Work on Eglinton East Light Rail Transit (LRT) and the Waterfront Transit Network will move forward following the Toronto City Council’s vote of support on the two projects.
The council directed city staff to continue evaluations and other work on the projects and to report back to the council next year on schedules for both projects.
The Eglinton East LRT is a planned 15-km (9.3-mile) extension of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT from Kennedy Station to Malvern, with up to 21 stops and three connections to GO Transit. The line would provide transit access to historically underserved communities, traveling through or adjacent to seven Neighborhood Improvement Areas and bringing higher-order transit within walking distance of 49,000 Torontonians.
Staff has reported the updated project cost of the Eglinton East LRT project to be C$4 billion (US$3.14 billion). The council approved an updated project scope with an evolved design that accommodates the province of Ontario’s subway expansion plans. For example, city staff revised a tunneled option connection at Kennedy Station between the Eglinton East LRT project and the province’s updated design for the Scarborough Subway Extension.
City staff will report back to the Toronto City Council on project costs, schedule and approach next year.
The Waterfront Transit Network, which includes a Union Station to Queens Quay Link via streetcar and the East Bayfront LRT, is at 30 percent design and cost estimates are being developed. The project is a joint effort between the city, Toronto Transit Commission and Waterfront Toronto. The city notes the project would provide new and improved infrastructure to operate additional streetcar services to the East Bayfront development area.
City staff has been directed by the city council to report on the project’s schedule and funding next year.
