Yonge North Subway Extension justified again with release of Business Case

Statement from Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti

Yonge North Subway Extension justified again with release of Business Case

Today Metrolinx released the Initial Business Case (IBC) for the Yonge North Subway Extension. As project manager for the subway extension, Metrolinx has been advancing preliminary design and engineering work for the last two years to inform the Initial Business Case. The IBC provides a review of technical and costing alternatives for three alignment options, various tunnel types and different station combinations.

Metrolinx is pursuing a preferred 8KM route from Finch Subway Station along Yonge Street and veering off at Royal Orchard to meet the CN Rail corridor. Under the current funding envelope of $5.6M, Metrolinx is pursuing stations at Steeles Avenue, Langstaff Gateway and High Tech Drive. A fourth station is to be determined as well as the protection of potential future stations along the route at Clark, Royal Orchard or Cummer.

The Initial Business Case supports the justified investment in the Yonge North Subway Extension, however there are some concerns that will have to be addressed by Metrolinx on the impacts to existing communities. Metrolinx will be launching a public consultation process with communities along the route and I encourage residents to participate and share their feedback.

My focus continues to be on securing a federal commitment for the subway extension and working with the Province and Metrolinx to build stations at Clark and Royal Orchard. The release of the IBC today is another positive step towards building Markham and York Region’s top transit infrastructure priority and a project identified in Ontario’s list of priority projects.