TORONTO — The Ontario government has officially broken ground on the second Ontario Line tunnel launch shaft, located near the site of the future Gerrard Station in south Riverdale. This milestone marks the start of a new phase in the nearly $70 billion plan to expand transit access across the Greater Toronto Area.
From this new portal, tunnel boring machines will drill 3 kilometres of twin tunnels northbound beneath Pape Avenue, eventually linking to TTC’s Pape Station and forming a critical segment of the east-end portion of the Ontario Line.
What’s Happening at Gerrard Station?
Construction is already underway on a massive launch shaft and future tunnel portal just north of Gerrard Street. The future Gerrard Station will bring subway service to a densely populated area of Riverdale for the first time — placing 12,000 people within walking distance of the Ontario Line, with 3,000 expected rush-hour riders each day.
This section of the Ontario Line will play a vital role in relieving pressure on Line 1 and Line 2, while also enabling two major Transit-Oriented Communities (TOCs) nearby. These new TOCs are expected to deliver:
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2,400 new homes
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Retail and office space supporting 685 jobs
A Transit Vision That’s Taking Shape
The 15.6-km Ontario Line will feature 15 stations running from Exhibition Place to the Eglinton Crosstown at Don Mills Road. Once completed, the line will:
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Cut travel times from the waterfront to Don Mills to 30 minutes or less (vs 70 minutes today)
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Reduce congestion by up to 15% on the busiest section of Line 1
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Support 4,700 construction jobs annually
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Provide over 40 connections to existing TTC, GO, and LRT lines
Ontario’s government is also positioning this project as a job-creating engine, helping the province remain competitive during turbulent economic times, including the latest wave of U.S. tariffs.
“We are protecting Ontario’s economy by building the next generation of subway service that will create thousands of good-paying jobs and fuel long-term economic growth,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation.
What It Means for Riverdale
As tunneling begins beneath Pape Avenue, the community is on track to become one of the most connected neighbourhoods in the city. With a future link to Pape Station and new residential, commercial, and pedestrian features tied to the Gerrard TOC, this project is more than transit — it’s a full-scale urban transformation.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” said Minister of Infrastructure Kinga Surma, “to build two transit-oriented communities at the future Gerrard Station.”
📍 Next Stop is GTA Weekly’s Sunday spotlight on the future of transit in the Greater Toronto Area. Each week, we explore a real or proposed project with the power to transform how people move. Follow us @GTAWeeklyNews for more on where we’re headed. #GTAToday #NextStop
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