Yonge North Subway Extension

Final cost estimates for the project will be refined throughout the procurement process, which is still underway.

Metrolinx is partnering with Infrastructure Ontario on procurement for major contracts. As each major contract is awarded, the cost will be posted publicly.

Tunnelling will begin after we finalize a detailed schedule with our future tunnelling team. Before that can happen, several important steps need to be completed, including construction of the launch shaft, ground improvements, and design and manufacturing of the tunnel boring machines – consistent with what has taken place on other Metrolinx projects.

Work is well underway to relocate existing utilities along the route and early upgrades at Finch Station are substantially complete. The upgrades set the stage for major construction of the subway extension and bring us a step closer to expanding the region’s rapid transit network.

Shifting the northern portion of the route off of Yonge Street means the project will deliver more transit benefits to communities in York Region, and bring fast, reliable subway service closer to more people sooner.

If we were to tunnel the entire extension, we would not be able to build more than three stations. Running the subway at surface level along the existing railway corridor in the northern end of the extension will also create better, faster connections with GO trains and bus rapid transit services to better support York Region’s growth plans.

This approach means we can finish the project quickly by reducing the need for complex and time-consuming construction of tunnels and underground stations. Minimizing the need for large, disruptive excavation sites for underground stations and exit buildings also allows us to limit property needs in the surface-level section of the route. In addition, limiting construction work to areas that are more out of the way will cut down on disruptions of hydro, natural gas, and water service as we deliver this important project.

Yes. One of the benefits of the Yonge North Subway Extension is that our plans protect for further extension of the line in the future by positioning the northern end of the route along the existing railway corridor.

The stations on the northern section of the extension are placed the way they are to serve the most people in the future, making it faster and easier for riders to use the subway and connect to transit services across the region, and to better support growth while curbing local traffic congestion.

Since the neighbourhoods surrounding Bridge and High Tech stations are expected to grow significantly in the years to come, these stations will contribute a large portion of the riders that will use the extension, especially those who transfer to the subway from a bus.

Located between Highway 7 and Highway 407, Bridge Station will create vital connections between the subway and the Richmond Hill GO line, as well as GO bus, Viva bus rapid transit and local bus services that run along the two major highways. It’s also worth noting that the station at High Tech Road would put the subway within walking distance for more than half of the residents expected to live in the Richmond Hill Centre area by 2041.

The Yonge North Subway Extension will run as part of the existing TTC network and be accessed by a TTC fare.

We’re working with the Province and local transit partners towards integrating fares across the regional transit network to make transit more connected, affordable, and convenient as we build the region's network for the future. For example, Ontario's One Fare program allows riders to only pay once when connecting to and from the TTC and GO Transit, York Region Transit, Brampton Transit, MiWay, and Durham Region Transit.

We know construction can be disruptive, and managing noise and vibration is an important part of how we’re working to be a good neighbour as we build the Yonge North Subway Extension. We'll take steps to manage impacts and we'll work to reduce these impacts whenever possible.

Our goal is always to address potential issues before they happen.

We’ve completed detailed assessments and modelling to predict noise and vibration levels along the route of the extension. These assessments are being used to develop comprehensive construction noise and vibration management plans that will guide how we monitor and manage impacts throughout the project, including site-specific approaches that consider the unique conditions in each area.

We also listen closely to community feedback and look at ways we can address concerns about construction noise and vibration throughout construction.

Learn more about our approach to managing noise and vibration from transit construction.

Some noise and vibration will be noticeable during tunnelling work. Based on the detailed studies and modelling we’ve done, we expect that noise and vibration levels will be within the guidelines we follow. Any vibrations during tunnelling would be temporary, as tunnel boring machines generally move at steady pace of about 10 to 15 metres per day, meaning it is expected take just a few days to pass beneath a typical property.

We’ll work with our tunnelling partner and communities along the route to make sure a comprehensive array of solutions are in place to address noise and vibration, and our goal will be to reduce impacts to our neighbours whenever possible.

We’ll also monitor vibration levels during tunnelling, which will allow us to make timely adjustments when needed to reduce impacts. Our teams will be available throughout construction to share updates and listen closely to community feedback so that we can look at ways to address any concerns about construction noise and vibration.

Learn more about tunnelling and our approach to managing noise and vibration from transit construction.

We will be working directly with businesses throughout construction to help them continue to succeed. This includes collaborating on local marketing campaigns, profiling local businesses, ensuring areas surrounding work sites are safe and clean for employees and customers, and putting up clear and simple wayfinding signage wherever necessary. Our contractors are also required to report regularly on how they are using local businesses to acquire goods and services throughout the project.

We also facilitate broader community conversations through community liaison committees, which are dedicated forums where we can discuss plans with residents and businesses, and come up with local solutions for reducing impacts and keeping people and goods moving.

We’re working closely with our regional and municipal partners to develop coordinated plans to keep traffic flowing safely and efficiently and we will work with our construction partners to introduce solutions that will minimize disruptions and keep the community safe. Plans will be tailored to local conditions and include clear signage, detours where needed, and coordination with other projects.

The Yonge North Subway Extension will use modern construction methods and include proven technology to reduce noise and vibration from trains passing over the rails.

For example, one of the solutions we’ll be using in the underground portion of the route is called ‘floating slab’ track. This track design has been proven to work on many subway lines around the world, including the western extension of Line 1 to Vaughan. It involves attaching the tracks to concrete slabs that ‘float’ above the subway tunnels on thick rubber pads that absorb vibration from passing trains.

We’re offering people a chance to hear for themselves how effective these solutions are at our community office in York Region, which features interactive sound demonstrations that highlight how modern technology will make sure future subway service is smooth and quiet.

Placing a train storage facility at surface-level is a standard practice, and it’s critical to keep it above ground to stay within the announced funding envelope. Cities like Vancouver, Chicago, and New York all have ground level train storage facilities that successfully integrate into residential areas while meeting the needs of their transit networks. This change brings the proposal in line with the TTC’s five subway train storage facilities, which are all above ground.

The facility needed for the Yonge North Subway Extension will be used to store, inspect, and clean subway trains when they are not in service.

The detailed studies and public consultations we're doing will help us make sure we put all the right noise and vibration solutions in place so there are no significant differences between what's experienced in the community today and what will be experienced when the extension is up and running.

Transit corridor lands are lands that may be needed for the planning, design and construction of priority transit projects. Designating these lands will help Metrolinx build transit faster, resulting in fewer inconveniences for neighbouring communities.

Many who own or occupy property on transit corridor land will experience little to no impacts. For others, it may mean a change to some existing processes.

Owning property that is on transit corridor land does not restrict or prevent you from renting, leasing or selling your property now or in the future. You can learn more about transit corridor lands and the permitting and property access conditions that apply to them at metrolinx.com/property.

We are still determining impacts and confirmation of properties through further planning and design work.

Metrolinx only acquires properties that are absolutely necessary for projects. Our goal is always to affect the fewest number of people by minimizing the footprint of our land requirements through careful planning and design.

We understand that residents and businesses want specific details about impacts to their properties, and we will reach out individually to property owners as soon as we can.

Learn more about the property acquisition process.

Community input is vital to our work because it can help uncover insights we might not have anticipated. That feedback helps us refine our plans based on what we hear from communities, pending further analysis and review by our planning and design teams.

We’ve been collecting input from the public and Indigenous communities through virtual and in-person open house events, and consultations for the updated environmental assessment for the project. This input, as well as any actions we’ve taken as a result of that feedback, has been documented in the updated Environmental Project Report addendum published in 2022.

We’re also setting up working groups made up of community members and our project team called community liaison committees. These groups are a venue to review designs, share concerns, answer questions, and keep the community updated on the project at every turn.

You can learn more and review the latest environmental studies for the Yonge North Subway Extension by visiting the Resources page.