In the second major public transit announcement in only two days, Premier Doug Ford has revealed that Etobicoke, Mississauga and Pearson Airport are getting closer to being connected to the downtown core via the Eglinton Crosstown LRT.
Echoing the update the province gave on Tuesday about the Scarborough subway extension — which is likewise pushing ahead quite quickly thanks to the newly-implemented Building Transit Faster Act — Ford said in his daily media briefing on Wednesday that Queen's Park is formally requesting the plans from potential builders of the $4.7 billion Eglinton Crosstown West Extension.
Ontario is one step closer to delivering relief to transit riders. The province is issuing a Request for Proposals for advance tunnelling work on the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension. https://t.co/PFEHrfflIC
— Michael Tibollo (@MichaelTibollo) August 19, 2020
The Request for Proposals marks a major step toward actually beginning the tunnelling process for the 9.2 km underground subway line, which will run seven stops from Mount Dennis Station to Renforth Drive, with a planned multi-stop connection from there a new "Union Station West" at the airport.
Much like the Scarborough extension, work on the Crosstown West will likely begin mid-next year after a contract is awarded to one of the teams, despite the fact that completion of the Crosstown LRT itself has been delayed until 2022.
In the province's daily press conference, the premier makes a similar announcement to yesterday's: they're issuing an RFP tomorrow to advance tunnelling work on the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension (yesterday's announcement was the same but for the Scarborough Subway Extension).
— Tina Yazdani (@TinaYazdani) August 19, 2020
It is one of four major projects, including the controversial Ontario Line, which comprise Ford's staggering $28.5 billion subway plan for the GTA.
Ford noted in his presser that construction of the line will not disrupt traffic on Eglinton Avenue West, unlike the construction for the LRT, which has been a pain point for local businesses, drivers and pedestrians for years.
by Becky Robertson via blogTO
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