The York University subway expansion is years away but commuters received a commitment from the federal government on Friday that will help ease traffic on the road while construction is underway.
Federal ministers were joined by provincial officials and Toronto councillors to break ground on the rapid transit route to York University from Downsview station. Commuters will be bused on the route while construction is underway.
The current high-occupancy vehicle lanes (HOV) on Dufferin Street will be turned into bus only lanes and a new roadway for buses will also be built, just north of Finch Avenue.
"We are proud that with the Canadian taxpayer dollars, to contribute $9.7 million to build this new bus way as a short and mid-term solution,"said federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty at a news conference Friday.
"When the people can't get to the place that does the teaching because of the inadequacies of the infrastructure, well that's a serious problem," said Ontario's Minister of Energy and Infrastructure George Smitherman. "And if we're frank about it, that's been a problem with getting to York for a long, long time.
He told reporters at the news conference that the subway won't be built overnight which is why the bus lanes are so crucial.
However, not everyone was happy with the news. One commuter argued the bus lane would only exacerbate traffic gridlock by restricting one lane to cars.
"It's already crowded bumper to bumper," she said.
Officials said the bus route will be available for commuters even after the subway is built. The rapid transit route will begin construction right away and is expected to be completed in time for September 2009.
The subway extension isn't expected to be completed until 2015 and officials said at the ground breaking shovels should be in the ground this September.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Naomi Parness
