Long-awaited Toronto LRT finally almost ready to open
We may not be able to ride the Eglinton Crosstown LRT until September at best, but the ill-fated transit line's faster-progressing little sibling, the Finch West LRT, appears to be gearing up to open sooner than you might think.
Though the smaller transit line kicked off construction nine years after the much-delayed Crosstown did, it has technically been complete since September 2024, as far as all of the stops and stations are concerned.
A new update from Metrolinx indicates that the final touches to the line are being added this month, including the final preparation of the eastern terminus stop, Finch West Station, to accept passengers.
The transit agency writes that the station is expected to be cleared for occupancy by "the end of June 2025," and has had benches and other public realm features installed around it.
Meanwhile, as testing and commissioning of LRT vehicles continue to take place along the length of the 18-stop east-west route, remediation work on the roads and sidewalks impacted by construction — particularly between Keele Street and Signet Drive — is also wrapping up.
New pavement, transit signals and bike lanes are in place, with only "minimal impacts on traffic" as the smallest last details of the work are finished. Other segments of Finch Avenue West, such as between Milvan Drive and Highway 27, already look brand-spankin' new, with all elements in place.
Line 6 Finch is, based on TTC budget docs, set to potentially debut in August, though those same docs also stated that Line 5 Eglinton was expected launch in July. TTC staff are already training on both lines, having been deployed in March.
"There will be a final period of refresher training for those signing Line 5 and then ghost trial operation during spring, with opening aiming for July," said the TTC at the time, adding that "Line 6 initial training will commence once the Line 5 operators are confirmed certified and have started ghosting service."
While the Crosstown is close to celebrating the 14th anniversary of breaking ground, with still no passengers able to board it, the 11 km-long Finch West LRT has only been under construction since 2019.
New signs suggest delayed Toronto LRT line may finally be opening soon https://t.co/6IPfiZ7ZUa
— blogTO (@blogTO) February 27, 2025
Signage along Finch Avenue advising passengers that existing bus stops were being prepared for the impending debut of the new LRT has also been present since February, when the public realized that we were, at long last, really getting close to the date.
