Ontario Construction News staff writer
The estimated cost of the Ontario Line subway construction has increased to about $34 billion, almost three times the original projected budget announced by the provincial government six years ago.
Metrolinx president and CEO Michael Lindsay confirmed the figure at a news conference on Tuesday, in response to a reporter’s question, while stating the final cost will be higher because a contract for the line’s elevated guideway has not yet been awarded.
The Ontario government announced plans for the Ontario Line in 2019 as a 15.6-kilometre subway route from Exhibition Place through downtown Toronto to the Ontario Science Centre with a $10.9 billion price tag.
According to Lindsay, however, the expected cost has jumped by $23 billion, due to a “significantly different economic environment” than when work was first announced. Trade uncertainty and supply-chain disruptions are factors impacting construction costs.
The Ontario Line, one of the largest transit infrastructure projects underway in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, is being delivered through a series of major contracts, including work on stations, tunnels and the elevated portion of the route.
The elevated guideway contract remains in the procurement process and will further increase the final cost.
As of August 11, 2026, the Ontario Line has four major procurement packages:
- Southern Civil, Stations and Tunnel: $6 billion awarded to Ontario Transit Group in November 2022. The package covers about six kilometres of twin tunnels and seven stations between Exhibition/Ontario Place and the Don Yard.
- Rolling Stock, Systems, Operations and Maintenance: $9 billion awarded to Connect 6ix in November 2022. The 30-year contract covers the trains, systems, operations, maintenance and related facilities for the Ontario Line.
- Pape Tunnel and Underground Stations: Awarded to Pape North Connect, led by Webuild and FCC, in January 2024. The package includes about three kilometres of twin tunnels and the Pape and Cosburn stations. A $4.32-billion construction contract was signed in August 2026, according to reports published last week.
- Elevated Guideway and Stations: Trillium Guideway Partners, led by Acciona Infrastructure Canada and Amico Major Projects, was selected in February 2024. The package includes about three kilometres of elevated guideway and five stations. However, the final construction contract/price has not yet been released. Infrastructure Ontario currently lists the contract value as “to be announced at financial close”.
