Toronto's subway system connects to Vaughan, commuters happy with line extension
Toronto, Dec 19 (IBNS): With the new Line 1 extension of the Toronto Transit Commission's (TTC's) subway train network commissioned recently, the city's transport system got a major fillip, according to media reports.
The 8.6 kilometre extension includes six new stations and goes all the way to Vaughan.
The Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension involved a cost of nearly $3.2 billion, media reports said.
"The subway will also be the first time ever that the TTC subway system will cross a municipal border, linking Toronto and York University with York Region with fast and frequent rapid transit,” said Josh Colle, Chair of the TTC.
The inauguration saw Premier Kathleen Wynne, along with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Toronto Mayor John Tory, Josh Colle, TTC Chair, and Wayne Emmerson, York Region Chairman and CEO as well as other local transit and elected officials taking the inaugural ride on the new stretch linking Toronto with Vaughan.
“Today’s celebration clearly indicates what we can achieve when all levels of government work towards one common goal — building more transit,” Steven Del Duca, Ontario Minister of Transportation was quoted as saying by the media.
The six new subway stations are Downsview Park, Finch West, York University, Pioneer Village, Highway 407 and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre.
Approximately $974 million for this project has been provided by Ontario through the Move Ontario Trust, $904 million by City of Toronto, $697 million by the federal government and up to $604 million by the York Region.
This project will now allow commuters to get from the new subway terminus at Vaughan Metropolitan Centre to the Sheppard West station in about 14 minutes, and to Union Station in 42 minutes .
Students have also welcomed the opportunity to avail the rapid transit to York University, reports said.
The Line 1 Extension/Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension (TYSSE) will add an estimated 36 million transit trips and eliminate 30 million car trips per year and help in reduction of traffic congestion, improvement of air quality and fight climate change, according to the TTC.
This milestone marks the first in a series of game-changing transit projects the Ontario government will open in the coming years, the government said.
Starting on January 7, 2018, the line will offer adult, senior, youth and student TTC fare of just $1.50 when they use a PRESTO card to transfer to or from GO Transit or the Union Pearson Express.
“This opening is another example of all levels of government working together to deliver billions of dollars in transit infrastructure and our ongoing commitment to getting Toronto moving...More transit is a good thing for our city, our province and our country, ” John Tory, Mayor of Toronto said.
Wayne Emmerson, York Region Chairman and CEO called this occasion as monumental for 1.2 million people who call York Region home and said, "It reinforces our Council’s support of transportation and transportation-related initiatives, and will help further develop an urban community that is transit-oriented, forward-thinking and has economic development opportunities to benefit current and future generations.”
(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)
Image: Facebook
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