Humber Polytechnic students are closer to having access to another form of public transportation with the announcement that all stations and stops across the Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) project had been completed.
Government and Humber officials along with the media gathered at the station at Humber Polytechnic on Friday, September 20 for the announcement. The new station is connected to North Campus via 200 metres of outdoor canopies.
The Finch West LRT provides 18 stops across 11 kilometres and will reduce vehicle traffic and gridlock on Finch Avenue West, move 46,000 passengers each weekday and bring 230,000 people closer to fast and reliable transit. The LRT will run on a dedicated, primarily street level tracks every five to seven minutes during peak hours and every seven to 10 minutes during off-peak hours.
"The completion of the Finch West LRT stations signals a pivotal milestone for commuters in communities like Rexdale, Jane-Finch and Humber River-Black Creek," said the Honourable Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation and MPP for Brampton South. "Under the leadership of Premier Ford, we're advancing the projects that matter most ensuring fast, reliable and accessible transit that will connect more people to good-paying local jobs and housing, while fueling economic growth for a stronger Ontario."
Sarkaria said it will take about 35 minutes to travel from one end of the LRT to the other when it's up and running. Using existing transit options, that would normally take closer to 80 minutes.
"It's great to be here to celebrate a milestone that we believe will be a gamechanger as we get people moving across this great city," said Sarkaria. "The work Humber is doing to prepare future generations for meaningful careers in the skilled trades is critical to ensuring that Ontario has the workforce needed to deliver our government's ambitious plan to build."
The Finch West LRT will offer connections to both local and regional transit including the TTC, GO Transit, Mississauga MiWay, York Region Viva and Brampton Züm transit services. As one of two underground stations, the Finch West Station will connect riders to the TTC's Line 1.
Kelly Jackson, vice-president, External Affairs and Professional Learning at Humber, noted that last year 64 per cent of Humber students took public transit as their primary mode of transportation to campus. Jackson said the LRT will cut the commute times of some members of the Humber community in half.
"We are grateful and excited to have this sustainable mode of public transportation right at our door, connecting our students and our employees to the city. The connectivity presented by public transit to this campus is a tremendous asset," said Jackson. "Sustainability is a core Humber value, and we are committed to continuing to prioritize sustainability in everything we do, ensuring our actions today create a brighter, more sustainable future for generations to come."
With all major construction for the LRT now complete, testing will continue for the light rail vehicles and systems.
"Canadians want to live in affordable, inclusive and sustainable communities," said Minister of International Development and MP for York South Weston Ahmed Hussen on behalf of Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Sean Fraser. "The federal government is investing in major public transit projects like the Finch West LRT to build great cities that offer good jobs and opportunities for everyone. The completion of all stations and stops in this project demonstrates what can be achieved when all orders of government work together to achieve a common vision."
The Finch West LRT project is expected to move 46,000 passengers each weekday with a projected annual ridership of 12 million passengers by 2031. The zero-emissions LRT vehicles hold up to 300 passengers and can achieve speeds of approximately 60 kilometres per hour.
