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Governments of Canada and Ontario invest in Sheppard East Light Rail line
15 May 2009
Toronto, Ontario
The transportation corridor along Sheppard Avenue East, running between the Don Mills subway station and Scarborough, has been identified as a major transit priority for Toronto. The light rail line will run for 14.8 kilometres along Sheppard Avenue East in a dedicated right-of-way running from Don Mills Subway Station to Meadowvale Road. This corridor connects many of the highest-density and highest-growth neighbourhoods of the GTA, which rely on the overburdened Sheppard East bus line.
The Sheppard East line will be fully integrated into the TTC and link up to the wider regional GO Transit network. The line will connect with the Sheppard subway line as well as the planned Finch light rail transit line at its western terminus (Don Mills Subway Station). It will connect at its eastern end with the proposed Scarborough Rapid Transit Malvern corridor. A connection with GO Transit will be made at the Agincourt GO Station.
The City of Toronto and the Toronto Transit Commission have conducted an environmental assessment of the Sheppard line project. Phase 1 (McCowan to Neilson Road) begins in July 2009, with all construction planned for completion in 2012. The line will open for service in 2013.
The project is estimated to cost $950 million including construction costs, rolling stock, and a maintenance and storage facility. The federal government will provide one third of the total project cost, up to a maximum of $333 million.
Federal funding is conditional on the project meeting all federal eligibility requirements of the Building Canada Fund and on the signing of a contribution agreement with the Province of Ontario.
