Relief Line (Toronto)

Relief Line
Overview
Type	Rapid transit
System	Toronto subway
Status	Planned
Locale	Toronto, Ontario
Termini	TBD
Operation
Operator(s)	Toronto Transit Commission
Route map Potential extension north Pape Gerrard Queen–Carlaw  501  502  East Harbour Don Valley Parkway Don River Richmond Hill line Sumach  504  514  Sherbourne–Queen Queen–Yonge Osgoode Potential extension west

The Relief Line (formerly the Downtown Relief Line (DRL)) is a proposed rapid transit line for the Toronto subway system, intended to provide capacity relief to the Yonge segment of Line 1 and Bloor–Yonge station and extend subway service coverage. Several routes are being considered. Several plans for an east–west downtown subway date back to the early 20th century, most of which ran along Queen Street. Since the early 21st century, studies propose a line that would run south from Line 2 Bloor–Danforth, before bending westward along Queen Street into Downtown Toronto. Potential extensions could be made northward from its Line 2 connection in the east, as well as westward and northward from downtown to form a U-shape.

The cost of the Relief Line is estimated at C$6.2 billion to 8.3 billion depending on alignment and phasing. The Relief Line is included in the regional transportation plan The Big Move, and is one of Metrolinx's top 15 transit priorities.

The purpose of the Relief Line is to help reduce current and projected congestion in downtown Toronto. In 2012, it was becoming apparent to the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and Metrolinx that even with proposed improvements, the Yonge line and Bloor–Yonge station was facing significant capacity constraints. As of 2015^[update], the Yonge line operates 11% over its capacity south of Line 2 during the morning rush hour. The new Toronto Rocket trains operating on the line, and the future implementation of Automatic Train Control will help increase the capacity of the Yonge line. Other factors are expected to reduce demand such as the extension of the University–Spadina portion of Line 1 into Vaughan, and other local transit improvements. However, after factoring in population and employment growth and the proposed extension of the Yonge line into Richmond Hill, the Yonge line is projected to be at 96% of its capacity by 2031. The Relief Line will provide an alternate route for commuters heading downtown by allowing them to bypass the congested Yonge line and avoid transferring at Bloor–Yonge Station.

...
Wikipedia