Toronto’s ambitious plan to extend its subway network northward, reaching as far as Richmond Hill, has taken a significant step forward. A gathering of local, provincial, and federal politicians at Langstaff GO Station marked this milestone in the project’s development.
The next phase of the project involves soliciting proposals from companies and consortiums to undertake the tunneling required to extend the Yonge subway line on its east side, specifically from its current terminus station at Finch Avenue into Richmond Hill and York Region.
This extension will span an additional eight kilometers and include five new stops in Vaughan, Markham, and Richmond Hill, ultimately terminating at Langstaff GO Station.
Earlier this year, the province invited qualified bidders to express their interest in participating in the tunnel construction. Three teams—Cross Transit Group, North End Connectors, and Toronto-York Tunnel Connectors—have been shortlisted for the project. The upcoming phase will determine which of these bidders will be awarded the contract to build the new tunnels.
Prabmeet Sarkaria, the Minister of Transportation, expressed, “The RFP release is the next critical step in our government’s plan to extend subway service north from Finch Station to communities in Markham, Vaughan, and Richmond Hill, for the first time ever.”
Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti, who has advocated for this project for years, emphasized the significance of taking this step forward. He stated, “Going to market for this work demonstrates the strong commitment by all three levels of government to York Region’s number one transportation priority.”
The final contract for tunnel construction is expected to be announced in approximately one year, at the end of 2024.
