An updated stations analysis of the Younge North Subway Extension has paved the way for a fourth station, Clark Station, to be added to the subway project. The station will join Steeles, Bridge and High Tech stations on the route.
The government of Ontario pledged to continue working with the city of Toronto and the York Region to explore and fund additional stations at Royal Orchard Boulevard and Cummer Avenue. For now, the eight-kilometer (4.9-mile) extension brings Toronto Transit Commission’s Line 1 to York Region and stops at four stations.
“Clark Station is the right choice for York Region,” said Phil Verster, president and CEO of Metrolinx. “Clark Station will make it faster and easier to get around York Region by bringing the subway closer to thousands of people. The team at Metrolinx is very excited to continue to advance our planning and design work to deliver this important transit project."
According to Metrolinx, its latest analysis indicates Clark Station will put 8,100 people and 1,900 jobs within a 10-minute walk of the subway by 2041. The Initial Business Case for the extension reduced the number of stations from five to four.
Results of Metrolinx’s investigation into further refinements of the route to minimize impacts to the communities it will serve is expected later this year.
"The Regional Municipality of York is one of the fastest growing municipalities in Ontario, with the population anticipated to grow to over two million people by 2041. Expanding the number of stations on the Yonge North Subway Extension will help accommodate the future growth of our communities while also increasing options for those who travel throughout our communities,” said York Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson.
The extension is one of four of the province’s priority transit projects, which represent the largest expansion of transit services the province has ever undertaken.
In late 2019, the city of Toronto and province of Ontario reached an agreement on the C$28.5 billion (US$23.52 billion) transit expansion plan with the four subway projects. Toronto finalized the agreement with the province in early 2020, which was followed by a separate agreement between the province and the York Region through the delivery of the Yonge North Subway Extension.
“The Yonge North Subway Extension will strengthen connectivity across the region, reduce travel times and greenhouse gas emissions, and provide more people with access to rapid transit. The new Clark Station is the clear choice to support all those key benefits. With this alignment we can deliver the greatest number of stations for the growing communities of York Region while staying within budget, capitalizing on benefits, and providing better regional connectivity, including to GO Rail, York Region Viva and other transit options,” said Ontario Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney.
In May 2021, the government of Canada committed to funding up to 40 percent of the capital costs associated with the four subway projects, including more than C$2.24 billion (US$1.78 billion) for the C$5.6-billion (US$4.44-billion) Yonge North Subway Extension.
“Public transit is at the heart of a clean, inclusive recovery,” said Federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Catherine McKenna. “[The Yonge North Subway Extension] will help get cars off the road, and the residents of Canada’s largest community, especially essential workers, women, immigrants and youth, get around in faster, cleaner and cheaper ways.”
