One of the largest public transport projects in Canada has reached a new milestone after it broke ground on a major part of its underground infrastructure.
The Ontario Line began work on Queen Station in Toronto today as part of the latest stage in the CA$27 billion (about $19 billion) rapid transit project.
Newsweek contacted authorities in Toronto for more information on the progress via email.
Why It Matters
Once complete, the Ontario Line is expected to handle 388,000 daily boardings, provide 40 connections to other modes of transit, and reduce vehicle traffic by 28,000 daily car trips. The current plans for the route include 15 stops, taking passengers from Ontario Place to Don Valley on the other side of Canada’s largest city.
What To Know
Queen Station, one of the eight underground stations in the center of Toronto, broke ground on, according to local media reports on Monday.
The Queen Station site will involve the excavation of over 100,000 cubic meters (about 3.5 million cubic feet) of dirt and rock to construct a platform located 40 meters (over 130 feet) beneath street level.
The station will eventually accommodate over 15,000 riders per peak hour, according to government figures.
Construction at the site began following a May 2025 announcement and is the latest in a sequence of station developments along the line including stops at Moss Park, Corktown and East Harbour.
Once fully functional, the nearly 10-mile Ontario Line is to bring around 227,500 more residents within walking distance of a transit station.
Queen Station will also connect directly with the existing Toronto Transit Commission Queen subway station, creating a major interchange hub for the city.
What People Are Saying
In a statement on the progress, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said: “We need to get Toronto moving for drivers, pedestrians and public transit users. The Ontario Line is a vital new public transit option that will alleviate congestion and help hundreds of thousands of Torontonians get to their destination faster.
“We are partnering together with the province to give riders better public transit options.”
Gregor Robertson, Canada’s minister of housing and infrastructure, said in a statement following the announcement: “Canada is a nation of builders; this project builds connectivity for the people of Toronto to connect them to the city they love through reliable, sustainable, and affordable public transit.
“I’m thrilled to see the work begin for the Queen Station to continue to build Canada strong.”
What Happens Next
The entire Ontario Line is expected to be completed by 2031. While the Queen Station construction continues, tunneling for the Ontario Line’s downtown segment will commence later this year.
The post Canada’s Rapid Transit System Gets Big Update appeared first on Newsweek.
