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1985
The TTC revives calls for a rapid transit line along Eglinton to help move the city’s growing population. The line would have to wait until 1994 and would likely start off as a busway: report
1990
Premier David Peterson unveils a $5-billion “Let’s Move” transit plan, including a subway between Eglinton West Station and Weston Road. Premier Bob Rae’s government endorses the plan
March 1994
Metro Toronto council approves the Eglinton subway, expected to span five stations and cost $747 million ($1.4 billion in 2025 dollars).
Aug 1994
Premier Bob Rae breaks ground on the Eglinton subway line.
1995
Premier Mike Harris announces the “indefinite” delay of the Eglinton subway line. About $50 million has already been spent and ending construction will cost an estimated $42 million. Workers undo the work that began a year earlier. Metro Toronto Chairman Alan Tonks says he is “guardedly optimistic” that work on the Eglinton line will resume — one day.
1990: A TTC fare is $1.20
1993: The Toronto Blue Jays defeat the Philadelphia Phillies to win their second straight World Series title.
Toronto enters the new millennium! The iPhone is released, Facebook has been founded and a young actor, Aubrey Drake Graham, makes his debut on Degrassi: The Next Generation. The construction of the Sheppard subway line has come and gone (costing just under $1 billion).
The population of greater Toronto continues to boom, surpassing 5 million. At city hall, a transit line that was once thought dead and buried makes an unexpected return…
Metrolinx chair Rob MacIsaac warns of growing pains in Toronto, as population booms and existing transit systems are strained.
TTC chair Adam Giambrone and Mayor David Miller unveil a $2.4-billion light rail network plan, including the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. The line would run from Kennedy Station to Pearson Airport, with both aboveground and underground portions. Premier Dalton McGuinty announces $4.6 billion for the Crosstown. Construction is to begin in 2010 and finish by 2016
On his first day in office, Mayor Rob Ford declares Transit City, including the Crosstown, dead
The TTC and Metrolinx begin talks to bring back the Crosstown as Metrolinx pushes for the line’s construction.
Premier Dalton McGuinty agrees to $8.2 billion toward a new 20-kilometre Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown, from Black Creek to Kennedy (underground) and along the Scarborough RT (above ground). Metrolinx proposes using private contractors to build the Crosstown.
Ground breaks on the revised Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown line. TTC officials warn that Metrolinx is operating on “very aggressive” timelines and budgets, including a 2020 opening date.
Time since construction began:
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Nov 2013: Rob Ford admits to smoking crack cocaine
“Technically speaking, that whole meeting was irrelevant.”
– Mayor Rob Ford
April 2017: Metrolinx CEO Bruce McCuaig steps down
Oct 2017: Phil Verster is hired as the new CEO of Metrolinx, pledging transparency
June 2018: Doug Ford becomes premier of Ontario
“We are still working towards a September 2021 opening. We believe any challenge can be minimized and managed,”
– Anne Marie Aikins, Metrolinx spokesperson
Feb 2012
Overriding Rob Ford, city council sides with TTC chair Karen Stintz to build the section of the Crosstown east of Laird Drive above ground.
May 2012
A study by transit experts warns that Metrolinx’s construction schedule for the Crosstown is “extremely challenging” and the planned 2020 opening date “unrealistic”
June 2013
Metrolinx launches the first of four giant tunnel boring machines to dig the underground portion of the Eglinton Crosstown.
Sept 2015
Metrolinx announces that the Crosstown will be delayed one year, and is now expected to open in September 2021
Nov 2015
Crosslinx Transit Solutions wins the 30-year, $9.1-billion contract to build and maintain the Eglinton Crosstown. Crosslinx is a collection of private companies including Aecon, EllisDon, ACS-Dragados and AtkinsRéalis (SNC-Lavalin at the time)
July 2016
Metrolinx threatens legal action against Bombardier over production delays for the Eglinton Crosstown LRT vehicles.
Aug 2017
First track for the Eglinton Crosstown is laid
July 2018
Crosslinx, the consortium building the Crosstown, sues Metrolinx for breaching its contract, pushing for a later opening date
Sept 2018
Crosslinx settles its lawsuit against Metrolinx. In a joint statement, the two organizations say the line will be “delivered on time”
Dec 2019
Documents obtained by the Star show that the Crosstown opening date could be pushed to May 2022, and may go $330 million over budget
… except the next speed bump was bigger than anyone could have anticipated.
In the year that the Crosstown was initially supposed to open, a pandemic shut down the world, killing millions and throwing supply chains into chaos. Premier Doug Ford declares a state of emergency due to rising COVID-19 cases. Metrolinx confirms that transit construction is exempt from the provincial shut-down
Crosslinx floats a plan for a phased opening of the LRT beginning Feb. 28, 2022. Under the plan, Eglinton Station wouldn’t be completed until September 2022
For the second time, companies behind Crosslinx sue Metrolinx, alleging that the province is unfairly holding them responsible for delays and cost increases caused by COVID-19
Time since construction began:
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opening date:0
“We are doing everything to hold Crosslinx Transit Solutions accountable and to redouble efforts to meet their commitments and complete the work quickly so we can welcome riders onto a complete, tested and fully operational Eglinton Crosstown LRT as soon as possible,” Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster
“We’re not getting along. We’re in a broken relationship … Everybody underestimated the complexity of this job.” – Geoff Smith, president of EllisDon
“I want to say, unambiguously, I apologize … We are totally dedicated and totally focused on completing the project as soon as possible.” – Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster
“Are we going to hit the next few months? Hopefully. If not, it will be in the new year,” – Doug Ford, Premier
Dec 2024: Phil Verster resigns as Metrolinx CEO. Infrastructure Ontario CEO Michael Lindsay replaces him
“I can’t give you an exact day or month, but (the Eglinton Crosstown LRT) will be open this year.”
– Doug Ford, Premier
Dec 2021
Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario reach a settlement with Crosslinx, and Metrolinx pays out an additional $325 million. Metrolinx says the line is expected to finish construction by September 2022
Sept 2022
Metrolinx announces that the Crosstown will be delayed again. There is no new opening date
May 2023
Crosslinx takes Metrolinx to court again, alleging the transit agency has taken an “irresponsibly hands-off approach.” Metrolinx confirms that the Crosstown will not open in 2023. Geoff Smith, the president of EllisDon, which is part of Crosslinx, says the Crosstown is “the most strife-ridden project” he’s ever worked on
Sept 2023
Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster said the agency has a “good understanding of when the Eglinton Crosstown is likely to open,” but said he isn’t prepared to provide an opening date
Dec 2023
Metrolinx CEO Verster again declines to provide an opening date.
Oct 2024
Premier Doug Ford says the Crosstown may not open in 2024.
Nov 2024
Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster said he expects the Crosstown to open in 2025 after contractors identified software flaws in the line’s signalling system.
Feb 2025
On the campaign trail for the 2025 provincial election, Doug Ford says he is “really, really confident” the Crosstown will open this year
June 2025
Premier Doug Ford and Metrolinx CEO Michael Lindsay confirm that, pending the results of testing, the Crosstown should open in September, as reported earlier by the Star.
Sept 2025
The LRT’s projected opening comes and goes. Metrolinx CEO Michael Lindsay said he still has hope the line will open in 2025.
Oct 2025
The Crosstown starts a major 30-day test. Two weeks into testing, two LRT trains collide in the maintenance yard.
The Crosstown completes its testing and the line is officially handed over to the TTC for operation.
Premier Doug Ford tells reporters that the line will open in 2026.
Half a century after its inception, the Eglinton Crosstown LRT is finally set to open Sunday.
Since 1974, Toronto has had 11 mayors, nine premiers and its population has more than doubled.
At least 100 businesses have gone under in the Eglinton-Lawrence area due to LRT construction.
It cost taxpayers — according to Metrolinx — over $12.6 billion.
It was ultimately six years late after being cancelled and pared down countless times.
The TTC has not built a transit line since the Line 1 Toronto-York extension. Metrolinx continues to build transit in Toronto using private contracts, including on the $27-billion Ontario Line.
