Type Light rail Status Planned Stations 19 | System Toronto subway Locale Toronto, Ontario | |
 | ||
Termini Finch West
Humber College | ||
The Finch West LRT (formerly known as the Etobicoke-Finch West LRT) is a planned light rail line in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to be operated by the Toronto Transit Commission. It was part of the Transit City proposal announced on March 16, 2007. The 11 km, 19-stop line is to extend from the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension (TYSSE) to Humber College. The line is forecast to carry about 14.6 million rides a year or 40,000 a day by 2031. It is scheduled for completion in 2021 at a cost of $1.2 billion.
Contents
History
In March 2007, Toronto Mayor David Miller announced the Etobicoke-Finch West LRT as part of the Transit City plan, for the construction of several light-rail lines within the city. In the Transit City plan, the Etobicoke-Finch West LRT line was to run for 17 km. The western terminus of the line would be built in the Highway 27/Humber College area in Etobicoke. The line would run along Finch Avenue West eastward, terminating at Finch Station in North York.
On April 1, 2009, the Ontario government announced that it would provide funding for construction of this line from Humber College to Don Mills station via Finch West and Finch stations, opening in 2013.
In March 2010, the Ontario government budgeted less for building transit. Thus, it eliminated the proposed section of line between Finch West Station and Finch Station.
In December 2010, Mayor Rob Ford cancelled the line after taking office. However, in February 2012, city council voted to restore the Finch West LRT as part of a new transit plan restoring some of the elements of the Transit City proposal over Mayor Ford's objections.
In April 2012, Metrolinx proposes to start construction on Finch West LRT in 2015, with the line opening in 2018.
By November 2012, when the city and province signed an LRT master agreement, construction for the line was to begin in 2015 for completion in 2020.
In April 2015, the province announced that construction of the line will start in 2016 for completion in 2021.
In September, 2015, the Government of Ontario announced that its agency Infrastructure Ontario would search for a contractor to design, build, finance and maintain the Finch West LRT. The successful contractor would be chosen by 2017. Nonetheless, construction would start in 2016 with the relocation of utilities in the corridor.
Route layout
The eastern terminus of the line is to be built at Finch West Station on the Line 1 Yonge–University in North York. After a short tunnel at Finch West station, the line will run on the surface along Finch Avenue West until it reaches its western terminus at Humber College. The line will be 11 km long.
Potential extensions
The following extensions were under consideration prior to Rob Ford's cancellation of Transit City in December 2010.
Humber College to Pearson Airport
In 2009, the TTC was studying the feasibility of potential routings for a future westward extension of the Etobicoke-Finch West LRT to the vicinity of Woodbine Live! development and Pearson International Airport. This extension is now a "Future Transit Project", as conducted in the 2013 "Feeling Congested?" report by the City of Toronto.
Finch Station to Don Mills Station
In May 2009, Metrolinx proposed that the line be extended from Finch Station, along Finch Avenue East and Don Mills Road into Don Mills Station to connect with the Sheppard East LRT and create a seamless crosstown LRT in northern Toronto. The TTC said a planning study would have commenced in 2010.
Proposed stops
The TTC has indicated that stops will be spaced on average 646 m apart. This list does not include potential extensions of the Etobicoke-Finch West LRT. The distances between these stops varies, but they are likely candidates, from west to east:
Phase I
Map
Phase II
In March 2010, the Ontario government eliminated the proposed section of line between Finch West Station and Finch Station because of budget constraints. This section of the line was part of the original Transit City proposal.
In 2013, this plan was revived as an "Unfunded Future Rapid Transit Project" in the City of Toronto's "Feeling Congested?" report, meaning this extension will be constructed sometime in the future.
Operations
Carhouse and maintenance facility
Metrolinx plans for a maintenance and storage facility (MSF) for the route's cars on the northside of Finch Avenue West between York Gate Boulevard and Norfinch Drive. The site is an empty lot next to the former Regina Pacis Catholic Secondary School (now Monsignor Fraser College Norfinch Campus).
The MSF will service up to 75 vehicles for the Finch West LRT line as well as allow for servicing a future Jane LRT line.