It is an exciting time for transit in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area as Provincial funding is making significant and critical infrastructure projects possible.

MoveOntario 2020

Through MoveOntario 2020, the Government of Ontario announced a list of 52 transit improvement and expansion projects and a commitment of $11.5 billion. Since that announcement in June 2007, those projects have formed the basis for The Big Move, the Regional Transportation Plan.

To swiftly get transit improvements underway, the Ontario government approved a $744 million package known as Quick Wins.

Funded Projects

In spring 2009, the Province of Ontario announced an unprecedented $9.5 billion in funding, including more than $300 million from the Federal Government, for transit projects known as the Metrolinx Big 5. These projects included Viva Bus Rapid Transit on Hwy. 7 and Yonge Street in York Region, and Finch Light Rail Transit (LRT), Scarborough Rapid Transit, Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown and Sheppard East LRT in the City of Toronto.

In early 2011, the scopes of the Toronto projects were redefined by Metrolinx, the Government of Ontario and the newly appointed City of Toronto administration. In March 2011, the parties reached a consensus on a revised plan with a greater focus on higher-order, grade separated rapid transit services.

Metrolinx will focus on the delivery of the Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown Project and the City of Toronto will focus on Sheppard Subway extension west to Downsview and east to Scarborough Centre.

The original funding for the Toronto Metrolinx Big 5 projects is being redirected towards the revised plan and provides an excellent start for transit improvements and network expansion in our region.

For more information, please visit the Expansion Projects page.

Future of Funding

We cannot continue to rely solely on Provincial funding for future transportation projects given our current fiscal environment. Metrolinx is legislated to report back to the province by 2013 with an Investment Strategy that will help keep the ball rolling with investments in transportation.

More information on the Investment Strategy