Friday, March 21, 2025
The Government of Ontario awarded the construction contract for the East Harbour Transit Hub. This all-new transit hub is part of the government’s plan to deliver faster and more convenient transit for people across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and will connect transit users to both GO Transit and the Ontario Line.
“The investments we are making in transit and infrastructure are helping fight gridlock and speed up commutes for millions of people across Ontario, including the 100,000 transit users who are expected to use the East Harbour Transit Hub every day,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “By making these investments, we are also supporting thousands of good-paying jobs in Ontario’s construction sector at a time when, in the face of U.S. tariffs that are taking direct aim at Canada’s economy, it’s never been more important to help keep our workers on the job.”
Once complete, the hub is expected to serve approximately 100,000 daily riders, split between the Ontario Line and GO Transit. The hub is part of the government’s plan to make public transit in the GTHA more convenient, helping divert as many as 14,000 people from Union Station during rush hour peaks and reducing congestion at the station by up to 14 per cent.
“The Metrolinx team is proud to work with partners in government and industry to deliver more transit options, reduce commute times and ease congestion. East Harbour station will be one of the most important nodes on the region’s transit map. It will connect the Ontario Line to an expanded GO network in a way that will completely re-shape how we move through Toronto and beyond,” said Michael Lindsay, interim president and CEO, Metrolinx.
The East Harbour Transit Hub, located immediately east of the Don Valley Parkway and south of Eastern Avenue, will serve the Riverdale, Riverside and Leslieville communities.
“People depend on public transit to be fast, reliable and get them where they need to go. Riders will now enjoy a better public transit experience,” said Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto. “The East Harbour Transit Hub will serve 100,000 people per day on the Ontario Line and GO Transit, resulting in less crowding at Union Station. We are working together to build a better transit system for Torontonians.”
The project construction is being delivered through a joint venture of AtkinsRéalis and Bird Construction, leading alongside Hatch Ltd.
“Bird’s continued work on the East Harbour Transit Hub, one of the first major transit projects in Canada to use an alliance contracting model, leverages our extensive collaborative contracting experience, comprehensive self-perform capabilities, and expanding national Infrastructure presence,” said Teri McKibbon, president and CEO of Bird. “We look forward to our continued collaboration with Metrolinx and our other alliance team members and stakeholders to deliver this landmark infrastructure project that will improve the quality of life for the Greater Toronto community for years to come.”
“East Harbour Transit Hub is a generational project, transforming Toronto’s eastern-end waterfront and fulfilling a long-held ambition to expand the capacity of the city’s regional connectivity hubs,” said Ian L. Edwards, president and CEO, AtkinsRéalis. “We have a world-class project team with global and local expertise to ensure project delivery in full collaboration with our partners and client, as well as a commitment to quality and schedule performance.”
“East Harbour Transit Hub is a placemaking project that will enhance and forever change the Riverdale community with the second-busiest transit hub on the Metrolinx network. We are proud to be designing such an important landmark that serves as the catalyst for one of Canada’s largest transit-oriented communities in the east-end,” said Philip Murray, global director, Management and Delivery, Hatch.
Featured image: (Government of Ontario)
