Frequently Asked Questions
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The Crosstown will bring fast, reliable, convenient and more comfortable transit service across Toronto. It will move people up to 60 per cent faster than the existing bus service on the Eglinton corridor today.
In addition to moving people across the city more efficiently, reliably and comfortably than ever before, The Crosstown will ease traffic and air pollution by providing an excellent travel alternative.
The project will create thousands of construction jobs and provide lasting economic benefits, not only for Toronto, but for the whole region.
The Crosstown line will be partially underground. It will run along Eglinton Avenue, from Jane Street/Black Creek Drive to Kennedy Station. Ten kilometres will be tunnelled underground between Keele Street and Laird Drive and will continue east on an at-grade right-of-way separated from traffic to Kennedy Station, where it will join with a converted Scarborough RT line on an elevated structure. The line will be extended to Sheppard Avenue East (At Progress Avenue), with a direct connection to the future Sheppard East LRT located near the Chinese Cultural Centre. This line will be fully separated from traffic and will proceed as a separate project starting with construction in 2014.
Please refer to the route map for a complete list of the proposed station stops. There will be underground stations connecting to TTC interchange stations at Kennedy Station, Eglinton Station (at Yonge Street) and Eglinton West Station (at Allen Road).
Final station locations are subject to approval by the Province of Ontario.
Metrolinx is committed to providing fully accessible transportation facilities. The Crosstown stations and vehicles will be in compliance with the City of Toronto’s Accessibility Design Guidelines, Ontario Accessible Built Environment Standard, Ontario Building Code, and Ontario Human Rights Code. All Crosstown vehicles will be accessible with low floors and stations will include a main entrance with elevators and escalators.
Construction began in Keelesdale Park in the summer of 2011. A launch shaft is currently under construction near Black Creek Drive and Eglinton Avenue. This is where the tunnel boring machines will begin their journey under Eglinton. Preparation of the launch shaft continues through the summer and fall of 2012. The launch shaft will be approximately 60 metres long, 20 metres wide and 16 metres deep.
The project implementation plan currently in development, will determine the complete construction schedule. The goal is to complete the entire Crosstown project as close to 2020 as possible.
Metrolinx’s regional transportation plan – The Big Move – includes the extension of the Crosstown to the airport and to Mississauga in the long-term. The section west of Black Creek, however, requires additional funding, and therefore will not proceed at this time. Should it be determined that a western extension is feasible and funding becomes available, Metrolinx, in consultation with the TTC and the City of Toronto, will proceed with the extension.
Metrolinx is also examining the potential for a future Crosstown connection to GO Transit in the vicinity of Black Creek Drive at the former Kodak lands.
The Crosstown line will cross under the existing Spadina Subway at Eglinton West Station, and the Yonge Subway at Eglinton Station - running underneath Eglinton Avenue. The design will include elevators and escalators, as well as stairways, for passengers to transfer between lines.
Kennedy Station will be rebuilt to be fully equipped with escalators, elevators and stairway access for passengers to connect to the Bloor-Danforth subway line. A public walkway from Kennedy station will connect to the GO Transit line.
The section of the line replacing the Scarborough RT between Kennedy and McCowan is planned to be open in 2019, prior to the opening of the Eglinton section.
An Environmental Assessment for the proposed Eglinton Maintenance and Storage Facility to accommodate the new vehicles at Black Creek and Eglinton is scheduled to commence in 2012.
The Crosstown Environmental Assessment completed in January 2010 will require an amendment from Back Creek Drive to Jane Street. The amendment process will include public consultation.
Find out more about the Transit Project Assessment Process.
A comprehensive construction-management strategy is being developed for the overall project, including station construction. Metrolinx is committed to providing businesses along the route with as much notice as possible to allow them to plan well in advance of construction. Frequent updates and links to local Business Improvement Areas will also be available online.
All Crosstown stations will use the new PRESTO payment card system in addition to the standard TTC methods of payment including the: Metropass, Weekly Pass, Day Pass, Token or cash fare.
Metrolinx is responsible for funding The Crosstown and will oversee the design and build of The Crosstown. Metrolinx approves the scope of the project, its schedule and budget. Metrolinx also approves all contracts associated with the development of The Crosstown. Metrolinx is also responsible for project management, planning, design, engineering, community relations and communications for The Crosstown. Any questions or concerns about construction should be directed to our Crosstown Community Liaison Team.
The TTC will be responsible for The Crosstown operations once it opens in 2020. Since the beginning of the project, Metrolinx and the TTC have worked in close collaboration to ensure the effectiveness of this project – and will continue to do so.
Metrolinx is investigating state-of-the-art construction techniques to reduce vibration and noise during both the building phase and full Crosstown operation. Construction work with normal construction noise from trucks and equipment can be expected. During tunnelling operations vibration monitors will be installed at key points to monitor vibration levels.
Yes. Metrolinx is working with the City of Toronto to coordinate the construction of The Crosstown line with other major City infrastructure work.
This will be determined through a comprehensive disruption management plan.
Construction notices and updates will be posted on this website throughout the implementation process – to provide communities with information. The City of Toronto has a traffic information website at: http://www.toronto.ca/torontostreets/
Transforming transit across the middle of Toronto will involve significant construction. A major component of the project involves planning for the effects. Construction work including utility relocation, excavation and station building will be visible along the corridor as the project is implemented. It is simply not possible to expand transit under Eglinton Avenue without construction impacts, particularly during station construction. It is essential for Metrolinx to be sensitive to these impacts, reduce them as much as feasible, and ensure communities are well prepared and informed. A comprehensive disruption management plan will be developed and will involve significant outreach and communication. Community Liaison staff will provide communities with detailed, ongoing information as the project proceeds.
In order to finish on schedule, several underground Crosstown stations will be under construction at the same time. The earliest station construction could begin is 2013. Construction of new stations that will connect to Eglinton West Station at Allen Road and to Eglinton Station at Yonge Street will be particularly complex. Metrolinx will provide the community with as much detailed information as possible, including information on alternate routes and other tips to help navigate around construction sites. Outreach will be undertaken during station design planning.
All Crosstown stations will have a Designated Waiting Area and closed-circuit TV monitoring. Stations are also being designed according to the principles of CPTED - Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design.
