🚈 May is LRT Month at GTA Weekly! In our Next Stop series, we’re spotlighting a new light rail transit project every Sunday that’s shaping the future of public transportation across the Greater Toronto Area. This week, we’re kicking things off with a bold vision: extending the Finch West LRT all the way to Toronto Pearson International Airport.
A Fast Track to the Airport?
The Finch West LRT is expected to open sometime in 2025, with speculation suggesting a possible launch by September—though no official date has been confirmed. When it begins service, it will run 11 kilometres from Keele Street to Humber College, offering rapid transit to northwest Toronto. But transit planners, advocates, and local residents have long asked the question: Why stop there?
A westward extension to Pearson Airport would serve as a vital missing link in the GTA’s transit puzzle. The route would move through Etobicoke, possibly connecting with:
- Woodbine Racetrack and Woodbine Mall (Rexdale Station)
- Pearson Regional Transit Centre (future hub for UP Express, GO, TTC, MiWay, and Brampton Transit)
Why It Matters
This extension would:
- Connect the dots between major LRT lines, SmartTrack, and Pearson Airport
- Serve thousands of airport-area workers who commute from northwest Toronto and Peel Region
- Reduce congestion on the 427 and 401 highways
- Support Woodbine Entertainment redevelopment, one of the largest mixed-use developments in Canada
It’s not just about airport passengers—it’s about equity and access for working-class communities often left behind by transit investments.
The Vision: Seamless LRT Integration
The idea isn’t new. Metrolinx and the City of Toronto have referenced potential westward expansion of Finch West in various planning documents over the years, and a 2020 report by MoveToronto made a compelling case for the LRT’s continuation to Pearson. The route could also utilize portions of Hydro corridors and former railway rights-of-way to lower construction costs and avoid major surface disruptions.
At Pearson, the LRT would plug directly into the Pearson Regional Transit Centre, a future ground transportation hub set to transform how the airport connects to the region.
Challenges & Political Will
While the concept has public support, political and financial commitments remain elusive. The project is currently unfunded, and no official environmental assessment or route planning has begun.
However, with SmartTrack, Eglinton West LRT, and GO Expansion all converging near Pearson, extending Finch West now could create a transit super-node for western Toronto and Peel.
What’s Next?
As we head into LRT Month, GTA Weekly is calling on policymakers to advance the Finch West extension into the planning phase. This isn’t just a good idea—it’s an essential step toward a truly regional, connected transit system.
🛤️ Next Stop is GTA Weekly’s weekly Sunday spotlight on the future of transit in the Greater Toronto Area. From subways to LRTs to GO expansions, we dig into the projects shaping how we move. Follow us @GTAWeeklyNews for more on Toronto’s transit transformation. #NextStop #GTAToday #GTAWeekly
Leave a Reply