Toronto's Waterfront East LRT finally secures $3B funding after years of delays

Toronto's Waterfront East LRT has secured full funding after years of delays. The $3 billion project will connect Union Station to the Port Lands, serving over 150,000 people. Leaders from all three levels of government announced the deal on Tuesday, each pledging $1 billion to move the long-stalled line forward. The LRT has faced repeated setbacks due to funding shortfalls from Queen's Park and Ottawa. Now, with financial backing confirmed, the city can push ahead with construction. Mayor Olivia Chow described the line as 'the critical missing piece needed to unlock the eastern waterfront'.

Plans for the route include stops along the rapidly growing East Bayfront and Port Lands areas. Once complete, the LRT will support around 50,000 daily riders, especially as Quayside and the Port Lands develop further. It will also enable the construction of 75,000 new housing units in the surrounding neighbourhoods. Major work is set to begin in 2023, with track laying and station foundations expected between 2026 and 2027. Testing phases will run from 2028 to 2029, and the line is targeted to open by 2030. The city will oversee delivery, aiming for full completion in the early 2030s. Prime Minister Mark Carney, Premier Doug Ford, and Mayor Chow jointly announced the agreement. Their collaboration marks a rare alignment on infrastructure funding for the region.

The Waterfront East LRT will stretch from Union Station to the Port Lands, improving transit access for thousands. With construction now fully funded, the project moves closer to reality after years of uncertainty. The line is expected to play a key role in Toronto's housing and transit expansion over the next decade.