Ontario Line

Thorncliffe Park Station

After crossing the Don Valley, the Ontario Line will cross Millwood Road and run along Overlea Boulevard on elevated tracks that will be designed to fit nicely with their surroundings and create opportunities for new public spaces underneath. Metrolinx will seek community input on designs as part of ongoing consultations.

The station located at Thorncliffe Park Drive will bring much-needed rapid transit to a community that has been historically underserved by transit. The station and the elevated tracks will be completely separated from vehicles and pedestrians to provide reliable, safe service.

Station area map

Map showing Thorncliffe Park Station location. View a more detailed project footprint in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report here.

Renderings

Key facts

• 12,800 people within walking distance to the station
• 3,100 customers will use the station during the busiest travel hour (2,100 getting on and 1,100 getting off the Ontario Line)
• 500 transfers during the busiest travel hour
• 3,000 jobs in the area

*Forecast for the year 2041

Maintenance and storage facility

The maintenance and storage facility is a critical part of any public transit operation. It’s where trains are housed and maintained to keep them clean and safe for our customers each and every day.

To support the 388,000 daily trips the Ontario Line is expected to accommodate by 2041, a large site will be needed to store and service the trains.

After an extensive study of nine different sites across the route, the site in Thorncliffe Park was selected because our studies showed that it best met all of the technical needs for the project while clearly demonstrating the least impact to local jobs and businesses.

Work on the facility is anticipated to begin in 2023.

Site selection

We studied the following nine options in close collaboration with City of Toronto staff. No vacant land exists in the city to accommodate a maintenance and storage facility; all options would require significant property acquisitions and would impact many jobs.

• Site 1 – Wicksteed: Location close to the main line; would require relocation of significant number of jobs/businesses, some of which may not be able to relocate within the city.
• Site 2 – Overlea: Location close to the main line; would require relocation of significant number of jobs.
• Site 3 – Leaside: Would require relocation of critical services (Canada Post distribution centre) and significant number of jobs; would require permanent road closure/diversion and larger land area to accommodate the additional length needed for underpass/overpass to cross CP rail corridor.
• Site 4 – Flemingdon hydro corridor: Would require relocation of hydro power lines and permanent road diversion; would impact community park space.
• Site 5 – Science Centre: Poor location near major interchange between Ontario Line and Eglinton Crosstown LRT; would impact plans underway for mixed-use development, including affordable housing and new school.
• Site 6 – Celestica: Poor location near major interchange between Ontario Line and Eglinton Crosstown LRT; would impact advanced plans for mixed-use development, including affordable housing and major new municipal community centre.
• Site 7 – Wynford: Not close to main line; would require relocation of significant number of jobs, businesses, community organizations; higher operational costs.
• Site 8 – Railside: Would require relocation of several places of worship, significant number of jobs/businesses, community centre; farther from Ontario Line, requiring additional track and tunnel portal or bridge; higher capital and operational costs.
• Site 9 – Greenwood Yard: Would have major impacts on TTC operations during and after construction; would lead to schedule delays and significant cost increases.

After extensive study, a hybrid of sites 1 and 2 in the southeast portion of the Leaside Business Park was selected because our studies showed that it meets all of the technical needs for the project:

• it is already zoned for industrial use;
• it is close to the main line, making it quick and easy for trains to go in and out of service; and
• it is the right land configuration and large enough at 175,000 square metres to meet future needs.

At the same time, we determined that we could help impacted businesses and community organizations relocate within the community or nearby if they chose to do so. This was the most critical requirement as we looked for a site in such a built-up urban environment that could accommodate a facility like this.

We're now working one-on-one with property owners and tenants in the area to make sure they continue to thrive and deliver the services their customers and clients rely on each day.

Protecting businesses, organizations and jobs

We know how vital local businesses and community organizations are to the fabric of this city and we will ensure they have the supports they need to continue to succeed.

We are now working one-on-one with the leaders of businesses and organizations in the area to make sure they continue to thrive. In some cases this might include working with business owners to relocate to other nearby locations within the community. 

The maintenance and storage facility will also bring upwards of 300 new jobs to the community once the Ontario Line is in service.

Engaging with the community

As teams continue to advance plans for the stations, elevated guideways and maintenance and storage facility in the area, there will be many opportunities for community members to share feedback through community meetings.

We have already had numerous meetings and discussions with community members in Thorncliffe Park about the maintenance and storage facility. See below for responses to some of the most talked about topics in the community:

• Aug. 12, 2021 - Letter to SaveTPARK about MSF site selection
• Background: May 27, 2021 site selection presentation
• Background: Technical responses to site selection questions
• Aug. 13, 2021 - Open letter to residents of Thorncliffe Park