Ontario Line Construction

Toronto deserves much-needed transit infrastructure. The Ontario Line will be a 15.6-kilometre subway line that will travel from Exhibition Place, through our downtown core, to the Ontario Science Centre. With four stations in Spadina-Fort York — at Exhibition Place, King/Bathurst, Queen/Spadina, and Osgoode at University. Construction began in spring 2023, and it is our priority to ensure that as we build we also protect our public and green spaces, and minimize disruptions.

Ontario Line Construction Subcommittee

Building transit is critical to our city’s goals to create a more accessible, green Toronto. In past projects, we’ve also seen first-hand the problems that have occurred when the Province and Metrolinx work without the City’s involvement. To address these gaps, I worked with local stakeholders and Council colleagues to create a Subcommittee on Metrolinx’s Ontario Line Construction in early 2023. As chair of the committee I prioritized community voices and residents’ needs alongside a transparent and efficient planning process.

In July, City Council approved the Committee’s final report with recommendations to Metrolinx outlining Toronto’s priorities for construction, including:

Community benefits
Business supports
Community engagement
Traffic and construction management
Affordable housing and rental replacement
Park and neighbourhood investments

This report lays the background for the City and communities engagement with Metrolinx moving forward. You can view the full report available here.

Latest Update

As part of our recommendations for accountability, the City submitted its first quarterly update on construction of the Ontario Line was released in January 2024. It consolidates City staff recommendations and public feedback provided throughout the Subcommittee’s duration, and provides a comprehensive analysis of initiatives that the Province and Metrolinx are taking during construction.

Our work together has ensured the construction of the Ontario Line is responsible, accountable, and includes real community collaboration. We’re working to:

Mitigate construction impacts on small businesses & improved traffic management. Our BIAs and Metrolinx are in direct, regular contact, with a new $10,000 grant being offered to our BIAs to support marketing initiatives.
Secure improved signage in construction areas and regular site inspections to keep working areas clean and maintain door access for businesses
Ensure direct, consistent community consultations, and now we are seeing monthly Community Liaison Committees (CLCs), with updates from construction teams, Metrolinx, the city, and the community to ensure we are all on the same page on issues affecting our communities
Secure community benefits for impacted neighborhoods and equity-deserving workers

Learn more about the Ontario Line construction:

How We're Taking Action

As construction on the Ontario Line continues, I will continue to push for the best results for our downtown communities. At the Toronto-East York Community Council in January 2024, I successfully moved motions pushing Metrolinx to:

Accelerate the re-opening of the Queen Streetcar
Improve supports for our BIAs and live music venues
Ensure adequate affordable housing at stations
Provide a public community benefits agreement

Working together, we’ve shown it’s possible to build public transit for all, prioritize community engagement and benefits, and minimize disruptions, by making the choice to work cooperatively with residents, community stakeholders, and local elected representatives.

Station Construction Updates

We'll update this page regularly. For more detailed information, check out Metrolinx's dedicated Ontario Line webpage.

Exhibition Station

Exhibition Station will serve Exhibition Place, as well as neighboring Liberty Village. This terminus point of the line will also connect to the GO Transit rail network, creating an alternative access to the subway system beyond Union Station. The station will also be walking distance from the 511 Bathurst and 509 Harbourfront streetcars for increased accessibility.

A portal will be constructed on the north side of the existing GO corridor east of Exhibition Station for the beginning of the Ontario Line tunnels where they will run north from the existing rail corridor. Tail tracks, west of Exhibition, will provide space for the storage of Ontario Line vehicles and protect for a future extension of the line.

Metrolinx will be initiating the Community Liaison Committee in February 2024.