New extension will expand transit from Scarborough to Mississauga and support 4,600 good-paying jobs
TORONTO — The Ontario government is marking another major milestone in its plan to protect Ontario with the completion of tunnelling for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, which will extend Line 5 Eglinton by 9.2 kilometres and create a continuous rapid transit line from Scarborough to Mississauga. With construction underway along the line, supporting 4,600 good-paying jobs annually, the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension will reduce gridlock and connect nearly 70,000 commuters to jobs across the Greater Toronto Area.
“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is making historic investments in public transit to fight gridlock, shorten travel times and build a stronger, more resilient and self-reliant economy,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “The Eglinton Crosstown West Extension will make it faster and easier for thousands of commuters to get where they’re going each day, improve connectivity across the GTA and support thousands of good-paying jobs during construction.”
Crews have completed excavating twin 500-metre tunnels from Mount Dennis Station to Jane Street for the eastern underground segment of the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension. Tunnelling for the western underground segment, running 6.3 kilometres from Scarlett Road to Renforth Drive, was completed in June 2024.
Earlier this year, Ontario also marked the official opening of the 19-kilometre Line 5 Eglinton, which is moving more than 100,000 riders each day and cutting commute times from Kennedy Station in Scarborough to Mount Dennis Station by almost one hour. The extension will add seven stations to Line 5 Eglinton, offering connections to UP Express, GO Transit, TTC and MiWay, reducing travel times for commuters across the GTA.
Once complete, the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension will extend Line 5 Eglinton farther west, creating nearly 30 kilometres of rapid transit along Eglinton Avenue, linking Scarborough, Midtown Toronto and Mississauga into a single continuous transit line. The extension will save passengers up to 24 minutes travelling from Toronto’s Yonge and Eglinton to Mississauga’s Square One.
Ontario is investing nearly $70 billion in public transit, including the largest subway expansion in Canadian history with the Ontario Line, Scarborough Subway Extension, Eglinton Crosstown West Extension and Yonge North Subway Extension.
Quick Facts
- The Eglinton Crosstown West Extension will add seven stations to Line 5 Eglinton, offering connections to UP Express, GO Transit, TTC and MiWay, reducing travel times for commuters across the GTA.
- The Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, when combined with Line 5 Eglinton, will result in 6.5 million fewer car trips each year.
- The twin 500-metre tunnels that form the eastern underground portion of the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension were built via sequential excavation, with crews advancing one to two metres under Eglinton Avenue West each day.
- At Jane Street, trains on the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension will run above ground on an elevated guideway to Scarlett Road before transitioning to the western underground portion of the line, which finished tunnelling in 2024.
- The Government of Canada is supporting the construction of the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension through an investment of approximately $1.87 billion.
Quotes
“The completion of tunnelling for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension marks another important milestone in delivering faster and more reliable transit across the GTA. As part of our government’s $236 billion capital plan to build and protect Ontario, we are planning a transit-oriented community (TOC) at the future Martin Grove Station along the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension. This TOC will deliver nearly 685 new homes, support approximately 30 new jobs and make it easier for residents to connect to opportunities across the region.”
– Todd McCarthy
Acting Minister of Infrastructure
“Today’s announcement marks another critical milestone for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension. This is a clear sign that this critical project is moving forward and our government is one step closer to delivering faster, more reliable transit. We are making historic investments in transit infrastructure that will improve connectivity, giving Etobicoke Centre residents better access to jobs, services and opportunities across Toronto and the GTA.”
– Kinga Surma
MPP for Etobicoke Centre
“Our government is continuing to deliver the largest transit expansion in North America. Once complete, the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension will provide faster and more convenient transit options for people in York South–Weston and across west Toronto, while providing faster access to jobs and opportunities throughout the region. This milestone demonstrates the important progress being made as we continue investing in major transit infrastructure across the GTA.”
– Mohamed Firin
MPP for York South—Weston
“Today’s announcement represents a significant investment in Ontario’s future by improving connections between our communities, reducing travel times, and creating new opportunities for people to live, work and do business. I look forward to seeing construction continue as we move one step closer to delivering faster, more reliable transit for families, workers and visitors across the region.”
– Michelle Cooper
MPP for Eglinton—Lawrence
“The completion of tunnelling on the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension is another important step toward building the connected transit network Toronto needs. This extension will make it easier for people to travel across the city, with better connections to jobs, schools and essential services. Better transit means shorter trips, less congestion and more affordable ways to get around. The City of Toronto looks forward to continuing to work with our provincial and federal partners to deliver this important project for Torontonians.”
– Olivia Chow
Mayor, City of Toronto
“Completing both phases of tunnelling on the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension on schedule – nearly seven kilometres of tunnels in total – is a clear sign of the progress and momentum happening on this project. Reaching this milestone brings us another step closer to delivering transit to thousands of people, making it easier and more convenient to travel from Scarborough, through midtown Toronto and into Mississauga.”
– Michael Lindsay
President and CEO, Metrolinx
“CUTA congratulates the Government of Ontario on reaching yet another important milestone on the journey to connect the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Public transit is a strong engine of GDP growth, and we look forward to the Government’s continued investment and growth of the GTHA’s transit network.”
– Marco D’Angelo
President and CEO, Canadian Urban Transit Association
“The completion of tunnelling for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension is a tremendous milestone that brings Toronto closer to a faster, more integrated transit network. TRACCS Transit and Rail and its members are delighted to celebrate the incredible progress we can achieve through collaboration, and we are proud to see this vital infrastructure take such a significant step forward for the community.”
– Mark Salsberg
P.Eng, MBA, Chairperson, TRACCS Transit and Rail