Yonge North Subway Extension

The expression “where there is a will, there is a way” might as well be talking about the Yonge North Subway Extension [YNSE], because this project has been York Region’s top transit priority for two decades. Here at YRRTC, we were thrilled to hear the announcement last month that the Government of Canada is contributing 40% of the YNSE, as part of a larger investment for four GTA transit projects.

The YRRTC Board, led by Board Chair and Markham Mayor, Frank Scarpitti, and Chairman and CEO of York Region, Wayne Emmerson have championed this project, most recently collecting signatures on symbolic shovels, and ensuring the 905 & 416 voices were heard at the federal table with respect to this critically important piece of infrastructure.

We’re happy to see that the federal government recognizes the fact that the YNSE and other transit systems are key economic drivers, generating hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions in economic benefits, starting from the planning stage all the way through construction and operation.

Here at YRRTC, we’ve spent years advocating for the YNSE as well as other rapid transit needed to accommodate York Region’s future growth. We know there are many more steps ahead to get this subway planned, designed, and built. Big subway projects like this can take 10 years to construct, and in this case every level of government is involved, and the project crosses regional and municipal boundaries. There is a will to build the YNSE though, and with the recent Provincial, Federal and Municipal funding commitments, now there is a way.

One day in the not-so-distant future, we’ll be celebrating the first subway ride along the Yonge North Subway Extension. Until then, there is lots of work to do to plan and design a subway project that works for everyone.

Metrolinx is the project manager for the YNSE and provides information at metrolinx.com. Find other related YNSE materials on YRRTC’s website, vivanext.com/YongeSubwayExt.

Yonge North Subway Extension – the demand is already here

connecting 2 employment megazones! over 54,000 employers in Markham and Vaughan will be connected by the Yonge North Subway Extension.

When considering the Yonge North Subway Extension, the question is, are we keeping up with growth in York Region – or catching up to it? This is the second blog in a series that will help our communities get more familiar with the Yonge North Subway Extension and highlight some of the important reasons why York Region needs this critical project.

The truth is that Yonge Street is growing fast north of Finch, with high-density residential and commercial developments both in the works, and planned, for the near future. The growth, and its pace, is already enough to sustain a subway extension.

Which means, we already need to catch up – and keep up! The Yonge North Subway Extension [YNSE] will support the number of people, businesses, jobs and housing in York Region and the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area [GTHA]. From the beginning of the construction stage through opening, it will bring new jobs and businesses, and attract residents and employers.

York Region is one of Canada’s fastest-growing large urban municipalities, forecasted to reach a population of 2.02 million and employment of 990,000 by 2051 [York Region’s Municipal Comprehensive Review, 2021).

In anticipation of the YNSE, the corridor is already seeing growth, with 19 residential developments including over 19,779 units and 550,000 square feet of commercial/retail space already proposed or underway as of the end of 2020.

This already high demand is sure to increase even more, with the Yonge North Subway Extension connecting two GTHA employment megazones: Vaughan and Markham: 654,650 jobs and 54,200 employers as of 2019.

Large infrastructure projects like the Yonge North Subway Extension can take 10 years to complete, so it should be built in parallel with other rapid transit projects over the next decade.

As we work through the processes of design and approvals, we need to ensure the YNSE and other rapid transit projects continue moving forward.

Looking ahead, we will further explore other key areas of Deloitte’s federal submission report, highlighting other important benefits that come with investments in critical projects like the Yonge North Subway Extension.

With investments in the YNSE and other rapid transit projects, we’ll be able to catch up to the demand that’s already there and prepare for the future.