Contact: Mayor Dave Barrow, 905-771-2493, dave.barrow@richmondhill.ca

RICHMOND HILL – Richmond Hill Mayor Dave Barrow today called on the Ontario Government to make the Yonge North Subway Extension a top priority for its $29 billion transportation plan.

“The Yonge North Subway Extension project has been identified by Metrolinx as a priority project awaiting funding from the Province,” said Mayor Barrow. “The provincial government has both the mandate and the budget and should begin to build this badly-needed transit project now.”

Mayor Barrow’s comments follow the tabling of the Ontario Budget on July 14 which allocated $29 billion for GTA transit and transportation projects over the next ten years.

The Yonge Subway extension to Richmond Hill Centre will help alleviate traffic congestion along Yonge Street and beyond, with direct connection to rapid transit services that span York Region. It will allow commuters a seamless and convenient connection to York Viva Bus Rapid Transit, York Region Transit, GO Transit and the TTC transit system connecting Toronto to Richmond Hill.

“The extension of the Yonge Subway line north to Richmond Hill is consistently one of the top concerns of Richmond Hill residents, but the positive impact of this project will reach across the GTA,” said Mayor Barrow.

The Richmond Hill Centre transit anchor will deliver more riders and ridership movement than any other anchor in the GTA apart from Union Station. The Environmental Assessment was unconditionally approved in 2009 and the Conceptual Design Study was approved by the Toronto Transit Commission and The Regional Municipality of York in 2012.

In short – the extension is ‘shovel ready’.