Canada News
Ontario Breaks Ground on East Harbour Transit Hub
Crews at the East Harbour Transit Hub are seen pouring concrete for the bridge deck over Eastern Avenue. (Metrolinx image)
By City of Toronto
TORONTO — The Ontario government has officially started construction on the East Harbour Transit Hub, a new interchange station in Toronto’s east end that will connect commuters across the Greater Toronto Area and is projected to become the second busiest transit station in Toronto after Union Station. Once complete, the East Harbour Transit Hub will connect the Ontario Line subway with the Lakeshore East and Stouffville GO Transit lines, serving approximately 100,000 daily riders while substantially reducing crowding at Union Station. As part of its plan to protect Ontario, the government is delivering transit infrastructure that keeps people moving, builds new homes and creates new jobs in the skilled trades.
“In the face of economic uncertainty, we are doubling down on our plan to build Ontario and deliver the largest expansion of public transit in North America,” said Premier Doug Ford. “We are protecting Ontario by getting shovels in the ground quicker on projects like the East Harbour Transit Hub, which will support economic growth, keep thousands of workers on the job and help commuters get where they need to go, when they need to get there.”
By linking the Lakeshore East and Stouffville GO lines with the new Ontario Line subway, the East Harbour Transit Hub will offer commuters more convenient access to downtown Toronto, helping to cut travel times, relieve congestion and create new opportunities for work and housing.
“Our government is investing in critical transit infrastructure to help tackle gridlock and reduce travel times,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “The East Harbour Transit Hub will give commuters more options to get where they need to go and help protect Ontario by connecting more workers to good-paying jobs.”
“Toronto is one of the world’s best cities to live in — and when we invest in our cities, we enable them to grow and attract even more people,” said Gregor Robertson, federal Minister of Housing and Infrastructure. “The East Harbour Transit Hub makes Toronto’s and the region’s public transit network even stronger and will connect the growing population to jobs, homes and communities.”
In March, the Ontario government awarded the contract for major construction for the East Harbour Transit Hub, which will create good-paying jobs for drill rig operators, steel and concrete workers, form workers and crane and excavator operators. Investment in expanding the GO network will generate 8,300 jobs in the first 12 years of construction and delivery. Through close coordination across all levels of government, the East Harbour project will deliver both transit and infrastructure alongside housing, community amenities and public spaces. As part of the government’s Transit-Oriented Communities (TOCs) initiative, the East Harbour site is anticipated to support thousands of new jobs and housing units in the neighbourhood, as well as day care, parkland, retail and recreation.
“We are getting Toronto moving,” said Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto. “The East Harbour Transit Hub means 100,000 transit riders will get to their destinations faster. The Toronto region is growing rapidly, adding 270,000 new residents last year, and we are building hundreds of thousands of homes. Today’s announcement is an important step to invest in better transit networks, which will support our city’s growth. We are partnering with the province to create world-class public transit.”
Quick Facts
- The East Harbour Transit Hub is a joint initiative of the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario and the City of Toronto to improve transit for Toronto residents.
- The facility will be constructed by a joint venture of AtkinsRéalis and Bird Construction, alongside design partner Hatch Ltd., under an alliance contracting model.
- The province’s GO Expansion program will support two-way, all-day service along GO Transit’s busiest rail routes and will generate the equivalent of 8,300 jobs annually during the first 12 years of construction and delivery.
- The Ontario government is investing $70 billion in public transit, including the largest subway expansion in Canadian history: the Ontario Line, the Scarborough Subway Extension, the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension and the Yonge North Subway Extension.
Quotes
“Building the East Harbour Transit Hub is a vital part of our plan to deliver the largest transit expansion in Canada’s history. This is also the future home of a transit-oriented community that will support thousands of new jobs and housing options closer to public transportation, helping reduce gridlock in one of the busiest cities in North America. I’m proud of the progress we’re making with our partners to strengthen and protect our communities for decades to come.”
– Kinga Surma
Minister of Infrastructure
“The East Harbour Transit Hub will be a transformational addition to Toronto’s transit network, poised to be the second busiest station after Union Station, with approximately 100,000 daily riders. Connecting the Ontario Line and GO Transit services, it will help serve as a crucial pressure valve, easing congestion across the entire network and strengthening transit options for the City of Toronto, made possible by a successful partnership between all levels of government.”
– Michael Lindsay
Interim President and CEO, Metrolinx
