What to know
- Bonnie Crombie is proposing to extend TTC Line 2 from Kipling through Sherway Gardens and into Mississauga City Centre.
- Transit advocates say the extension could be useful, particularly for trips between Mississauga and Etobicoke.
- More Transit Southern Ontario’s Jonah Lewis-Rosenbaum says improved two-way, all-day Milton GO service could better serve Mississauga-to-downtown Toronto trips.
- CodeRedTO’s Cameron MacLeod says the subway proposal should be considered alongside broader regional transit priorities and network needs.
Transit advocates say Bonnie Crombie’s proposal to extend the TTC’s Line 2 subway into Mississauga could provide a valuable connection, but argue the city should also prioritize GO Transit and other rapid-transit improvements.
Crombie, a candidate for Mississauga mayor, unveiled her “Mississauga Moves 2.0” transportation plan Thursday, proposing to extend Line 2 west from Kipling through Sherway Gardens and into Mississauga City Centre.
Under her proposal, Mississauga would work with Ontario, Metrolinx, Toronto and the TTC on a business case examining potential routes, stations, ridership, costs and construction options.
Advocates see potential benefits for Mississauga and Etobicoke
Jonah Lewis-Rosenbaum of More Transit Southern Ontario said a subway connection to Mississauga City Centre would be useful if it existed today.
“Many, many, many people living in Toronto and Mississauga would use it on their day to day,” Lewis-Rosenbaum said in an interview with Now Toronto.
Lewis-Rosenbaum said the extension could be particularly useful for trips between Mississauga and Etobicoke, including the area around Sherway Gardens.
He also said a subway could help take cars off the road, pointing to the impact of Line 1 along University Avenue and Yonge Street.
GO could provide a faster regional connection
However, he questioned whether the subway should be the priority for people travelling farther into downtown Toronto.
Lewis-Rosenbaum said two-way, all-day service on the Milton GO line could provide a more direct option for Mississauga residents travelling toward downtown Toronto.
“It would be significantly cheaper and significantly more beneficial if all day service is implemented correctly, alongside potential electrification in the future,” he said.
He also suggested improving GO bus service between Square One and Toronto if expanded Milton GO service is not immediately possible.
For trips within Mississauga, he pointed to faster and more frequent rapid transit along major corridors, including Dundas, with connections to GO stations.
Lewis-Rosenbaum said rapid transit along Hurontario could also connect Mississauga residents with the Lakeshore West GO line at Port Credit.
Network-wide priorities should guide subway decision
Cameron MacLeod, Executive Director of CodeRedTO, tells Now Toronto studying the Line 2 proposal is “entirely reasonable,” but cautioned against assuming an extension should automatically become a priority.
“Extensions are often a good idea, and they are often a popular idea,” MacLeod said. “But they’re not always the highest priority idea.”
MacLeod said transit planning should consider how individual projects affect the wider regional network, including system resilience.
“The big problem with extending Line 2 forever is that if it breaks, that breaks all of Line 2,” he said.
He said alternatives, including GO Transit and other rapid-transit projects, should be considered alongside a potential Line 2 extension.
Crombie’s plan also calls for improved GO service, more frequent MiWay buses and better connections to Pearson Airport, while proposing the Hazel McCallion Line open for passenger service by Dec. 31, 2028.
