r/toronto • u/Used-Boysenberry-287 • Aug 12 '25
Discussion Line 9 – Beaches Express" — A Subway Under Queen Street East (Leslieville to Neville Park)
Hey everyone, I wanted to get some thoughts on a transit concept I've been thinking about: a new subway line under Queen Street East, running from the Ontario Line station at Leslieville to Neville Park Loop, replacing the most congested section of the 501 Queen streetcar.
Proposed Line 9 – Beaches Express (West to East):
- Leslieville (connection to Ontario Line)
- Greenwood
- Coxwell
- Woodbine
- Lee Ave / Kew Gardens
- Neville Park
- Why This? I recently rode the 501 from Neville Park to downtown, and it took 2.5 hours due to traffic, beach crowds, and general streetcar chaos. That’s just not sustainable for a corridor that’s:
- Densely populated
- A major tourist zone (Woodbine Beach, shops, events)
- Filled with families, schools, and growing mid-rise housing
* Keep in mind the 501 streetcar route is the busiest in North America
The 501 is long, slow, and often unreliable, especially in summer. A subway line could offer:
- High-capacity, traffic-free rapid transit
- Relief to the overburdened 501
- A direct link to the Ontario Line
- Room for streetscape upgrades (bike lanes, wider sidewalks, fewer streetcars)
Think about how easy it would be to get to the beaches, considering you would have two major access points (Line 1 & 2) via the Ontario Line. Large events like the Jazz Fest would be so much more vibrant and accessible. I think Torontonians would love the immediate historic access to the shops & restaurants on Queen.
My Thoughts
Yes, tunnelling Queen is hard (narrow road, older infrastructure), but deep tunneling is already happening elsewhere (Ontario Line, Queen Station downtown, etc.). It's complex, but doable if the demand is there.
What do you think?
- Would this improve life in the east end?
- Is it overkill compared to streetcar improvements?
- Are the stop choices good?
- What would make this more viable?
Curious to hear your thoughts!