All Posts by Transport Action Ontario

Finch West LRT to open December7, 2025

By Transport Action Ontario | Latest News , Urban Transit

Metrolinx and the TTC have announced that the long overdue Toronto Finch West LRT (Line 6) will open for revenue service on December 7, 2025. It will be Toronto’s first new rail line since 2002. The line runs largely above-ground in the median of Finch Ave. from Finch West subway station to Humber College, a distance of 11 km. There are 18 stops (16 at grade). Finch Ave. was widened as needed to maintain at least 2 general-purpose traffic lanes in each direction, plus cycling lanes. A maintenance and storage facility was also constructed.

The line was constructed by Mosaic Transit Group under a $2.5 billion DBFM contract signed in 2018, including 30 years of maintenance. The project was substantially delayed from its first planned completion date of 2021, due to numerous issues including the Covid pandemic, vehicle delivery issues and litigation.

Like York’s VIVA system, fare payment is off-vehicle, which will be new to TTC streetcar and bus passengers. The anticipated service level is 6.5 minute headways during peak hours and 10-12 minute headways off-peak, which is longer than the current bus headways (i.e. longer waits). The round trip travel time is scheduled for 97.5 minutes, which compares to the scheduled bus round trip time over the same distance of 100 minutes (AM peak) and 122 minutes (PM peak). It remains to be seen if more transit signal priority can be negotiated with the City to improve upon these times.

Presentation at Transportation Mobility Conference

By Transport Action Ontario | Community Transit , Highways and Bridges , Urban Transit

Transport Action Ontario board members recently presented at a Transportation Mobility Conference hosted by MPP Andrea Hazell, the Ontario Liberal Party transportation critic. We are always pleased to discuss transportation in a non-partisan manner to elected officials of any party.

The conference covered a broad range of topics, including community benefits, progress at the TTC, rural transportation and Canadian urban transit. Our presentation discussed transportation challenges and remedies in two Ontario regions – Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and southwestern Ontario. The GTHA portion discussed the cost of congestion, current Ontario actions and bold actions needed to reduce GTHA gridlock. The southwestern Ontario portion discussed transportation metrics and recent initiatives. The presentation was well received and is attached below.

Confederation GO opening with extended Lakeshore West service

By Transport Action Ontario | Intercity Rail and Bus

Metrolinx the announced that services to the newly completed Confederation GO station in Hamilton will commence on October 27, 2025.

Monday to Friday:

• Three daily round trips to Niagara Falls will call to Confederation.
• Four eastbound trips will start at Confederation.
• Three westbound trips will be extended from West Harbour to Confederation.

Saturday and Sunday:

• Services to and from Niagara Falls will increase from three to four round trips.
• Five eastbound trips will be start at Confederation.
• Two westbound trips will be extended from West Harbour to Confederation.

The initial service pattern is limited, but is likely to be expanded as passengers begin using the new station.

“The opening of Confederation GO Station will be a game changer for residents in East Hamilton and Stoney Creek, while bringing much-needed relief to Burlington and West Harbour GO.”

Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario

The station is part of the GO Expansion project, with construction having been started in 2017, although completion of the station and trackwork, including connecting tracks at West Harbour, took longer than expected. Transport Action Ontario continue to be concerned about the cost escalation and timeline creep associated with Metrolinx projects.

Toronto Transit Commission Ridership Growth Strategy

By Transport Action Ontario | Latest News , Urban Transit

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is developing its 2026-2028 ridership growth strategy (RGS) and its 2026 budget considerations. Transport Action Ontario participated in the TTC Planning Advisory Group and has submitted input into the RGS. While the draft RGS had numerous components that we supported, our input emphasized the need for more transit-only lanes with enforcement. This is the single most cost-effective way to improve service reliability and attractiveness of the TTC and to meet the transportation needs of a growing region.

We also supported increases in the transit signal priority program and in the express bus, all-day-every-day and 10-minute networks.

Our submission is attached below.

Building Canada requires a national rail strategy

By Transport Action Ontario | Intercity Rail and Bus , Northern Ontario , Southwestern Ontario

Transport Action strongly believes that a good freight and passenger rail network is a major component of a strong and independent Canada. However, with 5 decades of observation and advocacy, we have regretfully seen the opposite – a continuous diminution of Canada’s rail system.

Transport Action Canada and Transport Action Ontario have written Prime Minister Carney summarizing the reasons for this decline, including largely foreign ownership of our rail assets and continued populist actions by government to subsidize personal vehicle use.

Our letter recommended establishing a national strategic rail authority to:

• Identify the necessary rail network, including multi-modal inlands distribution centres
• Work with the industry to jointly develop shared investments that boost both freight and passenger rail service
• Support provincial rail investments
• Decline federal funding for urban highway expansions
• Maximize Canadian industrial benefits
• Maintain transparency on the Alto HSR project and on its impact on VIA Rail
• Encourage First Nation participation

Our letter is attached.