Toronto — The Ontario government has completed the final phase of testing on the Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) line, marking a key milestone in Toronto’s expanding transit network. Following a successful 30-day Revenue Service Demonstration (RSD), the province will transfer full operational control of the line to the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) by November 3, 2025.
The Finch West LRT, also known as Line 6 Finch West, is expected to transform transit accessibility for residents across northwest Toronto. Once open, the line will bring an estimated 230,000 more Ontarians within walking distance of rapid, reliable public transit.
“Our government is delivering on our promise to protect Ontario by building the transit our growing province needs,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “The Finch West LRT will cut commute times for hundreds of thousands of riders every week, connect to transit services across the region and create new economic opportunities along the line.”
Modern Transit for a Growing City
Stretching from Finch West Station—an interchange with TTC Line 1—to Humber Polytechnic’s North Campus, the 11-kilometre LRT features two stations and 16 stops. It operates on a primarily street-level, dedicated track designed to move more than 51,000 passengers each weekday, with annual ridership projected to reach 12 million by 2031.
The new service aims to ease congestion along Finch Avenue West while enhancing connectivity to other transit systems, including TTC buses, GO Transit, MiWay, York Region Transit, and Brampton Züm. The province says the system’s zero-emissions vehicles—which can carry up to 300 passengers and travel at speeds up to 60 kilometres per hour—will provide an efficient, sustainable alternative to car travel.
“We are excited that the Finch West LRT’s revenue service demonstration (RSD) has successfully passed,” said Michael Lindsay, President and CEO of Metrolinx. “This is a significant milestone for the project, which brings it closer to an opening date that will benefit the 51,000 daily riders expected to use the line. The TTC is to define a first day of service in the next few days.”
Overcoming Past Delays
The completion of the Finch West LRT comes as Ontario continues work on another major transit project—the Eglinton Crosstown LRT (ECLRT)—which is currently undergoing its own RSD. Once testing concludes, that line will also be handed over to the TTC for final preparations before launch.
The province has faced scrutiny over delays to the ECLRT, which began construction under the previous government in 2011. In response, the current administration says it has implemented reforms to reduce red tape and improve project delivery timelines. These include adopting simpler, proven signal and power systems from other LRT projects to minimize technical risks, ensuring testing and commissioning funding is prioritized, and engaging maintenance providers earlier in the process to accelerate readiness.
According to the Ministry of Transportation, these measures are part of a broader strategy to streamline major infrastructure projects under Ontario’s $70-billion investment in what it calls the largest transit expansion in North America—and the largest subway expansion in Canadian history.
Expanding Regional Connections
The province’s transit buildout extends beyond the Finch West corridor. On November 16, 2025, Ontario will open the Mount Dennis GO and UP Station, offering connections to GO Transit’s Kitchener Line and the UP Express to Pearson Airport. Additionally, Eglinton West Station will debut a fare-free underground pedestrian pathway beneath Eglinton Avenue West, designed to reduce congestion and improve safety at the busy Allen Road intersection.
When the Eglinton Crosstown line opens, Eglinton West Station will be renamed Cedarvale Station, integrating the new pathway with the broader network.
Ontario completed all major construction for the Finch West LRT in fall 2024, including stations, stops, and system installations. As the TTC prepares for launch, the province says the handover marks not only a step forward for Toronto transit users but also for the province’s wider infrastructure agenda.
“The Finch West LRT represents what can be achieved when government and partners work together to deliver modern, efficient transit,” said Sarkaria. “We’re building a system that will move people faster, connect communities, and support economic growth for decades to come.”
