Finch West (TTC)

Finch West
Location	Keele St./Finch Ave. West Toronto, Ontario Canada
Coordinates
Platforms	centre platform
Tracks	2
Construction
Structure type	underground
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Status	Under construction
History
Opening	2018
Services
Preceding station   TTC   Following station York University toward Vaughan Yonge–University Extension in 2018 Downsview Park toward Downsview

Finch West is a subway station under construction on the extension of the Yonge–University–Spadina line in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is being built under Keele Street, north of Finch Avenue West, and is expected to open after the end of 2017.

Description

The station will be built underground and parallel to Keele Street. The line is proposed to continue from Downsview Park station, curving northward to align with Keele. Nearby landmarks include Fountainhead Park and the commercial strip along Keele Street. Industrial lands lie to the east, and York University is to the northwest.

On 27 November 2009 the official ground breaking ceremony was held for the Spadina Extension, and major tunnelling operations started in June 2011. It is estimated that 31 December 2017 would be the earliest achievable date to deliver the project.

Subway extension

The Toronto Transit Commission has conducted the environmental assessment (see official link below) for the project to extend the Spadina line north from Downsview through this station to York University, Steeles Avenue and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. The governments of Ontario and Canada have each pledged $670 million of funding for its construction. The City of Toronto and the TTC have indicated their concerns about lacking funding to operate the subway once it is built. According to the Globe and Mail newspaper (March 23, 2006), real estate development companies belonging to the family of former Finance Minister Greg Sorbara own the properties just south of the intersection of Finch Avenue West and Keele Street, according to land registry documents and corporate records. Sorbara is the Liberal Member of Provincial Parliament for Vaughan.

Transit City proposal

The Transit City proposal called for a new LRT line known as the Etobicoke-Finch West LRT line, running along Finch Avenue West from Humber College to Finch Station, passing through Finch West Station on the way. This had initially been cancelled with the election of Rob Ford as the mayor of Toronto in 2010; in early 2012, however, a Council initiative reinstated it. Under the new proposal, this station would serve as its eastern terminus.

External links

• The Spadina Subway Extension (official site)
• Map indicating alignment of extension and location of stations