Scarborough Subway Extension

Our current plans at the Sheppard/McCowan terminus station will protect for future expansion considerations, including the proposed Sheppard Extension.

We acknowledge that there have been many discussions on how to improve rapid transit in Scarborough over the years, and now we are moving forward with a solution. That solution is the three-stop subway extension that was announced in the 2019 budget. We’ve already awarded Strabag the tunnelling contract with work now underway at the launch shaft site, at the northeast corner of Sheppard and McCowan.

The three-stop extension will provide seamless travel for Scarborough residents heading into and out of the downtown core by eliminating the need to transfer at Kennedy Station. There are proposed stops at Lawrence Avenue and McCowan Road, Scarborough Centre and McCowan Road and Sheppard Avenue.

It will connect to a number of other transit systems to make it easier to travel within the city and beyond. Kennedy Station will provide connections to GO train services and the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, and a station at Scarborough Centre will connect to GO and Durham Region transit bus services. There will also be local TTC bus connections at every stop along the extension.

This extension will provide Scarborough residents with the same kind of connected and seamless subway service that residents have in other areas of the city.

The extraction shaft, where the TBM will eventually be pulled out of the ground, will be located at the south-east corner of Eglinton Avenue East and Midland Avenue.

Metrolinx planners came up with a solution to move the east side of the intersection slightly north. This will allow for traffic to continue flowing smoothly while construction for the extraction shaft is underway and until the TBM is eventually pulled from the ground.

The entire line, including station buildings, access points, elevators and ramps, will meet or exceed all necessary accessibility standards.

Since the completion of the 2017 Scarborough Subway Extension Environmental Project Report (EPR), changes have been proposed to the project alignment and stations that are inconsistent with the 2017 report

We have assessed these changes, along with the current environmental conditions, and these details are available to Indigenous communities and the local community through the EPR addendum. The public review period for the addendum began on July 10, 2020 and closed on August 3, 2020. The updated EPR addendum is available in the Studies section of our webpage.

We are committed to advancing discussions with the City of Toronto and the TTC to better understand what options and alternatives they may need to put in place to keep people moving, quickly and easily. We know how important it is to ensure the people of Scarborough have access to rapid transit. Getting the Scarborough Subway Extension built as quickly as possible remains a top priority for Metrolinx and transit riders in Toronto.

Metrolinx doesn’t require the existing Scarborough RT infrastructure to be demolished to build the Scarborough Subway Extension. We will engage with the City and TTC to understand their vision for the future of the infrastructure, which we understand will be the subject of community consultation.

Construction for the tunnelling contract started in June 2021.

We’re committed to ensuring local businesses remain accessible, visible and successful throughout this important project. We’ll work with the business community to provide customized supports, from making sure store fronts are clear and easy to access, to working together on promotions and incentives, to helping them relocate to other nearby locations if their properties are needed to support construction. We will also be opening community offices along the route where we’ll be available to answer questions, provide updates and help support local businesses through construction.

A 24-hour community relations hotline has also been set up to field questions and concerns from the community. We are committed to keeping an open, two-way dialogue going so we can continuously strengthen and improve our supports for local businesses.

Being a good neighbour in the communities we serve is important to us. With any large infrastructure project, some properties and roadways may be affected during various stages of construction. Metrolinx and its construction partners will be engaging with community members and collaborating on construction mitigation plans as designs progress and construction details are confirmed with construction partners. Solutions will be put in place to minimize impacts to homes, businesses, and travel routes.

A 24-hour community relations hotline has also been set up to field questions and concerns from the community.

The machine will tunnel approximately 10 metres per day, so the work is continuously moving forward and won’t stay in a particular place for too long. The machine will also be approximately 15 to 20 metres below the surface, so any noise and vibrations will be minimal.

We are using design and construction methods that will keep noise and vibration levels low, and within approved levels. Noise and vibration levels will also be continuously monitored throughout tunnelling to ensure we have the right solutions in place throughout the course of the project.

We’ve also set up a 24/7 phone line where people can reach out if they have any questions or concerns about the project. Our dedicated community relations team is available at 416-202-7900 or through email at scarboroughsubwayextension@metrolinx.com .

To keep the project moving forward as quickly as possible, tunnelling will begin first. On May 25, 2021 Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario awarded the advance tunnel contract to Strabag to design, build and finance the tunnel for the Scarborough Subway Extension.

Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario selected Scarborough Transit Connect as the development partner for the Stations, Rail and Systems contract in November 2022. Metrolinx and Scarborough Transit Connect will now work collaboratively through development phase of the project to further designs for the three stations.

The contract will involve the design and build of stations and emergency exit buildings, fitting the tunnel with track and signals and installing and commissioning the systems for the project, including communications and signaling systems.