While Toronto debates long-awaited subway extensions and light rail completions, one bold proposal dares to dream even further—an underground transit tunnel to the Toronto Islands.
Put forward by Gary E. Benner, P.Eng., President of Underground Consulting Inc., this vision is an extension of his Yonge Express Subway (YES) concept. Benner believes that, if we’re already planning to tunnel deep through the downtown core, why not keep digging—under the harbour, toward Billy Bishop Airport, Toronto Islands, and eventually the Humber Bay waterfront in Etobicoke.
The Case for Island Connectivity
The Toronto Islands are a unique public asset—home to Billy Bishop Airport, parkland, and cultural destinations. But access is limited to ferries or a short pedestrian tunnel.
Benner’s idea envisions a direct underground subway spur from downtown, serving:
- Billy Bishop Airport
- Toronto Islands
- And possibly, a deeper extension west towards Humber Bay Shores (Etobicoke)
He acknowledges that tunneling under the harbour presents technical and political challenges, but believes they are surmountable:
“A tunnel to Toronto Island would be a possibility, although this is a technical challenge and a political hot potato.”
️ Engineering Feasibility: Not as Far-Fetched as It Sounds
Benner and his team at Underground Consulting were involved in the construction of the Billy Bishop pedestrian tunnel, which faced similar challenges in boring under the lakebed.
“YES is less challenging,” he says, “compared to what we successfully achieved at the airport.”
With Toronto’s expanding use of tunnel boring machines (TBMs) on the Ontario Line and Eglinton projects, the city now has the expertise and technology to extend transit infrastructure under complex terrain.
Urban Impact and Possibilities
If executed, this project could:
- Create a rapid underground link from Toronto’s financial core to the waterfront and airport
- Offer a new relief route bypassing Union Station
- Open development and tourism potential on the Toronto islands.
️ A Vision Worth Considering
The tunnel-to-island proposal is not on any official Metrolinx or TTC planning document. But if Toronto wants to think beyond surface congestion and build a truly future-ready city, ideas like this may need to move from concept to corridor.
It’s not about whether it will happen tomorrow—but about whether we’re asking bold enough questions today.
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.
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