Who is Toronto Relief Line Alliance

"The Toronto Relief Line Alliance is a group of over 20 citizen advocates across Toronto. Co-founded by Louis Mark and others in multiple industries outside of transit, and advised by multiple longtime transit advocates. Contact us at [email protected]"

Where was the information on this website sourced from?

All data on this website has been sourced from Metrolinx and City of Toronto. The catalogue of works cited, as well as our methodology for the travel time estimations can be found here.

Where did the idea of building the Relief Line to Don Mills originate?

The idea most recently was studied in Metrolinx's Yonge Relief Network Study, but has been a part of transit planner proposals in the City of Toronto for several decades.

Is the Relief Line funded?

No, the Relief Line hasn't received any funding commitments from any levels of government. Toronto Relief Line Alliance needs the help of people like you to ensure that building the Relief Line from Sheppard to downtown becomes the #1 GTA transportation priority of all levels of government.

Won't SmartTrack and GO RER provide the same crowding relief?

SmartTrack and GO RER are complimentary, but cannot replace the Relief Line. More relief than what GO RER and SmartTrack can provide is needed. Metrolinx's Yonge Relief Network Study estimates that RER+, a plan similar to SmartTrack, will attract only 400 riders from the Yonge Line at peak hour. This is equal only 3.4% of the relief that the Relief Line to Sheppard & Don Mills will provide.As plans evolve for SmartTrack, official staff reports will be used to update TRLA numbers.

Do we know exactly where the Relief Line will go?

Final routing is still being determined by the City of Toronto and Metrolinx. Roughly, the Relief Line TRLA is advocating for will start at Sheppard and Don Mills, run south along Don Mills Road to intersect the Eglinton Crosstown, then southwest to intersect the Bloor-Danforth Line in the Pape & Danforth area, and finally continue southwest to a terminal at City Hall, in the downtown core.

How realistic is financing of the line?

Very realistic. The Ontario Liberals have strongly indicated that they'll fund the Relief Line, from Downtown to Danforth, which would cost $3.5 Billion. The Relief Line to Sheppard and Don Mills cost $7.4 Billion, leaving a $3.9 Billion gap. A significant part of the platform of the federal Liberal government was increased infrastructure spending, so we believe that they would be very likely to contribute to this project, the most important rapid transit expansion in Toronto since the 1960s. If the federal government matched a potential $3.5 Billion provincial contribution, we'd be within striking distance of fully funding this line.

What stage are we in building the Relief Line?

The City of Toronto and Metrolinx are working together on assessing Relief Line options. As of now, the City of Toronto is assessing a truncated Relief Line running from City Hall to Danforth & Pape. This truncated line will provide only half the relief to Yonge Line, while providing minimal, if any, improvement to commute times for commuters coming from north of Bloor Street/Danforth Avenue. We need help from people like you to ensure that building the complete Relief Line, to Sheppard and Don Mills, is the top transportation priority for our government.

Contact us
email:[email protected]
Twitter: @reliefline
Facebook: facebook.com/TOReliefLineAlliance/