Eglinton Crosstown LRT

Eglinton Crosstown LRT is a light rail line under construction in Toronto, Ontario. It is a flagship project of the regional transit agency Metrolinx, designed to run along Eglinton Avenue from Mount Dennis in the west to Kennedy station in the east. The line will feature a mix of underground, at-grade, and elevated sections, integrating with the existing Toronto Transit Commission network.

History and planning

The origins of the project trace back to the cancelled Eglinton West line of the 1990s, part of the ambitious Network 2011 plan. The concept was revived under Transit City, a light rail plan announced in 2007 by then-Mayor David Miller. Following political changes, including the election of Mayor Rob Ford, the project was initially threatened but later reconfirmed by the Provincial Government under Premier Kathleen Wynne. Key planning milestones included the 2010 approval of the Environmental Assessment and the 2015 signing of the Ontario-Toronto Transit Agreement.

Route and stations

The route travels primarily along the Eglinton Avenue corridor, connecting several major Toronto neighbourhoods. The western terminus is at Mount Dennis, near the intersection with Weston Road, which will also house the maintenance and storage facility. The line descends into a tunnel east of Caledonia Road, running underground through central areas like Eglinton West station and Eglinton station, where it intersects with the Line 1 Yonge–University. It emerges east of Brentcliffe Road to run at-grade and elevated, passing through Science Centre station before terminating at Kennedy station, a hub for Line 2 Bloor–Danforth and GO Transit services.

Construction and delays

A design-build-finance-maintain contract was awarded in 2015 to the Crosslinx Transit Solutions consortium, which includes companies like ACS Group and Aecon. Major construction began in 2016, involving complex utility relocations, tunnel boring with machines named after Dennis and Lea, and the building of stations. The project has been plagued by significant delays and cost overruns, attributed to disputes between Metrolinx and Crosslinx, design changes, and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The original opening date of 2020 has been pushed back multiple times, with no confirmed public opening date as of 2024.

Operations and service

Once operational, the line will be fully integrated into the Toronto Transit Commission fare system, using Presto card technology. Trains will consist of Flexity Freedom light rail vehicles manufactured by Alstom, operating in two-car sets. Service is planned to run at high frequencies, with headways of under five minutes during peak periods. The line will be operated by Metrolinx staff but will function as a seamless part of the Toronto subway network for riders, with connections to multiple TTC bus routes, GO Transit rail services, and the future Ontario Line.

Impact and reception

The project is expected to significantly improve east-west connectivity across Midtown Toronto, reducing reliance on the congested Eglinton Avenue and providing a rapid transit alternative to the Line 2 Bloor–Danforth. It has received support from urban planners and local residents' associations for promoting transit-oriented development. However, the prolonged construction has been heavily criticized by businesses along the corridor, community groups, and politicians like Mayor Olivia Chow for its disruption and lack of transparency. Its eventual success is seen as crucial for the credibility of other Metrolinx projects, including the Scarborough subway extension and the Eglinton West Extension.

Category:Light rail in Toronto Category:Transport in Toronto Category:Metrolinx