The subway system in Toronto for many years consisted of two lines – the Bloor-Danforth east/west line and the Yonge-University-Spadina line which is a north/south loop through the downtown core. The main expansions to the network include the Scarborough LRT line which ran from the eastern subway terminus to the Scarborough Town Centre, and more recently, the extension of the Spadina line to the York University campus and the beginnings of the Sheppard line which crosses the Yonge subway north of highway 401, the main east-west highway through the city.
In recent years, there has been a policy push towards developing higher density housing near subway stops, and near the GO Transit commuter rail stops. The downtown core is vibrant and has seen considerable housing development in recent years beginning with the formerly industrial waterfront area.
The results of these policies are clear from a map of median dwelling age, which shows both the ongoing suburban development in a ring from Oakville in the west through Vaughan and Markham in the north central area and Oshawa and Clarington in the east. Much of this development has been along the 407 toll highway, which will shortly open its final segment to connect Highways 35 and 115 to the east of Clarington.
What is interesting here is the relative age of the downtown core housing stock, but also the redevelopment which has occurred on the Yonge and Bloor-Danforth subway lines as well as increasing densities at exits along the main east-west highway 401.
In coming years, we can expect to find substantial growth along the subway lines, but also further from the city center at GO Transit stops. The province of Ontario is pursuing a plan to construct 1.5 million new homes in the province before 2031, and in order to do so, must strongly encourage redevelopment with high rise buildings at these critical transit stops (https://globalnews.ca/news/10186678/ontario-density-transit-lines/).
While we can expect the city to sprawl further – especially along the newly expanded Highway 407 corridor to the east – the city of Toronto itself should show considerable population growth over the next few years.
Recent Comments