we’re not only connecting people to opportunities but also creating inclusive, sustainable, and vibrant places to live and work.”
– Ahmed Hussen
Member of Parliament for York South—Weston
“The Eglinton Crosstown West Extension is seeing great progress today with the release of the Request for Qualifications to design and build seven stations. The extension will help people in Etobicoke and Mississauga reach their local destinations, or commute to downtown Toronto. Thanks to our government’s investment, walking to stations will be easier than ever and public transit will be more accessible for local residents.”
– Kinga Surma
Minister of Infrastructure and MPP for Etobicoke Centre
“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is building reliable and efficient transit for residents, workers and businesses across the Greater Toronto Area. The Eglinton Crosstown West Extension will connect more neighbourhoods from the east end to the west end and reduce gridlock for everyone.”
– Vijay Thanigasalam
Associate Minister of Transportation
“Today’s announcement is yet another important milestone in our government’s efforts to build the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, bringing the residents of York South—Weston another step closer to the high-quality transit they need to make life easier and stay connected.”
– Michael Ford
MPP for York South—Weston
“The seven-stop Eglinton Crosstown West Extension project will become a true transportation hub. We are building transit that saves people time and money, while creating good-paying jobs along the way. This is significant and tangible progress toward expanding transit that will improve people’s lives.”
– Christine Hogarth
MPP for Etobicoke—Lakeshore
“The Eglinton Crosstown West Extension is a key development for Mississauga, directly addressing the congestion that limits our economic output. By improving mass transit, we’re making it easier for people to get to work and broadening our talent pool. Progress on this critical piece of infrastructure is not just good news for Mississauga but a boost for the entire GTA economy.”
– Trevor McPherson
President & CEO, Mississauga Board of Trade
“I am very pleased to be starting procurement for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension’s last major contract, which marks another important step toward delivering more fast, convenient transit to the Greater Toronto Area. The seven new stations we are building will bring transit closer to 37,500 more people and 23,600 jobs while making important connections to other local and regional transit routes along the way.”
– Phil Verster
President and CEO of Metrolinx
“With procurement starting for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension’s Stations, Rail and Systems contract – and tunnelling progressing more every day, we’re even closer to helping people travel quickly and efficiently between Toronto, Mississauga and Etobicoke.”
– Michael Lindsay
President and CEO, Infrastructure Ontario