Item - 2026.NY34.6

North York Community Council recommends that:

Steeles Station:

Public Laneway (Ln E Yonge S Steeles):

1. City Council approve the temporary closure of the public laneway (Ln E Yonge S Steeles), between Steeles Avenue and Nipigon Avenue, from June 25, 2027 to July 22, 2030, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

Yonge Street Detour Road:

2. City Council authorize public highway designation and dedicate the lands, described as Parts 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, and 9 on Reference Plan 66R-34930, being part of PIN 10139-0289 (LT) set out as Attachment 1 of the report (May 7, 2026), to be known as “Yonge Street Diversion Road”, to become effective upon the transfer to the City of the required interest in lands forming the diversion road and the registration of the highway dedication bylaw on those lands.

3. City Council authorize public highway designation and dedicate the lands, described as Part 1 on Reference Plan 66R-34927, being part of PIN 10139-0230 (LT) set out as Attachment 2 of the report (May 7, 2026), to be known as “Yonge Street Diversion Road”, to become effective upon the transfer to the City of the required interest in lands forming the diversion road and the registration of the highway dedication bylaw on those lands.

4. City Council authorize public highway designation and dedicate the lands, described as Part 1 on Reference Plan 66R-34408, being part of PIN 10139-0230 (LT) set out as Attachment 3 of the report (May 7, 2026), to be known as “Yonge Street Diversion Road”, to become effective upon the transfer to the City of the required interest in lands forming the diversion road and the registration of the highway dedication bylaw on those lands.

5. City Council prohibit stopping on both sides of the Yonge Street Diversion Road, between Steeles Avenue and Madawaska Avenue, from September 12, 2028 to July 22, 2030, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

6. City Council authorize the installation of temporary traffic control signals at the intersection of Yonge Street Diversion Road and Athabaska Avenue, from December 10, 2026 to July 22, 2030, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

7. City Council designate a 40 kilometres per hour speed limit on Yonge Street Diversion Road, between Steeles Avenue and Madawaska Avenue, from September 12, 2028 to July 22, 2030, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

Yonge Street:

8. City Council designate a 40 kilometres per hour speed limit on Yonge Street, between Steeles Avenue and Madawaska Avenue, from June 25, 2027 to September 11, 2028, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

9. City Council prohibit stopping at all times on both sides of Yonge Street, between Steeles Avenue and Madawaska Avenue, from June 25, 2027 to September 11, 2028, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

10. City Council approve the temporary closure of the west sidewalk to pedestrian traffic on Yonge Street, between Madawaska Avenue and Athabaska Avenue, from December 10, 2026 to June 24, 2027, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

11. City Council approve the temporary closure of the west sidewalk to pedestrian traffic on Yonge Street, between Nipigon Avenue and Athabaska Avenue, from June 25, 2027 to January 19, 2028, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

12. City Council approve the temporary closure of the west sidewalk to pedestrian traffic on Yonge Street, between Steeles Avenue and Athabaska Avenue, from January 20, 2028 to September 11, 2028, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

13. City Council approve the temporary closure of the east sidewalk to pedestrian traffic on Yonge Street, between Abitibi Avenue and Otonabee Avenue, from September 12, 2028 to March 16, 2029, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

14. City Council authorize the temporary closure of the existing easterly northbound and westerly southbound reserved lanes to vehicular traffic on Yonge Street, between Steeles Avenue and Madawaska Avenue, from June 25, 2027 to September 11, 2028, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

15. City Council approve the temporary closure of the east crosswalk to pedestrian traffic on Yonge Street at Athabaska Avenue, from September 12, 2028 to March 16, 2029, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

16. City Council approve the temporary closure of the northbound and southbound curb lanes to vehicular traffic on Yonge Street, between Steeles Avenue and Madawaska Avenue, from June 25, 2027 to September 11, 2028, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

17. City Council approve the temporary full closure to vehicular traffic on Yonge Street, between Steeles Avenue and Madawaska Avenue, from September 12, 2028 to July 22, 2030, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

18. City Council prohibit northbound left-turn movement at the intersection of Yonge Street and Athabaska Avenue, from June 25, 2027 to January 19, 2028, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

19. City Council prohibit northbound right-turn, southbound left-turn and eastbound through traffic movements at the intersection of Yonge Street and Athabaska Avenue, from September 12, 2028 to March 16, 2029, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

20. City Council prohibit westbound right-turns on red signal at the intersection of Yonge Street and Athabaska Avenue, from June 25, 2027 to March 16, 2029, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue:

21. City Council authorize the alteration of the south-west corner of Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue, to remove the east-to-southbound right-turn channel.

22. City Council approve the temporary closure of the south crosswalk to pedestrian traffic on Yonge Street at Steeles Avenue, from June 25, 2027 to March 16, 2029, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

23. City Council prohibit eastbound, westbound, northbound, and southbound right-turns on red signal at the intersection of Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue, from June 25, 2027 to September 11, 2028, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

Side Streets:

24. City Council approve the temporary closure to vehicular traffic on Nipigon Avenue at Yonge Street, from September 12, 2028 to July 22, 2030, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

25. City Council approve the temporary closure to vehicular traffic on Abitibi Avenue at Yonge Street, from September 12, 2028 to July 22, 2030, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

26. City Council approve the temporary closure to vehicular traffic on Otonabee Avenue at Yonge Street, from September 12, 2028 to July 22, 2030, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

27. City Council approve the temporary closure to vehicular traffic on Athabaska Avenue at Yonge Street, from September 12, 2028 to March 16, 2029, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

Steeles Avenue:

28. City Council approve the temporary closure of the westbound right-turn lane to vehicular traffic on Steeles Avenue, between Yonge Street and a point approximately 85 metres, from June 25, 2027 to September 11, 2028, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

29. City Council approve the temporary closure of the westbound curb lane to vehicular traffic on Steeles Avenue, between a point approximately 200 metres west of Yonge Street and a point approximately 150 metres east of Yonge Street, from June 25, 2027 to March 16, 2029, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

30. City Council approve the temporary closure of the westbound median lane to vehicular traffic on Steeles Avenue, between Yonge Street and a point approximately 85 metres west of Yonge Street, from June 25, 2027 to March 16, 2029, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

31. City Council approve the temporary closure of the eastbound curb lane to vehicular traffic on Steeles Avenue, between a point approximately 305 metres west of Yonge Street and a point approximately 150 metres east of Yonge Street, from June 25, 2027 to March 16, 2029, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

32. City Council approve the temporary closure of the eastbound median lane to vehicular traffic on Steeles Avenue, between Yonge Street and a point approximately 200 metres west of Yonge Street, from June 25, 2027 to March 16, 2029, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

33. City Council approve the temporary closure of the two-way left-turn only lane to vehicular traffic on Steeles Avenue, between a point approximately 125 metres west of Yonge Street and a point approximately 180 metres further west, from June 25, 2027 to March 16, 2029, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

34. City Council designate a 40 kilometres per hour speed limit on Steeles Avenue, between Dumont Street and a point 360 metres west of Yonge Street, from June 25, 2027 to March 16, 2029, inclusive, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

35. City Council prohibit stopping on Steeles Avenue, between Dumont Street and a point 360 metres west of Yonge Street, from June 25, 2027 to March 16, 2029, to facilitate construction of the Steeles Station as part of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

General:

36. City Council authorize the appropriate City officials to take all steps necessary to implement the proposed dedications referred to in Recommendations 2, 3, and 4 above, including requesting the City solicitor to prepare and submit the relevant Bills and to pay any costs necessary to register the resultant by-laws, if required.

37. City Council authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services, to negotiate, enter into and execute an agreement with Metrolinx on terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Transportation Services, in relation to, among other things, the construction, maintenance, and warranty work of the diversion road, as well as to negotiate, enter into and execute any necessary agreements and documents, and take steps and measures necessary, on behalf of the City, to temporarily exercise the City’s authority.

38. City Council authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services, in issuing any requisite permits to include additional permit terms and conditions as the General Manager, Transportation Services deems necessary and appropriate.

39. City Council authorize the appropriate City officials to submit directly to City Council at the appropriate time any necessary Bills to amend the appropriate City of Toronto Municipal Code and / or Chapters, and any Schedules to the Chapters, to reinstate the traffic and parking regulations to what they were immediately prior to the by-law amendments made in connection with the report (May 7, 2026) from the Interim Deputy General Manager, Transportation Services.

40. City Council authorize the appropriate City officials to submit directly to City Council at the appropriate time any necessary Bills to amend the effective date of any dedication by-law(s) and / or traffic and parking by-law(s) made in connection with the report (May 7, 2026) from the Interim Deputy General Manager, Transportation Services to, among other things, insert a specific effective date, in order to give effect to Recommendations 1 to 35, inclusive, above.

41. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the necessary Bills to give effect to City Council’s decision and City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make any necessary clarifications, refinements, minor modifications, technical amendments, or by-law amendments as may be identified by the City Solicitor or the General Manager, Transportation Services in order to give effect to Recommendations 1 to 40, inclusive, above.

42. City Council amend Section 937-3.20 of Municipal Code Chapter 937, Temporary Closing of Highways, to delete the date of December 31, 2026 and replace it with the date of December 31, 2030 such that the General Manager, Transportation Services will be delegated the authority to temporarily close to vehicular and pedestrian traffic highways or portions of highways for a period up to and including 365 consecutive days, until December 31, 2030, with the exception of those highways listed in Section 937-4 of Chapter 937, as required for the purposes of the construction of the Metrolinx Yonge North Subway Extension, and to exempt the General Manager, Transportation Services in carrying out this extended delegation from Section 937-5 of Chapter 937, Temporary Closing of Highways, that being the requirement to notify the local Ward Councillor of the pending closure and the requirement to report on the proposed closure if so requested by the local Ward Councillor.

43. City Council request Metrolinx, in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services, and the Executive Director, Transit Expansion, to undertake the following additional actions prior to and throughout the construction period:

a. Review the proposed Traffic Management Plan and the proposed lane configuration for the Yonge Street diversion road, including opportunities to optimize traffic operations and minimize neighbourhood traffic impacts during construction;

b. Continue working with the General Manager, Transportation Services, the Executive Director, Transit Expansion Office, the Morguard Corporation, and the local Councillor’s office to review opportunities to optimize vehicular access to Centrepoint Mall during construction, in particular left-hand turning opportunities into the parking lot from Steeles Avenue West and Yonge Street;

c. Provide a transportation impact study on the reconfiguration of the road and proposed mitigation measures associated with the Yonge North Subway Extension Steeles Station construction works;

d. Consider widening the temporary road to six lanes, including a dedicated turning lane, to help prevent bottlenecks and minimize prolonged traffic disruptions that could otherwise continue for several years;

e. Consult with affected businesses located on the east side of Yonge Street between Madawaska Avenue and Steeles Avenue to develop additional business support and mitigation measures during construction;

f. Explore opportunities to provide financial assistance or compensation measures for businesses experiencing demonstrated economic impacts as a result of the construction period, including consideration of businesses such as Adele Hair and Beauty at 6285 Yonge Street, which was recently relocated by Metrolinx from another address at Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue;

g. Develop an enhanced business visibility and wayfinding strategy that includes attractive construction hoarding along the east side of the existing Yonge Street alignment facing businesses and along the east side of the Yonge Street diversion road facing traffic, incorporating business names, images, directional signage, and other business information, in consultation with affected business owners and the local Councillor;

h. Review opportunities to improve and maintain sidewalk conditions, accessibility, street furniture, and pedestrian connections along the frontage of affected businesses on the east side of Yonge Street throughout the construction period to support safe and convenient customer access;

i. In the event that a Business Improvement Area is approved and established for the area, request Metrolinx to cover the Business Improvement Area levies for businesses that lose their frontage on Yonge Street due to construction impacts for the duration of the project;

j. Ensure multilingual communication and business outreach are available prior to and throughout the construction period so that all affected businesses receive timely and accessible information regarding construction activities, access changes, and available support measures, including communications in English, Korean, Chinese and Farsi;

k .Coordinate construction scheduling to avoid, where feasible, significant overlap between Yonge North Subway Extension construction activities and Transform Yonge construction in order to minimize cumulative traffic disruption and impacts on local businesses;

l. Provide clear and timely written communications to affected businesses, property owners, the Business Improvement Area, local Councillors, business associations and other stakeholders regarding upcoming construction activities, associated traffic management plans, anticipated impacts and mitigation measures, with notices distributed sufficiently in advance of construction through both electronic and hard copy formats;

m. Develop and distribute clear guidance outlining contractor responsibilities related to construction mitigation measures, including construction runoff management, cleaning of public areas, pest control, additional lighting around hoarding and pedestrian routes, contractor parking management, and other measures to minimize construction impacts on surrounding businesses and the public realm;

n. Develop and implement a communications and marketing strategy to promote continued access to businesses during construction, including positive messaging, public awareness campaigns, and other initiatives to encourage customers, visitors and employees to continue supporting local businesses throughout the construction period;

o. Conduct regular site inspections throughout the construction period to ensure contractors are complying with Good Neighbour Principles and required mitigation measures, in addition to responding to public complaints in a timely manner;

p. Designate a public Metrolinx contact available to businesses and residents during all active construction periods to respond to urgent construction-related concerns and coordinate timely resolution of issues; and

 
q. Establish a Construction Liaison Committee for the Steeles Station construction to provide regular communication and collaboration with affected businesses, residents, property owners, and community organizations throughout the construction period. The Construction Liaison Committee should include representation from the local Councillor's office, provide multilingual communications in English, Korean, Chinese and Farsi; and interpretation services reflective of the surrounding community, meet on a regular basis, and serve as a forum to identify emerging issues, review mitigation measures, and facilitate timely resolution of construction related concerns.

44. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Executive Director, Transit Expansion, in consultation with Metrolinx, to report back to North York Community Council in second quarter of 2027 on the status of the above items, including progress on traffic management measures, business support initiatives, construction scheduling coordination, communications and multilingual outreach, business marketing and wayfinding initiatives, contractor compliance with Good Neighbour Principles, site inspection activities, accessibility improvements, stakeholder engagement, and any recommended additional mitigation measures prior to the commencement of major construction activities.

This report provides an overview of Metrolinx’s planned construction activities for the Yonge North Subway Extension Steeles Station at the intersection of Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue. The report outlines the key construction stages, anticipated timelines, and associated long-term temporary lane closures, turning restrictions, pedestrian and cycling impacts, transit adjustments, and access considerations required to facilitate construction.

Construction of Steeles Station requires excavation of a large underground station box within the existing Yonge Street right-of-way. Due to the scale and location of the work, it is not feasible to maintain traffic operations within the existing roadway during key stages of construction. To maintain north-south connectivity, Yonge Street will be temporarily realigned onto a newly constructed diversion road west of its existing alignment. Following implementation of the diversion road, Yonge Street, between Steeles Avenue and Madawaska Avenue, will be fully closed to vehicular traffic during the main construction phase.

This report seeks City Council approval for the temporary full closure of Yonge Street, the temporary designation of the diversion road as a public highway and associated temporary traffic and pedestrian by-law amendments required to support construction of Steeles Station.

In addition, this report seeks to extend the delegated authority of the General Manager, Transportation Services, to implement long-term temporary road closures and associated traffic modifications to December 31, 2030, to allow flexibility to respond to refinements in construction staging and scheduling without the need for subsequent reports to Council.

Approval of the recommendations in this report will enable Metrolinx to proceed with critical construction activities while ensuring that impacts to the transportation network, local communities, and road users are effectively managed through coordinated traffic control, access management, and construction mitigation measures.

There is no financial impact to the City. Metrolinx and its contractors are responsible for all costs, including payment of fees to the City for occupancy of the road right-of-way.

The Interim Deputy General Manager, Transportation Services recommends that:  

1. City Council amend Section 937-3.20 of Municipal Code Chapter 937, Temporary Closing of Highways, to delete the date of December 31, 2026 and replace it with the date of December 31, 2030 such that the General Manager, Transportation Services will be delegated the authority to temporarily close to vehicular and pedestrian traffic highways or portions of highways for a period up to and including 365 consecutive days, until December 31, 2030, with the exception of those highways listed in Section 937-4 of Chapter 937, as required for the purposes of the construction of the Metrolinx Yonge North Subway Extension, and to exempt the General Manager, Transportation Services in carrying out this extended delegation from Section 937-5 of Chapter 937, Temporary Closing of Highways, that being the requirement to notify the local Ward Councillor of the pending closure and the requirement to report on the proposed closure if so requested by the local Ward Councillor.

This supplementary report should be read in conjunction with Item 2026.NY33.27, "Metrolinx Yonge North Subway Extension - Long-Term Temporary Road Closures and Time Extension of the Temporary Delegation of Authority", which was deferred by North York Community Council on May 26, 2026 to its meeting of July 7, 2026 to allow Metrolinx additional time to undertake community consultation and engagement regarding the proposed Steeles Station construction works.

Following submission of Item 2026.NY33.27, Transportation Services staff identified that the recommendation respecting the extension of the delegated authority of the General Manager, Transportation Services was inadvertently omitted from the recommendations section of the report.

The purpose of this supplementary report is to seek approval of the omitted recommendation. No changes are proposed to the analysis, conclusions, or recommendations contained in Item 2026.NY33.27, other than the addition of the delegated authority recommendation.

As outlined in Item 2026.NY33.27, the delegated authority remains necessary to facilitate the timely review and approval of future temporary road closures, lane closures, sidewalk closures, traffic staging changes, and associated traffic and parking by-law amendments required to support construction of the Yonge North Subway Extension project through December 31, 2030.

There is no financial impact to the City. Metrolinx and its contractors are responsible for all costs, including payment of fees to the City for occupancy of the road right-of-way.