Canadian and Design Construction staff writer
The Eglinton Crosstown LRT, delivered through a public-private partnership by Crosslinx Transit Solutions, a consortium including Aecon, ACS-Dragados, EllisDon and AtkinsRéalis, opened to the public Feb. 8 in Toronto.
“The public opening of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT is a monumental milestone for Aecon and the Crosslinx team connecting growing communities with modernized transit from east to west across Toronto,” said Jean-Louis Servranckx, President and CEO, Aecon Group Inc. “Delivering a transformative project of this scale required steadfast commitment, grit and tenacity from our world-class project team.
“We are extremely proud to join our client, project partners, the provincial and municipal governments and residents in celebrating this public opening as we play a critical role in the 30-year maintenance term.”
After nearly 15 years of construction, testing and commissioning, the 19-kilometre light rail line being called one of the most complex transit infrastructure projects ever built in Toronto is expected to carry more than 123,000 riders each weekday. Travel times between Kennedy Station and Mount Dennis Station are projected to be reduced by nearly one hour. Service was free for riders on opening day.
“The opening of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT represents an important, but long-awaited, milestone for transit in Toronto,” said Angela Clayton, President and CEO, Infrastructure Ontario. “This has been one of the most complex projects in the city’s transit history, requiring significant efforts to deliver, and we thank the residents, businesses and commuters who remained patient through this long process.
“We are excited about the connectivity that this new line will bring to our communities across Toronto and the wider region.”
The Eglinton Crosstown includes 25 stations and stops along Eglinton Avenue, stretching from Kennedy Station in the east to Mount Dennis near Weston Road in the west. More than 10 kilometres of the alignment runs underground. The line connects to 68 bus routes, three TTC subway stations and two GO Transit lines, creating a key east-west transit spine through midtown Toronto.
“The opening of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT is a significant milestone for the city of Toronto and for the thousands of people who travel through this corridor every day,” said Steve DeWitt, CEO, ACS Infrastructure. “Located at the heart of midtown Toronto, this line will provide faster, more reliable connections to jobs, schools and local businesses, while strengthening the city’s transit network as a whole.
“Today reflects years of work by dedicated teams and partners, and marks an important step forward in delivering modern, high-quality transit that supports Toronto’s continued growth.”
Construction is also underway on the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, which will extend the line by nine kilometres from Mount Dennis to Renforth Drive, further expanding regional connectivity and integrating with other major transit projects.
The project reached substantial completion on Dec. 5, 2025, following a successful Revenue Service Demonstration, and full operational control was transferred to the TTC.
“After years of construction and dedication from countless teams, the opening of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT marks a milestone where vision has become reality,” said Antonio Mallol Torralbo, General Manager, CTS-Maintenance, ACS Infrastructure. “We are eager to welcome passengers aboard and ensure this critical infrastructure provides safe, reliable transit connections across one of Toronto’s busiest corridors.
“Our team is proud to have prepared this system for revenue service and looks forward to serving the thousands of residents and commuters who will depend on it daily.”
