🚈 May is LRT Month at GTA Weekly! Each Sunday in our Next Stop editorial series, we’re spotlighting a new light rail transit project shaping the future of the Greater Toronto Area. Following our deep dives into the Finch West LRT extension vision, this week we turn our attention to a long-discussed, long-overdue proposal: the Jane Street LRT—a transformative line that could finally bring modern rapid transit to one of Toronto’s busiest bus corridors.
For over 15 years, the Jane Street LRT has remained one of Toronto’s most talked-about—but unrealized—transit corridors. Originally proposed as part of Mayor David Miller’s Transit City vision in 2007, the line was cancelled, revived in policy, then stalled in planning. Today, as other LRT lines progress, advocates are calling for this critical north-south route to be reimagined—and built underground.
A History of Unfulfilled Potential
The Jane Street LRT was first introduced in 2007 as part of the Transit City plan. The proposal outlined a surface light rail line running from Jane Station on Line 2 Bloor-Danforth, north to Pioneer Village Station on Line 1 Yonge-University. It was designed to serve historically underserved communities like Mount Dennis, Weston, and Black Creek.
However, in 2010, newly elected Mayor Rob Ford cancelled the Transit City plan, including the Jane LRT, favouring subway expansion. While projects like the Eglinton Crosstown survived, Jane Street was left off the map.
In 2016, the Jane LRT resurfaced in Metrolinx’s updated Regional Transportation Plan as a “priority future project.” It was again reaffirmed in the 2041 Regional Transportation Plan and other planning documents. Yet, almost a decade later, the project remains unfunded and unplanned. This delay has only exacerbated transit inequities across Toronto’s west end.
Why It Matters
The Jane corridor is among the busiest bus routes in the city. The 35/935 Jane buses serve tens of thousands of riders daily, often running at capacity.
- Jane Street connects dense residential zones with major transit nodes like Line 2, Line 1, and the upcoming Eglinton Crosstown LRT.
- Many neighborhoods along Jane are transit-dependent, with lower car ownership and higher commuting times.
- Despite this, transit service remains limited to overcrowded buses often delayed by traffic congestion.
An LRT line would transform this corridor—but only if it’s done right.
The Case for Going Underground
Unlike the original Transit City vision of a surface LRT, many experts and community advocates now believe the Jane LRT should be built underground.
- Safety & Efficiency: Jane Street is already narrow and congested. A surface LRT would worsen traffic, create safety hazards, and slow travel.
- Subway-Like Speed: Underground service avoids stoplights, left turns, and intersections—making the LRT more reliable and faster.
- Community Preservation: Surface LRT projects often trigger disruptive construction and displacement. Going underground preserves the street-level community.
- Future-Proofing: With Toronto’s population booming, a subway-style Jane LRT would ensure long-term capacity and reduce north-south pressure on the TTC’s existing lines.
The goal is not simply to build another LRT—but to build one that can deliver the speed, reliability, and capacity that the corridor demands. As with other high-ridership corridors like Eglinton or Hurontario, the case for underground infrastructure is rooted in long-term viability.
Proposed Route and Future Connectivity
Originally envisioned as a surface line from Jane Station (Line 2) north to Pioneer Village Station (Line 1), the Jane Street LRT would span roughly 11 kilometres. However, an updated vision proposes that the line could begin at Mount Dennis Station—intersecting with the Eglinton West Crosstown LRT and GO Transit—and extend north to Pioneer Village Station in its first phase. A potential Phase 2 could extend the line south from Eglinton to Jane Station on Line 2 Bloor-Danforth, improving north-south connectivity from Bloor to Steeles, significantly improving north-south transit across Toronto’s west end. Key potential stops could include:
- Mount Dennis Station (Eglinton Crosstown & GO Transit)
- Eglinton and Jane Station (underground connection to the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension)
- Lawrence Avenue West
- Wilson Avenue
- Sheppard Avenue
- Finch Avenue
- Pioneer Village Station (Line 1 Yonge–University)
What’s Next?
As of 2025, the Jane Street LRT is not currently funded or in active development by Metrolinx or the TTC. However, it remains part of the long-term vision outlined in multiple regional plans. With the success of the Ontario Line and Finch West LRT, now is the time for city officials and provincial leaders to reconsider this essential corridor.
The demand is there. The need is urgent. With political will and funding, the Jane Street LRT could finally rise—this time, beneath the surface.
🛤️ 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 #GTAWeekly #GTAToday
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