The Ministry of the Environment recently approved the Environmental Project Report for the Yonge subway extension. We recently conducted a survey* to see how many people in York Region support a subway extension to Langstaff/Richmond Hill Centre at Highway 7 and Yonge. Eighty-nine per cent of residents said that they support the extension.
This is very similar to our online poll that shows over 90% of the hundreds of people who have responded thus far support the subway extension. These survey results reaffirm that we are improving rapid transit routes where people need them.
Are you one of these people who support the Yonge subway extension? Or do you think a subway line would be better built elsewhere? Tell us what you think.
8 replies on “Yonge subway extension backed by most residents”
I think the Yonge subway extension will be fantastic, and is long overdue. But even so, the downtown relief line (DRL) should be built first. The DRL would run roughly from Pape or Donlands on the Danforth Line down to Queen and across to Yonge and University, or perhaps to Union Station. It might continue west and loop back up to the Bloor Line. And more importantly, it might continue north from the Danforth up Don Mills to Eglinton or beyond.
The Yonge Line is already over capacity during rush hour. So many passengers get on at Finch that often riders trying to get on closer to downtown cannot get on. This is especially a problem at Yonge and Bloor. The extension is bound to make this worse, and will probably result in the TTC short-turning many trains at Eglinton or Shepherd so there will be capacity for the Toronto riders. Suburban riders will have a shorter ride to the subway, but a longer wait for trains. However, if the DRL is built first, riders from the east and north-east will have an alternate route downtown, which will alleviate congestion for both Toronto and GTA riders on the Yonge line.
Also, in the long term, a new subway line inside Toronto will encourage more high-density growth close to downtown, easing the demand for more sprawl and more commuters on the fringe.
DaleA: Thanks for your comment. Concerns related to capacity was one of several elements looked at during the Transit Project Assessment Process. I encourage you to read the introduction to the Yonge Subway Extension Environmental Project Report. It speaks in greater depth about capacity issue and our plans. I also wrote a post specifically addressing how we plan to increase capacity on the Yonge line called “Increasing subway capacity.”
When you’re dealing with a project as large and complex as this, there will be a variety of network-related challenges that present themselves. However, we can’t let those derail a project of this importance. We will continue to work with all levels of Government and other stakeholders to enable this project to keep moving forward as the benefits are significant and long-term.
Dale, thanks for your response…and in regards to Triceratops, this person raised a great question and your response is missing a few pieces. The current plan for the Yonge St subway to RHC includes a giant parking lot at Longbridge & Yonge. for those of you who don’t know the geography very well…that is due south of the 407 on the hydro lands west of Yonge. The only access to that field is via Yonge St which currently already has 3 traffic lights in a 1km zone and will require lights to get into and out of the lot. so perhaps, up to 4 or 5 lights…to manage access at rush hour in and out.
As well, the only way to get to the lot from the East will be via Royal Orchard or High Tech (if you are not using the Highway 7 LRT or bus route) and from the West the best access would be Centre…unless you are coming down from 16th, in which case Garden and Pearson and those lovely streets are your best bets.
I don’t think current residents of Markham, Richmond Hill and Vaughan are aware of new traffic problems that will come with any subway at that site.
The current GO Lot, south of the 407, between Bayview & Yonge has more access points, exists and allows entrance from both Bayview, Yonge and potentially Richmond Hill Centre itself…However, the zone is being zoned for intensification, so much so that the YRT will need to buy new special buses to get through, and will limit traffic…so that access will be a problem for transit users and bus routes.
A great idea might be to move the subway east (say linking to the Don Mills / Leslie LRT) link it with the LRT to the new Spadina Subway and create a real transit and growth opportunity for the region. With equal access for all.
With GO Transit planning to expand the Richmond Hill South train service, this creates some nice opportunities for York Region…work with the TTC/GO/Metrolinx to get a stop on the GO line near a subway, Shepard anyone (and the downtown relieft line), that links to that LRT and presto ! Transit City. or, in Dale’s words, CONNECTIONS.
Avoid a big parking lot, and turn it into an urban garden…bike paths to GO, Markham and the a subway or LRT terminus..and hey, maybe a domed soccer field. but lets keep it green, add REAL connections and consider what people who actually use transit think.
look forward to chatting Dale !
Currently, when there is a problem on the Yonge st subway…the city comes to a standstill. I live in Thornhill and have walked up Yonge St to get to Finch and take the YRT 99. Adding to this gridlock/funnel is beyond belief. Give commuters alternate ways to get to work…put bus stops/viva stops where we live and where we work. recognize that the ‘eggs in one basket of yonge st’ cannot work forever and is not sustainable. I mean really, if anyone wanted to cripple Toronto..the answer is the Yonge St subway. People live east & west…if we want them out of there cars…give them good transit. Off of Yonge St
DaleA: Thank you for your comment. In addition to the Yonge subway extension, the vivaNext plan includes three other north/south rapid transit options that will provide commuters such as yourself with quick and easy access into and out of Toronto. These include the Spadina subway extension, as well as the proposed Don Mills Road/Leslie Street LRT and the proposed Jane Street LRT. All of these options will connect with the new east/west Highway 7 rapidway, which will extend from Highway 50 in Vaughan to Reesor Road in Markham. Plus, YRT offers local service, which runs along similar roads for part of the route. So as you can see, even if there is a problem on the Yonge subway, you will have a number of other north/south and east/west options to get you home in good time.
I appreciate your reply. The subway is many years away from completion. The terminal there today needs better safer access.
DaleA: We understand your frustration. Unfortunately, we do not own any of the land surrounding the current Richmond Hill station. However, experience in other cities tells us that rapid transit improvements, like the Yonge subway extension, lead to growth and mixed-use urban transformation at street level along their routes. We fully expect that this will happen around the new Langstaff/Richmond Hill Urban Growth Centre station, resulting in better access for you and other riders. Meanwhile, we encourage you to stay involved and provide your input at our public consultations, open houses and workshops.
The survey and online poll is rather disingenuous, given that it only asked, “Do you support a subway extension?”
Very few would say no, just like very few would say no to being offered $20. In reality, they are not being told that if they refuse the $20, they will be offered $200.
Hopefully, the higher levels of government who hold the purse strings will realize that alternatives should be considered to more effectively move people around York Region. For those needing a fast, one-seat ride to downtown, we have a service called the GO Train that will be moving to all-day service over the next decade. The cost of creating a regional integrated fare system would be a better use of our tax dollars over building four kilometres of a 30k+ passenger per hour infrastructure.
DaleA: Thank you for your comment. The proposed Yonge subway extension includes six stations along its 6.8 kilometre route. This will make it a significantly faster and more convenient alternative for most riders as they will no longer need to backtrack on a northbound subway to reach their destination. The Yonge subway extention is one part of the vivaNext plan, which includes a network of fully-connected rapid transit services that will provide seamless connections for those travelling into, out of, and throughout York Region.
All forms of transit must work together to make it truly convenient for riders – it’s all about connections. GO provides a good service for longer comutes, but would not be the optimal choice to get to North York Centre, for example.
While we are pleased that the Yonge subway extension poll on our website supports the results of the larger and more indepth survey that was conducted earlier by an independent research firm, its main purpose was to encourage community members such as yourself to get involved and provided your input. At vivaNext, we believe in an open-door consultative process.
Seeing as I live in a new area in Thornhill, I will assume the Promenade Terminal will become a hub to get you to the new subway line? How long will it take for this money to get flowing, the EA’s are done, let’s get the engineering plans ready (if not already done), get the tunnel boring machines purchased and go!
DaleA: Thank you for your comment. It is good to see people so excited about the proposed Yonge subway extension.
The Promenade terminal will be on the Hwy. 7 rapidway route, which will connect with the Richmond Hill /Langstaff Urban Growth Centre transit hub – the northern terminus of the Yonge subway extension.
The Environmental Project Report was recently completed and we are working to secure funding for the project. Did you know that it was the first transit project eligible for this new streamlined six-month EA process? Once funding has been secured, we will move forward with engineering plans and then shovels will be ready to hit the ground. Like you, we recognize the importance and benefits of starting to start build the extension. Right now, the projected completion date is 2016, assuming funding is granted this year.
The current Richmond Hill terminal is dismal as it relates to pedestrian access. There are no sidewalks to gain entry to the terminal forcing people to walk through busy parking lots, up muddy hills, and through a drainage ditch behind the former Outback restaurant. I have brought this up with YRT Facilities Supervisor but he has failed to answer my question as to when improvements will be made. Perhaps someone on this blog can let me know and hopefully the new terminal housing the subway will consider the people living around it and give them safe and effective access.
DaleA: Thanks for your comment, we appreciate your feedback. The Richmond Hill Centre terminal and facilities will be improved as part of the proposed Yonge subway extension. While funding for the project from the various levels of Government has yet to be committed, we understand your concerns and observations. Pedestrian routes for access to the terminal was also evaluated during the subway study, including those coming from just south of highway 407.
The subway will be advantageous to the region, if it is done properly. Properly means not a giant parking lot for subway users, but rather decent bus, walking, and cycling opportunities to access the subway.
DaleA:This is an excellent point and the reason why we are also building rapidways, which will make getting to the Langstaff/Richmond Hill Centre station much easier by transit. In addition, there will be cycling lanes along Highway 7 allowing people to get to the subway station by bike as well. The rapidways will not only run to the station from both directions along Highway 7, but they will run along Yonge to access the station from the North. While we are designing and building subway extensions, light rail lines and rapidways, we are really making a system that is as seamless as possible. As we always say, it is about connections.