Toronto tunnel boring for subway extension begins

Peter Kent, Canadian minister of the environment; along with Kathleen Wynne, Ontario's minister of transportation; Rob Ford, mayor of Toronto; York Region Chairman and CEO Bill Fisch and Toronto Transit Commission Chair Karen Stintz participated in an event to officially start tunnel boring construction for the estimated $2.6 billion Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension project. "This is an important occasion that marks the beginning of a vital connection to Vaughan, establishing the first of two north-south subway lines, connecting to the overall transit network in southern Ontario," said Fisch. "Extending subway lines north will help reduce congestion and travel times and will benefit those living, working and commuting around the Greater Toronto Area region." The TYSSE is an 8.6-kilometer extension of the Toronto transit commission's Yonge University-Spadina subway line from its present terminal at Downsview Station to the Vaughan Metropolitan Center. It will have six new stations, including one at York University. TYSSE project is targeted for completion in late 2015. Canada's federal government announced funding of up to C$697 million (US$712 million) for this subway extension with C$622 million (US$636 million) coming from the Building Canada Fund and C$75 million (US$77 million) from Public Transit Capital Trust; the Province of Ontario has provided C$870 million (US$889 million) for the subway extension through the Move Ontario Trust; the city of Toronto is contributing C$526 million (US$537 million) to the project, which is a key piece of the TTC's transit infrastructure and the Regional Municipality of York is contributing C$352 million (US360 million) to the subway extension as a key part of its vivaNext plan. The remaining funds for the project will be provided from interest revenue from the Move Ontario Trust.