The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has awarded a contract worth as much as $1.5 billion to Kenaidan Murphy Joint Venture (KMJV) for its Bloor-Yonge Capacity Improvement (BYCI) project.

The project will significantly expand and rehabilitate the existing subway station to improve efficiency and capacity and reduce overcrowding during rush hours. 

KMJV will work collaboratively with the TTC to advance the design of the BYCI project to approximately 70 per cent and develop a schedule and target pricing for implementation. This phase is expected to take approximately two years. 

“Ontario is making historic investments in public transit and carrying out the largest subway expansion in Canadian history to combat gridlock and connect Ontarians to housing and jobs,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Ontario’s Minister of Transportation. “Our government is proud to support this critical project which will increase capacity at Bloor-Yonge Station and help tens of thousands of daily riders get to their destinations quickly, making their commute easier and more convenient.” 

The Bloor-Yonge Capacity Improvement project is being completed under a progressive design-build procurement model, which has three phases: procurement, development and implementation. Once the development phase is completed, and upon approval from the TTC board of directors, the project will move to the implementation phase, where station design will be completed and construction will begin. 

The total cost for the Bloor-Yonge Station Capacity Improvement project is currently estimated at $1.5 billion, to be funded jointly by the City of Toronto, the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada.

Work will include the construction of a second platform on Line 2 for eastbound service, an expansion of the Line 1 northbound and southbound platforms, new elevators, escalators and stairs, and the construction of a new accessible entrance and exit on the south side of Bloor Street East.

As one of the busiest transit hubs in the Greater Toronto Area, the station is expected to experience a surge in passenger traffic in the coming years. The BYCI project will play a crucial role in ensuring that the station can accommodate Toronto's ongoing growth, urban development and expanded rail network.