TORONTO – The long-awaited TTC subway extension to Scarborough is one of the most significant transit infrastructure projects in Toronto, aiming to replace the aging Scarborough RT (SRT) and provide a long-term rapid transit solution for commuters in the eastern part of the city. With construction underway and a projected opening date set for the early 2030s, the extension is a key part of the city’s broader transit expansion plan.
Latest Updates on the Scarborough Subway Extension
The Scarborough Subway Extension (SSE) is a 7.8-kilometre, three-stop extension of Line 2 (Bloor-Danforth), running from Kennedy Station to Scarborough Centre. It will add new stations at Lawrence East, Scarborough Centre, and Sheppard East, providing a direct connection to key transit hubs and reducing travel times for thousands of daily commuters.
- Construction Progress: Tunnel boring began in 2022, with major excavation work ongoing. The project remains in its early construction phases, with expected station development to ramp up in the coming years.
- Funding Status: The Ontario government has committed $5.5 billion to the project, with contributions from the federal and municipal governments.
- Bus Replacement Service: With the decommissioning of the SRT in 2023, the TTC has introduced a network of bus routes to replace the lost service until the subway extension opens.
Why It Matters
Scarborough has long been underserved by rapid transit, relying on the outdated and frequently unreliable SRT. The new subway extension will:
- Improve reliability and capacity, addressing the limitations of the old SRT system.
- Reduce travel times between Scarborough and downtown Toronto.
- Enhance connections with existing bus routes and future transit expansion projects, including the Sheppard Subway Extension and Durham-Scarborough BRT.
- Support transit-oriented development and economic growth in Scarborough’s urban centre.
Challenges & Uncertainty
While the project is making progress, several challenges remain:
- Construction Delays: Large-scale infrastructure projects often face unexpected delays due to weather, material shortages, and technical issues.
- Rising Costs: Inflation and supply chain issues have put pressure on the project’s budget, with concerns over potential cost overruns.
- Bus Congestion: The replacement bus service has faced criticism for overcrowding and delays, increasing frustration among Scarborough commuters.
- Poor Transfer Design at Sheppard and McCowan: Transit expert Reece Martin has criticized the planned transfer between the Scarborough Subway Extension and a potential Sheppard East extension, calling it inefficient. “Passengers traveling from Scarborough Town Centre up to North York Centre or any other destination along the current or future Sheppard line will need to transfer after just one stop and vice versa. It’s painfully inconvenient, especially if people want to make shorter trips.” He argues that subway extensions must be designed with the broader network in mind to prevent unnecessary transfers and disruptions.
- Community Concerns: Some residents have raised concerns about the accessibility and design of the new stations, urging better integration with local transit services.
What’s Next?
- Completion of Tunneling: The next major milestone will be the completion of tunneling work, expected in 2025.
- Station Construction: Once tunneling is complete, full-scale station construction will begin at Lawrence East, Scarborough Centre, and Sheppard East.
- Further Public Engagement: The TTC and Metrolinx continue to seek feedback on station design, accessibility features, and community integration.
Expert & Community Reactions
Reece Martin, a transit expert and creator of RMTransit, has highlighted the issue of subway connectivity, stating: “The issue with the Sheppard line is largely the fact that it doesn’t connect to any destination so major as to kind of warrant its existence … even though the connection is relatively efficient, it’s still not super convenient. Traveling only a few stops to then have to get off your train, wait for the next train, and do a transfer—it’s just not great.” He suggests that poor transfer design could discourage ridership and reduce the effectiveness of the Scarborough Subway Extension. He suggests that while extending beyond Scarborough Town Centre has some logic, poor transfer planning could create long-term inefficiencies.
Local residents have expressed mixed feelings. While many are excited about the prospect of a subway connection, others remain frustrated with the long timeline and the lack of an interim rapid transit solution beyond buses.
Conclusion
The Scarborough Subway Extension is a major step toward improving transit equity in Toronto, providing a long-overdue connection to one of the city’s fastest-growing regions. However, concerns over poor transfer design at Sheppard and McCowan raise questions about whether the extension will fully integrate into the broader subway network. While challenges remain, the commitment to building a high-capacity, long-term solution for Scarborough’s transit needs is a positive development.
GTA Weekly will continue to track progress on this and other major transit expansion projects across the region.
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