Construction for the New Subway Line Has Started

Tess KalinowskiTransportation ReporterWhen the shovels go in the ground on the first of the city's proposed Transit City lines next September, it will mark the beginning of a new era in Toronto transit.Sheppard East will be the first of the seven proposed light-rail lines to use supersized streetcars to bring downtown-style transit to the suburbs."Transit City is based on the principle that no one should be disadvantaged by not owning a car. (It) takes the high-quality transit service available in the core and begins to extend that to the four corners of Toronto," said TTC chair Adam Giambrone. ...  (for full article click here)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Here is how the subway  how the subway extension has developed over time:

2005

• February 2005: Toronto City Council passes a motion that the Spadina Subway Extension to Steeles Avenue is Toronto’s top priority for subway expansion
• August 2005: York Region Environmental Assessment (EA), “Highway 7 Corridor & Vaughan North-South Link Public Transit Improvements” was submitted to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.  This EA  includes an assessment of alternative technologies (including a subway extension) to connect the Spadina Subway from Steeles Avenue to Highway 7

2006

• February 16, 2006: TTC/City Environmental Assessment  (for Downsview Station  to Steeles Avenue) was submitted to the Ontario Ministry of Environment
• March 23, 2006: Provincial Trust Fund announced by the Province of Ontario in the Budget to fund the Spadina Subway Extension to the Vaughan Corporate Centre ($670 million).
• November 2006: Ontario Ministry of the Environment approves the York Region North-South Link EA subject to certain conditions including a more detailed examination of the subway option for the Highway 7 to Steeles Ave connection

2007

• March  6, 2007: Federal Government announces a $697 million commitment to the project through the Building Canada Fund
• March 23, 2007: Provincial  EA approval for Downsview to Steeles Ave portion of the project received by the Toronto Transit Commission and/or the City of Toronto.
• April 2007: Provincial EA approval entitled “Response to Conditions of Approval Vaughan North-South Link Subway Alignment Optimization Report” for Steeles Ave to Vaughan Corporate Centre portion of the project received by York Region.  The “Subway Optimization Report” is in response to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE) conditions of approval of November 2006
• July 2007: York Region’s Conditions of Approval report with final alignment between Steeles Ave and Highway 407 was submitted to Ontario Ministry of Environment
• October 9, 2007: Executive Task Force (ETF) established for the purpose of overseeing the development and construction of the project in Toronto and York Region. Initial meeting held.
• December 13, 2007: Province of Ontario pledges an additional $200 million towards the cost of the project through the Move Ontario Trust

2008

• February 2008: Initial construction contract was awarded by the Toronto Transit Commission for the Steeles Ave West Sewer relocation
• March 13, 2008: Federal Canadian Environment Assessment Agency (CEAA) approval received for the entire project from Transport Canada
• March 2008: Project controls and project management contracts approved by the Toronto Transit Commission
• April 1, 2008: Official “Start Date of project”. Sufficient governance agreements, approvals, staffing, contracts, funding and office space are in place to proceed to procurement of design and engineering firms and other project work.
• April 4, 2008: York Region’s Conditions of Approval report with final alignment between Steeles Ave and Highway 407 was approved by the Ontario Ministry of Environment.
• September 5, 2008: Federal Contribution Agreement officially signed and in effect.
• October 23, 2008: The architecture/engineering contracts of the new station designs, with a total value of up to $70 million, were awarded to The Spadina Group Association, Arup Canada Inc, and EarthTech Canada (AECOM).
• October 23, 2008: Awarding of principal Geo-Engineering Consultant contract value of up to $8 million to Golder Associates Ltd. and awarding of Geotechnical engineering consultant contract to Inspec-Sol Inc. value of up to $3.5 million.
• November 26, 2008: Awarding of Twin Tunnel Design Contract to Hatch Mott MacDonald Ltd. Limit of $12 million.
• December 18, 2008: Awarding of Geotechnical engineering consultant value of up to $3.5 million to Coffey Geotechnics Inc.

2009

• June 2009: Announcement of artists for station design collaboration with each station design consultants. Six individual finalists selected.
• July 9, 2009: Awarding of the Tunnel Boring Machine Contract to Lovat Inc., contract value of $58.4 million.
• September 24, 2009: Toronto Transit Commission approved design concepts for Sheppard West Station and York University Station.
• October 29, 2009: Toronto Transit  Commission approved design concept for Steeles West Station.- First construction contract for the project awarded to Belor Construction Ltd. for the Downsview Station to Wilson Yard Connection.
• November 17, 2009: Toronto Transit  Commission approved design concept for Highway 407 Station.- Public open house held for Sheppard West Station design concept.
• November 27, 2009: TYSSE Ground Breaking Ceremony for the Wilson Yard Connection project, officially under construction.
• December 3, 2009: Public open house held for York University Station design concept.
• December 4, 2009: TYSSE Construction Information Session held for contractors
• December 16, 2009: Toronto Transit Commission approved design concepts for the Vaughan Corporate Centre Station.Contract awarded for the Supply of Precast Concrete Tunnel Lining in the amount of $43 million to Armtec Holdings Ltd.