The Ontario government has announced the start of excavation work at the Ontario Line’s Queen Station. The milestone, it says, is the latest in the province’s plan to protect Ontario by building world-class transit, reducing gridlock and creating thousands of jobs.

“We’re building the Ontario Line to keep people moving across the city with faster, more reliable transit,” said Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria. “The Ontario Line is a game-changer for our economy, connecting more people to housing and supporting thousands of good-paying construction jobs at a time when we must protect Ontario workers and businesses from growing threats south of the border.”

With crews set to excavate more than 100,000 cubic metres of dirt and rock, the new Ontario Line platform at Queen Station will be built 40 metres below street level, directly beneath the existing TTC Queen Station. It will be the busiest stop on the Ontario Line, serving over 15,000 riders during peak hours and significantly improving access to destinations throughout the downtown and across the Greater Toronto Area.

Once complete, the 15.6-kilometre Ontario Line will have 15 stations, running from Exhibition Place through the downtown core and connecting to the Line 5 Eglinton at Don Mills Road. The line will offer more than 40 connections to other subway, bus, streetcar and regional train services, bringing 227,500 more people within walking distance of transit and reducing daily car trips by at least 28,000.

“We need to get Toronto moving for drivers, pedestrians and public transit users. The Ontario Line is a vital new public transit option that will alleviate congestion and help hundreds of thousands of Torontonians get to their destination faster," said Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow. “We are partnering together with the province to give riders better public transit options. I’m excited to celebrate this important milestone.”

By 2041, the Ontario Line is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 14,000 tonnes annually and cut overall fuel consumption by more than 7 million litres a year – the equivalent of nearly 120,000 fill-ups at the pump per year.