March 2026 - Toronto ON
On impulse, we decided to check out the new TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) new line 5 that opened in February.
Line 5 Eglinton is 19 kilometres of light rail transit connecting customers along Eglinton Avenue. The west end of the line starts at Mount Dennis Station and operates all the way to Kennedy Station in the east end.
Line 5 Eglinton (Eglinton Crosstown LRT) features 25 stations and stops in total, with 15 underground stations and 10 surface-level stops. The underground portion runs through the central and western sections, primarily connecting Mount Dennis to Don Valley, while the eastern portion is mainly above ground.
Let's talk, (briefly!), about time and money.
When work began on Line 5, it came with an estimated price tag of $9.1 billion to build and maintain the 25-stop line.
In 2018, it was projected the project would cost $11.78 billion.
But documents obtained by CBC Toronto in 2022 showed the project costs had jumped to at least $12.8 billion. And, as of last fall, the project had amassed a price tag of over $13 billion, according to a Metrolinx report.
But as our pompous premier, DoFo, says, after being asked for an inquiry into all the delays "Guys, you're beating a dead horse here.”
Surprising Facts About Line 5 Eglinton:
15-Year Marathon: Construction began in 2011 with a projected 2020 opening, but the project suffered over six years of delays.
Massive Cost Inflation: Initial project cost estimates were significantly lower, but the final, fully completed price tag surged over $13 billion.
Phased Opening Operations: As of Feb. 2026, the line is running a "soft opening" to refine operations, with limited hours (closing at 11 p.m.) and planned service increases over the first six months.
Extremely Deep Stations: Avenue Station is remarkably deep—roughly 32 meters (nine stories) below ground—serving a high-capacity, mined station. Yes, it is, a kind TTC supervisor, told us this, it is the deepest, as he told us to go check it out and he'd let us back on. There are 5 long escalators to street level.
Drastically Reduced Travel Times: The line cuts travel times across the city by up to 60 per cent, offering a rapid alternative to clogged buses and the downtown subway loop.
High-Speed Underground: Underground sections are designed for fast travel, making the 19 km journey from Mount Dennis to Kennedy roughly 54 minutes.
Smart Tech & Connectivity: The entire 10-km underground section features full cellular service, and stations are equipped with modern digital signage.
Major Urban Change: It is the largest transit expansion in North America, with new connections to GO Transit and the UP Express.
As of December 2025, key TTC Line 5 Eglinton (Crosstown) and connected station renames include Eglinton West Station becoming Cedarvale Station to connect to Line 5, and the intended Science Centre Station being referred to as Don Valley Station due to the facility's closure
Mount Dennis: Named after the local neighborhood and historic community.
Fairbank: Named after the historical village/community.
Forest Hill: Named after the neighborhood.
Leaside: Named after the neighborhood.
Hakimi Lebovic: A combined name recognizing the area. Hakimi Lebovic station on TTC Line 5 Eglinton is named after two intersecting streets—Hakimi Avenue (north) and Lebovic Avenue (south)—rather than a single street name.
Hakimi Avenue: Formerly known as part of Lebovic Avenue, this street was renamed in 2014 to honor Karim Hakimi, the founder of Hakim Optical, located at the northwest corner of the intersection.
Lebovic Avenue: Located on the south side of Eglinton, this street is named after Joe Lebovic, a developer and philanthropist who has built in Scarborough for over 65 years.
A picture of the whole system for context. We took the subway from Union to Eglinton and then found line 5. We rode to the next stop, Avenue, and got off, as we were trying to figure out where we should tap, not wanting to get caught by the POO Crew, Provincial Offences Officers.
After asking, we learned that since we tapped at Union, we were in the clear.
We rode to to western terminus, Mount Dennis and then crossed over and rode to Kennedy, where we went back to Eglinton and then south to Union.
Wow, we were impressed!
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TTC Line 5 (Eglinton Crosstown LRT) features bilingual (English and French) signage and voice announcements. As a Metrolinx-owned project funded by the Ontario government, it adheres to provincial requirements for services in both official languages. This differs from the traditional TTC subway network, which is primarily English only.
It features digital signage providing real-time "next train" arrivals. During its initial phase, trains run daily from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., with peak service every 4 minutes and 45 seconds. Off-peak service frequency is roughly 6 to 10 minutes, with 7–8 minutes on weekends.
Art
Mount Dennis is the western terminus and has key transit connections:
UP Express: Offers a direct 15-minute trip to Pearson Airport and a sub-20-minute trip to Union Station.
GO Transit (Kitchener Line): Provides regional rail service to Brampton, Guelph, and Kitchener, with approximately 64 weekday and 32 weekend train trips.
TTC Bus Terminal: Features a massive off-street terminal with 15 bus bays.
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