Skip navigation

Yonge North Subway Extension

building for the future

latest updates

all project updates

project overview

subscribe to updates

fact sheet

project documents

Facebook share button Twitter share button

Yonge North Subway Extension

building for the future

The Yonge North Subway Extension will extend north from Finch Station in Toronto to the Richmond Hill/Langstaff Urban Growth Centre in York Region, providing seamless travel while reducing travel times and managing traffic congestion.

The Yonge North Subway Extension will reduce 4800 tonnes of auto-related emissions per year [4]. It supports the GTA’s top three employment hubs—Markham, Vaughan and Toronto—and only a subway line can fill the growing demand. Large subway projects like this one can take 10 years to build, so it’s important to continue work on this vital project.

Metrolinx is the Project Manager of the YNSE. On December 1, 2023, the Province of Ontario released a Request for Proposal [RFP] for the Advance Tunnel Contract: Ontario Making Progress on Yonge North Subway Extension

Find more information on the Metrolinx project page, their blog, or by contacting them at YongeSubwayExt@Metrolinx.com

  • Completes a critical missing link in the regional rapid transit system of the GTHA, making an easy and seamless connection between regions
  • The YNSE project will create new jobs, build a stronger economy, shape communities and support a sustainable future by:
    • Creating the equivalent of 4,300 full-time jobs through each year of construction[5]
    • Over 26,000 more people and 22,900 employees within a 10-minute walk from a station along the extension by 2041.[5]
    • Reducing 4800 tonnes of auto-related emissions per year[4]
  • A 2020 study anticipates that the YNSE project will also generate:
    • Over $7.8 billion in gross domestic product;
    • Over 12,000 new housing starts generated in Ontario
  • Aligns with plans for growth and rapid transit in the GTHA, integrating with GO Expansion, building on the existing investment of more than $3 billion in York Region’s rapid transit, and meeting the Province’s smart growth objective of a transportation hub at Yonge and Highway 7 [2]

The Yonge North Subway Extension has been in York Region’s plans since 1994, and in the Province’s plans since 2007.

  • 2023 – Province of Ontario issues a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the YNSE Advance Tunnel Contract
  • 2022 – Metrolinx addendum to the 2022 YNSE Environmental Project Report [EPR] is released and approved
  • 2022 – Province announces additional station at Royal Orchard
  • 2021 – Clark named as fourth station
  • 2021 – Metrolinx releases the 2021 YNSE Neighbourhood Stations Analysis
  • 2021 – Metrolinx releases the 2021 YNSE Initial Business Case and Supplementary Analysis
  • 2020 – On May 28, York Regional Council authorized the execution of a Preliminary Agreement with the Province of Ontario to fund and build the YNSE project
  • 2019 – The Province of Ontario announced $11.2 billion to support capital construction for four major rapid transit projects, including the Yonge North Subway Extension
  • 2018 – Preliminary planning, design and engineering works commence
  • 2017 – The Government of Canada announced more than $36 million in federal funding to support the planning and preliminary engineering phase of the extension of the existing Yonge Subway line into York Region
  • 2016 – The Province of Ontario, through the Moving Ontario Forward plan, committed approximately $55 million for Metrolinx to work with the TTC, the Regional Municipality of York and York Region Rapid Transit Corporation to continue planning and design work on the Yonge North Subway Extension
  • 2015 – Metrolinx releases findings of Yonge Relief Network Study (YRNS); and the Metrolinx Board approves the recommendation to advance YNSE preliminary engineering to 15%
  • 2014 – In November the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change approved the Tail Track Train Storage Addendum
    – York Region & TTC submit the Tail Track Train Storage Addendum to MOE and the YRRTC Board of Directors endorses the findings of the Addendum
  • 2013 – Metrolinx releases the Yonge North Subway Extension Benefits Case
  • 2012 – The Conceptual Design Study that looked at specific engineering elements was completed and approved by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and the York Region Rapid Transit Corporation (YRRTC) Board of Directors
  • 2009 – The Metrolinx Benefits Case Analysis sets the rationale for the Conceptual Design Study
    – The Ontario Ministry of the Environment unconditionally approves the Environmental Project Report for the YNSE and issued a Notice to Proceed with Transit Project
  • 2008 – Metrolinx completes studies and identifies the YNSE as one of the Top 15 Priority Projects in its Regional Transportation Plan The Big Move
  • 2007 – The Province of Ontario announces the YNSE as a key priority project as part of MoveOntario 2020
  • 2002 – York Region releases its first draft Transportation Master Plan [TMP] which defined a long-term transportation vision and integrated road and transit network plan to support growth in York Region until 2031
  • 1994 – The YNSE is reflected in York Region’s Official Plan

sources:

  1. Calculation of “will save more than 13 tonnes of greenhouse gas per workday” based on:
    • Average fuel economy of a transit bus [1.77 km/L for York Region’s New Flyer, Nova Bus and Van Hool buses; Number of bus transit trips per average workday [3,300 projected by YRT Service Planning by 2030]; Distance along busiest section of Yonge St. from Finch Ave. to Steeles Ave. [2.09 km]. Result using online greenhouse gas calculator is 13 tonnes of GHG emissions per workday. Once the vehicles/technology planned for the subway extension are determined, this equation will be updated to take into account the greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles on the subway extension.
  2. Places to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe
  3. Projected based on statistics maintained by York Region Planning and Economic Development Branch, Long-Range Planning.
  4. Yonge North Subway Extension 2020 Initial Business Case
  5. Metrolinx 2023