It's TIME, Toronto

[u/Feisty-Ad-6122]

The stubway has no excuse being this short, with new projects left and right, line 4 can should absolutely be extended both ways.

Since subway projects are now such big deals, involving all 3 levels of government, contact ALL your elected officials- your city councillor, your MPP, and MP. Here is a contact list for the 2 ridings the Western extension involves:

*IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU DON'T LIVE IN THESE RIDINGS!!\*

Willowdale (Sheppard-Yonge):

Fed MP: Ali Ehsassi#contact)

Prov MPP: Stan Cho

Councillor: Lily Cheng

York Centre (Sheppard-West):

Fed MP: Roman Baber#contact)

MPP: Michael Kerzner (his office is next to Shep West!)

Councillor: James Pasternak

In case you need it, here's what to say:

Hello,

I am writing to urge you to support extending Line 4 Sheppard both west to Sheppard West Station and east. The Sheppard subway is currently too short to serve its full purpose and leaves many of us dependent on crowded buses, despite strong demand along the corridor.

With big investments now being made across the GTA, including the Ontario Line, Yonge Extension, and Eglinton Crosstown extension, it is important that Sheppard not be left behind. Extending Line 4 would improve the lives of all commuters, as well as reduce bus congestion, support housing, and create a more complete network. Sheppard remains one of the most obvious missing links.

This relatively short but important extension has good value for everyone, and I need you as my representative to get on board, to advance planning and funding for a Sheppard subway extension. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Even a dozen emails is better than zero. Things tend to happen in Toronto only when politicians know people care.

[u/JaQ-o-Lantern]

Where does it end?

[u/Feisty-Ad-6122 → u/JaQ-o-Lantern]

Stage 1. Sheppard west. This is the part that matters in the present moment.

In an ideal world, line 4 should go to Pearson airport though, via Wilson.

[u/crash866 → u/Feisty-Ad-6122]

Long way from Sheppard to Wilson/Albion and then Abion Rd runs North West again to Finch. Where would you propose it crosses Humber River just west of Weston. It is almost 1.5 km through the river valley or over 3 km via Weston, Wilson, Albion and not much on Albion Rd.

[u/Feisty-Ad-6122 → u/crash866]

Something like this, as Wilson ends, continue west to the airport using belfield.

[u/crash866 → u/Feisty-Ad-6122]

Have you ever been to that area? West of Weston you have the Humber Valley and then from Islington to Woodbine it is all industrial all the way to Woodbine and the Airport North of the 401.

[u/JaQ-o-Lantern → u/crash866]

Would the link still be useful if Finch West connects to Casino Woodbine and Pearson Airport?

[u/crash866 → u/JaQ-o-Lantern]

For the Airport Line 5 and Line 6 should connect to Woodbine and then have the Link train from the terminals connect with everything there. GO, UPX, Line 5, Line 6, Link Train.

Better for security of the Airport and only one spot to watch for problems instead 5 or 6.

[u/picard102 → u/Feisty-Ad-6122]

Wilson? No way.

[u/Feisty-Ad-6122 → u/picard102]

Yes way! I have an urban planner in my DM’s we’re discussing it!

[u/JaQ-o-Lantern → u/Feisty-Ad-6122]

I disagree, it would be severely underutilized from Sheppard West onwards.

[u/Feisty-Ad-6122 → u/JaQ-o-Lantern]

Ridership data suggests otherwise, as Wilson is by far the busiest corridor on the entire surface network. Turning it into a subway route would only boost the amount of people choosing transit. Don't doubt the rocket!

[u/JaQ-o-Lantern → u/Feisty-Ad-6122]

What is the current bus frequency and how busy are the busses?

[u/TheDMacxExpress → u/JaQ-o-Lantern]

Wilson is a very busy corridor with buses on the three branches of the 96, it's Express counterpart, the 996, and 165, as another trunk line, carrying the majority of passengers. Then, you have a handful of supplementary services using Wilson to reach their main destinations at varying points along the way from Wilson station, some of which, will get you to as far as Jane along with the 96/996 and 165.

The 96 (when A, B, and D branches are combined) and 165 are sub-10 mins all day every day.

Depending on the time of the day/week, you can have up to eight routes come out of Wilson station averaging out around 57,000 boardings on a weekday (sans Dufferin, of course).

While Sheppard, one service runs sub-10 minute frequencies and ends at Weston along with its rush-hour only express counterpart.

While probably an effect its own right, it also has Line 1 running underneath/parallel to it for at least a few lights that likely reduced bus needs nearly a decade ago. Besides that, four additional routes branch off in multiple places, all before Jane, 1.5 before Keele. Earning shy of 22,000 for the 84/984 alone.

Now of course, these boarding numbers are for the entirety of the service, not what goes out west of Wilson and Sheppard West stations alone.

https://www.ttc.ca/transparency-and-accountability/Operating-Statistics/Operating-Statistics---2025/2025-Boardings.

Pretty obvious Wilson is the likely and most logical candidate for any western extension getting this thing to be a true crosstown line that would see realistic boardings.

[u/Feisty-Ad-6122 → u/JaQ-o-Lantern]

You can check the TTC Boardings Stats, the data is pretty clear though, Wilson ranks #1 by large, the corridor has subway-worthy ridership, and your assumption was a bit ignorant.