Rail

Hurontario LRT will open as the Hazel McCallion Line

Feb. 15, 2022

Naming the line after McCallion is a way to recognize the former Mississauga mayor for decades of public service.

Former mayor of Mississauga Hazel McCallion stands with Metrolinx President and CEO Phil Verster.

When the 18-kilometer (11.2-mile) Hurontario Light Rail Transit (LRT) line opens in fall of 2024, it will enter the network as the Hazel McCallion Line. The new name for the line was announced Feb. 14, 2022, which was McCallion’s 101st birthday.

McCallion served as mayor of Mississauga, Ontario, from 1978 to 2014 and naming the line after her was in recognition of her decades of public service and her legacy as one of Canada’s longest serving mayors.

“With decades of public service under her belt, McCallion, known locally as ‘Hurricane Hazel,’ is a trailblazer and inspirational figure in Canadian history, and it is only fitting to have her legacy honored today, on her 101st birthday,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney included in a statement on the line’s new name.

Metrolinx explains the project will continue to be referred to as the Hurontario LRT while construction is underway but will adopt the Hazel McCallion Line name once it opens, which is similar to the Eglinton Crosstown LRT project that will be known as ‘TTC Line 5 Eglinton’ once it opens.

Heavy construction began on the Hurontario LRT project in 2021 to connect Brampton and Mississauga through light rail. The line includes 19 stops and connections to several rapid transit systems and GO Transit rail lines.

About the Author

Mischa Wanek-Libman | Editor in Chief

Mischa Wanek-Libman serves as editor in chief of Mass Transit magazine. She is responsible for developing and maintaining the magazine’s editorial direction and is based in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Wanek-Libman has spent more than 20 years covering transportation issues including construction projects and engineering challenges for various commuter railroads and transit agencies. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.

She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and serves as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.

She is a graduate of Drake University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a major in magazine journalism and a minor in business management.