Will this light-rail transit line link up with Pearson Airport in Mississauga, Ontario?

A new light-rail transit line that’ll “likely” be eventually extended from Toronto to Pearson Airport in Mississauga has reached a milestone with the completion of all stations and stops along the route.

Ontario government officials said in a news release the province’s plan to reduce gridlock and deliver “faster, more reliable transit” will soon take a big step forward with the anticipated completion of the Finch West LRT route.

When ready to take its first passengers, the 18-stop, 11-kilometre line will run along Finch Avenue West in Toronto and connect to MiWay in Mississauga in addition to other transit services in Brampton, York, the TTC in Toronto and regional provider GO Transit.

Although funding is not yet in place to extend the line to Pearson Airport, officials at Metrolinx, the provincial agency overseeing the project, said earlier such an addition is “likely.”

The Greater Toronto Airports Authority, which operates Pearson, has said connecting the airport to the Finch West LRT is crucial. The Pearson Airport Employment Zone, which includes parts of Mississauga, Brampton and Toronto, is Canada’s second-largest employment area, trailing only downtown Toronto’s financial core. 

Pearson officials said earlier they hope the Finch West LRT line will be extended farther west from Humber College to include a stop at Woodbine and then the airport.

Videos

When open for business, the Finch West LRT will move some 46,000 passengers each weekday and bring 230,000 people closer to fast and reliable transit, the province said in its news release.

Metrolinx president and CEO Phil Verster said substantial progress is being made on the Finch West LRT and “with all major construction completed, we are a step closer to bringing fast, frequent light-rail service to northwest Toronto” and potentially beyond.

“The line will move 46,000 passengers each weekday and provide important transit connections.”

By 2031, officials said, the new line is projected to serve 12 million passengers each year.

In an earlier online project description, in answer to one of a number of “frequently asked questions,” Metrolinx said while “an airport extension (of the Finch West LRT) is likely,” no funding has yet been set aside for such an undertaking.