Arup delivers Finch West LRT for Toronto transit expansion

The Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) line has officially entered service, adding a new high-capacity transit corridor to Toronto’s public transport network and expanding access along Finch Avenue West. The project was delivered through a partnership between Metrolinx, Infrastructure Ontario and Mosaic Transit Group, with Arup acting as lead designer.

The 10.3-kilometre line runs from Keele Street to Humber Polytechnic’s North Campus and includes 16 surface stops and two stations. It is intended to improve east–west mobility in areas that have historically experienced limited access to rapid transit, while strengthening integration with the wider Greater Toronto Area network.

Design and engineering scope
Arup’s role covered detailed design for the linear rail alignment as well as full architectural and engineering design services for all stations. The scope also included integrated urban planning to support corridor regeneration and technical support for the replacement of the Highway 400 bridge, a critical interface between transit infrastructure and existing road networks.

The project required coordination across civil, structural, architectural and systems disciplines to ensure constructability, long-term durability and compatibility with surrounding urban infrastructure. Station designs were developed to accommodate accessibility requirements, passenger flow, and operational efficiency while responding to local urban contexts.

Network integration and urban impact
By linking Finch Avenue West communities to Toronto’s broader transit system, the LRT is expected to reduce travel times and improve access to employment and education destinations. The line also supports transit-oriented development objectives by providing fixed, high-capacity infrastructure that can anchor future urban growth along the corridor.

From a system perspective, the Finch West LRT adds resilience to the city’s transport network by offering an alternative to bus-only services on a heavily travelled east–west route. Its integration with existing transit services is designed to support modal shift and reduce congestion pressure on parallel road corridors.

Long-term infrastructure strategy
The completion of the Finch West LRT aligns with wider regional investment in rail-based transit to accommodate population growth and changing travel patterns in the Greater Toronto Area. For engineering and planning stakeholders, the project illustrates the complexity of delivering new light rail infrastructure within a dense urban environment while maintaining continuity with existing transport and utility systems.

Arup’s involvement in the project reflects a continued focus on delivering large-scale transit infrastructure that balances technical performance, urban integration and long-term operational requirements across Canadian cities.

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